MS. DETERRA'S MAKER STUDIO

Today we had some time to finish the unit project. Those who were finished had two peers evaluate their work, then completed a self-assessment using the rubric for the project. Tomorrow is the last day to have time to work on this, as it is due end of day.

We had a great class meeting, which allowed us to reflect on what went well during the Halloween Party and what we would do differently next time. Overall, everyone thought the party was fun and we all appreciated the work of the Halloween Committee. Everyone thought there was a great selection and variety of snacks. Several people commented how much they enjoyed the movie. We decided for our next party we may decide to structure the eating times differently and that we will look at our clean up process so no one is left cleaning by themselves and people don’t feel as rushed. Overall, there was great reflection about what worked and didn’t, and it was done in a respectful, constructive way. We ended with conversation about the origins of Halloween and how it is different from today’s Mexican/Central American holiday (Nov. 1/2) of Day of the Dead. We noted that Day of the Dead costumes were very popular this season!

Several students are interested in the Science Competition run by the Association for Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC. This is an activity run outside of school, and it requires us to sign up online in mid-November. Teams are 4-5 students, and there are two options for participating. One involves doing a science challenge over time, at school or home, and then presenting this challenge at the competition. Another option is the Mystery Competition, where the team shows up and is given a surprise challenge to solve in a half day’s time. Both options require the team to be present at the location (TBD in mid-November when they put out all the details). We may be limited to only one team as the event is popular. Some students have expressed interest, so please let me know if this is something you would like to do. We should have a parent volunteer, as a coach needs to be present at the event, and we want to ensure either Ms. D or someone else can come. Please let me know if you are interested. More information to come, as we will have to see if we get a spot for a team (as space is limited) and if enough students would like to do this.

Several students have asked me about both French and Spanish. First, some of our students who have been in French Immersion are interested in creating small discussion groups of French. I have answered by asking them to participate in the online work we are doing first. After the online work, we will be doing a project, which will involve student choice and more interactive (writing or oral) options for learning and presenting. If students are interested in forming a French Club, they can definitely do this and consider using our free choice Friday periods for meeting time. Students have also asked me if I can teach them Spanish, which I have a lot of experience doing, so I responded by saying I could definitely do some small lessons as time permits or make this part of free choice, as well. Today we learned a few Spanish words during class meeting, just for fun.

On Tuesday, we will finish our Deal or No Deal probability activity we were doing last Thursday. On Wednesday, we will have a short math assessment on median, mean, mode, range and probability, followed by some extra challenge questions for those students who would like to show me what they know.

Our new unit is called “Our Human Creations” and the focus statement is: 

People use their understanding of natural laws to create technologies that have an impact on our world.    

This will be an inquiry into:

• Scientific forces behind machines
• The role machines (and technology) play in our lives
• Social change as a result of machines

We began this unit today by:

• Brainstorming a huge list of machines and technologies we are aware of
• Labelling each technology with a “+” or “-” to indicate if we think the technology has made a positive or negative impact on humans
• Creating a large mural, whole-group collage on the back wall to express how we feel about the impact technology is making on our world

If anyone has any magazines that could be cut up, we would love to have them!

Also, please see the newsletter for Suncrest that your child should have brought home. Some copies were left in the classroom! Students should also get their project marks signed and bring it back to school tomorrow (the responsibility of doing so is a mark, too!) I have copies of the parent conference participation rubrics, as well, and will hand these to students tomorrow.

Thank you for your continued support. Let me know if you have any questions!

Our next unit is on machines and technology. Please think about the following in advance to help support the unit.

1. If anyone knows someone who belongs to the Association of Engineers in BC and could help me to gain contact with the organization, please let me know. Also, if anyone knows someone who works in electronics, technology, or anything to do with making machines of any kind, please let me know if they might be interested in coming in. Please consider if the person is able to talk with young children and is a good speaker, too. Thank you for your help!

