Yesterday, our class started our new novel study! In The Wild Robot by Peter Brown, Roz the Robot must learn how to survive on a wild island. The first lesson she has learned is the importance of camouflage.

Camouflage is a special kind of survival skill (adaptation). It means that prey can hide from predators, and vice versa. To see an example of camouflage, watch the video below. How many goats can you spot before they start moving?

Today, our class explored a few pieces of Art by Keith Haring. Haring was a very influential pop artist. He also created his Art using inexpensive materials. He is famous for using simple symbols and figures to create bright, bold Art with a message!

We will be using this tutorial for inspiration as we begin creating our own Art this week!

Today, our class investigated what it means when an animal species is labelled ‘endangered’ or ‘extinct’. There are many species of animals that are endangered or critically endangered. One of these species is the Rhino. Rhinos are endangered because they are often hunted by poachers, who harvest and sell the horns on the black market (illegally).

In the story A Family For Faru, a young child works to save an orphaned rhino from poachers.

There are many species of animals that are endangered. To see a full list of endangered species, you can click the links below:

https://www.twinkl.ca/teaching-wiki/endangered-animals

https://www.dkfindout.com/us/more-find-out/special-events/endangered-animals/

https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/directory?direction=asc&page=2&sort=extinction_status

You can also watch the video below to learn about several critically endangered species:

 

 

 

 

Have you ever wanted to become a Chemist? This is a special Scientist who works with chemicals, and chemical reactions! Today, we investigated our own chemical reaction by mixing rootbeer and ice cream!

In the photo (above), can you see the different layers? We discovered that when mixing a carbonated liquid (like rootbeer) with ice cream (a solid), the carbonation (gas bubbles) create a bubbly reaction. Do you see the gas that was trapped inside the foam?

To learn more about what a Chemist does, watch the video below:

Our Artists explored a few selected works by the influential painter Jacob Lawrence. Lawrence used Art to demonstrate the beauty of his life as a Black man growing up in Harlem. He often created cityscapes or paintings with people doing everyday activities, and even painted construction workers and architects building!

What do you notice in the image above? What sticks out to you?

Did you know that Wednesday, January 19th was Popcorn Day? Our class worked hard to design their own popcorn buckets. The goal was to make the containers sturdy (so they didn’t fall apart) and structurally sound (so they did not tip over). The goal was to hold as much popcorn as possible (the largest volume)!

Check out some of their amazing designs, plus a video on how popcorn is made, below:

Have you ever heard of the musician Yo-Yo Ma? He is a famous cellist who was a musical prodigy. When he was a child, he played his cello for the President of the USA. He has won many Grammy awards and has played all over the world! But Yo-Yo Ma is also an activist who cares deeply about culture and family.

We read a story based on a real-life event where Yo-Yo Ma played his cello at the border. He did this to raise awareness about the millions of families who are separated by borders.

Families can be divided by borders for many different reasons. Our class discussed how many of us have family and friends that are living in different countries, and how we cannot visit them because of COVID-19. We also talked about how some families may be divided because of their citizenship and immigration status.

 

This week, we tested the skiing athletes that we created using tin foil, popsicle sticks, and straws! The goal was to craft a skier (and skis) that would glide down an inclined ramp. We assessed speed and stability, as well as the safety of their landing. Check out a few of our designs below!

This week, we celebrate and acknowledge the important role that Martin Luther King Jr. had (and continues to have) on our journey towards racial equality. We learned that Martin Luther King Jr. felt the sting of racism as a child, growing up during a time when Jim Crow laws segregated (separated) people by race. Dr. King used speeches, letters, and protests to help inspire people to make changes and was a key part of the Civil Rights Movement.

Our class discussed Martin Luther King Jr.’s dreams. He hoped that one day, people would be judged not by their race, but by their character. We then thought about our own dreams and aspirations. What do we want to accomplish in our lifetime? What positive changes do we hope to see?

Our Scientists are hard at work exploring how skis and snowboards work! Using just tin foil, popsicle sticks, cardboard, and tape, our class is working towards creating a model athlete that will be able to ski or snowboard down an inclined hill. We are looking for speed and stability (our models should slide down on their feet, not their faces!).

Watch the video below to learn more about a very interesting type of skiing known as ‘Ski ballet’!