November 25

November 25, 2018

Looking Back:

Humanities:

• Students have almost finished their Mosaic Art pieces through the Agora Role Play activity.  All students have taken on the role of either a Citizen, Metic or Slave for the week, and have learned how each of these positions influence their ease and ability to succeed at a challenging task.  With only four people in each class able to move and access supplies freely, many learned about the frustrations and barriers that were placed upon the people of ancient Athens.  This helped amplify each of the four pillars of democracy and deepen their appreciation for the current day Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
• Students have all signed up for a time slot to present their book review during the week of December 17-20. Remember, this is not a heavy writing task.  It is not a summary retell or recap of the book.  I want to see your understanding of character and make real life connections to conflict and theme. This should be should be FUN! (whether you like it or not!) Please write the date down on your family calendar so the book can be read by both partners a week ahead of time. Details are shared in Google Drive.

Math:

• Fraction review sheet
• Explored parts of a whole and equivalent fractions, multiples and used mental math strategies to order fractions

Science:

• Students were excited to begin their next unit on Evidence and Investigation, and had a Unit introduction through Bill Nye video 
• Visual Journal page to generate ideas and brainstorm what they already know

Looking Forward:

Humanities:

• Vocabulary- this is the week to review all cards to check that all are present, complete and spelled correctly with applicable definitions and tidy printing.  Due for check-in next Monday, Dec 3.  This is a culminating task from the term thus far. Please do not leave this until Dec 2
• Work on time management/scheduling, check list creation and task delegation with book review partner to plan and begin book review presentation
• Reflective paragraph on Agora Activity, to analyze their own engagement and learning
• Ancient Athens Unit Quiz on Dec 10

Math:

• Continuing to examine parts of a whole as decimals, ratios, equivalent fractions and percentages

Science:

• using pictures to make observations and inferences

CTF:

6-1 - Is Finishing up in Environmental Stewardship

6-2 - Is Finishing up in Artist Trading Cards

Important Reminders:

• Monday - Sign language club Gr. 6-8 at lunch in Rm 22
• Tuesday Chess Club at lunch in Rm 201 (all welcome - bring your lunch!
• Wednesday -GSA at lunchtime in Rm 223-224, Wrestling in Aux Gym 3:15-4:15 pm
• Thursday - Wrestling in Aux Gym 3:15-4:15 pm
• Friday -Volley Ball Club, 7:15am

Looking Ahead:

Learning Conferences – December 5 (early dismissal) and December 6 (no classes) *info to be sent in a separate email – Parents can start booking on Wed Nov 28.

Lockdown Practice #1 – Dec 4

Non- Instructional Day – Dec 7

Friday, November 16th

Friday, November 16th

Looking Back:

Math: 

• Interpreting data (graphs and charts)
• Connecting ratios, fractions and percent to "Our World as a Village"

Science:

• Tree cookies and what we can learn from them
• Human Impacts on Forests (positive and negative)
• Unit review
• Trees and Forests Unit Test

Humanities:

• Completed wall chart to display understanding of class system and roles in ancient Athens
• Students have started our role play of "The Agora" with enthusiasm!  They are creating Athens themed mosaic art
• Reading response to record independent reading 
• Introduced to the upcoming (December 17, 18, 19th) book review presentations.  Students who choose to work with a partner are to submit their book and parter choice to Mrs. Lowe on Monday or Tuesday.  This Assignment is shared on Google drive.

Looking Forward:

Math:

• Ratio review
• Fractions
• Percent

Science

• Beginning Evidence and Investigation

Humanities:

• Continuation with the mock Agora.  Students are really getting into this activity and are becoming very creative in their attempts to "make money for their family".  Keep it up grade 6!
• The people (students) of grade 6 (Athens) will hold an 'Assembly' to make a decision that affects the 'city-state' around a choice activity. Ask students about the challenges and highlights of their role. 
• Vocabulary: protagonist, antagonist, internal conflict, external conflict, genre, theme
• Home Journal.  Excellent work getting these in every week folks! Students are to complete all criteria as pasted into the front of their journal the best they can.  Sometimes these get a bit rushed, however can be completed at home. Be sure not to 'list' the weekly activities, but to explain or describe one highlight and one challenge so parents can picture your life at school.
• Reminder: Vocabulary Ring Check-in on Dec 3.  Don't leave this to the last minute!