 

2. If you have any packaging that comes into your home or things you might be looking to get rid of that are on the list below, please save it somewhere, as I will be asking for it at a later date for building projects:

1. long tubes (cardboard, plastic, gift wrap, paper towel)
2. lego, knex, blocks, marbles, any building supply
3. milk jugs, cleaned out completely
4. broom handles
5. wood dowels of any kind
6. bamboo sticks/skewers
7. clothes pins
8. circular cardboard pieces
9. shoe boxes
10. straws
11. wood sticks (popsicle sticks)

 

3. In addition, we are short on the following types of supplies, and it would be helpful to have more in the classroom:

1. rulers (using metric and inches)
2. white erasers
3. scissors (standard sharp scissors that actually cut, as the small kid scissors don’t do well when building — there are packs of three at Michael’s for $4.99)

 

Thank you for thinking about this now as we get into some exciting building and making projects. What we can do sometimes depends on what I can gather and find!

Happy Halloween everyone! We had a great day today, with pumpkin carving, a costume parade, watching the movie The Nightmare Before Christmas, and having community-building time as a class. Many thanks to our Halloween Party Committee, including the help of Michael, Amy, Sophia and Cynthia who either organized the notice to go home, collected information about what people were bringing, helped decorate the classroom, or brought the movie to show today. Thank you to all of the parents who supported their efforts, and thank you to all students for bringing in food, goody bags and drinks to share. Many people dressed up today, and our costume contest prizes went to Michael and Daniel. I hope you all have a Happy Halloween!

We worked on our unit projects today, as well, and I let everyone know we will extend the deadline for the projects to Tuesday end of day. Homework is to continue working on these at home. Please do not get help from parents and also please do not plagiarize by using either web articles or someone else’s electronic work. Thank you for being principled during this project.

Today most of the students received their first body systems project back along with the rubric and notes from Ms. D. If you didn’t get it today, then I missed getting it to you before our Halloween festivities, as I was talking one-on-one with each student. I will give them to you first thing on Monday. If you did receive yours, please have Mom/Dad sign the rubric and bring it back, as that will be a homework mark and we want to include these projects in our portfolio.

Thank you and have a great weekend!

Hello Everyone,

Sorry, but Ms. D was away today not feeling well, so there won’t be much of a post tonight! I hope you all had a good day, and I will see you bright and early tomorrow. Hopefully you all picked out some great pumpkins at the Pumpkin Patch activity? And you received some time for your project, which you can continue to work on at home, as well.

Have a great night! If you have any questions, please email me or respond to the blog.

Today we had some work time on our unit project. We have students who are creating PowerPoint presentations, posters, comics, and even a speech to communicate their ideas. Both general supplies and computers were available today to do this work, and if students are working on a computer it is highly recommended they use a USB to ensure their work is saved AND that they can work on this work between school and home. Part of homework tonight is to continue working on the project in any way they can, even if it is just finding images and saving them on their USBs. If anyone needs to print images, they can save them to their USBs and bring them to Ms. DeTerra tomorrow for printing at school.

In math today we continued talking about math vocabulary, as we reviewed subtracting and dividing decimals, place value, and reading decimal answers in the correct way. Then we split into two groups, with some students working further on their review of decimals and others continuing on their probability exercises.

In an example of taking action on your learning, Peter suggests we check out these websites to practice mean, median, mode and range. Try Common Core Sheets and Math Aids Worksheets. Thank you for the suggestion, Peter! Also, thank you Adrian for preparing a submission for the TedX Kids BC Speakers Invitation! It is great to see how students are taking action on their learning, in small or big ways. If you know of other ways students are talking about learning at home, please let me know. We can share them here!

Everyone has finished their stain glass pumpkins and they are displayed in our windows! Great work, everyone! The Halloween Party Committee spoke to everyone about their contributions, and the money is being used to purchase the decorations and cups/napkins we may need. If anyone is bringing something that would require a serving spoon or plates/bowls, we ask you also provide the items needed to serve and eat it! Thank you! We will be watching The Nightmare Before Christmas, which is not really a nightmare — it is a cartoon about Jack, the Pumpkin King, who decides he wants to do Christmas instead of Halloween, because he feels bored of having the same celebration every year. During the movie we will have snacks, and afterwards, as time permits, we will have games. Ms. D is also doing a costume contest. 🙂

Students also exchanged books during library time. Just a reminder that students need to bring ALL BOOKS every Tuesday back to school, whether they are finished or not, in order to get them renewed and be able to check out new books. The library is also open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 1-1:15 PM to check out books, too.

