Month: January 2018

Math: Practice Metric Conversion!

Hello Everyone!

Earlier this week, as part of our ongoing work on our math unit Math Makes It Work, we continued discussions about the metric system of measurement.

Here are some things we talked about:

  • In the metric system, we have bases which are liters, meters, and grams.
  • In front of each of the bases, we can put prefixes that tell us how many of the base is involved in the measurement. These are: kilo-, hecto-, deca-/deka-, deci-, centi-, and milli-
  • We can use a set of stairs (going from upstairs to downstairs in a left to right fashion) to convert between the different units of measurement in the metric system. To remember the stairs, you could make up a phrase, such as “Kangaroos Help Dingos Because Dingos Can’t Multiply”
  • The B stands for the base unit of measurement. Always stay in the same base when converting using the stairs.
  • You can convert measurements by putting them on the stairs in the right unit, and then multiplying or dividing.
  • If you move down the stairs, each stair means multiplying by 10 and moving the decimal one space to the right. If there isn’t a number, add zeros.
  • If you move up the stairs, each stair means dividing by 10 and moving the decimal one space to the left. If there isn’t a number, add zeros.

Want some more practice?

Quia Metric Millionaire Game

Khan Academy Conversion of Units Practice

IXL Compare and Convert Units Grade 4/5 Level

IXL Compare and Convert Units Grade 6 Level

IXL Compare and Convert Units Grade 8 Level

University of Waterloo Math Frog Metrics

More advanced Metric Units Using Notation 

More advanced Matthew Metrics Gum Parlour

Metric Card Game (which we will adapt and play in class)

Other Fun Games: (Do you have any to recommend? Tell Ms. D!)

Sheppard Software Measurement Activities

BBC Build a Shed Game

Read How To Part on this one — Death to Decimals Game

Debates! Here’s how they work

Hello Everyone!

Yesterday, we had a great conversation about the positive and negative impacts of technology on young children. Here are some of the points you made during our in-class discussion:

  • Technology is being used in positive ways by children to communicate with one another, to make change, and to interact with their world.
  • Some people become addicted to technology for a variety of reasons, and the World Health Organization has identified it formally as a potential addiction disorder.
  • While some people are addicted, which means they just can’t ever stop being on digital technologies and playing video games, others are just staying too long on the computer. There was general agreement that people need to monitor how long they are on devices.
  • Being on a device for too long can have an impact on your body (posture, eye strain, eye development, etc.) and on the sleep you need to help your body.
  • We need to be aware of balance between computer activities and other fun entertainment. You all identified many ways you like to have fun other than sitting in front of a computer, like swimming, reading, drawing, playing with friends, biking, and more!
  • Some video games can be violent and we need to be aware of how our systems can be sensitive to the stimulation. Violence in video games does not necessarily make a person violent according to research.

I was impressed how many of you took a look at the UNICEF document I pointed out before. Great job reading the articles from the blog! If you want to see those links again, here they are.

So, how do we get started on a debate?

  • We create a statement we can debate, which is called a resolution.
  • Our statement is: Be it resolved that the use of technology by young children should be more limited as it has a negative impact on their development.
  • We then form teams of two.
  • All team members will make research cards that either support the resolution or go against the resolution.
  • One team member will make a positive paragraph about the topic, and the other one will make a negative paragraph. Or, the two team members can work together on both.

During the actual debate, what do we do?

  • We flip a coin to determine which team is positive and negative.
  • Positive team goes first with an opening statement – 3 min. max
  • Negative team goes second with an opening statement – 3 min. max
  • We pause and think. Teams think about what has been said during opening statements and look for evidence in their collection that will help make a counter argument and prove their case! – 5 min.
  • Positive team provides a rebuttal — 1 min.
  • Negative team provides a rebuttal — 1 min.
  • Positive team sums up their arguments – 1 min.
  • Negative team sums up their arguments – 1 min.

