Month: May 2017

Monday, May 8th! Using the microscopes….

Hello Everyone!

Today we had the quiz, and thank you to everyone who took the time to review the material from our unit at home. Thank you, as well, to the students who helped with review by posting questions on the blog. Some of you still need to finish, so you can do that tomorrow morning, as the online form is only available in class. Don’t worry — the quiz was a bit long, and it is okay to take extra time.

We talked together about how to study with success! Here’s what you said worked:

  • Write down key terms from what you read. Put them into Quizlet, an app that can quiz you about these terms.
  • Write down key terms and have someone else go over them with you.
  • Look at your notes and the highlighted parts of your reading (by highlighting the key terms when I ask you to, then you are already ready to go!)
  • Posting questions on the blog and then answering them.

When you are taking a quiz, there are some strategies to think about:

  • If you don’t know something, don’t beat yourself up! This happens. Don’t obsess about the question for too long thinking the answer will magically appear. Move on to the next question.
  • Try to stay calm when taking your quiz. Breathe, take breaks, stretch if you need to, and move to an area of the classroom where it works for you to think.
  • Try not to immediately give up and have anxiety when a question is tough. Not all questions are straightforward. Sometimes thinking is involved. Make it your goal to tell yourself, when things are tough, “You know, this is tough, but I will do my best, and that is all I can ask of myself!”
  • Don’t take too long on one question. Read the question carefully, ask yourself what the question is asking for, and then focus on just answering it. Don’t give too much extra detail, as you have more questions to answer.
  • Get sleep before a quiz day and make sure you eat well. Bring a snack to school every day, but particularly on quiz or project days when you know you need the energy.
  • Remember that the teacher isn’t “mad” when you don’t know something. They will encourage you to keep reviewing. They may point out that you could have spent more time studying. But this feedback is designed to help you. 
  • YOUR WORK is not a reflection of WHO YOU ARE. Sometimes the work is good, other times it is not as good. But that doesn’t mean that you are not a good person or that you are terrible at doing things. 

Tonight, continue on work assigned Friday, and if you are behind in ART, take your art home to draw for 15 minutes.

Tomorrow, a blog entry by the class on the pros and cons of fidget toys. Let’s have a class meeting to discuss!

Ms. D

Weekend Update May 5th

Hello Everyone,

An interesting photo posted by the David Suzuki Foundation. Photo Credit: Jorge Gamboa, Bicébé 2017. Caption: “A picture is worth a thousand words.”

Just a quick update on things to do as a follow up to the large chunk of time I gave you today to get most of these things done!

Class Photo: Sent home today!

Poetry: Write 3 poems using handout (overdue)

Math: Finish biodiversity data chart (overdue)

Oceans: Rubber Ducky Chart and Questions (overdue)

Independent Project: Post a picture with caption, encyclopedia article link and notes, and a web article and notes. Notes can be point form; just key ideas. Post a link and the EasyBib bibliography entry.

Primary Research for Independent Project: Also, please talk with your parents — who could you talk to with an interview via email, Skype, or a quick in-person appointment that may relate to your topic. Ms. D is doing her best, but we will need to ask for help, too!

Study for Quiz: On Monday. Use white folder with handouts to study!

French: Go over days of week, months, and numbers 1-31 in prep for weather report project

Microscopes: Read two microscopes handouts for Monday when we will work more with our nice microscope equipment! (class time was given today) Bring a water sample. Make sure samples are labeled, cleaned off, and securely shut!

BOB: Ongoing reading through May/Early June. Write 20 new questions for Wed. for the competition. (class time was given today)

Have a good weekend!

Ms. D

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

 

Happy Monday — Our impact on nature, oceans, and more! May 1

Hello Everyone!

Here are some of the things we did today:

  • We talked about animal classification and did venn diagram puzzles for applied math to organize characteristics of animals. Good job trying to figure out the puzzles in groups!
  • We looked at a cool chart from the Economist on the relationship between competitive environment, anxiety, and high results on achievement tests in high school. Check it out! This involved looking at a more complicated chart with an x, y axis and forming conclusions about data.
  • We worked on our endangered animal/plant art inspired by the artist Sue Coccia. Everyone was asked to identify 10 things from their animal or plant research that would inspire images to put inside of the larger shape of their animal or plant. See Sue’s art here and be thinking of what else you could include. If you haven’t found a First Nations image or story to include, take time to find one to make your art more dynamic.
  • We discussed some of the ways in which humans impact the environment and ecosystems, brainstorming in groups human activities that result in pollution or harm. One of the keystone spaces to be looking at for our impact on the environment is the OCEAN. We put together large maps, discussed how to find coordinates through latitude and longitude, and began charting the Rubber Ducks story to learn about ocean currents. We will continue to investigate oceans and hopefully get to some carbon dioxide pH experiments later this week.

Things to get done & Reminders!!

  • Journal:  You were supposed to start this on Saturday, but many students did not, so start today! You know what to record from a previous blog entry. Do it for seven days.
  • E-Portfolio Numbers in the News: I checked the e-ports and some of you did not do the assignment, or you did not include a link, or you did not actually answer the questions. So, it is late, but try again! Thank you.
  • Venn Diagrams: I asked you to choose 5 animals and make 3-circle venn diagrams for them using taxonomy information and other characteristics. Due tomorrow.
  • Quiz Friday: Respond to this blog entry with a sample questions you think might be on the quiz. Focus on big ideas not just the small stuff!
  • Geocaching! As a bonus, look up geocaching. Anyone who gets a list of where you can find geocache sites locally and brings it to me tomorrow can get a prize (first five people only.)
  • Student Election Tomorrow: Read the “20 Hot Topics” handout for more info on who you should vote for at tomorrow’s student vote session in the gym.
  • BOB: Many of you have not turned in your 20 questions for BOB…….Again, not going to chase you down! Just a reminder — just because your group members have read a book does not mean you shouldn’t also read it. You need to read as many of the 11 books as possible. The more members who have read the books, the better the chance you can answer the questions and win!
  • Caribou: Test is on Thursday morning this week! Last one for the year.

Have a great night!

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