Learning Intention: I can intentionally select and apply materials, tools, and techniques by combining and arranging artistic elements, processes, and principles in art making.
I hope everyone had a fun and restful winter break! We have been getting back into our routines, and are excited about the new things that are coming for term 2, such as Egypt, literature circles, geometry, extreme environments, and the Earth's crust! Some exciting news for our room: a couple of months ago I applied through the Fuel Your School Program (run by My Class Needs) for 3 iPad minis for our classroom, and a few weeks ago Chevron funded our project and we received them! We are so excited for the endless opportunities this will provide for Division 2! Before the break, I taught us how to paint on canvas using acrylic paints. I was first introduced to this a couple of years ago at a "Paint Nite", and it has become a relaxing hobby of mine since. We learned how to mix and blend our chosen colour with white paint to create a beautiful backdrop, and then we had room for creativity and used black paint to create silhouettes of our own choosing. The finished products are amazing, I am very proud of all of you, and I'm sure they look beautiful hanging in all of your homes!
Learning Intention: I can intentionally select and apply materials, tools, and techniques by combining and arranging artistic elements, processes, and principles in art making.
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This week we went on an exciting and educational field trip to the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre! Learning Intentions: I can demonstrate a sustained curiosity about a scientific topic and make observations in familiar or unfamiliar contexts. First on our schedule of the day was a hands on workshop on Extremophiles. Using the Drake equation as our guide, students contemplated the chances of contacting intelligent life. By analyzing the information gathered by the Kepler telescope, information released by the SETI Institute as well as NASA discoveries, students came to their own conclusions on whether alien life exists somewhere in the galaxy. We then relaxed with a Planetarium Show on Exploring Extremes... a sneak peak into our next Science unit! We discovered more about how scientists use Earth-based environments as analogues for studying environments on other planets. During the show we went to one of Earth’s driest deserts, Antarctica’s largest subglacial lake, and Pavilion Lake in our own backyard to look at how scientists use technology to study extreme environments. After the show, we had our lunches and then went to see a GroundStation Canada demonstration called Planet Hunters, where we discovered more about planet-hunting techniques astronomers use and their quest to find signs of life in the Universe. We finished off our day exploring the Cosmis Courtyard Gallery, which is a space-themed, hands-on gallery where students can morph into an alien, touch a Moon rock or a meteorite. No wonder we were exhausted by the end of the day!
For Computer Science Education Week, we celebrated by participating in an Hour of Code. The Hour of Code is an introduction to computer science. I believe that every student should have an opportunity to learn this as it is a 21st century skill that will help them in any future career path. As the students learned the basics of coding this week, they strengthened their problem-solving skills, logic, and creativity. We had so much fun doing the Hour of Code that we extended it to a WEEK of code! Learning Intentions: I can understand programming languages, including visual programming in relation to text-based programming. For our first term, the grade 7s have been learning about Early Man, while the grade 6s have been learning about Kenya and comparing it with Canadian society. For our end of term project, the students created a presentation based on these topics. The criteria was very open, allowing these to be student directed projects. The criteria, created together as a class, included that the projects be informative, creative, and engaging. We celebrated our successes and shared our learning with our parents and the rest of the school. It was a spectacular day and many people told me how impressed they were with all of the projects... each project was unique and fun! I am so proud of all of you! Learning Intentions: I can compile a body of information from a range of sources. I can deliver a formal presentation on a selected inquiry using two or more forms of representation. Throughout the term the grade 7s have been busy learning about archaeology, excavations, fossils, creation stories, stone tools, the habitats of the ancient people, and the theory of the evolution of man. Throughout the term the grade 6s have been learning about life in Kenya by going on a "safari" with our friend Whycliffe, exploring photos and videos, and learning traditional songs. Mrs. Kilbride also shared her personal experiences in Kenya with us, it was really exciting! We kicked off the month of December ice skating with our little buddies at Centennial Rink! This is a great way for us to continue building our relationships with our little buddies outside the school environment. Also, it provides us with opportunities to explore, engage, and gain an appreciation for physical activities as we aim to value and participate in daily physical activities. Thank you to all of the parents who volunteered to drive and skate with us! Also a