Evidence Cards:

Use the model I gave you. You can put your evidence on index cards. You could also collect the evidence in a list online, but it makes it harder to see it all during the debate. Each index card should have:

  • Title to say if this is negative or positive evidence, and what kind of argument
  • Name of where you found the evidence and the date
  • Quote directly from the evidence, in quotation marks

Marks and Judging:

  • Each person will be marked on a rubric for their completion of evidence, their public speaking skills used, and their overall thinking about the topic
  • Teams will be evaluated in the first rounds by Ms. D and the class. Final rounds will be evaluated by guest judges.
  • Everyone participates in minimum one round. Some people may do more if they win their rounds.
  • Winning does not impact your mark. Public speaking, being prepared, and completing your evidence does.

Thank you!

Ms. D

Commentary PowerPoint on Machines and Technology

Hello Everyone!

Today I have passed out a handout and rubric for your end-of-unit assignment to create a PowerPoint slideshow about the machine or technology you believe has been the most influential on humanity and the world.

During this project you will:

  • Create a minimum of 10 separate slides (not including your title or citations page at the end) to answer the questions provided below.
  • You need to discuss the positive and negative impacts of your machine or technology on humans and the world. Be specific.
  • Each slide should have a subtitle at the top, a picture, and a one sentence comment at the bottom that will give us an idea of your commentary about the machine or technology. It is a good idea to make the subtitles match the questions I have asked you to answer.
  • On separate paper, or in the notes section of the PowerPoint, create commentary for each slide that you can use to make a presentation during the slideshow.
  • Write commentary that answers the questions.
  • Provide copies of your notes, your PowerPoint, and your commentary to the teacher in Google Drive.
  • Practice saying the commentary out loud so you can present it to the class.

Questions you need to answer. Use these to guide your notes.:

  • What is the machine or technology you plan to discuss?
  • How is this machine or technology used? 
  • How does the machine or technology work?
  • When was the machine or technology invented? What is its history?
  • Why is this machine or technology the MOST influential on humanity and the world?
  • What are the positive impacts of this machine or technology?
  • What are the negative impacts of this machine or technology?
  • What is a summary of your key points on why this machine or technology is the most influential?
  • What is your bibliography of resources?

Do use:

  • Persuasive language to convince us this machine or technology is the MOST influential
  • Pictures that show you did some research
  • Captions under pictures to tell me what the picture is
  • Specific facts about where the machine or technology comes from that show some effort and research
  • Proper C.O.P.S. throughout the presentation
  • Basic transitions
  • One sentence of text

Please do not use:

  • Emoticons. At all.
  • Cartoon pictures.
  • Lots of text. Follow instructions. Only one sentence please.
  • Fancy transitions that increase the overall time of the slideshow, as they are not needed
  • Pictures from Google that have nothing to do with your topic
  • Pictures that have any copyright symbols or writing on them
  • Goodbye slides. If you want a slide at the end, simply say “Thank you and Questions?”
  • Black, red, neon colours that are hard to look at
  • Tiny fonts no one can read
  • Jokes in the middle of your PowerPoint. You are trying to prove a case. Convince me. Be professional.

Thank you!

Bibliographies! Useful info for your research

Hello Everyone!

Here are websites to help you with making bibliographies, which ensure all the information you are using during your research process is cited and acknowledged. Someone did all the great research before you, so we have to give them credit! This also applies to photographs you have used from the Internet.

Easy Bib — is a great resource for helping you to build your bibliography, but make sure you understand how to put a final bibliography together yourself without using this tool.

Sample Bibliography Style Sheet — Using the MLA format, here is a sample bibliography for you to follow. Notice that bibliography entries change for each type of resource.

MLA Tutorial — Here is another tutorial for young students on the MLA format of bibliographies.

Science Buddies — This website provides great tips for making MLA and APA format bibliographies. We are using MLA for now.

