Photo Story

Last night was the Middle School Christmas Concert. Our photo story about The Night Before Christmas was displayed, and I think our kids did a great job!

HOMEWORK for Wednesday December 2

HOMEWORK - Tuesday, December 8

Spelling test on Friday. Each student has a different word list, and they have written their words in their agendas.

Read 20 minutes each night.

As a class project, we are working on the poem 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. Each student has a section of the poem, and they should practice their sections. As well, there is a quiz on various elements of Christmas, winter, and the poem - this quiz is on Friday. The students have been taking notes for the quiz this week.


GRADE 6 SCIENCE LIFE IN SPACE ASSIGNMENT

1. You may research this project by yourself, or in groups of 2 or 3. However, every student needs their own journal.
2. By going to Mr. Cook’s Homework Blog, and using the links under “Science Links”, you are to research how astronauts live in space, answering the questions on your handout.

These are the questions:
1. What do they eat? What do they drink?
2. How do they exercise?
3. How do they sleep?
4. How do they use the bathroom?
5. What do they do for fun?
6. What do they do to work? What are their jobs in space?

3. You will glue this handout to an 8-page “foldable”. You will use this foldable as a journal, as if you are an astronaut in space, and you are writing your daily events. NOTE: We created this foldable in class, but if it gets lost, any format for 5 journal entries is appropriate.
4. In these journal entries, using your imagination, write about what you did during the day, how and what you ate, any problems you may have had, and so on.
5. You are to complete 5 daily journals, due next Wednesday, December 9.

Math: study benchmarks
Grade 6 Interactions activities

Two notices were sent home today. One was an invitation for you to join us at our middle school awards ceremony on Thursday at 1:10. This is meant ot celebrate academic success in our school, and we would love to have parents join us.

The other is this:

Dear parents and guardians,
As a parent myself, I have tried to keep the stress and pressure off my students and their parents this year. That is the reason we are not doing a Secret Santa or gift swap. I would, however, like to have a class party on the last day of school, December 18.
If possible, I would like to have 5 or 6 pizzas, 4 batches of goodies (cookies, squares, brownies, etc.), pop, chips, and ice cream.

If you can help out with any of these items, I would certainly appreciate it. Please sign below and return with your child. Thank you.
~Mr. Cook

NAME: _____________________________________
I will help with: ________________________________________
I can be reached this number: ________________________________

Phys. Ed: gym clothes... Monday, Tuesday, WEDNESDAY (new)and Thursday

Things to Remember...

The Middle School team is looking for the metal ends off of frozen juice cans. Please save your metal ends and send them in!

December Activities
December 8: Elementary Winter Concert
December 12: Christmas Social (GMCS students, staff, family, and friends)
December 14-16: Candy Cane Grams on sale
December 15: Reindeer Scavenger Hunt
December 15: Middle/High School Christmas Concert
December 16: Christmas Hat Day
December 17: Christmas Surprise
December 18: Christmas Fun Day (Home Alone and BYOM - Bring Your Own Mug)
December 19: Christmas parade (and Mr.Cook's and Ms.Nichol's birthdays!)

9 school days till Christmas break!

HOMEWORK for Monday November 30

HOMEWORK - Monday, November 30

Spelling test on Friday. Each student has a different word list, and they have written their words in their agendas.

Read 30 minutes each night.

Grade 6 Science - Tides worksheet due on Tuesday. Internet access is needed for this assignment.


Math: sheets, as well as study benchmarks


Health project about nutrients originally due for today has been rescheduled for next Monday. There is a drawing, a story, and research included for each project.

Phys. Ed: gym clothes (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday)

Things to Remember...

The Middle School team is looking for the metal ends off of frozen juice cans. Please save your metal ends and send them in!

GMCS Cinema Presents: Shorts (PG) Friday, November 27th @ 7pm. A comedy for the whole family to enjoy!

December Activities
December 8: Elementary Winter Concert
December 12: Christmas Social (GMCS students, staff, family, and friends)
December 14-16: Candy Cane Grams on sale
December 15: Reindeer Scavenger Hunt
December 15: Middle/High School Christmas Concert
December 16: Christmas Hat Day
December 17: Christmas Surprise
December 18: Christmas Fun Day (Home Alone and BYOM - Bring Your Own Mug)
December 19: Christmas parade (and Mr.Cook's and Ms.Nichol's birthdays!)

14 school days till Christmas break!

Literature Circles

Students received their Literature Circles back today. I am concerned about some of their marks; you may want to ask your child how they did on the project, and even look at the marking rubric.

Homework for Wednesday, November 25

HOMEWORK - Wednesday, November 25

Spelling test on Friday. Each student has a different word list, and they have written their words in their agendas.

Read 30 minutes each night.

Grade 6 Science - Tides worksheet due on Tuesday. Internet access is needed for this assignment, so if this is a problem, I've offered the students to use laptops at noon-hours or after school.

Also in 6 Science, there will be a re-teaching session of the phases of the moon after school on Thursday. Several students are required to attend this session, and those who do have been notified.

Math: study benchmarks


Health project about nutrients due next Monday. There is a drawing, a story, and research included for each project.

Phys. Ed: gym clothes (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday)

Things to Remember...

The Middle School team is looking for the metal ends off of frozen juice cans. Please save your metal ends and send them in!

GMCS Cinema Presents: Shorts (PG) Friday, November 27th @ 7pm. A comedy for the whole family to enjoy!

December Activities
December 8: Elementary Winter Concert
December 12: Christmas Social (GMCS students, staff, family, and friends)
December 14-16: Candy Cane Grams on sale
December 15: Reindeer Scavenger Hunt
December 15: Middle/High School Christmas Concert
December 16: Christmas Hat Day
December 17: Christmas Surprise
December 18: Christmas Fun Day (Home Alone and BYOM - Bring Your Own Mug)

19 school days till Christmas break!

Improved Homework Blog

HOMEWORK - Monday, November 23

Spelling test on Friday. Each student has a different word list, and they have written their words in their agendas.

Read 30 minutes each night.

Math: study benchmarks; as well, Grade 6 has worksheets to finish for tomorrow.


Health project about nutrients due next Monday. There is a drawing, a story, and research included for each project.

Phys. Ed: gym clothes (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday)

Things to Remember...

The Middle School team is looking for the metal ends off of frozen juice cans. Please save your metal ends and send them in!

GMCS Cinema Presents: Shorts (PG) Friday, November 27th @ 7pm. A comedy for the whole family to enjoy!

December Activities
December 8: Elementary Winter Concert
December 12: Christmas Social (GMCS students, staff, family, and friends)
December 14-16: Candy Cane Grams on sale
December 15: Reindeer Scavenger Hunt
December 15: Middle/High School Christmas Concert
December 16: Christmas Hat Day
December 17: Christmas Surprise
December 18: Christmas Fun Day (Home Alone and BYOM - Bring Your Own Mug)

19 school days till Christmas break!

Parent-Teacher

PT conferences are happening this week, Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

If you want to make an appointment, you may call the office and set up a time. Or, there are sign-up sheets on my classroom door. As of now (Monday morning), you can choose any time you want.