big thank you to Caroline Vasica, who took a ton of beautiful pictures during our trip! Learning Intentions: I can develop, refine, and apply fundamental movement skills in a variety of physical activities and environments. This past week, we were able to share our Term 1 Genius Hour projects with each other. For those of you who don't know, Genius Hour is a project that allows students to explore their own passions and encourages creativity. The students had a choice to pick anything they wanted to learn more about and I gave them an hour a week to do that. This idea came from Google, where they allowed their engineers to spend 20% of their time to work on any pet project that they wanted. Google's intentions were that if they allowed people to work on something that interested them, productivity would go up. It is said that 50% of Google's projects have been created during this creative time period, including Gmail and Google News! It was super rewarding watching the class learn with passion, and I strongly believe this will help facilitate lifelong learning. Learning Intentions: I can develop a body of creative work over time in an area I’m interested in or passionate about. Brody shared his passion for skateboarding and the history of skate parks, including an impressive skate park model and 20 interesting facts booklet! Olivia, who stated she was NOT a techy person, made her first robot! She also went on to create a robot that sweeps! How amazing is that!? Mackenzie shared her passion for fashion and created an Outfit of the Day blog! Talk about 21st century skills! Grace and Cindy shared their love of Huskies, including an adorable PowerPoint and very creative poster. Xing and Vivian researched the masquerade ball, and created their own mask. They also drew those beautiful dresses from scratch! Jin shared his artistic talents, including a mini art lesson for us! Alexa and Emmy showed us how to make oobleck! How fun! Josh and Eden researched volcanoes and recreated a classic exploding volcano. It was an exciting demo!
Other amazing projects included Izzy's own psychological experiment on the senses, Gursajan created his own mini soccer game, Imaan and Anna researched addictive substances, Aryan and Henry researched Apple products, Alston researched Egyptian mythology, Brenna researched endangered species, and Ishaani and Sophia created a hilarious iMovie on how to make a movie! WOW! I am SO PROUD of you all!
Our school celebrated Diwali today. Many of the students in our class prepped, planned, and organized the day together with Ms. Sahota. I was in awe from the beautiful costumes and energetic dances performed during our assembly. We also enjoyed the samosas and henna tattooing throughout the day. I believe cultural identity is an important part of a development... this is probably partially due to the fact that I am Greek, which is a culture that prides itself of family and community. I also believe there is a lot to be gained in both sharing one's cultural identity as well as learning of other's cultures. Thank you to everyone who shared Diwali with us today! Learning Intentions: I understand that my identity is made up of many interconnected aspects (such as life experiences, family history, heritage, peer groups). At the Remembrance Day assembly, many of us participated through playing recorders and singing in the school choir. Louis also played an enchanting song on the cello. Our very own Ishaani and Isabelle sang a beautiful rendition of True Colours - I really wish I had recorded this! Learning Intention: I can experience, perform, and share creative works in a variety of ways. We got together with our little buddies to create these lovely Peace Doves. We created them by sponge painting water colours around a dove cutout. Once dried, we outlined the doves with messages of Peace. Learning Intention: I can create a 2-D image for specific purposes that convey personal beliefs and values. Some of these messages were very thoughtful and show just how insightful we are. Olivia says, "Peace is a world where there is no war, where it is okay to be different, where you can be proud to be who you are." Sophia says, "Peace is a rainy day when you are sitting next to a windowsill, listening to the pattering of raindrops while reading a god book, snuggled under a mountain of blankets." Izzy says, "Peace is like a treasure chest, we know it's there but have not found it yet." This seems especially true after the attacks in Paris and around the world. "When Paris turned out its lights, the rest of the world turned them on."
We took a much deserved break on Friday to celebrate Halloween. I am so glad I was able to celebrate with them, despite how ill I had recently become (hence the lack of blog posts... thank you for your understanding!). The day was filled with spooky drawings, dancing, treats, a movie, and a school parade and the infamous Thriller flash mob! I am also so proud that we not only reached, but surpassed our classroom goals of collecting 150 nonperishable food items, and 50 socks for our Socktober and We Scare Hunger food drives... we came in 2nd place in the whole school! I love the community building that this day's activities bring to our classroom community. I hope every had a safe and happy Halloween with their friends and families! Learning Intentions: I can participate in classroom and group activities to improve the classroom, school, community, or natural world. Peanut also wanted to wish you all a happy Halloween!!
