MS. DETERRA'S MAKER STUDIO

Today we started talking geometry by playing a Battleship game! Why Battleship? Because this game involves the use of coordinates, which allowed us to talk about the x axis, y axis, how to write coordinates (x,y), quadrants, and number lines. While having fun, we used some math skills that can be helpful for other geometry activities.

Our geometry unit will involve a lot of measurement! To this end, we started today by reviewing measurement of time, as well as finding all the different ways someone can express the time of day. How do we express time in words, fractions, in analog form, in digital form, using military 2400 clocks, etc.? A great question came up — Why do we use the abbreviations A.M. and P.M. after the times? Also, why does Europe use a different way to tell time than we do in Canada? I challenged students to look up these times at home and bring in the answers tomorrow.

Finally, I gave everyone the first handout on Skyscrapers, and the homework is to read the first page and then do page 2 using lined paper. If you want to work ahead, you can, but I will give time in class to do the exercises in this packet, as well.

Debate speeches, positive and negative, are hopefully done by EOD on Thursday. More time for these in the morning, but some on the negative speech has been assigned for homework.

The machines PPT/Prezi hopefully will be complete by EOD Friday. More time for these tomorrow, but you may want to look it over at home.

Have a great evening! More hip hop tomorrow morning, so try to be on time and ready to roll to the gym.

Hello Everyone,

Sometimes in class, we diverge from our normal subject matter and talk about things that come up in conversation. These tangents are often great learning moments, and today was not an exception.

While Ms. D is not particularly political, students were talking about Donald Trump and laughing about some of the things he has been saying, as he is frequently in the news, and it brought forward an opportunity to talk about what it means to talk intelligently and with respect for other people. I read a portion of a magazine article that, while humorous and well written, also made it clear how politicians can use words incorrectly to gain attention.

I asked the class to reflect on and identify words they have heard being used incorrectly to refer to people and/or people’s faiths and backgrounds. Many of these words are not inappropriate and can be found in formal conversation or some of the articles they read online; however, when used incorrectly, words can be very hurtful.

In our future units, we will touch upon social studies topics that relate to our diversity as Canadians, to the many differences and similarities within our families, traditions, and backgrounds, and to the ways in which we create tolerance and acceptance for all types of people. In our class, we keep working toward a better understanding of how to be caring, open-minded, reflective, principled, and knowledgeable thinkers and communicators — because these characteristics allow us to function well as a community and lead to better success in our future lives, no matter what career or personal experiences we may pursue.

I encourage you to talk about these things as they come up, especially given students are going to be spending more time online as they get older, reading higher-level articles. They need these discussions to better understand what they are reading and the words they are using aloud in conversation.

Good evening!

Today we started hip hop dancing, found new books in the library, prepared for our debate on video games by writing speeches, worked on our machines slideshow presentation, and discussed the beginnings of our new math unit.

Hip Hop will continue Wednesday – Friday mornings. On Monday we have an afternoon performance of what students have been working on at 1:30 PM and parents are welcome. Our class is performing as a group along with other divisions in the school.

Today we assigned debate team partners, reviewed debate vocabulary (as it has involved learning and using a lot of new words like opposition, proposition, counter-arguments, affirmative, resolution, etc.), and talked about how a debate speech is like writing a mini 5 paragraph essay. Team members discussed the evidence they each collected and then decided how each person would write about the positive and negative sides of our debate resolution.

I provided a handout that has an explanation of debate and a general outline of what debate speeches look like — this was NOT to fill out, but was to give us a starting point for what these speeches can look like. Each student is making two, 3-minute speeches, one for positive and one for negative. They will include an introduction that talks about what they believe in (whether for or against the resolution) and the 3-4 main reasons why, some paragraphs that detail evidence for each of the 3-4 reasons, and then a closing statement to sum it all up. For tomorrow: Everyone will show Ms. D their 16 pieces of evidence for a check in tomorrow morning after Hip Hop. I have also asked that they try to make a draft of the positive side speech tonight. Our debates will hopefully begin on Thursday. Depending on time, students may only get to debate on one side or the other, and they will not know which side until it is time to debate. I am handing out a rubric for the speaking tomorrow, and we brainstormed criteria for success together today.

Machines Powerpoints and Prezi Presentations should be wrapped up by Friday. Included in this assignment is a slideshow showing how a machine of their choice had an impact on human society, research notes, sources used, and commentary written down that they will use to make the presentation. The presentation should have around 10 slides, but can have more, with no more than 25. Three slides detail machine’s history, who made it, and how it works. Seven slides would have specific reasons why this machine had an impact. Some students have put more time into explaining the machine versus showing how the machine has had an impact, so I went around today and gave feedback so adjustments can be made before turning it in. Students have a rubric to refer to for this project.