Literature Circles

The Literature Circle folders are due tomorrow, Tuesday November 17. They need to be completed this week. If they are incomplete tomorrow, students will need to spend some time after school for completion. Other arrangements are possible, if necessary.

The folders must have: 4 completed roles and 8 questions. As well, the book is to be finished. There has also been work on a collaborative wiki, which has been worked on in class by those whose assignments were completed for the day.

If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know. I don't want to be hard-nosed, and I can make allowances if needed. However, this project needs to be completed.

Just before the weekend

Literature circle #3 for Tuesday

Read 30 minutes a night

Notice for parents - sign and return

Scholastic orders due November 16

Coming up...

Remembrance Day November 11 - no school
November 18-19 Parent Teacher meetings
November 19-20 no school

Remembrance Day Webquest

Remembrance Day Webquest

Instructions: Click on the Office Button (upper left corner). Click “Save as” and put it in My Documents. This will put this document on your laptop. Click on the websites, and answer the questions below. Include your name at the bottom, print it off, and pass it in.

Website #1: http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=history/other/remember

1. Why should we bother to remember veterans on Remembrance Day? (Website 1)

2. Did the people who enlisted realize how serious it would be to go to war? (Website 1)

3. Which wars are recognized on Remembrance Day? (Website 1)

4. How many people died in each of those wars? (Website 1)

Website #2: http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=collections/books

5. What is the Book of Remembrance? (Website 2)

6. What six wars are listed in The Books of Remembrance? (Website 2)

7. When does the ceremony for turning the pages of The Books of Remembrance take place? (Website 2)

Website #3: http://legion.ca/Poppy/campaign_e.cfm

8. Why was the poppy chosen as a symbol of remembrance? (Website 3)

9. Who wrote In Flanders Field? (Website 3)


NAME: _____________________________________________________

Assigned Roles

The specific assignment for each role is described in the yellow folder.

Here is the breakdown: student, role for Nov3, role for Nov6, role for Nov10, and role for Nov16.

Brandon A: Scene Setter, Conflict Connector, Fact Finder, Passage Master
Kiersten: Scene Setter, Conflict Connector, Fact Finder, Passage Master
Michael: Passage Master, Scene Setter, Conflict Connector, Fact Finder
Kyle: Scene Setter, Conflict Connector, Fact Finder, Passage Master
James: Scene Setter, Conflict Connector, Fact Finder, Passage Master
Megen: Scene Setter, Conflict Connector, Fact Finder, Passage Master
Carleton: Scene Setter, Conflict Connector, Fact Finder, Passage Master
Katie: Scene Setter, Conflict Connector, Fact Finder, Passage Master
Dustin: Passage Master, Scene Setter, Conflict Connector, Fact Finder
Crystal: Passage Master, Scene Setter, Conflict Connector, Fact Finder
Lauren: Passage Master, Scene Setter, Conflict Connector, Fact Finder
Matthew: Fact Finder, Passage Master, Scene Setter, Conflict Connector
Katelyn: Passage Master, Scene Setter, Conflict Connector, Fact Finder
Shayle: Passage Master, Scene Setter, Conflict Connector, Fact Finder
Vaughn: Conflict Connector, Fact Finder, Passage Master, Scene Setter
Blake: Passage Master, Scene Setter, Conflict Connector, Fact Finder
Kris: Scene Setter, Conflict Connector, Fact Finder, Passage Master
Galen: Fact Finder, Passage Master, Scene Setter, Conflict Connector
Brandon W: Passage Master, Scene Setter, Conflict Connector, Fact Finder
Reuben: Fact Finder, Passage Master, Scene Setter, Conflict Connector

Further info about the literature circles

Later in the day, even more information will follow so stay posted.

These are the literature circles. I listed the book title, the students reading it, and the reading goals - that is, how far they have to read by a certain date. The 4 dates are: November 3, November 6, November 10, and November 16. The students will be meeting in groups on that day in class, to discuss their reading and their assigned work.

Camp X - Matthew, Vaughn, Michael, Brandon Adams
Read by November 3: 1-58
Read by November 6: 9-117
Read by November 10: 118-176
Read by November 16: 177-233

I’ve Got an Idea - Megen, Katy
Read by November 3: 1-40
Read by November 6: 40-105
Read by November 10: 106-162
Read by November 16: 163-200

Voyageur - Carleton, Shayle, Galen
Read by November 3: 1-57
Read by November 6: 58-95
Read by November 10: 96-153
Read by November 16: 154-201

Run - Kyle, Dustin, Reuben
Read by November 3: 1-52
Read by November 6: 53-112
Read by November 10: 113-168
Read by November 16: 169-214

The Hydrofoil Mystery - James, Blake
Read by November 3: 1-48
Read by November 6: 49-96
Read by November 10: 97-149
Read by November 16: 150-200


Safe as Houses - Katie, Lauren
Read by November 3: 1-40
Read by November 6: 41-80
Read by November 10: 81-120
Read by November 16: 121-151


We All Fall Down - Brandon Wilcox, Kris
Read by November 3: 1-48
Read by November 6: 49-89
Read by November 10: 91-149
Read by November 16: 151-195


Trapped in Ice - Kiersten, Crystal
Read by November 3: 1-50
Read by November 6: 51-98
Read by November 10: 99-151
Read by November 16: 152-205

Each student has been given a yellow folder for this project. Each is responsible to keep this, and it will be passed in at the end of the project for a mark.

In addition to the reading, each student is responsible for 2 questions for their group on the meeting day, plus their assigned roles for the day. These roles will be assigned later today, and will be on this blog tonight or tomorrow.

This is Halloween

VACCINATION
I sent home notices about students receiving the H1N1 (swine) flu shots. Whether you DO or you DON'T want them to have the shots, please fill the forms out and return them by Friday. It will save your getting a phone call from Kathy or Janice.

LANGUAGE ARTS
Next week we are starting a project with a class in St.Catharine's, Ontario. It is literature circles, and all students are required to read a novel by the Canadian author Eric Walters. All students have received their books now, and they are required to have read certain passages by certain dates. More information on that in the next day or two.

Because of this, I am giving time in class (15 minutes daily) and assigning reading as the only homework (30 minutes a night). It is very important that the students keep up with their reading, because they are in groups, and the group members are counting on each other's participation.

UPCOMING...

November 11 - Remembrance Day, no school
November 16 or so - report cards sent home
November 18,19 - Parent Teacher conferences
November 19,20 - no school for students

Wikispaces

As part of our learning this year, we will be involved in a group project with a middle school class in St. Catharine's, Ontario.

This is our website, which is still in the process of being created:
http://cookrumsbycollaboration.wikispaces.com/

It is part of a system of websites called wikis, where many users can contribute information. This is the home address:
http://www.wikispaces.com/

I will send home an information form for you parents to know more details about this and other projects. Thank you.

Unfortunately...

Many of the students in my Mrs. P-G Social Studies class did not complete the assignment in class. That means it must be completed by Tuesday.

