Jan 31- Feb 7

Here are the important dates for the week:

Monday: rants are ready to present, and science projects are due

Tuesday: pool and library

Wednesday: super swim meet (students need a bathing suit and towel)

Thursday: homework due

Reminders: Please send in applications to Glen Ames for grade 6's and all ski trip permission forms and money ASAP. 

This week's homework:

1) Complete the math work, "Bias in Displaying Data."

2) Complete the survey and graph started in class on Friday.

3) In the notebook provided, write a well contructed paragraph describing your term one strengths, weaknesses and next steps for improvements. Remember to include transition words, such as "next, also, furthermore, and finally." 

Best,

Bronwyn Davidson

Grade 5 Egg Drop Project

Grade 5 Egg Drop Project

Due: February 3, 2014

Goal

Your goal is to design and build a system that will protect an egg from at least a 10 foot drop. 

Build your egg protectors from resources such as:

·      Plastic straws

·      Popsicle sticks

·      Tape

·      Glue

·      Plastic bags

·      Boxes

·      Plastic containers

·      Foam

·      Cotton balls

·      Anything else you can think of!

Restrictions:

·     No food can be used to protect the egg.

·      No messy substance that will require clean-up after the drop.

·      No glass of any kind.

·      You must build the contraption on your own.

*You may bring materials in from home to work on your project in class.

*You may do work at home on your project but be prepared to also work on it at school.

*It might be a good idea to do a few test runs at home to make sure it works!

Important:  You will also be required to hand in a final drawing of your egg protector which should include a title, measurements in centimetres, and a list of materials that you used.

Be creative and have fun building your contraption!  Remember to leave an opening in your protector through which the egg can be placed or removed.  We will provide the eggs on the day of the drop!  - Ms. McCrea

Jan 17-23

Check out our 30 second stories on the link below! Students will have a chance to continue to work on them if they wish. I was very impressed with how hard everyone worked on this project.

http://toes.tdsb.on.ca/day/tusc/programs/studentwork/2013_14/30seconds/index.asp


This week's homework is as follows:
- math graphing
- use of apostrophes
- cursive
- study for a quiz on the continents, oceans, provinces and capitals of provinces on Wednesday
- finish the rough draft of your rant by Thursday

Best,
Bronwyn Davidson

Rm. 21, by Justin

Jan 10-17

Happy New Year!

Here are important dates for next week:

Monday: pool, library, math geometry quiz (measuring and creating angles, classifying triangles, parallel lines, symmetry, rotational symmetry, naming polygons)

Thursday: field trip to TUSC to create animated 30 second stories

Friday: homework due

This week's homework is as follows:

- math geometry review (due Monday, before the quiz)
- Canadian spelling words
- labeling provinces and capitals, oceans and continents (This is a review from former grades, but I found that many students didn't know this information, so we're reviewing it. There will be a quiz on this the following week.)

This week we have finished our first unit in geometry. We have been reading texts about the history of Toronto and writing 30 second stories based on the texts. Students will use their stories to create animated movies at our field trip on Thursday. We have also begun looking at rants and possible rant topics, as students will be writing and presenting rants on a topic of their choosing over the next month. We watched the following Rick Mercer rant on Canadian weather, then watched the following two videos to get some ideas about possible rant topics. The second video in particular created some deep thinking and conversations.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EQdXyKiFY4&feature=youtube_gdata_player&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D0EQdXyKiFY4&app=desktop


http://www.upinspire.com/inspire/555/this-3rd-grader-shocked-everyo


http://shockable.com/called-worlds-ugliest-girl-response-unbelievably-beautiful-literally-cried/


Finally, please send all permission forms for 30 second stories and Mono Cliffs for the grade 6's ASAP.

Best,
Bronwyn Davidson

Dec. 13-19

The students in room 21 have been working hard on a wide variety of activities. In math we've been studying geometry, including measuring angles, creating triangles and identifying shapes, based on various properties. In language the students have finished their literature circle novel and groups are now working on a dramatic presentation of a scene from their novel. The students have also finished rough drafts of their individual assignment. Final copies are due next week. In social studies we have been working on mapping. The grade 5's reviewed continents, oceans, provinces and capital cities before moving forward. Today we listened to the Stompin' Tom song "Capitals" to help solidify the information. Here's the Youtube link for that song to watch at home.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjgOQDUOGAg

Grade 6's have been working on learning lines of longitude and latitude and using the coordinate system. The students have also been working on a culminating science, social studies and language project, creating a pamplet after researching either a health topic in Canada (gr. 5) or an environmental issue in the world (gr. 6). In art we have been focusing on line, and will be moving on to the concept of rhythm in the new year. 

I also sent home information with the grade 6's today regarding grade 7 options, including extended French at Glen Ames and optional schools. I explained to the students today that the extended French program is a great program for those who are motivated to learn in French for half the day, and are comfortable with taking risks academically. At this age, students must be motivated to attend the program. The core English program at Glen Ames is also excellent, and I wouldn't disuade anyone from applying to either. I taught grade 8 core at Glen Ames for 5 years and thoroughly enjoyed my students and the program. This can be a difficult decision to make, but, ultimately, it's important that students have a voice in which program they attend. 

This week's homework is as follows:

Complete the final draft of the literature circle project, which is due on Wednesday, Dec. 18. The components are as follows: a persuasive paragraph, 5 quotes, explained and a new cover. Please refer to the assignment handout and rubric for more details. 

Best,
Bronwyn Davidson

Dec. 6- Dec. 13

This week's homework is as follows:

Daily:

• reading for at least 20 minutes (literature circle book or own book)

• times table practice: 12 times tables and review all others

Divide up during the week:

• math- geometry

• cursive
• literature circle assignment: rough draft is due Thursday, the 12th, final draft is due Wednesday the 18th

Dates to remember:
Monday: last literature circle meeting; novel is finished
Thursday: homework due,  
Friday: pool and library

Sorry for the brevity this week; I'm at home sick. I hope that I didn't spread my germs to anyone on Thursday. 

Best,
Bronwyn Davidson