Unit Update November 12th! Coming to the end of the term!

Hello Everyone,

In addition to the email we sent you with deadlines for the mini projects we are doing, here is a quick update on some of the things we have been doing in class.

Math

In the past few weeks, we have continued to explore measures of central tendency and graphing, using Smarties as our research tool. We had a quiz this week to assess our understanding. Ms. B will be checking in with some students this week who need to do a re-take of the quiz, just to ensure they fully understand the material. We have also started a graphing project to explore food and eating patterns in the class, as well as to explore the nutritional value of different foods. Students have had to configure and conduct their own surveys, make a graph based on their survey findings, and write a paragraph explaining what they surveyed, why they chose to use the graph that they did, and what patterns they can see. This project will be due on Friday, November 15th, although we will be checking in with students to see how they are doing time-wise this week.

Physical and Health Education

In the past few weeks, we have continued to explore concepts related to physical and mental health. We have explored Indigenous perspectives on holistic health and how to understand food labels and nutritional facts. Students made their own vitamin and mineral-rich mung bean sprouts. These sprouts were a healthy alternative option at the Halloween party.

We had a class science conference, during which students explored the many roles of beneficial intestinal bacteria. The conference concluded with students making their own natural probiotic ginger ale.

Students are now working on making a poster to inform others about one vitamin or mineral, why our bodies need it, and which foods contain it. By the end of the upcoming week, we will have 24 different vitamin and mineral posters for all to learn from. These posters are due on November 15th, Friday.

We have also explored the benefits of listening to music and connecting with friends for our mental health. We took a walking trip to Central Park to explore the benefits of spending time in nature for our mental and physical health.

Language Arts

In the past few weeks, we have been working on writing our own personal TED Talks, focusing on a topic we are passionate about, related to mental and/or physical health, personal awareness and responsibility, empowerment, or another related topic. Students have all finished their first drafts, and some have also revised these drafts in preparation for their presentations on Thursday and Friday, November 14 and 15. In the coming week, students will be practicing reading their speeches to their peers and giving each other feedback on how to improve their speeches before their presentations.

French

In the past few weeks, we have explored how to say and talk about parts of the body in French. Students each had an oral check-in. They will find out how they did on their check-in next week, and have a chance to upgrade. We will be moving on to learning about how to say different foods in the coming week.

Science

Students are using the scientific method to ask the question, “Where would the most likely spot to pick up a germ in the school be?” Each group chose 2 locations in the school to test, taking a Q-Tip to collect the sample and then spreading the sample on homemade petri dishes of agar agar, beef broth, and sugar. Students have been making daily observations with both pictures and words to document the changes. We will be looking carefully at our samples for colour, shape, and texture changes that would indicate whether the location had germs (bacteria, yeast, mold, fungi). We will collect our results as a class to determine which location has the greatest likelihood of germ pick up using probability, fractions, and percentages from our math discussions earlier in the term.

Art

Students made amazing poppy art through the use of emphasis, careful observation and drawing, charcoal, and acrylic techniques. They have taken pictures of their art and are reflecting on how they applied these techniques to create a beautiful final product. They are also finishing their HIVE art, and there will be reflections on the e-ports by Friday, November 15th, with explanations of what each of the personal hexagons mean.

Music and Other Upcoming Things!

Music for the rest of the time until break will be dedicated to the musical preparations, and many students are auditioning for speaking roles today and tomorrow at lunch. Those in the choir are meeting on Thursdays at lunch to also prepare for their role. As a class, we will be making art to help decorate the gym and provide the festive atmosphere for SNOW BIZ! Please submit your ticket orders by this Friday and mark the date of the performances on your calendars.

Holiday Preparations have been discussed during class meetings. The students wish to have a Secret Santa exchange, White Elephant gift game, and a class party. A committee has been formed to organize our party and everyone is welcome to join committee meetings advertised in class. All of these things will happen during our last week.

Away Early? You may miss important things like the musical, part of the next unit (as we will begin our next unit the week of Nov. 25th and be working on it until we go to break), and the holiday party. It is a good idea to tell us in advance you will be away. Report cards are not distributed until Dec. 20th, so if you leave early, please collect it from me in the new year when you return. Thank you!

Meetings for Assessment. A notice will go out this Friday to schedule a meeting for report card conferences, and it will include a parent questionnaire that will be included with the report card. Please begin to look through the e-portfolios so we can all reflect on how things went during term one.

Thank you and more to come soon!

Ms. D and Ms. B