We took notes, which will be posted below. Then I assigned the students to look through newspapers to discover examples of empowerment. They were to find an article with an example of someone having power or authority, list the name of the article, tell me what kind of power or authority it is (strength, politics, police, judges, lobby groups, etc.), and then tell me why this is an example of authority. Students may use newspapers, magazines, or internet resources to find an article.

This is an example:

NAME OF ARTICLE
Drunkard gets 60 days in jail

KIND OF POWER
Police authority, judge authority

EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT MY ANSWER
A man was driving drunk. The police arrested him, and a judge sentenced him to time in jail.

~~~~~~~
These are the notes:

Empowerment
Grade 7 Social Studies

What do we mean by empowerment?

Empowerment is...
- Having control over your own life

- Being able to make choices about important things

- Having the right to make your own decisions

Authority gives a person the right to make decisions in a particular situation.

People who have authority include police officers, government officials, sports coaches, team captains, the principal.

Authority is like a police officer making a speeding vehicle stop. Power is like parking a culvert in front of a speeding vehicle.

Wednesday

LANGUAGE ARTS

Spelling test on Friday. Students chose their own 10 words from a list I gave out yesterday (Tuesday). They will be tested on the words they chose themselves.

Next week, Grade 7 will be writing a Provincial Assessment on reading and writing. I sent home notes to parents last week, for you to sign the bottom and return to me.

Some students are missing penpals letters, due this week.

The nature journals are due next Friday. If students had started them when they received them, which is what I suggested to them, they could be almost done by now.

6/7 Health Project

This isn't homework, but I wanted the students to know what I was looking for in this project.

6/7 Health Nutrients Project
You are to research your assigned nutrient, discovering what it does to make a body healthy, how it works, and what foods you can eat to get the nutrient into your system.

Using this information, you are to create a superhero character (example: Mr. Molybdenum Marvel). You will draw in full-colour your superhero, and then create a story in which your superhero saves the day, similar to Osmosis Jones and Drix saving Frank from a virus.

I want you to use a graphic organizer like the Shape Go Map or a mind map to organize your story. Then, you are to write a story, using such features like characters, setting, conflict and plot.

You will be marked on:
1) the accuracy of your research,
2) your artwork,
3) your graphic organizer,
4) the story itself, and
5) the presentation of your project.

This will be an in-class project, except if students need extra time at home to complete.

Happy Thanksgiving!

My favourite Thanksgiving movie is Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Despite all the horrors of holiday traffic, Steve Martin and the late John Candy have a good Thanksgiving. I hope you enjoy the weekend with family, friends, food, and perhaps even your faith.

I'm not assigning new homework over the weekend, but there are a couple of things that need mentioning...

GRADE 6 SCIENCE

Project due Tuesday - presentations in class

LANGUAGE ARTS

All students received letters last week from penpals in Mauritius. I am asking that we send out our responses next week. Students have been given time in class to do this, but a few need to finish their letters.

As well, I handed out green-covered journals today. They are nature journals. The following directions are inside the journals themselves... (If you have any questions, please contact me at the school).

Nature Journal
Instructions: You are to go outside at least 10 times. You are to write 10 journal entries about where you went, and what you experienced while you were there. “Outside” includes cliffs, woods, beaches, yards, trails, fields, etc. It can be a bike ride, a buggy ride, a walk, etc.

Questions to think about: Where did you go? What did you do? What did you see? Smell? Hear? Touch?

You don’t need to write every single detail, or answer each question in each journal entry. However, for every entry, be thorough and creative.

Due: October 23, 2009

Total: 50 points (5 points per entry)

NOTE: If you lose or ruin this booklet, you are still responsible for 10 journal entries.

Wednesday

LANGUAGE ARTS

Book Talks are due next week. I have handed out sheets to all the students, and I have had the criteria on this blog since Day 1. I am expecting students to be ready to present on October 5, with the next day to finish off the presentations.

~ Spelling word test Friday... no-excuse words for Grades 6-8.

~ Read 20 minutes each night

~ Scholastic book orders due Friday

GRADE 6 SCIENCE
~ Project due October 13

~ Quiz next Wednesday on notes taken in class yesterday and today. It will be a matching-word-to-definition format. This is a copy of the notes:

Exploring the Universe

Universe: the word used to describe all of space and everything in it including the stars, solar system, and other galaxies.

Galaxy: a large group of stars held together by gravity and separated from other galaxies. The galaxy we live in is called the Milky Way.

Gravity: a force of attraction between two bodies: usually important only when one of the bodies is very large.

Constellation: A pattern found among the stars. Ancient peoples named many constellations after animals and mythological characters.

Asteroid: A small rocky object orbiting the sun; most asteroids are found between orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

Astronomer: a scientist who studies space.

Atmosphere: the air or gas surrounding a planet.

Comet: A small icy object that orbits the sun. The center, or nucleus, of a comet is a ball of ice and dust. A tail of gas and dust spreads away from the comet when it approaches the Sun, making it visible to the naked eye.

Meteor: the streak of light in the night sky that results from a meteoroid entering the Earth’s atmosphere; a shooting star.

Meteorite: a meteoroid that does not completely burn up in atmosphere and lands on the Earth’s surface.

Meteoroid: a fragment of space rock that enters the Earth’s atmosphere; that causes a meteor, when friction with air heats it to a bright glow.

Sunspots: the dark spots on the sun; they are regions of cooler temperature.

Crater: a bowl shaped hollow on the surface of a planet, moon or asteroid. Many craters are caused by the impact of a meteorite or an asteroid.

Last week of September

LANGUAGE ARTS

For awhile, I am using a list of so-called "No Excuse Spelling Words", words that really should be spelled right for middle school students. If some students find these too easy, I may go back to spelling words from other subject areas.

This is the list of this week's spelling words...

across
again
all right
almost
already
beautiful
became
before
beginning
believe


As well in LA, don't forget the Book Talks due next week, October 5-6.

Read 20 minutes.

SCIENCE

"Out of this World" project due after Thanksgiving.

Mid-week

LANGUAGE ARTS

~ Read 20 minutes
~ Book Talk October 5-6 (see below for details)
~ Spelling word short story for tomorrow - from the list of 15 spelling words listed below, students are to choose 5 to include in a short story they write.
~ Spelling test Friday

SCIENCE
This assignment is for Grade 6 only:

Grade 6 Science – “Out of this World” Project

For this project, students may work in groups of 2, or by themselves.

Students are to create a project involving something from the Science textbook, Out of this World. It can be almost anything: planets, solar system, comets, earth, dioramas, posters, models, demonstrations, experiments, and so on. Students can use balloons, clay, Styrofoam balls, cardboard, Bristol board, or anything else appropriate for the project.

They are to be well-researched, using encyclopedias, books, and/or the internet to gather information. The projects are to be detailed, with information cards/sheets provided as part of the display.