Homework: Bring a plastic bag for tomorrow’s pumpkin patch! (and boots/raincoat maybe, as it is saying it is going to rain!) Finish Tuning In for Friday. Work on Unit Project.

Special challenge:  This morning we had four individuals who came first to the classroom and received a special treat for looking up the top 10 most spoken languages in the world. We had a great discussion about languages, body language, and international differences. For tomorrow, the challenge is to find out all of the countries in the world where French is spoken frequently (does not have to be an official language, but it does need to be a regular part of the population that speaks it.) Good luck!

Have a great night!

Hello everyone,

Homework for tonight: (we did not get our agendas filled out today due to art clean up, so I am putting all notes here)  Tonight:

• Please work on Tuning In which is due on October 30th, Friday.
• Continue working on outline and begin gathering images for your Unit Project.
• Pumpkin Patch is on Wednesday and Pumpkin Carving on Friday.
• Please return the Halloween Committee Notice ASAP if you haven’t done so already.
• Library Books are due in tomorrow!!
• Anyone who wants to do the language challenge we discussed in class today can do this (it is optional.)

Unit Project: Students have selected the format of their projects to show their understandings from our first unit. As a reminder, our focus statement for the unit was Our personal choices play a role in the interconnected system of the human body. The project’s purpose is to communicate information to the community about how to have good health and prevent disease.

• Students have chosen areas of this to focus on and have been instructed to make an outline of their project (which they did today), think about what images and/or supplies they may need, and look back at their blue binder materials to include learning from this unit.
• If they need additional information, they are welcome to research further; however, the main purpose is to show learning we have already gained from the unit.
• Students can work on the project at home; however, it should be their work and parents should not assist them.
• Poster board for posters, paper for comics, construction paper, and computer access will be available at school.
• If students do any work at home, they should save it on a USB and bring it to class. At this time, ALL COMPUTER work needs to be saved on a USB to ensure it is not lost as we change from computer to computer.
• A rubric, which we went over together, was provided for the project.
• Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday will have large chunks of time to work. If more time is needed after Thursday, I am flexible to extend the project; however, we are going to try to finish before Monday, November 2nd, so we can move on to Unit #2.

During Math today (which was shorter due to photo day session), we focused on reviewing math vocabulary, decimals, fractions, etc. for data analysis in preparation for a test next Monday November 2nd. This test will cover mean, median, range, mode, and some probability. We practiced today by doing probability of specific characteristics of classmates. We will continue tomorrow with more probability talk and before end of week play Let’s Make a Deal (the class version, without lots of real money. 🙂

During PE today, we did some general fitness activities including running, stretching, sprints (bloods) and our military-style jumping jacks that we do as a group. Then we did some relay games together designed by Ms. D. Afterwards, groups of students designed their own relays. We reflected together on our group work skills, as we learn how to put our ideas forth without also ignoring those of the rest of the group. Ms. DeTerra reminded everyone that the best creativity happens when we say “yes”, listen and adapt ideas, as opposed to creating a group dynamic where ideas get shut down. After some good reflection, we had open time playing on the scooters to get our energy out!

Finally, to begin decorating for our Halloween Party on Friday, Ms. DeTerra showed everyone how to make stain glass pumpkins out of black construction paper, tissue paper, and overhead transparent film. We will be hanging them in our windows to provide a great atmosphere for Friday. A reminder that students can wear costumes (Ms. DeTerra will be!) and that all snacks brought in must be peanut free. We will be watching a movie together and having snacks to celebrate.

By the way, the TedX Kids post I made previously is completely optional. I sometimes put out ideas for students to try and make them aware of all the options out there. This does not mean they have to do them, but if they want to, I will support their efforts!

Have a great night!