Last Friday we took a trip to one of the world’s most ecologically unique ecosystems... which happens to be the local Burns Bog! Our tour addressed our grade 6 and 7 specific Prescribed Learning Outcomes such as Plants and Animals, Habitats and Ecosystems, Biodiversity and Species at Risk. We also combined this trip with a photography assignment. One app I recommend to use to help edit your photos is "Snapseed". You may email these to me @ [email protected] (make sure to include your name so I know who you are!) Learning Intentions: I can experience and interpret the local environment. Video Links: Student Vote is a parallel election for students under the voting age, coinciding with the federal election. The purpose is to provide young Canadians with an opportunity to experience the voting process firsthand and build the habits of informed and engaged citizenship. Learning Intentions: I can ask questions and offer judgments, conclusions, and interpretations supported by evidence I or others have gathered. I registered our school in this special program so that we could participate. There's at least 1 school in each of the 338 ridings registered! Students learned about government and the electoral process, researched the parties running in our riding, our candidates and the issues, and talked a lot about the upcoming election! On vote day, we had polls clerks helping run our station, and we took turns casting ballots for the official election candidates in our South Surrey-White Rock riding. The results will be tabulated nationally and by riding, and shared with media for broadcast and publication.
Last week we celebrated creativity with Global Cardboard Challenge. Global Cardboard Challenge not only lets students explore their interests and passions, but also teaches valuable "21st Century" skills like critical thinking, resourcefulness, perseverance and teamwork. Divisions 1 and 2 collaborated together to create these fabulous projects. It was a fabulous (and messy!) day. Learning Intentions: I can get new ideas or build on or combine other people’s ideas to create new things within the constraints of a form, a problem, or materials. Here is a short film about nine year old Caine Monroy’s arcade made of cardboard games. This is the inspiration behind the Global Cardboard Challenge. Both grades designed their own science experiments this week. It was a lot of hands on fun! The grade 7s were determining what factors limit yeast growth. They tested their hypothesis by planning and conducting an experiment that controls for two or more variables. Yeast is a single-cell fungi that will rapidly reproduce in the right conditions. It requires a form of sugar as food and a moist environment in which to grow. The best temperature for yeast growth is about 43-46 degrees Celsius. Learning Intentions: I can measure and control variables through fair tests. The grade 6s were determining what factors affect the growth of a potato by manipulating and controlling a number of variables in their experiments. Tubers, the edible part of the potato, consists of about 80% water and 20% primarily solid starch material. Tuber growth depends on the right environmental conditions. Potato plants have a quality called tropism. They will grow toward light, toward water, and upward to break through the soil. Please remember to return your Burns Bog field trip permission slips, due Wednesday, October 14. This field trip will be an excellent hands on experience that will enhance our ecosystems and living things units. It will take place rain or shine so make sure you are dressed appropriately for the weather and wet bog environment! As you may have noticed, I love photography, and this will be a great opportunity for you to practice your photographer skills in a beautiful, natural environment. We will be taking photos for a mini photography unit. You will be allowed to use your own cameras and personal devices to take photos at various times during the field trip. Afterwards, we will be editing the photos. I recommend the app 'Snapseed'. You can download and play with this app now if you like. :) Please check to see if your parents are available to drive on Friday, October 16th. We will be leaving the school at 9:30am and returning for lunch. I am really looking forward to this field trip!