I will give some class time for this, but much of the work will have to be done at home.

MARKING:
10 points – Factual accuracy and thoroughness
10 points – Quality of project: full-colour, neatness, title, name of student
10 points – Originality: does it look as if the student spent time planning and organizing?

Due date is October 13.

FRENCH
~ Study

MATH
~ Finish assignment

Terry Fox Run Friday afternoon - each student is asked to bring $1.

Thursday

SCIENCE

Grade 6 Title page due tomorrow

MATH

Grade 7 p. 98,99 #1,2,4,6,9 BONUS #10

SOCIAL STUDIES

Canada map filled in with capitals and provinces/territories

LANGUAGE ARTS

Book talk October 5-6
Read 20 minutes
Spelling test tomorrow - only the 5 words used in sentences today
Sentences if not already finished

Olympics

As you know, the Olympics arrive in Canada in February. Here at the school, we will be having our own Olympics.

As part of the celebrations, we will be presenting medals to the winners. These medals will be made from recycled frozen juice can lids. If you buy frozen juice in the cans that have these lids, please save the lids and send them with your child to school.

Thank you for your help!

As the week continues...

In addition to homework listed below...

GMCS Cinema is showing Night at the Museum 2 on Friday night, starting at 7PM. $5 per student, family rates available at door.

GMCS Terry Fox Run is next Friday, September 25.

We have Phys Ed classes on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Appropriate gym wear is sneakers, and sweatpants or shorts. I have been letting students wear jeans during these first couple of weeks, but starting next week, only students wearing gym clothes will participate in gym. Those not in gym clothes will do extra work.

SCIENCE

Grade 6 title page due Friday. The title page must include the name of the unit ("Out of this World"), the student's name, 5 drawings of things discussed in class about space, and 5 words or terms also discussed in class. That could include labels for the drawings.

As well, it must be neat and in full colour.

LANGUAGE ARTS

- read 20 minutes a night
- spelling test on Friday - first half of the word lists
- letter for Mr. Cook, if not already completed
- booktalks due October 5-6

What is a booktalk? This is taken from the handout that each student received on Tuesday...

I like to use the analogy of a movie trailer. The purpose of a booktalk is to "sell" the book. You want to give enough of the plot to interest the listeners but you are not giving a summary of the book. You don't want to give away the important parts of the book. You certainly never want to give away the ending. You want to highlight the interesting points. You may want to read certain passages to your listeners. The main purpose of a booktalk is to grab the audience's interest and make them want to read the book.

Here is what I want in a booktalk:
1. Title of the book.
2. Name and biography of the author.
3. Genre (type) of book.
4. Where you located this book and why you chose it.
5. Brief plot summary. Describe what happened in the story. Do not reveal the ending of the book. Instead, make us want to read it!
6. Personal analysis. ( In ten sentences, tell what you thought of the book. Comment on the strengths and weaknesses, or good or bad points of this book. Tell why you would or would not recommend this book to your friend.)

You will be marked on your oral presentation for this book talk.
You may refer to your notes while talking about your book.
Please bring your book to class to be able to show your classmates.

At the end of your presentation, you will be expected to submit your written notes. This is part of your mark. Be creative! Combine the answers to items #1-4 in a creative, interesting and well written opening sentence.

Here’s how you will be assessed:
#1 - 1 point
#2 - 1 point
#3 - 1 point
#4 - 1 point
#5 - 10 points
#6 - 10 points
1 point for showing your book.
5 points for creativity/neatness

New School Year

Hello! What a great year it has been so far, and I am looking forward to all the exciting things we will be doing.

I sent you a letter last week through your child. If you didn't get it, let me know, and I'd be glad to make sure you get another one.

You can always reach me at the school - 662-7000. My e-mail is patrick.cook@nbed.nb.ca, and I check that daily.

Class pictures will be taken tomorrow (Tuesday) and Wednesday.

Grade 6 spelling words this week are all based on the unit of science we are beginning this week... space. These are the words:
1) planetarium 2) astronaut 3) discovery 4) hypothesis 5) meteor
6) scientific 7) inquiry 8) asteroids 9) astronomy 10) diameter
11) atmosphere 12) telescope 13) radiation 14) weight 15) gravity

Grade 7 spelling words are also from their science unit... minerals.
1) minerals 2) valuable 3) economic 4) particular 5) unidentified
6) quartz 7) crystal 8) fracture 9) lustre 10) geologist
11) metallic 12) identification 13) granite 14) graphite 15) unknown

We will be spending probably 2 weeks on these lists.

MATH homework - Grade 6 p15; Grade 7 p12

Grade 7 Science - title page

French homework - students know what it is

Board Game Creation

http://jc-schools.net/tutorials/gameboard.htm <- This includes a template for making your own game.

http://www.toolsforeducators.com/boardgames/ <- So does this one. This has a a variety of choices.

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Your-Own-Board-Game <- This is a how-to about making games.

Math Games

http://www.mathsisfun.com/games/addemup.html

http://www.stetson.edu/~efriedma/puzzle.html

http://javascript.internet.com/games/battleship.html

http://www.mathmovesu.com/

http://www.mathmovesu.com/

http://www.factmonster.com/math/knowledgebox/player.html?movie=sfw41560

http://www.gamequarium.com/fractions.html

http://jamit.com.au/fraction-games.htm

http://www.coolmath-games.com/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/mathsfile/shockwave/games/train.html

http://www.mathplayground.com/

http://www.funbrain.com/teachers/grade_jr.html

http://www.cut-the-knot.org/games.shtml

http://www.mrnussbaum.com/gamescode.htm

www.brainpop.com <---- Username: grand Password: monday

Science Webquest Website

http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/adoucette2/buoyancy_webquest.htm

Plus, this website will help you with density:
http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/120Adensity.html

7/8 Social Studies Interdependence Questions

1. Where was the most common country that the products came from?

2. What is the difference between "import" and "export"?

3. Predict what kinds of products that Atlantic Canada exports around the world.

4. Why, do you suppose, it's easier or cheaper to import products from far away, than it is to produce them in AC?

PLEASE answer in complete sentences. Have fun!

Tuesday June9 and Wednesday June10 Writing Prompts

This is your last writing assignment of the year! Woohoo! You may choose from any of these writing prompts. Write until you're done, but it has to be a minimum of 200 words.

Please copy and paste your desired prompt from this site, into a Word document, and print the completed writing piece off.

Here are several prompts for you to choose from:

1) Your neighbor has taken in an unusual pet and it does something unpleasant to your house/yard. Confront your neighbor.

2) You wake up to the smell of sizzling French toast. You have to have some, but it's coming from your neighbor's house and the two of you aren't on speaking terms. How do you get the French toast?

3) If you could spend your birthday doing anything you wanted, what would it be and why?

4) You've recently purchased a new house. Upon your first full night there, you begin to hear noises but think nothing of it—until you see something that convinces you the house is haunted.


5) If you could morph into anyone (alive, dead, fictional, etc.), who would it be and why?

6) What was your favorite toy as a child? Write a fond memory describing a time when you played with that toy.

7) Write about a ridiculous competition you start with a friend (e.g., a mustache-growing competition, longest-fingernail challenge, etc.).

