May 15- May 22

This week in math students continued to learn about measurement, and learned how to find the volume of irregular objects by measuring their water displacement in mL, then converting that to cm cubed. Students worked in their table groups to estimate then measure objects around the room using graduated cylinders. There will be a final measurement quiz on Friday that will include all of the expectations for this unit, including conversions, perimeter, area, volume, capacity and surface area for grade 6s. 

In language students continued to read and write poetry. Students shared their poems during author's chair, and wrote poems using the poetic device, "onomatopoeia." We also started another read aloud novel, entitled, " War of the Eagles," by Eric Walters. 


In science students became consultants for the Ministry of Environment and were asked to choose which type of energy the government should invest in. Students read and analysed posters made by rm. 28 students in order to make their decision. The class chose wind, solar and hydro power. 

In social studies students chose their research topics and began to research and take notes. Research notes will be due next Thursday, when we will begin to write paragraphs in class. 

In art we looked at the American artist Keith Haring, who used his art to speak out about social justice issues. We then created our own Keith Haring inspired works of art about a social justice issue. 

Important upcoming dates:

Monday, May 18th: Victoria Day- no school

Thursday, May 21st: research notes due; pool
Friday, May 22nd: math quiz on measurement

Homework for this week:

There is no homework folder homework for this week. Students need to continue to read daily for at least 20 minutes each day, and complete their point form research notes by next Thursday. 

Best,

Bronwyn Davidson

May 8- May 15

This week in math students continued to learn about measurement, and solved problems involving volume. Students worked in their math partners to estimate and measure the volume and capacity of our classroom. 

In language students continued to read and write poetry. We are integrating our final inquiry on art and social justice into our language program. We have delved into many different issues, such as homelessness, environmental awareness and bullying. This week we read a blog written by the mother of a transgendered child to further our understanding of human rights. We then used the key words and feelings in the text to create poetry on the topic. The students are working on showing empathy in their writing, and they were very successful with this task. The poetry was so good, and showed such a profound sense of empathy that I showed it to several colleagues and our principal, who were all very impressed! 

On Thursday we visited the Evergreen Brickworks for the Kids World of Energy Festival. Students engaged in hands-on activities that complimented the grade 5 and 6 science curriculums. 

On Friday all of our grade 4-6 students watched a theatre presentation of an adaptation of Mozart's The Magic Flute. The presentation was an opera in French and English, and was a great opportunity for students to practise their inference skills. 

Important upcoming dates:

Monday, May 11th: track and field at Birchmount for track team members

Wednesday, May 13th: pool

Thursday, May 14th: Scholastic book fair shopping (Please send money with your child on Thursday if you would like him/her to buy a book.)

Monday, May 18th: Victoria Day- no school

Homework for this week:

There is no homework folder homework for this week. Students need to continue to read daily for at least 20 minutes each day. 

On Tuesday, May 12th students will be given a social studies project. Most of the project will be completed at school. However, due to our computer limitations, students may need to complete some research notes at home. I will post the project and the co-constructed success criteria as the project progresses. 

Best,

Bronwyn Davidson

May 1- May 8

This week in math students continued to learn about measurement, and solved problems involving perimeter and area. There will be a quiz on Tuesday on metric conversions, perimeter and area.  

In language students we began a new unit on poetry. Students are going to create a collection of their own poems over the next few weeks. They will present their poetry in author's chair and at a class poetry cafe next month. Students also used the strategy of text coding to show their understanding of an narrative story that was read aloud, entitled, "Geraldine Moore, The Poet." In guided reading we have read a variety of texts, from hybrid cars and solar power to poetry. 


Student's science projects will go home today. I was really impressed with the class' creativity and problem solving skills, as well as their Dragon's Den pitches. 

We have started a final inquiry on art and social justice. We're asking questions like, "How does art tell the story of people?" and "How can we use art to express ourselves and our opinions?" This unit will be integrated, pulling together art, social studies and language. This week we visited the Fox theatre to see how a director used film as his medium to speak out about the environment in the documentary, "The Dark Side of the Chew."