We had a lot of fun trying to solve our first 'Math Challenge of the Week' last week! Learning Intentions: I can use technology appropriately to record, communicate, and represent thinking Here was our first problem: Thank you to Aryan for helping us to solve this week's problem! You can see his solution in the video below. WOW, I can't believe it's already October! Time sure flies when you're having fun! Thank you everyone for returning your consent forms so quickly!! You are all awesome! Please take the time to explore, fill out the Parent and Student info forms, and check out what's going on with Division 2! Science Both grades have been learning about Earth Sciences, with a focus on organisms and ecosystems. We are so blessed to be living in this beautiful environment and took the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. We explored the local organisms and ecosystem, making what we are learning in class more tangible. I can't wait until we go to Burns Bog later this month to further strengthen our connections! Learning Intentions: I can make observations aimed at identifying their own questions about the natural world. Social Studies The grade 7s have begun their Early Man unit, starting with learning about archaeology. We created our own excavation sites and buried artifacts for eachother to dig up. We learned we had to be patient and take special note on coordinates and depth in order to give us more accurate clues on how old these "ancient artifacts" were. Meanwhile, the grade 6s have been going on a "virtual safari" to Kenya (where the Lion King takes place!) and had the opportunity to listen to our very own Ms. Kilbride's stories and photos of her journeys there. How lucky is that!? Fun fact: The oldest stone tools and first humanoid fossils have been discovered in Kenya! I wonder what other connections the 6s and 7s will make with eachother... I can't wait until we all share our final projects at the end of the term. Learning Intentions: I can use Social Studies inquiry processes and skills to ask questions, gather, interpret, and analyze ideas; and communicate findings and decisions. Language Arts We have been concentrating on writing mini stories with a focus on connecting to our readers. We have learned that one of the purposes of writing is communication and that authors write in order to connect with their readers. We have been focusing on using more detail and voice in our pieces, and experimenting with similes to keep our readers interested. The students have been enjoying the student lounge during our writing sessions, and we played relaxing instrumental music to help keep us focused. When the nurse visited us this morning, she commented on how lovely it was! We think so too! Learning Intentions: I can use writing and design processes to plan, develop, and create engaging and meaningful literary and informational texts for a variety of purposes and audiences. We have been hired into our team jobs and have been busy deciding how we will work together to keep our classroom community running smoothly while giving us independence and a sense of responsibility. I saw some great leadership from the Health and Wellness Committee today during P.E. They ran our stretches, set up our equipment, and taught us a really fun new game! I have also noticed how nice and organized the class is becoming, a special thank you to our Sanitation Commissioners for re-educating us on our new recycling program, and to everyone for remembering to change into your indoor shoes. Learning Intentions: I can contribute to group activities that make my classroom, school, community, or natural world a better place. Terry Fox Run Unfortunately, I was at a workshop at the Surrey Teachers' Office and had to miss out on the Terry Fox Run. I was super disappointed as I believe this is an amazing cause and one I would have liked to support in person. Cancer is too rampant these days and seems to have touched many of us in one way or another. I truly believe that one of you could discover the cure for this nasty disease one day if that's what you want to do. THANK YOU to the extremely talented Caroline Vasica for taking these amazing shots during the event! Learning Intentions: I can identify how my actions and the actions of others affect my community and the natural environment and can work to make positive change. On Friday, we had our very first "Math Mashup" with Division 1. We plan to get together every week and collaborate to solve fun and challenging mathematical puzzles, riddles, and games. For our first week we split up into two groups, boys in one class and girls in another, to solve a bridge riddle involving zombies! I was so happy to see all of the groups working together to solve this challenging riddle, we have such great team work skills already! I look forward to next week's Math Mashup!! Learning Intentions: I can develop, construct, and apply mathematical understanding through play, inquiry, and problem solving. During Dot Day last week, we decided to tweet a few of our questions to Peter Reynolds, the author of The Dot, hoping that if by any chance he saw it, we might get a response... and sure enough, we did!
I've had the pleasure of getting to know you all last week and look forward to the many more weeks we will be learning together! I'm really excited for this year. Last week we had a lot of fun with International Dot Day! International Dot Day encourages people of all ages to harness their creativity. The inspiration behind the event is the children's book The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds. Here's a video of the book that we watched in class. Learning Intentions: Create artistic works collaboratively and as an individual using ideas inspired by imagination, inquiry, experimentation, and purposeful play. I really LOVE the beautiful zentagle dots you all created. I especially love when we all collaborated on one BIG dot together. They are all unique and all look fantastic! You may find that you'll want to use zentagle in future art projects or the next time you are doodling, it can be very relaxing! I was very proud of the leadership skills you all demonstrated with our first buddy activity, which also revolved around Dot Day. Those little grade 1s and 2s will be looking up to you all year, so make sure you are showing them the best version of you and continue to be the great leaders I know you are. Learning Intentions: I can identify when others need support and provide it. We also had A LOT of fun doing our first Mystery Skype for Global Collaboration Day. Global Collaboration Day raises greater awareness of the need for connecting classrooms and education organizations around the world. Empowering student and teachers to create authentic, meaningful experiences will deepen learning and improve educational outcomes for all children. We ended up skyping with a 5th grade class from Rancho Rosal Elementary School located in Camarillo, California. We asked some great geography questions and reflected on how to be more efficient with our questions for next time.
Learning Intention: I can connect and engage with others. |
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