8) After years of handing out dyed eggs, the Easter Bunny is in search of a new gift to give to kids. You're a pitchman for a company who's hoping to land the Easter Bunny's account. What's your product and your pitch?

9) Write a 26-line poem using all the letters of the alphabet, where the first line starts with the letter "A," the second "B," the third "C," etc., culminating with the final line starting with "Z."

10) You're at a concert when you receive a text from a friend that says, "You'll never believe what just happened to me!" In the form of a text chat, find out what happened to your friend.

11) A man buys a parrot, and is horrified when he discovers the only thing it can say is, “If you ever tell anyone what you saw, I’ll kill you.”

12) You're walking through a cemetery and you pass the grave of a World War II veteran. Write a scene from his life story.

13) Thinking back to your childhood and the many Halloween costumes you wore, which costume was your favorite and why?

Language Arts - Fun Poetry for June 4

To enjoy a poem you must be able to visualize in your head what's going on. In this assignment you are going to read three poems about aliens, see if you can visualize what is happening in the poem and then draw some pictures.

1. Saving The World With Waffles

I learned Morse Code from Dad this week,
so last night I went out and tried it.
I signaled my flashlight up into the stars,
and somebody out there spied it!

To my surprise, from out in the dark,
came a weak, but definite, blinking.
When I flashed my light, the other flashed back!
Hey, I know what you're thinking...

I'm totally sure it wasn't some star,
just twinkling, like in that dumb song.
I really DID talk to some creature out there!
Believe me, I know I'm not wrong.

A kid from some planet called Zippo-Kaput,
in a galaxy far, far away,
Warned me his people were coming to Earth,
to attack, he was sorry to say.

He said they were greenish and twelve feet tall,
with monstrous mouths for munching.
They'd heard we Earthlings (with a little salt)
were especially yummy for crunching.

"When will they be here?" I quickly flashed back,
"I need to go send out a warning!"
"Too late," he told me, "you haven't got time.
They'll be landing at eight in the morning."

Now I didn't panic, you'll be pleased to know,
or try to hide or cry.
I got an idea--knew it might be my last--
but I had to give it a try.

I signaled to Bosmo (he'd told me his name),
that tomorrow, on Saturday,
my Mom cooks the best darn waffles
a creature can put away.

I quickly invited the star fleet to land,
for a super-galactic brunch.
If I fill them up on Mom's waffles, I figure,
they might not be hungry for lunch.

They'll be here any minute and
I sure hope I'm right.
Either I've saved the world with waffles,
or I'll be the very first bite!

Permission Granted for Use by © 2008 Ted Scheu

2. The Aliens Have Landed!

The aliens have landed!
It's distressing, but they're here.
They piloted their flying saucer
through our atmosphere.

They landed like a meteor
engulfed in smoke and flame.
Then out they climbed immersed in slime
and burbled as they came.

Their hands are greasy tentacles.
Their heads are weird machines.
Their bodies look like cauliflower
and smell like dead sardines.

Their blood is liquid helium.
Their eyes are made of granite.
Their breath exudes the stench of foods
from some unearthly planet.

And if you want to see these
sickly, unattractive creatures,
you'll find them working in your school;
they all got jobs as teachers!

--(C) 2001 by Kenn Nesbitt


3. Alien

What would you do if an Alien landed in the playground?
Would you stand there shouting, ‘Teacher, teacher!
Please Sir, please Miss,
There’s this great big thing with wobbly eyes and six pink legs, Sir!’

Or would you stand still and stare,
And maybe poke at it a bit with sticks
And throw a ball in its mouth,
Or perhaps push Shorty or Fatso or Snotty forwards
To see if they got eaten ?

Imagine if the teacher came out instead and shouted,
‘Oy! You there! You with the six legs! Yes, YOU!
Get back where you came from NOW!
THIS INSTANT!’

What do you think it would do ?
Would it sit there, humming,
Before gently lifting off and floating away back into space ?

Or would it stick a long tendril out,
Wrap it around teacher,
And suck teacher back into its mouth?

‘Yum, yum!’ it might go,
And you’d all cheer, and laugh,
And maybe one or two of the girls would cry
Because teacher was really quite nice, after all.

Or perhaps the Alien would open wide a wobbly eye,
Shoot a long, lazy glare,
And then raise two tendrils in a V-shape
Before blowing a big raspberry?

Well, what would YOU do if you were an Alien
Landing in the playground ?

I know what I would do.

I wouldn’t stay THERE!

July 2001

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Copy and paste these poems into a Word document, or read them from this website.

After you have read the poems:

Divide a piece of drawing paper into thirds. Put the name of one poem at the top of each column. Draw a picture of what you think the alien looks like in each poem. Color the pictures.

OR

Divide a piece of drawing paper into 9 sections. Draw a 3 panel comic strip about each poem. (If you need more boxes then fold the paper into the appropriate number of squares or use a different piece of paper for each comic strip.) Color the comic strip and turn it in to your teacher.

States of Matter website

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/9_10/changing_state.shtml

Fractions, Percent, and Decimals websites

You'll need to copy and paste these addresses into your browser's address bar.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/numbers/fractiondecimalpercentage/comparing/fractionsdecimals/game.shtml

http://www.quia.com/cb/34887.html

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/fractions/

After you have practices, you need to do these questions in your review sheets:
Part I 2,3,6,7,10,11,12,20
Part II 5,11,12

Atlantic Canada Global Warming links for 7/8 SS

Your mission is to examine the possible effects of global warming on Atlantic Canada under the headings, Good News and Bad News . You are to work in groups to research how global warming could affect us in this part of the country positively and negatively, and listing them under the appropriate heading. Each group will have a piece of butcher paper to be shown at the beginning of next class.

You will research using website articles about global warming. The websites are listed below.

I was unable to make clickable links, so you'll need to copy the addresses from below, go into the address bar, and hit "ctrl+v" to paste. I suggest you have 2 windows, one for this site, and one for the sites you find your information from.

Note: not every scientist believes global warming is a threat. Please keep this in mind as you read some of these articles.

1 - www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/09/23/cold.html

2 - http://adaptation.nrcan.gc.ca/posters/ac/ac_01_e.php

3 - www.halifax.ca/Climate/change1.html

4 - www.nowpublic.com/culture/canada-global-warming-may-reduce-cod-stocks-arctic

5 - http://geology.com/articles/northwest-passage.shtml

6 - www.canadafreepress.com/2007/global-warming020507.htm

7 - www.theatlantic.com/doc/200704/global-warming/3

8 - http://wwf.ca/conservation/atlantic/

9 - http://climaterealists.com/index.php?id=3156

10 - www.anythingbutconservative.com/canada-and-climate-change.html

11 - www.rabble.ca/babble/national-news/global-warming-good-canada-yale-study

Disclaimer: Just because these websites are listed as sources of information for this assignment, that doesn't make them appropriate in all areas like shuffling ads. I have tried to select sources that would not be offensive, but I may have missed something.

Math links

These are for circle graphs today:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/mathsfile/shockwave/games/datapick.html

http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/frames_asid_183_g_2_t_5.html?open=activities

Links for Thursday, May 28

For math...

http://www.mathopenref.com/parallelogramarea.html - parallelograms
http://www.mathopenref.com/trianglearea.html - triangles

For science...

http://lgfl.skoool.co.uk/viewdetails_KS3.aspx?ID=527

Math Assessment