Important upcoming dates:

Tuesday, May 5th: math quiz

Wednesday, May 6th: pool, spring concert (Please be in room 21 by 6:45.)

Thursday, May 7th: field trip to Brickworks (dress for the weather and bring a litterless lunch)

Friday, May 8th: homework due

Homework for this week:

1) math: area

2) "Trail Blazers" text and writing practice

3) Read!!!

Best, 

B. Davidson

April 24- May 1

This week the grade 6s travelled to Mono Cliffs outdoor education centre for a 3 day excursion. Grade 5s were taught by Mme. Papiernik and focused on measuring time, as well as the properties of matter in science. On Thursday and Friday students in room 21 continued to learn about measurement, including how to estimate and calculate the perimeter and area of rectangles. They also focused on self evaluation of art and writing projects. 

Important upcoming dates:

Wednesday, April 29th: pool

Thursday, April 30th: homework due

May 6th: primary and junior spring concert (Rm 21 performing)

Homework for this week:

1) math: calculating area (gr. 5s) EQAO practice (gr. 6)

2) comma worksheet

3) vocabulary activity and cloze reading

3) Read for at least 20 minutes each day!

Best,

Ms. Davidson

April 10-17

This week in math students continued to learn about measurement, including choosing appropriate units to measure length and mass, as well as converting units. Students paired up with their math partners to solve problems involving measurement.

In language students finished their business letter to someone in a position of power who can affect change regarding a social justice issue. Students learned a new strategy called text coding which helps readers understand the text more deeply. This strategy can be applied to any type of text. 

In science students worked on their science project, building a toy or device that transforms energy. They will finish their project next week, and will then "sell" it, in the form of a commercial or a Dragon's Den pitch. These presentations will take place on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.

Important upcoming dates:

Monday, April 13th: school track and field day (bring appropriate layers of clothes and running shoes)

Tues-Thurs: science presentations

Wednesday, April 15th: pool- clothes swim

Thursday, April 16th: homework due, math quiz

April 20-22: grade 6s at Mono cliffs

Homework for this week:

1) math: measuring length and conversions

2) Spring Sweetness text

3) Read!!!

Co-written by Ms. Davidson and the students of rm. 21

April 3-10

This week in math students wrote a math quiz on geometry. This quiz was sent home to be signed on Thursday. We also started a new unit on measurement, and began with choosing appropriate units to measure length, and converting units. 

In language students have been working on writing a business letter to someone in a position of power who can affect change regarding a social justice issue. They have also used the creative process to create a piece of visual art that demonstrates their understanding of an aspect of power. Most students have finished one or both culminating tasks. 

In science students worked on their science project, building a toy or device that transforms energy. They will continue to work on building their project next week, and will then "sell" it, in the form of a commercial or a Dragon's Den pitch. 

On Thursday room 21 students prepared an Easter egg hunt for the room 5 kindergarten class in our front yard. The kindergarten students then hid the eggs for our class to find. It was a fun way to wrap up our short week!

Important upcoming dates:

Wednesday, April 8th: pool, Day of Pink

Homework for this week:

There is no homework this week, due to the Easter long weekend. 

Best,

Bronwyn Davidson

March 27-April 2

This week in math students learned to identify and construct nets of prisms and pyramids, as well as sketch and build 3-D figures. There will be a math quiz on geometry, including transformations (reflections and translations, plus rotations for grade 6s), identifying nets and solids of pyramids and prisms, and sketching 3-D figures for grade 6s. 

In language students have been working on writing a business letter to someone in a position of power who can affect change regarding a social justice issue. They have also used the creative process to create a piece of visual art that demonstrates their understanding of an aspect of power. 

Important upcoming dates:

Monday, March 30th: pool; science project materials due for our design and make project

Wednesday, April 1st: math quiz on geometry

Thursday, April 2nd: homework due
Friday, April 3rd: Good Friday; no school
Monday, April 6th: Easter Monday; no school

Homework for this week:

1) Read for at least 20 minutes each day.

2) Complete the math work.

3) Read the text on Ben Gullison and answer the questions provided. Also be prepared to talk about how this article relates to our inquiry on power.