In MATH we are going to be looking at geometry — area, volume, shapes, vertices, faces, angles, etc. We will be looking at this by designing our own skyscrapers, as well as by using the standard curriculum approach so key ideas are covered or expanded upon for those who are advanced in math. The unit will have a project and a final test, both of which will receive marks. The first assignment today: Look up the top ten tallest skyscrapers in the world. First 5 people to arrive with this correct list tomorrow morning can get a prize.

Several students found some great zentangle designs online, so please respond to this blog post with links to the ones you like! That way your classmates can try them, too!

Have a great night!

Ms. D

Hello again! Happy New Year!

We started today by checking in, sharing stories from the break, and writing a brief journal entry called N.E.W.S. This meant telling me:

1. New things you learned or did over the break
2. Everything you did over the break (a list)
3. Wonderings you have (over the break or since last term)
4. Something you want to do or plan to do in term two or the new year

Following this, Ms. D shared some new resources she found over the holidays and read the book The Perfect Square by Michael Hall. As a creative thinking activity, students were given a square of their own to cut up, manipulate, tear, poke, crumple, or divide in any way they wanted to make something new on another sheet of paper. Our simple squares became volcano scenes, flowers, skyscrapers, monsters, and more.

After play time outside in the snow for recess, we continued talking about our debate. Our debate resolution is: Video games are a benefit to children. We defined our terms, such that video games can be any interactive game played on a console, mobile device, television or computer; benefit means a help or making what was existing before better; and children means anyone under the age of 19.

Some students need to do some adjustment to their evidence collection for the debate, as they did not include a source, they don’t have long enough quotes, or they only have evidence to help one side of the debate. Everyone should have evidence that will help them on either side, as they do not know which side they will debate in class. I will ask everyone to turn this in tomorrow at end of day. Tonight, they have been asked to prepare a debate speech outline for the positive and negative sides. For the positive side, this means writing, “I believe in the resolution that video games are a benefit to children because….” and then writing 4-5 point-form, main arguments they would make that support the resolution. For the negative side, they will write, “I disagree with the resolution that video games are a benefit to children because….” and then writing 4-5 point-form, main arguments that would support that statement. In class, we will begin to write the speeches to go with those outlines.

Tomorrow, we will have time to work on our PPT presentations. Please bring any USB that may have work on it done at home, if anyone was working on it over the break.

We began an art project today that will involve the elements of shape and form, watercolour, zentangle, drawing/sketching, and geometry. Students sketched the outlines of bare trees surrounding the school, and I have asked them to do another sketch of a tree they can find near their home. We also practiced doing some zentangle designs, and they should look up zentangle on google to try one more pattern independently before tomorrow. This project will take some time, but the end result will be some beautiful trees incorporating multiple art skills (and science skills, as we will be using the power of observation to enhance our drawing.)

Hip Hop starts tomorrow and runs Tuesday – Friday at 8:55 AM – 9:45 AM. Please be on time to school. If you haven’t brought the yellow notice, please bring it in ASAP tomorrow. If anyone has chosen not to participate or does not have their notice tomorrow, then I will provide an alternate activity at that time, as we have to go to the gym as a whole class.

Thank you, and have a great evening! Welcome back!

Happy New Year, everyone!

First of all, thank you to everyone for their gifts and holiday wishes before we went to break. A big thank you to all of you from both myself and my family.

Second, I look forward to seeing you all on Monday. Please remember these things as we get back on track:

• Report Card Envelope – if you haven’t brought it in, please bring it to school signed.
• Library Books – make sure you can find them all in anticipation of Tuesday library
• Hip Hop – This optional activity starts this week, and so payment and yellow notices must come in Monday. If you are not participating, then please let me know. We are doing this as a whole class along with all other classes at the school.
• USB STICK – please ensure you bring this to school Monday as we will continue making our machines PPT or start practicing with presenting them.
• Warm Clothes – dress for cold outside days!! Also consider having a PE strip or clothes on PE days that allows for being outside. If it is not raining, we may be outside for PE or daily walks and/or runs.

Look forward to seeing you Monday! Have a good rest of the weekend, get some good sleep, and get outside in the sunshine!

Ms. D

Tomorrow at 9:15 we will have a Celebration of Learning and Sing a Long in the gym. Our class will be performing a quick handbell song. Parents are always welcome to these Celebrations.

Friday, we have our Pancake Breakfast in the morning along with a group class photo with Santa. Then, we have a fun time planned with a holiday party, movie, and gift exchange!

Before we leave for break, our goal is to work on formal debate speeches, our machines research and notes, and to finish our French. We will also spend more time on coding and talk briefly about our plan for after the break. The machines slide presentations will likely be completed in the two days we return to school, and then everyone will share them aloud. Ask your child if they have the rubric for this project they can show you.

Today, we created special random notes of kindness and scattered them in places throughout the school for other students to find. Please ask your child about the TED talk we watched that provided the inspiration for this.

Have a great night!

Hello Everyone!

