Upcoming Assignments: Religion and Social Studies

Religion:  Due Monday

Saints:  A Proper Paragraph

After discussing, researching, creating a poster, and responding on and about the topic of Saints, you will write a response in the form of a proper paragraph, explaining how or why a person is canonized a Saint.

We have discussed this, read about it, interviewed Father Bedard, and brainstormed together as a class to recap.

Requirements:

Write a proper paragraph (topic sentence, 3 supporting points, closing sentence)

It must be typed

Must be double spaced

Use size 12-14 font

Due:  Monday



Social Studies:  Brochure due Monday

Social Studies: Assignment 1:  Brochure

Create a brochure of either the Wendat or Innu Nation.  Ensure that you choose the tribe that you did not study in the chart paper activity.

Requirements:

You must explain the following:

• food
• shelter
• clothing
• decision making

Focus on:

• neatness
• esthetics (make it pretty)
• Use your own words
• include many graphics/captions

An exemplar has been placed in the classroom

Rubric:

	4	3	2	1
Knowledge and Understanding	demonstrates a thorough understanding of all of the elements of the tribe	demonstrates a considerable understanding of all of the elements of the tribe	demonstrates some understanding of all of the elements of the tribe	demonstrates a limited understanding of all of the elements of the tribe
Thinking/Inquiry	brochure is planned out to include all information neatly	brochure is planned out to include most information neatly	brochure is planned out to include some information neatly	brochure is planned out to include little information neatly
Communication	student uses his/her own words to express all information	student uses his/her own words to express most information	student uses his/her own words to express some information	student uses his/her own words to express little information
Application	Many graphics, captions, and colour is used throughout to effectively express ideas and allow the reader to visualize the information	Graphics, captions, and colour is used throughout to considerably express ideas and allow the reader to visualize the information	Some graphics, captions, and colour is used throughout to somewhat express ideas and allow the reader to visualize the information	Few graphics, captions, and colour is used throughout to express ideas and allow the reader to visualize the information

Homework

Math:  Extra Practice sheet

Literacy:  6 words:  Define, illustrate, and write each word in a sentence due Friday

Religion:  Saints paragraph due Monday

Math Test on time, capacity, and volume on Monday

Homework

I was coaching this afternoon, and completely forgot to post the homework!  So sorry!

Math:  Lesson on Capacity:  #2 and #3

Lit Circles:  Choose 6 words.  Define each word.  Illustrate each word.  Use each word in a sentence.

Read!

Bring in Ska-Nah-Doh form

I think that's it...my apologies!

Talking Circles, Coffee Houses, and Improv Theatre...Oh My!

These kids are amazing.  They are creative, and fun, and innocent, and not afraid to be silly or take risks.

I love them.

We have been doing some "out of the box" activities as of late...they have really been maturing, so I have been able to do more creative activities with them that require more self-discipline.

Talking Circle:  We have been studying First Nations People in Social Studies.  We are learning about the historical elements of the culture, clothing, shelter, food, etc.  One area we have focused on is decision making.  The First Nations Peoples believed that when it was time to make decisions, the Elders and leaders of a tribe would gather together in a "talking circle" to make these decisions.  They would follow a specific protocol in order to make these decisions.  We recreated the talking circle in class, through guided imagery and role play.  It was AMAZING!  The kids were in character the whole time, and they really came up with some creative and insightful thoughts.

Coffee House:  I got this idea from my friend Kaitlin, who is teaching a Grade 6/7 this year.  She had the coolest idea.  She put out writing samples, and the students analyzed each others work to jazz music in a "coffee house" atmosphere.  I tried it today with the students' Saints posters that they created.  Each student had to choose a different poster, read it, and on a slip of paper tell me what they learned about the Saint that they analyzed.  The kids were silent.  They read.  They wrote.  They learned.  IT WAS AWESOME!  I will definitely do this again, probably when we finish up the strategy of main idea in reading.  After the kids finished their response, they read their novels for lit circles.  They insisted on listening to the jazz all afternoon.  I was in heaven.  A teacher's dream is to see her students engaged, having fun, and learning.

Improv Circle:  Since we have been having such a successful week, I decided to do some improv with the kids.  My university background is Drama-in-Ed, so I'm pretty confident when it comes to gauging a group to see just what they can handle.  This group thrives in interactive methods.  So, we played "freeze" and "Machine Creation."

Freeze:  Two students begin a scene.  When another student sees the position of a player where they think they can change the scene completely and begin a new one, they yell "freeze!"  That student taps one of the players on the shoulder, and begins a new scene.  The kids LOVED it, and they were really good at it too!

Machine Creation: When one student goes into the middle of the circle and starts a repetitive action and makes a repetitive sound.  From there, one at a time, each student enters the "machine" with a new action and sound.  At the end, all of the students have collectively created a machine working together,  The kids were awesome with this activity.

I love the kids, and I love watching the progress they're making.  I love watching them become independent.  It's beautiful.  I was having so much fun that I didn't take any pictures!

Coming Up: The Advent Mass (Grads 4 and 5 are presenting), the Christmas Concert (Dec 17th) and Ska-Nah-Doh (Nov 26).

Homework

Read your novel for Lit Circles

Health Poster due Tuesday

Ska-Nah-Doh form

Homework

Poem, Art, and Saints Poster due Friday

Math sheet and Comma sheet due tomorrow

Ska-Nah-Doh forms!

Parent/Teacher Interviews are tomorrow night

Homework

Poem and Saints poster due Friday

Response due tomorrow in Reading