Hello Everyone!
We are continuing our unit work by discussing space, rockets, spaceships, storytelling, myths and more! So, here is a quick update on what we are doing:
Myths and Creation Stories: Students had the opportunity to read a variety of myth and creation stories from different cultures including First Peoples of Canada. We are looking at how stories are used to explain or teach things, to give a message, or to deliver a moral, and we are comparing creation stories from different cultures to see how they are the same or different around the world.
Science and Poetry: Students have been given a packet of poems written in a variety of literary forms and using a myriad of literary devices. They have been asked to choose different forms or devices and write five poems by this Friday. The theme of the poems is science, and the purpose of the poetry is to teach something about a science concept! Ms. D read a few examples of science poems in class, and you can look on this Pinterest page for more examples.
Using ART to Communicate an IDEA: We will use one of the poems about science to create a multi-media piece of art! We started yesterday by painting the background of an 8″x10″ canvas with a blend of cool or warm colours. Then, we will add a poem to the artwork, along with some images, using acrylic medium. But first, we need to write our poems! Following this, we will also do some felting work (needles, wool, and creating 2D artwork through textiles), using art again to communicate an idea about science. Everyone will have two beautiful things to walk away with, I hope, by the end of the year!
Space Math: Students are finishing Rocket Math, due on Friday so we can mark it together. I went around today ensuring everyone knows how to measure angles, as there is geometry involved in several of the questions. If this is done, students are working on NASA’s Adventures in Space Math. Don’t be discouraged if some of these questions are hard, as the booklet has a range of math from grades 4-9. Read carefully, ask questions, and do your best!
Space Stuff! There have been a few readings given to students about the Earth, Sun, and Moon, and their relationship. Today, we watched a video on Tides, and I posted other space videos on the Articles of Interest page, under Arts and Sciences Unit. In a previous blog entry, I asked everyone to think about whether or not they could answer some basic questions about space, so please review that, the readings I gave you, and the videos online to see if you can find the answers! And, we will continue doing some building and fun activities around space, such as flying paper rockets soon!
SPACESHIP! Thank you to everyone (I wrote down your names!) who contributed to the discussion on spaceship design! You can still go and continue thinking about what our spaceship prototypes need. Today, I asked everyone to begin sketching a preliminary spaceship design independently. Remember, it is a spaceship we are doing, not a rocket, even though spaceships need rockets to get into space in the first place. Later, we will compare designs as we begin to make a more final plan in groups. A prototype is a model, so we won’t be flying these, but the model can have some working parts to explain your spaceship idea.
French: For beginning French students, we have returned to doing French_Games.net, and you can choose 10 lessons to do and take the quizzes from those lessons. Following this, we will be doing Duolingo work and playing some French games. For French immersion students who have more knowledge, I have asked them to combine French with the poetry we are doing, to write a French poem. Save the poems you write, as they can be submitted in future years to the District’s Words competition in the French Poetry category.
Important Dates:
June 1 — Dragon Boat Last Session, Poetry/Rocket Math Due EOD, Early Dismissal 2PM
June 4 — No School Pro-D
June 6 — Volunteer Tea for Parents Who Volunteered This Year 2PM
June 11 — Independent Project Notes, Bibliography, and Primary Research Due
June 13 –– Spaceship Applied Design Day
June 15 — Sports Day, Early Dismissal 1PM
June 18 — Last day to submit any missing assignments for report cards
June 21 — Lunch Treat for Reading Around the World Finishers
June 22 — Independent Project Presentations 12-2:30 PM
June 25 — Recognition Assembly 9-11 AM (Gauss/Abel Certificates Presented)
June 26 — Class Picnic and Water Play at Rumble Park 1-3 PM
June 27 — Grade 7 Leaving Ceremony 9:15-11 AM
June 28 — Last Day 9-10 AM; Report Cards Sent Home