Thank you to everyone who came to speak with me over the last two evenings, students and parents both! A reminder that there is no school tomorrow. Photo Day is on Monday. Next week has a variety of events, so please read the yellow notice sent home with details. Our Halloween Student Committee from class sent home a notice to try and organize our party on Friday the 30th, so please return for Monday so they can get that set up! Students are welcome to come in costume, and there is a Costume Parade around the school on that day.

Homework: Tuning In Booklet due on Oct. 30th in the morning, the entire folder. Right Stuff article questions were due today in class, so if you did not have them, please bring on Monday. If you are still working on your project proposal, please think about it over the weekend, as we will begin working on these IN CLASS on Monday. Students should do the majority of their work at school on the project. Thank you!

Have a great weekend!

Hello everyone,

Due to parent conferences, I won’t be making a long entry for tonight, but I wanted to remind everyone tomorrow is a late start up at 9:50 AM, and also an early dismissal at 2PM.

Also please be advised October 23rd is a Professional Development Day, with no school.

Have a good evening!

Ms. D

What a busy day! First, we had some open time to work on our Tuning In Booklets, which are due with reflections on October 30th. Some students also needed to finish their questions on the Right Stuff article, which had questions about the building blocks of food that are essential to our good health. Then, we used our iPads to do some research to fill in a cause and effect chart. We are nearing the end of our unit, and so I asked students to think about what happens to specific systems of the body when we don’t make the best personal choices and don’t get what we need in terms of daily sleep, diet, and exercise.

This was followed by two math activities related to data analysis. First, we worked to finish the math work we had on median, mode, range and mean, as well as some data work on heart rate that involved critical thinking and problem solving. Students chose whether they wanted to work in groups or individually. After this, we took a look at our data from the germ experiment, which we recorded on the board from all student groups in a large, visual chart. I asked everyone to think like a mathematician and do some data analysis. What could we do with the data presented? How could we organize it using numbers or our math skills in a way that we could use the data to communicate something to the community or the school? Students came up with many ideas of how they would attack the problem. One student began recording data on the computer, and several more volunteered to begin organizing the data so it made sense. Others suggested presenting the data in graph format and using numbers to show which area of the school had the greatest chance of having bacteria, mold or fungus. Tomorrow I will give everyone more time to work in groups and figure out ways to present the data.

For the afternoon, we were very fortunate, through a family contact of Sylvia’s, to have Dr. Lai and Nurse Jessica from Lion’s Gate Hospital’s Emergency Room Department present to us about their work there. Through an online Prezi presentation, short video clips and interactive demonstrations, they explained what life in the ER is like, who works there, what tools are used, why you would go there (and when not to), and what you could expect if you came to the ER yourself. Students were highly engaged and participated in an active question and answer session about ER visits at the end. Thank you to Dr. Lai and Nurse Jessica for coming in!

Homework tonight: There are four math pages total due on Thursday (the stapled three pages about mean, mode, etc. and the heart rate sheet.) I will give more time on these tomorrow. Tuning In Booklet due Oct. 30th. If you haven’t turned in your lab report or participation rubric, it is now late, so please get it in. If you haven’t paid for pumpkin patch, please do so. A blue notice went home today about family photo night, and it has a deadline of Oct. 27th. Remember the book fair is going on this week through Thursday.

Reminders: Early Dismissal Wednesday and Thursday at 2PM.  On Thursday of this week we also have a late start, 9:50 AM. See you at your assigned parent conference time. Please wait outside until I open the door to ensure privacy.

Halloween Activities: Halloween is a busy time! Next Friday we will be having a Halloween Party in class, organized by the students. They have a notice prepared for students to take home tomorrow. We will also be making pumpkins for our windows, and Ms. D just found some great orange Halloween lights to hang in our windows! I am bringing them on Thursday. Feel free to start bringing in some decor for our classroom early (except spider webbing, please!) We have Pumpkin Patch and Pumpkin Carving during the week, and on the Friday, we have a costume parade through the school, as well. As you are considering treats, please remember peanut and seafood free, please, so that everyone can enjoy what you bring. Thank you!