Sunshine! Summer’s on its way! May 4th

Hello Everyone!

May the 4th Be With You!!!!! (for all the Star Wars fans)

Today, we had our last Caribou Test for the year. Thank you to everyone for participating. Results should be out tonight or early morning. It can take longer on the last contest.

We also talked about two other Math Competitions coming up. The first is the ABEL TEST, which is for grade 5 and below, run by the Burnaby School District, here at school on May 10th, Wednesday. The second is the GAUSS TEST which is run by University of Waterloo for grades 7 and below, held here at school on May 15th (we are doing it slightly later than some schools due to GR 7 Camp dates.) Students signed up for one or the other, as I asked them to only do one of the two tests that is suitable for their level of math. I recommend you practice! See the District’s Math Blog for practice tests.

Everyone is beginning independent project research! This research will be recorded in student binders and on E-Portfolios, as they reflect and work on the process of researching. Ms. D has begun talking with individual students about possible primary research interviews with an expert in the community. I also encourage parents to help us out! If you know an expert on or fan of one of these areas, please contact Ms. DeTerra, as helping the students with their interests takes a village!

  • World War 2 Aircraft (or war in general)
  • Phobias (or anyone working in psychology)
  • Hypnosis (or anyone working in psychology or neuroscience)
  • Optical Illusions 
  • Amur Leopard (Biologists, Nature Experts, Ecologists)
  • Jellyfish (Biologists, Nature Experts, Ecologists)
  • African Dwarf Frog (Biologists, Nature Experts, Ecologists)
  • Planets (Astronomers, Space Centre)
  • Making YouTube Channels Successful (Technology Experts, Marketing)
  • Jason and the Argonauts, Greek Mythology, Nemean Lion from mythology (Mythology, Literature Experts)
  • Ancient Egyptian Architecture (Architects, Historians)
  • Big Bang Theory (Physics Teachers, Physicists)
  • Candy and Effect on Teeth (Dentists, Dental Hygienists)
  • Why We Laugh (Psychology, Psychiatrists)
  • Addiction (Psychology, Counsellors, Nurses)
  • Arctic Ecology (Biologists, Nature Experts, Ecologists)
  • Cars and How They Have Changed (Mechanics, Car Historians)
  • Corporations and How They Compete- Apple V Microsoft, CocaCola V Pepsi (Business People, Microsoft Employees, Marketing, Advertising)
  • Why People Like Video Games (Marketing, Psychology, Business, Video Game Makers)
  • American Politics (Politicians, American History Professors)
  • Water (Physics, City Workers for Water System, Nature Experts on Water Cycle)

We also talked about CLIMATE CHANGE — what causes it, how people are denying it exists, and what the signs of climate change are. We watched Bill Nye Climate Change 101 and I asked everyone to continue watching Bill Nye’s Documentary on Climate Change with National Geographic Explorer at home, as it is too long for the classroom and the sound requires you to watch it on a personal device. 

Everyone completed the RUBBER DUCKY ocean challenge, figuring out how ocean currents caused lost rubber duckies from a shipment of toys to travel across the world. We plotted coordinates of rubber ducky sightings, and I asked students to describe the path the ducks followed according to ocean currents. Handout due tomorrow EOD.

We worked on research tips! We talked about the meaning of “the internet”, how to search effectively, how to work with e-portfolios (backgrounds, posting links, etc.) and with Easy Bib to make bibliography entries. Please read over the handout I gave you. We will be using the e-port to show our research process. Everyone needs to:

  • Make sure your e-portfolio presents well. Check colours, background, and links. Do some editing! Remember parents and Ms. D will look at this e-portfolio for report card in term three!
  • Make sure your e-portfolio is about the work we are doing. Avoid talking too much about personal issues and focus on the work. 
  • Find a picture that relates to your research. Post it and a caption.
  • Make a post about a World Book (or other Encyclopedia) article on your topic. Include Easy Bib entry (found at bottom of World Book articles, already done for you) and key points you learned.
  • Make a post about one web article for your topic. Include the Easy Bib entry and key points you learned. If you need help using Easy Bib, come see me.

REVIEW FOR QUIZ, MOVED TO MONDAY! Post some questions and answers about what we have learned so far (everything before talking about oceans and climate change, which will not be on there.)

You will collect a water sample this weekend!!! 🙂 Make sure you have a lid on whatever jar you are using and label where it came from with tape on the side. Microscopes have arrived, but we still have to go over how they work. More hands on stuff next week.

Have a great day!

Ms. D