Getting close to the end! Four days left! Ms. D is continuing her own countdown — 11 days until Christmas!

Today we had a great time walking to the movie in good weather, and when we came back, we had some extra time outside after lunch, along with the rest of the intermediate classes. Then we were able to spend the last hour and a half of the day working on our debate evidence, machines presentation, and French quizzes.

We found out today that Michael’s winter art was chosen as a winner in the Burnaby Art Contest, and his painting is going to be on the Christmas Cards being used by the City of Burnaby! Congratulations, Michael!! All of the grade fours who participated in this contest were given a special packet to say thank you from the City of Burnaby. Good job, everyone!

Tomorrow, Ms. D is away just for the morning, collaborating with the other MACC 4/5 teacher in the District. The morning will be filled with Library time (so don’t forget your books!) and time to work on research and presentations. I will see you at 1:00 PM to continue the day. Have a good morning!

Please remember to be thinking about your Secret Santa and White Elephant contributions, as well as the food or item you agreed to bring to the party on Friday. Looking forward to our last, community-building day together before the new year!

Hi All!

Just a reminder for Monday as regards the movie at Metrotown:

• Please be on time; we are leaving promptly after school begins.
• Do not bring money to buy snacks, please.
• Bring a good snack with you that can be carried in a pocket (examples: juice box, crackers, veggies) Please have them in a disposable bag vs a container that could get lost.
• We will all be walking. We cannot meet you at the movie theatre, as this is a school group walking event.
• Rain or shine, please dress with appropriate coats and shoes.
• We will be back by 1PM and have our full lunch then.

Homework:

• 16 pieces of evidence completed for Monday for debating (most have at least finished 10 pieces from the class time we had today)
• Secret Santa and White Elephant gifts, bring by Dec. 18 or sooner
• Research for Machines PPT Presentation. We went over criteria together today, and a full rubric will be provided on Monday afternoon.

Upcoming events:

• Movie on Dec. 14th
• Sing Along 9:15 Thursday Dec. 17th
• Pancake Breakfast, Class Party, PJ Day on Dec. 18th

Thank you and have a great weekend!

Hello Everyone,

Some great holiday events are coming up! On Friday, December 18th, our last day of school, we will be having a Pancake Breakfast, and our division will be eating away from 9:30-9:55 AM. It is also a pajama day for the entire school! Students can come in their pajamas, and everyone is allowed to bring a stuffie if they want (stuffies are to be kept in our classroom at all times to protect them, thanks!)

Also on our last day, we will have a Holiday Party as a class. We have each committed to bring something, and in today’s agenda we wrote what we volunteered to bring. If that item is a problem, please let us know!

Everyone received their name for a Secret Santa gift today! You can bring these in any time before Dec. 18th, and on that day, we will open them together. The idea is to make something for the person or if you buy something, to not spend more than $5. We made a list of fun suggestions on the board. The class voted on this as an event they wanted to do.

Another event for that day, during our party, is a movie and White Elephant gift exchange. Students are asked, if they are able, to find something that is still usable and hygienic, but that they no longer want (for example, a toy they don’t want, or bunches of random lego, or a book, etc.). It is to be wrapped, and then we will be sitting in a circle, drawing numbers, and each choosing a gift to unwrap; however, these gifts can be stolen! The purpose of the game is to see which gift you will end up with, and we talked about how you may end up walking away with something you might not want, but that this is what makes the game funny and fun! Ms. D has also committed to participate. If anyone has difficulty with finding something, no worries, as you can talk to Ms. D and we will find something in her stash for you to add to the tree. This is to be fun, not something that is hard to do. I even have wrapping paper if you need it!

Homework tonight is: Tuning In due tomorrow, 8 pieces of evidence for our video games debate done on the evidence sheets, and research ideas/facts for your presentation on the machine or technology you believe has had the most impact on society.

Also, I know many of the students are nervous about their first report card. We have talked many times about what an A, B or C means. An “A” is really going above and beyond, and a B is a great mark! It is not to be expected that everyone will get all As in every area, and at the same time, no one has a horrible report card for term one, and everyone did very well, overall! The marks given involved work we did, the participation rubric you all have seen, and also student input, as they evaluated themselves in each area of acacemics and the learner profile. Sometimes everyone is very hard on themselves, using language to criticize themselves harshly, and they really want to do well for everyone. Sometimes they tell me they are terrible at something, and we talk about how it is important to re-word that thinking and say, “I am challenged in that area, but with work, I can get it.” Sometimes we talk about how being good at things does take practice, and that everyone has different strengths they bring to our fabulous MACC group. We also talk about how stress around school is often counter productive, resulting in learning being associated with negative feelings. Everyone has worked very hard and contributed to our learning, and I have enjoyed working with each and every student. I know everyone has become more aware of themselves during term one, and that each person is working on specific areas of growth. I look forward to helping each of them with their goals in term two!

Have a great evening!