On June 8-9, we will be having a district-wide Math assessment, on topics learned throughout the year. This is the format:

Monday, June 8

Section A – these will be 38 selected responses with a bubble sheet, a formula sheet will be provided, and calculators are allowed. This will be 90 minutes.

Tuesday, June 9

Mental Math – 12 non-calculator questions(2 min)
Section B – there will be 6 selected response (multiple choice), 7 open (constructed) responses. These are non-calculator questions. (20 min)
Section C – 13 open response, formula sheet provided, and calculator allowed(60 min)

The students will need pencils, erasers, and their own calculator. Please check to see if your student has a calculator.

Thank you for your co-operation.

Math Fractions links

BLUE GROUP - Adding Fractions

www.brainpop.com
http://nlvm.usu.edu/EN/NAV/frames_asid_106_g_2_t_1.html

ORANGE GROUP - Ordering Fractions

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/fractions.swf
http://www.mrnussbaum.com/fracorder.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/numbers/fractiondecimalpercentage/fractions/comparingfractions/game.shtml

GREEN GROUP - Adding Mixed Numbers and Improper FRactions

www.brainpop.com

Language Arts final Bone project

April 21, 2009 - Bone response projects

You are to choose one of these projects. Your final project will be presented on May 21-22. These are not group projects. You will be given some SSR for reading the books, but the projects are to be completed at home.

On April 27, I will collect a one-paragraph description of the project you have chosen. This paragraph needs to indicate what materials you will use, what scene is included, and any other ideas you have about the project. It MUST be more than “I’m doing a sculpture”, for example. You must include details that indicate that you have thought this project out.

These are possible projects:

Project 1: Sculpture
Create a sculpture of a character in the story. Use any combination of soap, wood, clay, sticks, wire, stones, old toy pieces, or any other object you chose. An explanation of how this character fits into the book should accompany the sculpture.
This project will be graded as follows:
50pts- Sculpture of one of the characters in the story.
25pts- Explanation of how this character fits into the story in correct paragraph form.
25pts- Presentation must include the title of the story, the author, characters setting, and explanation of sculpture.

Project 2: Character Description
Write a description of three of the characters in the book. Each description should be three paragraphs long and contain information on both the physical appearances of the character and an emotional description. Draw a colored portrait of each character to accompany each description.
This project will be graded as follows:
50pts- Description of characters in three complete paragraphs each.
25pts- Colored portraits drew of each of the characters.
25pts- Presentation must include the title of the story, the author, the setting, and description of the three characters.

Project 3: Newspaper
Create a newspaper for your book. Summarize the plot in one article, cover the weather in another, do a featured story on one of the more important characters in another. Include an editorial, at least four ads that would be pertinent to the story, and one picture about the story.
This project will be graded as follows:
15pts- Write an article summarizing the plot of the story using correct paragraph form.
15pts- Write an article covering what the weather is like in the setting of the story using correct paragraph form.
15pts- Write a featured story on one of the important characters in correct paragraph form.
15pts- Write an editorial giving your opinion of the story in correct paragraph form.
15pts- Write 4 ads which would be pertinent to the story.
5pts- Drawing of one picture about the story.
20pts- Presentation must include the title of the story, the author, characters setting, and explanation of newspaper.

Project 4: Mobile
Create a mobile about the story. The mobile must include the title of the story, the name of the author, setting, and characters of the story. The mobile must have at least 5 moving parts and each part must have a paragraph explanation of each part in correct form.
This project will be graded as follows:
25pts- Mobile with at least 5 moving part.
25pts- Must include the author, title, setting, and characters of the story.
25pts- Explanation of each part in complete paragraph form.
25pts- Presentation must include the title of the story, the author, characters setting, and explanation of mobile.

Project 5: Song or Poem
Write and perform an original song that tells the story of this book. The song must include the title of the story, the name of the author, setting, and characters of the story.
This project will be graded as follows:
50pts- Writing of the song/poem must include the title of the story, the author, the setting, and characters.
50pts- Performance of the song/poem

As well, we will have a literature circle to discuss the story. All students are expected to participate in the discussion. I will ask questions based on the big ideas of the story. This discussion will be held May 20 during class time. Be prepared!

Finally, prepare 1 question that you would like to have us ask Jeff Smith in an e-mail. This is due April 30.

TIMELINE:
April 27 – summary paragraph
April 30 – question for Jeff Smith
May 20 – literature circle discussion
May 21-22 – class presentations of projects

Cell Phone reminder

Just throwing this out there...

Middle school students are not to have cell phones, Ipods, MP3 players, etc. at school. They can bring them, but once they arrive, they are to go into lockers.

If a teacher sees one of these devices, he or she can confiscate it.

March 23

LANGUAGE ARTS

Spelling words, derived from our new unit in Science...
hypothesis, variable, amoeba, microscope, organism, characteristic, biologist, magnifying, tweezers, scissors

AS WELL...

Several students do not have calculators. Could you please confirm that your child has one? I have bought several, but they are not enough for the demand in the class.

On March 31, Theatre New Brunswick will be here. Grade 7 will atttend at 1PM. The cost is $2. Thank you for your cooperation.

We are working on making movies in Art class. Each group needs a box. Please confirm that your child's group has one.

Thank you for your support. This year has been a real learning curve for me, and I appreciate the occasional note of affirmation I receive. I am considering an end-of-year trip, so if you have any ideas, send them along... patrick.cook@nbed.nb.ca .

Week of March 16

SCIENCE
Working periscope due Wednesday
Test on Thursday - students can use the test preview given and completed Tuesday afternoon

MATH
Fractions to percent worksheet - the previous word problems worksheet is on hold for now as I back up and re-teach certain components. These questions are more in line with where the students are.

ART
The students are making movies with claymation. Each group needs a box for a background for Thursday.

Several students need calculators. Please make sure that your child has one. Please understand that even if they began the year with a calculator, that doesn't mean they still have it.

Extra Project

This is an extra-class assignment for one student. The reason I am posting it ere is that the printer is not working correctly today.

Grade 7 Classroom Enrichment Activity Sheet

COLLABORATION – Teach Australia!

You are to create a slide show presentation, teaching the rest of the class about our collaborating country, Australia. You may teach about the wildlife, the transportation, the Aboriginal population, the history, or anything else you would like.

Here’s what needs to be part of the presentation:
- The country’s capital, population, and major communities
- The country’s religion and ethnic make-up
- A map showing the country, as well as a map showing where St Albans school is

You are not simply to read the slides, but teach them. You may have a few words per slide, but you need to teach more than what is on the screen. The presentation needs to be at least 20 slides.

Science Test on Light - THURSDAY MAR.19

