Month: September 2021

Update and New Assignment: Human Body Corporation

Hello Everyone,

Division 5 students have been doing a great job investigating the human body through hands-on body stations, reading, watching videos, and class discussion. We have lots of great questions already about how the system of the body works!

We are discussing the Universal Systems Model and how every system has an INPUT, PROCESS, OUTPUT, and FEEDBACK. We are identifying the many INPUTS our human body system needs to work correctly, such as sleep, exercise, good nutrition, and balance. We will continue these discussions over the next few weeks.

Part of taking care of the human body SYSTEM is making good decisions. We are talking about what we have control over in terms of personal choices that will help us grow, learn, and feel better each day. If you want to make a good decision, how do you do it? Maybe you have to consider the DATA, to find out if the input into the system is a good one. Or, perhaps you need to find out if a certain OUTPUT/OUTCOME is more likely based on your investigations. This is all connected to our math discussions about data and probability!

If you missed these recent videos shown in class, here you go!

Real Science Circulatory and Respiratory System

Ted Ed The Benefits of a Good Night’s Sleep

Now, we will work on the Human Body Corporation!

Today, we worked on why and how you would write a business letter. Everyone wrote a sample letter to prepare for doing our first assignment with a rubric — Human Body Corporation!

Each person will choose an organ to represent in the human body. If you haven’t chosen one yet, please let Ms. D know which one as soon as you can.

As a body organ, we will pretend you are an employee of the Human Body Corporation.  Due to recent cost increases, the Human Body Corporation needs to fire workers.  Uh oh! You might lose your job! You need to write a letter to the Human Body Corporation explaining why you are very important to the human body and should not be fired!  In your letter, you need to describe to the Corporation the following characteristics of your organ:

  • Tell what the name of your organ is and where you are located
  • Identify what systems of the body you work with
  • Describe how you work with these systems
  • List the other organs that work with you in your system
  • Describe your main functions or jobs as a Human Body organ
  • Tell the Corporation how you perform those functions or jobs
  • Tell the Corporation why you are important and why they should not fire you
  • Explain what might happen to the Human Body Corporation if they fired you

You will need to use a proper BUSINESS LETTER format to write your letter.  After writing the letter, you will read your letter to the Human Body Corporation (the rest of the class.)

The letter notes and draft can be in your journal. We will use laptops to type out the final version.

You may use the book resources in the classroom to find out information that supports your position AND include this evidence in your letter.  You can also use Internet resources, and we have a list of websites, on a USB that we will share with you, that may help.

Along with your letter, please have a visual aid ready to show, which will be a piece of blank paper with a picture (drawn or found on the internet) labeled with all the important parts of your organ.

Remember, I showed you a business letter sample in class, and it had specific parts to be included:

  1.  Addresses and dates
  2.  An opening/greeting with a colon
  3.  No indents
  4.  A first paragraph introducing yourself, who you are, and what you are asking of the Human Body Corporation
  5.  A second paragraph really pleading your case about why you are important. If you need two paragraphs for this, it is okay. Remember to avoid big blobs of text. The Human Body Corporation is busy and likes to read its information in quick, easy-to-digest parts.
  6.  A final paragraph summing up what you have said and thanking the Human Body Corporation for being gracious about reading your letter.
  7.  A closing (Respectfully, With respect, Sincerely)
  8.  A signature

The Human Body Corporation looks forward to hearing your case!

Ms. D

First Unit for 2021-22 on SYSTEMS!

 

Hello Everyone!

Now posted on our classroom wall is our first unit about the concept of SYSTEMS!

Unit Focus Statement:

Our personal choices play a role in how the interconnected system of the human body works.

Concept Guiding the Unit:  SYSTEMS

Core Competency Focus Areas: Personal Awareness & Critical Thinking

Areas of Inquiry:

  • The nature of systems and how we participate in them
  • The systems of the body and how they work together
  • Diseases and how the body defends against them
  • Choices and personal awareness that contribute to our overall well being
  • How we gather, organize, and interpret data to make healthy choices
  • Indigenous and world perspectives on health
  • How art and mindfulness practices are related to mental and physical wellness
  • French vocabulary and basic expressions about the human body

Learning Activities Coming Up:

  • Discussions about Universal Systems found everywhere through activities such as Roller Coaster Making and Scrappy Circuits
  • Investigations about body systems through rotating learning stations
  • Research on a body system of choice and writing a letter to the Human Body Corporation about why your system is the most important to the body
  • Gathering measurement data about ourselves and graphing it
  • Math from the book Math on the Job:Keeping us Healthy, practicing math used by health practitioners
  • Math games around data and probability, as well as lessons on mean, mode, and median.
  • Discussions and labs related to DNA/Genetics (Strawberry DNA extraction), Brain Science, Immunity, and Blood Types (not with real blood!)
  • Art activities related to personal exploration and mindfulness such as zentangling, black ink group art, and hive art.
  • Research on a Disease of our choice and presenting using PPT
  • More updates to come as we get into the unit!

Stay tuned on Twitter as I give daily pictures when possible related to our unit work.

Planners went home today, and a notice about payment is coming soon this week! We will fill these out daily. I write anything that is important to remember on the board at the end of the day. If nothing is written, there are no reminders or work to catch up on at this time. Planners need to come to school every day.

New Parent MACC Orientation is Wed. Sept. 15th 5-6 PM. Zoom invites were sent out via email.

