This week is a short one for us, as Friday is a PD day. Things are back in full swing already. Last week we sunk our teeth into some serious math work with area and geometry work going on. When gift wrapping season comes around again they should be ready to calculate how much paper goes on the outside of their gifts, as we have seriously looked at surface area.
This week we are focusing on the triangle. We have discovered the relationship between the area of rectangles and triangles, and are using that to do much of our work.
Joining our class this year is Duncan MacDonald, a former Churchill student, who is with us on a co - op placement for the next eight weeks. He has been a great help already, and the students are enjoying having him around to call on.
In Media Literacy we have been looking critically at the `stuff` that the media pushes on us, and the role of big box stores in this quest for consumer items. Below are links to two of the videos we watched in class. WARNING... one of them contains the word `crap` , used in jest, but used none the less. We had some discussion about the use of the word, and how powerful it is in the video (it is funny in a way). They got past the use of it and really heard the message. Links to those videos are below...
The story of Stuff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLBE5QAYXp8
Big Box Mart
http://sendables.jibjab.com/originals/big_box_mart
Today a reading log task was sent home to be completed this week. It focuses on setting, as did one in December. In addition we are looking at how to write proper bibliography entries. Each reading log for the rest of the year will require the listing of bibliographical information. An example sheet was pasted into their reading logs to use as a guide, and they are working on these entries in class this week.
We have been reading about Martin Luther King Jr. for the past week, and today we celebrated MLK Jr. day with a writing activity, and by watching some videos and discussing his life. The students have a great appreciation for what he did, and how he lived his life. You should try asking them about him. We will wrap up our look at him over the course of this week, but you can stop by to see some of their I Have A Dream inspired dreams in the hallway on the third floor starting on Wednesday.
Here is a link to the videos we viewed today...
I have a dream
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smEqnnklfYs
Martin`s final speech
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oehry1JC9Rk
Wednesday we have a special presentation coming to us from the health unit, on the effects of smoking. It is one that has come to Churchill almost every year for the past seven or so, and brings messages that stay with the students. Duncan remembers their visit to his grade 6 class still!
I will be out of the class on Tuesday, but around the rest of the week.
Happy January!
Ray
ps. Here is a link to a fun math game we played that involves grouping to ten. It helps get the math brain going!
http://www.akidsmath.com/mathgames/addtoten.htm
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