These are the topics that will be included on the test on Thursday...

Pg.# - Topic
-------------
204 - what is light?
204 - natural light source
204 - artificial light source
205 - 1st basic property of light
207 - sources of light
208-211 - incandescent, fluoresecent, phosphorescent, bio-, and chemi-
212 - 2nd basic property of light
214 - pinhole camera
217-222 - parts of reflections... angles, the normal, etc.
227 - refraction

Plus...
prisms, binoculars, magnifying glasses

Understanding the labs we did (pinhole camera, laser experiments, angles, prisms, etc.) will be important.

Thursday March 12

LANGUAGE ARTS
This week's spelling words are going to be tested differently tomorrow. I'm going to have them used in written sentences. What's I'm finding is that students can spell them correctly on tests but incorrectly in context.

Here they are:
a lot
all right
its
it's
eighth
excited
except
close
clothes
heard


MATH
There is a worksheet of 8 percent problems for next Monday. We've gone over the concepts as a class and individually, except not as word problems.

If the worksheet goes missing, these are the questions:

PERCENT PROBLEMS FOR MONDAY, MARCH 16

1. Jennifer made a fruit tart using red and green grapes. Forty percent of the
grapes are green. If she used a total of 80 grapes, how many red grapes did
she use?

2. You just hired a new employee to work in your bakeshop. In one hour the
employee burned 250 chocolate chip cookies. If this represented 21% of the
day’s production, how many cookies had you planned on producing that day?

3. The monthly budget for the front of the house is $8,000. You spent 6% of
the budget on fresh flowers. How much did you spend on fresh flowers?

4. Your food costs are $2,900. Your total food sales are $11,600. What percent
of your food sales do the food costs represent?

5. A serving of ice cream contains 240 calories. One hundred forty-four calories
come from fat. What percent of the total calories come from fat?

6. Jon needs 250 cookies for a buffet. He will make oatmeal raisin, macaroons,
and chocolate chunk cookies. He wants 25% of the cookies to be oatmeal
raisin and 15% of the cookies to be macaroons. How many chocolate chunk
cookies must Jon bake?

7. Henry paid $39.25 for a cookbook he purchased from a book club. This was a
saving of $3.19 off the regular price. What percent discount did the book club
give Henry?

8. You have just bought a big meal. It cost you $10.00. Good thing for you that you have a coupon for 10% off, and you use it. After you give your coupon and get your discount, then the cashier charges you 13% tax. How much will the meal cost you in the end? (Note: this has 2 steps!)


SCIENCE
The students are to finish their working models of periscopes for Wednesday.

As well, there is a test on Thursday covering the concepts of light. I will try to put the completed study guide on this blog over the weekend.

ART
Students have begun an extended art project. Next week, students will need to begin bringing in boxes for this project. This is the handout, describing the project.

Making Movies Art Project – due June 2009

Students will make a claymation movie using clay (provided by the teacher) and a digital camera, available from the tech office. If it is not there already, there will be software on the students’ laptops to create the project.

The movie needs to be at least 50 seconds long. At a rate of 3 pictures per second, there will need to be at least 150 pictures taken for the project.

The plot of the movie is to be something Canadian – a folk tale, a ghost story, a local legend, etc. It might be a Grand Manan tale, or retelling a Canadian hero like Terry Fox or Alexander Graham Bell. The students will need to write a script about what will happen in the movie. Not every picture needs to be included in the script, but the students will need to have a general idea about what is happening throughout the film. From personal experience, I know that more planning upfront means a better idea of how to tell the story with clay.

Students will receive a total of 1-1/2 sticks of clay. They will need to create a background, perhaps using a box painted how they like. Paints will be provided here at the school, but students will need to bring their own box.

The movie can use music as a soundtrack or have narration as part of the finished product.

(Art alternative activity)

For those not wishing to use clay for various reasons, the option is to create a photostory, using the same software on the laptops. The student may use a Canadian story, as above, except that the student may compile quality pictures rather than take pictures with a camera. The student may then record a narration, telling the story. The student needs to use as many pictures as are necessary to tell the story.

After the Break...

Hope you had a great break.

LANGUAGE ARTS
- Book talks begin on Wednesday

SOCIAL STUDIES
- 3 interesting facts about Australia due tomorrow

Just before the break

MATH

I want my Math students to work on the question: "805 of my class likes basketball. There are 25 people in my class. How many people like basketball?"

SCIENCE

The students are to create a working model of a periscope. They have created groups, and sometime after the break, they are to build a device that acts as a periscope. They will need at least 2 small mirrors, and whatever other materials they wish... paper towel roll, orange juice box, or whatever.

If they need extra help, p.260 in the text book offers a rough idea. As well, if you google "build periscope", you will find plenty of ways to do it.

You can buy mirrors at Dollarama in Saint John, if you get away over the break. As well, the dollar store here in Grand Harbour may offer some useful materials as well.

If money is an issue about buying mirrors, let me know, and I will make fair arrangements.

Book Talks

The students will be giving another book talk during the first week back after March Break. They had one back in the fall, and this is a copy of the handout I gave back then...

What is a booktalk?

I like to use the analogy of a movie trailer. The purpose of a booktalk is to "sell" the book. You want to give enough of the plot to interest the listeners but you are not giving a summary of the book. You don't want to give away the important parts of the book. You certainly never want to give away the ending. You want to highlight the interesting points. You may want to read certain passages to your listeners. The main purpose of a booktalk is to grab the audience's interest and make them want to read the book.

Here is what I want in a booktalk:
1. Title of the book.
2. Name and biography of the author.
3. Genre (type) of book.
4. Where you located this book and why you chose it.
5. Brief plot summary. Describe what happened in the story. Do not reveal the ending of the book. Instead, make us want to read it!
6. Personal analysis. ( In ten sentences, tell what you thought of the book. Comment on the strengths and weaknesses, or good or bad points of this book. Tell why you would or would not recommend this book to your friend.)

You will be marked on your oral presentation for this book talk.
You may refer to your notes while talking about your book.
Please bring your book to class to be able to show your classmates.

At the end of your presentation, you will be expected to submit your written notes. This is part of your mark. Be creative! Combine the answers to items #1-4 in a creative, interesting and well written opening sentence.

Here’s how you will be assessed:
#1 - 1 point
#2 - 1 point
#3 - 1 point
#4 - 1 point
#5 - 10 points
#6 - 10 points
1 point for showing your book.
5 points for creativity/neatness

Week of February 16

Language Arts

Bone spelling word story tomorrow (Wed)
Spelling test Friday

We will not be doing speeches this year in the middle school, but we will be having more Book Talks, as we did before Christmas. We will have the next round of Book talks on the week after March Break.

Math

Thursday - math quiz - the quiz will be 1 question and will be almost exactly like #8 on p.152 in text.

7 and 8 SS notes

This is for the quiz tomorrow...

Atlantic Canada in the Global Community – Culture

Culture is who and what we are.