Sample Bibliography — Here is an entire bibliography. Notice the different resources are put in alphabetical order by the first letter of the entry. Notice the first line of each entry is not indented, but the lines afterwards are. Notice there is a space between each entry. This helps with making your resources clear to the reader and super organized!

MLA Citations Video — This is the quick video we will watch in class, if you would like to review again.

There are many more resources online about bibliographies if you need them. For example, if you forget how to cite a magazine, just put into Google “how to MLA cite a magazine” and you will find examples.

Ms. D

 

Our First Day Back! January 8th

Hello Everyone,

Just some quick updates from MACC n’ Cheese.

  • Reifel Bird Sanctuary February 2nd: Please ask your parents if they are willing to drive on Friday, February 2nd, for our field trip to the bird sanctuary. We need about 8 more passenger spots to make this work.
  • Gym Shoes: Make sure on Monday/Wednesday/Friday you have runners. You can’t run in boots, so you will have to sit out if you don’t have proper shoes. Having to sit out multiple times can affect your mark. Thank you for remembering proper footwear.
  • Report Card Envelopes: Please return report card envelopes, signed.
  • Most Influential Machine: Choose the machine or technology you think has had the most impact, positive or negative, on humans and the world. Do 15-30 minutes of research on this item tonight. You will be creating a PowerPoint of at least 10 slides that explains what the machine/technology is, how it works, its history, and the reasons you think it is the most influential. We will work on these all this week.
  • City of Ember: Please finish the novel before end of week. Please complete questions in your journal.
  • Tree Art: Great work today discussing the elements and principles of art, drawing trees outside, creating the outline of your tree, and finelining it. Next step — zentangle! If you didn’t finish the outline and finelinining part, use silent reading tomorrow to complete it so you stay on track.
  • Britannia Mines Trip All Day Feb. 23rd, Friday
  • Absences: This is a short term overall, and we have our next report card on March 16th before Spring Break begins. If you know you will be absent for a few days, please let me know the dates. Check the blog while away and ensure you stay up to date. When you return, make sure to check in and complete work that was missed so it can be counted for term two report cards. Work for term two is due by March 2nd.

As you consider which machine or technology to choose for your PowerPoint, check out this list of some of the Greatest Engineering Achievements of the 20th Century.

Have a great evening!

Ms. D

Welcome Back — New Articles to Consider

Welcome Back!

Hope you enjoyed your break and had some time to relax!

Please make sure you bring in those signed, report card envelopes tomorrow! (people who do remember will be pleasantly surprised!)

Here are some articles I found over break you may want to read in relation to our discussions about technology!

NPR 5 Things to Know About Screen Time Right Now

BBC Gaming Addiction Classified as Disorder by WHO (World Health Organization)

NPR Risk of Teen Depression Linked to Smartphone Use

Globe and Mail Your smartphone is making you stupid, antisocial, and unhealthy, so why can’t you put it down?

NPR Livestreaming Country Life Is Turning Some Chinese Farmers Into Celebrities

Globe and Mail How Much Screen Time is Harmful

CBC News Tech Toys Could Put Kids Privacy at Risk

CBC Health News Screens ‘Not a Toy’

American Psychological Association Guidelines for Youth Using Digital Technologies (says 2015, but updated 2016)

CNN Why Parents Fear Technology (and some common rumours that feed the fears)

Fast Company 3 Ways Technology Is Helping Kids

Globe and Mail Youth and Technology: Power and Danger

Psychology Today Cognitive Benefits in Playing Video Games

BBC Future Why Video Games May Be Good For You

Telegraph Is Video Gaming Bad For You? Science FOR and AGAINST

Unicef — This is dense/more advanced reading, so mature readers only. It was mentioned in the NPR article above – Chapter 1 and 4 of the PDF document have relevant information, especially starting at page 107. You can skip to certain sections using the pages in the table of contents and putting the number in to Adobe at the top of the screen. Be aware again that this is a mature read, just like the mature reads from our library. State of the World’s Children 2017: Children in a Digital World

See you tomorrow!

Ms. D

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