June 1st Update from Ms. D

Hello Everyone!

Thank you to everyone, both parent drivers and students, for another great day of dragon boating! We came up with team names for our two boats, so it was Sea Tacos versus Taco Cats. We apparently were hungry or something when we brainstormed ideas…..  It was a beautiful morning on the lake. Eric and Wes, our instructors, have been giving us great tips on how to work as a team, follow dragon boating calls, and speed down the lake. Our last session will be on Wednesday, June 8th, for 90 minutes.

We continued working on independent research today. Just a reminder that everyone should now know what their primary research is and be collecting information using it. Be sure to document any interview, survey, experiment, etc. by taking pictures, taking notes, recording conversations, or writing up a lab report like the one we did in class.

On Monday, we had an opportunity to do another science experiment. The purpose was to learn about physical and chemical reactions, to practice using our observation skills, and to review how to write a lab report. Also, as we do experiments, we have been talking “backwards myths.” In other words, in ancient times, they explained things they didn’t understand with myths. Now we have the science to explain what happens, but what if we didn’t? We are working backwards and inventing myths to explain things, too. Our lab question was: How do we know if there has been a chemical reaction? Please explain at home how turmeric is a natural acid/base indicator! And then tell what happens when you combine turmeric, alcohol, calcium chloride, and baking soda in a plastic bag! Some serious excitement over the reaction as we produced a new substance — limestone!

As we look at myths, we are also exploring creative writing through figurative language and poetry. When we don’t have words to describe a feeling, we need to compare that feeling to something that is known! We are creating a mini poetry journal as we do some explorations with free verse, metaphor, simile, alliteration, personification, and more. Yesterday, we played poetry poker to create a crazy free verse poem. Today, we listened to colour poems by Ken Devine and learned to use personification to make a colour of our choice into a person and describing them in a poem. Please finish this poem for homework tonight.

Everyone is working on their french dialogues. I have asked students to practice pronunciation online, memorize the dialogue and present. Some are ready to go for tomorrow, but if not, they must be presented before end of day June 6th.

Check out the posts from several students who are using surveys for their primary research! They would appreciate your response.

Have a great night!

Ms. D