Parent Conferences are on Sept. 22nd and 23rd. We have an early dismissal at 2PM on Sept. 22nd, and Sept. 23rd is a full day. You will receive a notice about how to sign up for a virtual meeting with me on MS Teams in the coming week.

Reading Around the World:  Booklets went home today. Please sign the letter at the front to acknowledge it was read and have them bring it back to show me this week. These duotangs can be kept in the backpack to have as a reference for books to read for the year. The program is optional. Reading is highly encouraged!

Kindly,

Ms. D

Welcome to MACC Suncrest Division 5 2021-22!

 

Dear Parents and Students:

Hello to everyone, and a special welcome to our 12 new MACC students and their families! I hope you are all doing well, and that everyone was able to enjoy some of the beautiful sunshine this summer.

 

For new parents:

My name is Ms. DeTerra (known as Ms. D), and I have been the Grade 4/5 MACC teacher at Suncrest for the past six years, since the program started at the school. In fact, I was on the District Committee to create Burnaby MACC in 2013. Before that, I wore many hats! I was on the District’s Staff Development Team as an Advanced Learning Helper Teacher, providing District support for gifted students and teaching Challenge Programs in grades 2 – 7.  I have been teaching since 2003, and I have extensive experience with the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme as both a teacher and consultant. Before teaching, I also worked in the corporate sector, in public relations for technology companies. My approach to teaching involves cultivation of inquiry skills, hands-on activities, and conceptual-based, transdisciplinary learning, meaning I combine most subjects into larger units for meaningful connections between disciplines. As soon as we get settled in, I will send you a ZOOM invite for a virtual presentation about the program and my approach. Please look for this in our second week of school.

For all parents and students:

  • Our first day together is Tuesday, September 7th from 8:55– 10:00 AM. I open doors at 8:50 AM. After that time, all students need to leave school grounds. The playground is used by before and after school daycare, and there isn’t supervision after school.
  • In MACC, we start right away with a full class. Everyone knows who their teacher is – me!  Students meet new classmates on day one.
  • Please come to PORTABLE CLASSROOM 3 at the back of the school and line up to the left of the wooden porch.
  • Please note the parking lot is for Suncrest School and Daycare Staff only; however, there is a lot of parking around the front of the school.
  • You don’t need to bring anything the first day in terms of supplies. Just you! See below for my supply list.
  • MASKS are required for all students in grades 4-7 in indoor areas.
  • At this time, indoor school spaces are for students and staff only, as visitors require an appointment. I also encourage both parents and students to wear masks and distance from one another as we congregate outside. Thank you for keeping everyone safe!
  • I will distribute a packet with more information, as well as a letter for each child to welcome them, on the first day.

 

Supplies List:

A list of supplies was posted on the Suncrest School Website by the office, but here is my detailed list. All supplies will be kept in backpacks or small bins in the cloakroom. Students do not have individual desks with storage, and we have limited space, so please avoid large or unnecessary items. Please label supplies with a name. Thank you!

 

  • Backpacks: Please find a backpack that will accommodate a lunch bag and one binder. Try to avoid larger bags, especially roller ones, as we have limited space. Please make sure they are not too heavy, and that your child can open and close it independently.
  • Duotangs – 3 different colour, 3 prong duotangs (ideally plastic, as they last longer, but paper is okay.) Give these to Ms. D so she can set them up for you.
  • Blue Binder – 1, one inch, 3 ring binder. This will have all unit handouts and will be kept in the backpack. You may find your child will want 4 dividers to split up work from Math, Language Arts, Socials/Science, and Other. If you would like to set those up for them, it can be helpful, but it is not required.
  • Journal – I will provide a composition book for your child during our first week. This book is where ALL notes for ALL subjects will be kept. No paper is needed.
  • Small Standard Math Set – With protractor and compass.
  • Calculator – A small, basic one, not scientific or with internet access.
  • Erasers – 3 white, vinyl erasers – one at school and two at home for back up
  • Sharpies – 2 standard black sharpie markers
  • Fine Liners – 2 standard black, ultra-fine tip markers
  • Pencils – 2 packages of quality pencils with erasers on top. If you can, during the school sales, get extras, as grade 4/5 students go through pencils quickly.
  • Pencil Sharpener – a quality one with a storage for shavings
  • Highlighters – 1 thin highlighter
  • Thin Felt Markers – one package of 12 thin felt markers
  • Coloured Pencils – one package of 12, pre-sharpened coloured pencils
  • Scissors – one pair of scissors, ideally sharp ones, not with blunted edges
  • Glue Sticks – 4 large glue sticks (Elmer’s if possible) – one at school and three at home for back up
  • Pencil Container/Bag – Optional. I will provide a small, plastic bin in class for things, and it does not have a lot of room for a box. I find a small pencil bag with a zipper is more useful than a box, which is hard to put the backpack and take to and from school when you need to finish a project.
  • Inside Shoes: Each student needs a pair of inside shoes that stays at school, to help with keeping our classroom clean. Please put your child’s name on each shoe. Shoes will also be worn for GYM, so please do not send crocs, flip-flops, or shoes that will easily fall off.
  • Water Bottle: Students need to have a water bottle with a secure lid. They will keep it in their backpack.
  • Lunch Kit: Try to keep it as small as possible. Ideally it can fit inside their backpack.

I wish all of you a calm last week before school starts up again, and I hope we all find ways to enjoy the sunshine and our families so we are ready for a new year. I look forward to meeting you all in person and to working with your children this year. If there is anything I can do to support you or to answer questions, please let me know.

Thank you in advance for your support!

With kindness,

Ms. D