Classifying Substances

We have just begun a new unit in Science (Pure Substances and Mixtures), and completed a lab where students in their roles as scientists, inspected several items (kitchen ingredients) and classified them as pure or mixture. We have been focusing on the scientific method, specifically learning how to write a hypothesis. Practicing safety in the lab, they wore gloves and safety goggles in making their observations.

WORLD READ ALOUD DAY!

Today we celebrated World Read Aloud Day throughout the school. Students in grades 5-8 read to small groups from kindergarten to grade 4. Our class read to kindergarten students and they are pictured above with their picture book of choice...many favourites that they had forgotten about. We look forward to doing it again - perhaps during Education Week.

Centerpointe Theater

On Tuesday morning this week all the intermediate grades went to listen to the National Arts Centre Orchestra play music under the theme of "The Composer is Dead". They heard well known music such as the theme songs of Mission Impossible, The Pink Panther and James Bond. They also listened to a narrator try to solve a mystery of who killed the composer by learning about the different instruments in the orchestra. Students thoroughly enjoyed the outing and wished it had lasted longer.

Yet Another Snow Day - that makes three!

As I was leaving school today, this was the scene outside our classroom. It was quite the winter wonderland! More students came to school today and we continued learning about the Group of Seven, Black History and War of 1812 review for the History test, which is now postponed to Monday due to the snow days. 

Another Snow Day!

This was the morning view from our classroom, but the day got worse, setting a new record of snow. Over 51 cm in one day...surpassing the 1895 amount of 45.7 cm. Luckily, many staff and good Samaritans helped clean snow off of cars, and helped push cars stuck in the parking lot, including mine! 

Although our day was low key, learning about the Group of Seven, completing a Book in a Day (related to Black History), studying for a War of 1812 test, and playing basketball, I'm pretty sure we were all relieved to get home safely in this "storm of the century".

Independent Novel Study #3

Two weeks ago today, students in both LA classes presented their last INS which focused on theme. In addition to their novel summary (character, plot and setting), students also picked 10 words related to the theme of their novel to create a graffiti wall. The words were mostly well explained and the walls look great as you can see below.

  

Kindness Week

The class' monthly goal of Choosing to be Kind, supports the school's monthly character education trait of acceptance. With Ottawa's Kindness Week beginning tomorrow, I gave the class a Valentine's card with 8 more Valentine's cards to distribute (pay it forward)...3 to friends, 3 to other students they would like to get to know better, one to a student of an opposite gender and one as a wildcard. They were very kind to all, but especially kind to our new student from Syria. Have a great Family Day weekend!

Rain Rain

The Music teacher at our school is very proud of my class' progress with their instruments - here is a sound bite. Enjoy!

Everyone's History

It's been almost two weeks since the two grade 7 classes to whom I teach English Language Arts began a media assignment in anticipation of National Black History Month. They examined what makes a historical individual remarkable. They highlighted accomplishments, stated a quote by or about the person, and inferenced their remarkableness based on these criteria. Below are some of their results. This month their work is displayed in the front hallway of the school.

    

  

Dollars with Sense

Today was an exciting day as we participated in a workshop with Junior Achievement called Dollars with Sense. It was hands on, informative and highly discussion based about topics ranging from payment methods to budgeting to fraud. The students had lots of questions which increased their consumer awareness, mathematical/financial literacy, and hopefully they shared these new insights with their parents. A day well invested!
    

The Irony of War

In History class, we are studying the War of 1812. It's one of my favourite parts of the curriculum since I'm from southern Ontario where many of the battles occurred. Today in class while we were playing a game where half the students were American soldiers and the other half were British soldiers, we were interrupted by the Principal. She wanted to introduce a new student to our class...a Syrian refugee. This will be a new experience not only for this person new to Canada, but also a privilege for the class to help accommodate this person to the class, the school, and ultimately to this new country. We will do our best.

SNOW DAY!

This was the view outside my classroom this morning on the first (and maybe only, depending on El Nino) snow day of this school year. Though beautifully glass like, it didn't last long and by noon my classroom windows that had been iced over like stained glass were back to their normal state. I started with 4 students and maxed out at 8, so we spent the day organizing for our next two Science units, presenting independent novel studies and playing basketball for Phys. Ed. Not bad, though I had spent the day before putting together a great Science lab that will have to wait until tomorrow!