There are 5 aspects of culture:
1) Physical environment – the land, the water, and the structures
2) History – origins, immigration, ancestry
3) Social life – interactions with others
4) Economic – employment, spending habits
5) Political – how the society is organized

Culture is divided into 2 categories:
1. Material culture refers to the physical objects,
resources, and spaces that people use to define their culture.
These include homes, neighborhoods, cities, schools, churches,
synagogues, temples, mosques, offices, factories and plants,
tools, means of production, goods and products, stores, and so on.

2. Non-material culture refers to the nonphysical ideas that people
have about their culture, including beliefs, values, rules, norms,
morals, language, organizations, and institutions.

Some elements of culture are:

Recreation Transportation Medicine
Art Beliefs about good and evil Calendars
Community organizations Cooking Co-operative work
Education Folklore Government
Hairstyles Hospitality Housing
Jokes Kinship groups Language
Law Marriage Mealtimes
Music Numbers and Letters Personal names
Religion Sports Tool making
Trade Visiting Fashion

Monday, with no snow days in sight

Hopefully no snow days anyway. It's hard to get work done on weeks with missing days.

Here's the homework:

LANGUAGE ARTS

Spelling test is on Friday. This week's words are trickier than usual. The 1st 5 come directly from our Bone novel study, and the last 5 are qualities of the characters in the book. They are:
injustice
territory
locusts
quiche
comrade
deceptive
abrasive
scheming
optimistic
melodramatic

We are beginning a collaborative project with a Grade 6 class in a school in St Albans, Australia. They are only an hour away from towns destroyed by the wildfires down there. This is our website, where we will do some work together -
http://gmcsgrade7cook.wikispaces.com/

And this is their space, where we will also do some work -
http://www.samps.vic.edu.au/Home.html

As part of this project, students need to write an autobiography, for e-mailing to these other students. (If you have any concerns about privacy issues, please let me know. I don't mind sorting through these issues with any parents with concerns.) This autobiography needs to be completed by Wednesday.

MATH

I gave back last week's math tests, to be signed and brought back. Retakes will be later in the week. Math extra help will be tomorrow afternoon.

This is a website for tomorrow's Math class -
http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=116

Thursday

Wow! What a load of snow! A snow day really changes plans around.

LANGUAGE ARTS

The Bone questions are now due tomorrow. The students have had over a week to do the 6 questions from Book#1 in their duotangs. Even though we have not completed the book completely, we have done enough for some decent answers to the questions.

The spelling test is tomorrow.

MATH

The test on parallelograms and triangles, originally scheduled for today, is now tomorrow. The questions on p.145-147 in the text are good practice for what I will be asking on the test.

The circle re-test, scheduled for tomorrow, is now on Monday.

Groundhog Day

The rodent says we have 6 more weeks of winter. I can't say I'm surprised.

Here's the homework for the week:

LANGUAGE ARTS
- There are no new spelling words this week, but we will have the test from last week's words on Friday
- Bone #1: Out from Boneville chapter questions are due on Thursday.

MATH
- There will be a test on Thursday on the area of triangles and rectangles. I will be sending home pre-tests as homework, in preparation for this test.
- Circle re-test will be on Friday for those who didn't receive passing grades the first time. I will be offering after-school help tomorrow, Tuesday, and perhaps on Thursday as well.
- As well, for those who need to retake the circle test, I am sending home a one-page worksheet for tomorrow. This is practice for Friday's test.

ART
- "My Life as a Movie" project due Friday

Winter Carnival

Next week (February 2 - February 6) we will be having Winter Carnival. The events include dress-up days, skating/outdoor games, and a Much Video Dance. The schedule is as follows:


Monday, February 2: Pajama Day

Tuesday, February 3: Toque Tuesday (Hat Day)

Wednesday, February 4: White Wednesday

Thursday, February 5: "ER" Thursday

Middle School Skate (1:30pm - 2:30pm)

Friday, February 6:"BYOM" Day (Bring Your Own Mug) 8:25am - 9:00am

Much Video Dance 7:00pm - 8:30pm

Elements of a Novel

To help the students who missed Monday, I made a video describing the elements of a novel. You can find the video here: http://www.xtranormal.com/watch?e=20090127171846615

Students were given the sheet with 7 circles, and they should fill it in as the video progresses. They can watch the video over and over, until they have all the details they need.

Week of January 26

Hi! I went home sick yesterday, Monday, so I'm a little late this week.

LANGUAGE ARTS
This week's spelling words are commonly misspelled, and can be tricky. They are: accept, except, separate, terrible, terror, Tuesday, Wednesday, wouldn't, cents, since.

The students are to put them in sentences for tomorrow. Spelling test on Friday.

We began a novel study on the graphic novel Bone by Jeff Smith. You can read about the series at this website: http://www.scholastic.com/bone/ . (Please understand: in this case, "graphic" doesn't mean what it does on other occasions.) The 6 questions at the end of Bone #1: Out from Boneville are due next Wednesday. The students have been given a duotang which contains the questions, and will help them answer those questions.

MATH

We have been working on triangles and parallelograms. Questions 1-7 on p.145 are due tomorrow. They began them yesterday in class, and we continued them today.

Wednesday

Two things in addition to the LA work from earlier in the week...

LANGUAGE ARTS:
Spelling word story for Thursday
Spelling test for Friday
2 projects on The Wanderer due Friday

SCIENCE:
Quick quiz on the sources of light - it's what we discussed today.

MATH:
Questions 1-3 on p.141 in text.

Math Test retake on Friday

Yesterday (Wednesday) we had a math test on circles: radius, diameter, and circumference. After the test, I felt that I needed to re-teach the concepts.

So, today, Thursday, I'm reviewing the test, going over the answers with them. Tomorrow, I will give a very similar test.

My suggestion is that the students study their test from yesterday as practice for tomorrow's retake. The concepts will be the same, but the numbers will be different.

Because I really want the students to do well, I've said that the spelling test will be on Monday instead. The only homework for tomorrow is the math test.

Now, I'm not entirely sure this will work, but I'm trying it. If you go to www.xtranormal.com, you will find a video I made for this topic. Go to "Watch Movies" and search for "circles" or "teachingcircles". There should be a video by cookieteacher72 (me) that teaches this concept a little more. It may or may not work, but you can try!

January 13

Here's the homework for the week...

LA - spelling test on Friday. Here are the spelling words for the week: digit, command, accomplish, repetition, calculator, automatic, error, monitor, procedure, process.

There is a Math test tomorrow, Wednesday, on circles. This was assigned last Friday.
The topics covered will be diameter, radius, and circumference.
Students need to know that pi equals 3.14.
They need to know the difference between "estimate" and "calculate".
They will also need to switch between metres, centimetres, and millimetres.

There is a Science Unit Title page due tomorrow. This was also assigned last Friday.

The students received a sheet of possible projects about The Wanderer, our novel study. They may choose any 2 of the projects listed. They are due January 23, next Friday.

Week of January 5-9

Language Arts

The spelling words for the week are: cautious, needless, variety, complain, available, ordinary, impressive, expensive, imagine, practical.

The students are to write a 200-word (at least) story due tomorrow, Wednesday, using all 10 words, about going shopping after Christmas.

As usual, the spelling test will be on Friday.