CTF: 
6-1 - started Environmental Stewardship with Ms. MacDonald
6-2 - started Artist Trading Cards with Ms. O'Hearn

Important Notes:

• Monday, November 19th (every Monday) - Sign Language Club in Ms. Varner's room
• Wednesday, November 21st - Field Trip to CPO (8:30am-1pm)
• We still need 3 volunteers for our CPO field trip. Please contact Ms. Woolfrey or Ms. Lowe if you have a valid CBE police security clearance and are able to come with us Wednesday morning.
• No classes this upcoming Friday Nov. 23
• Friday, November 23rd - 7:15am  - Gr 5, 6 & 7 Volleyball Club
• If anyone has any exercise equipment at home they do not use (yoga mats, a stationary bike, tubing, medicine balls, etc.) and would like to donate it to Ms. Woolfrey's classroom, that would be awesome! 
• The magic word is 'Elephant'. When Ms. Woolfrey or Mrs. Lowe ask you if you know the magic word, be sure to remember this and whisper it in secret to get a treat. Shhhhhh, don't tell anyone. We want to see which students are reading this important Blog:-)

Friday, November 9th

Friday, November 9th

The proposed plan for French Immersion program changes in the NW has been shared. Tuscany School has been greatly affected by this plan and Twelve Mile Coulee School may be affected in the future.  There will be an open house at Sir Winston Churchill High School on Nov. 13 and a survey is now posted online for parent feedback.  These are the final two opportunities for families to give input and up until now, only families interested in French Immersion in the NW have been given the chance to give input.

Looking Back

Math:

• Fractions and Ratios connected to "Our World as a Village" mural

Science:

• Native trees of Alberta
• Trees and Forests Vocabulary
• Review of Trees and Forest work so far
• Homework due Monday (see bottom for details): Native Trees of Alberta, Trees and Forests Vocabulary, Review work (For the questions, just list where to find the information for now (Visual Journal, Science Notebook, computer) 

Humanities:

• Catch up time with vocabulary cards
• Narrative Writing "And Then" prompt about an Unschool Bus
• Small group rotations to research roles in ancient Athens
• Sewed Poppies for Remembrance Day 
• Gratefulness Journal Art
• Vocabulary: Idiom, Onomatopeia, Personification, Alliteration, Rhyme, Hyperbole 

Health:

• Artistic representation of goals for the year, steps to achieve them, challenges that may arise and strategies for overcoming challenges

Looking Forward

Math:

• Converting fractions to decimals
• Converting percent to decimals
• Continue with "Our World as a Village" mural

Science:

• Human relationship with Forests
• Tree cookies
• Review of Trees and Forests unit
• Test Thursday on Trees and Forests unit

Humanities:

• Creating a giant wall chart to show roles of Athenian woman, Female metics, Female slaves, Male citizens, Male metics, Male slaves.
• Role play "The Agora" to create a mosaic art piece to trade.
• Examining rubrics for visual artwork, oral presentations, and functional writing (newspaper articles or journals).  We didn't get to this this week.
• Introducing reading response template to record independent reading. 

Important Information:

• Sunday, Nov 11 - Remembrance Day
• Mondays at lunch - Sign Language club in Ms Varner's room
• Tuesday, Nov. 13 - French Immersion open house at Sir Winston Churchill High School 
• Wednesdays @ lunch - GSA in Mr. Tollestrup's room
• Thursday, Nov. 15 - Trees and Forests unit test
• Friday 7:15am - Volleyball Club for all grades 5, 6 and 7
• Nov. 21 - CPO Field trip in am - please bring permission forms back to Ms Woolfrey ASAP
• Nov. 23 - PD Day - no school

Trees and Forests Vocabulary

Find 3 websites to use and copy the URL onto your paper so you can go back to them.

Find 3 points for each vocabulary word that help you remember what it means. 

Save a few lines under each term for the summary we will create on Monday.

1.  Sustainability

2.  Deforestation

3.  Environmentalist

4.  Transpiration

5.  Photosynthesis

6.  Ecosystem

7.  Biotic

8.  Abiotic

9.  Consumer

10. Coniferous

11. Enhance

12. Threaten

13. Lichen

14. Clear cutting

15.  Selective harvesting

Trees and Forests Review

For each of the following questions, list where to find the information (Visual Journal, Science Notebook, computer) and answer in point form, drawing a diagram if you like.

1.     Why are trees and forests valued? By humans and by other living organisms.

2.     What have humans used forests for in the past, compared to today?

3.     What do humans do that threaten forests? What do humans do to enhance forests?

4.     What pros and cons can you list from the perspectives of the environmentalist, elderly person, dog walker, land developer, real estate agent and photographer of Bowmount Park compared to The Birth Forest?

5.     What lives in each of the different levels of the forest? How are trees affected by these organisms? How do trees affect these organisms?

6.     What does the nutrient cycle have to do with trees?

7.     How do trees produce oxygen?

8.     What does transpiration have to do with trees?

9.     What are the characteristics that make trees different from other plants?

10.  What are the important differences between deciduous trees and coniferous trees?

11.  Name 6 specific trees found in Alberta, 3 deciduous and 3 coniferous. List 3 characteristics of each.

12.  Describe the different characteristics of leaves and name the parts of a leaf.

13.  Name the parts of a tree.

14.  What do tree cookies show us about the growth of the tree? How do we determine the trees age and factors that have impacted its growth?