Exploring Area

Hello,

This morning we began a new collaborative task with our table groups. We cut out rectangles and parallelograms and tried to change them into the other shape. Then, this afternoon, twelve students worked with me in the Learning Commons to complete the task and examine the relationships between rectangles, parallelograms and triangles. The students did an amazing job and displayed a lot of collaboration during the Math workshop activity I was leading.

A special thanks to those students who volunteered. Tomorrow, they will take on a leadership role and help the rest of the students from the class to finish the task.

During second block, the class went to the Learning Commons to exchange their books. Then we corrected the multiple choice questions from "The Green Detective" and the grammar questions we worked on earlier this week.

Next, the students followed the posted links to self and peer evaluate their short answer questions and the Adventure Story writing task.

The Green Detective

Adventure Story

I was circulating around the room, providing some feedback and we will finish our discussion tomorrow. We will also be working on our Ski Trip comparative writing task, which should be completed tomorrow, during the work block.

Have a good night.

Mr. Skinner

A Great Day of Skiing

Hello,

I meant to post last night, but as soon as I put my daughter to bed, I fell asleep too. It was an incredible day of skiing and I really enjoyed spending time with the students on the chairlifts and the hill, as they worked on improving their ski skills.

Everyone had a blast, but I'm sure I wasn't the only one who woke up a little tired and sore today.

This morning, the students finished their adventure stories. If they were not completed, they are for homework tonight. We also started to work on a new piece of comparative writing. We are comparing our experiences at last year's ski trip to our experiences at this year's ski trip in a five paragraph format. The first draft should be completed on Google Docs and is due at the end of the week.

In Math, we did some work on conversion on the personal white boards, comparing mm, cm, m and km. We even calculated how many mm it is from Ottawa to Toronto. Then we worked with partners on the whiteboards to begin to explore perimeter and area. The students were asked to create polygons with a perimeter of at least 10 cm and an area of at least 8 square cm. The students came up with many different solutions and had some great discussions about the differences between perimeter and area and how to best calculate both.

Have a great evening.

Mr. Skinner

Time to Ski!

Hello,

Tomorrow is the big day! We are going on our ski trip to Mount Pakenham on Tuesday!

The weather forecast will be warm enough, so we will be leaving the school, on the bus, between 8:45 and 9:00 AM.

Any parent volunteers can meet at the school. We will take some parents on the bus and the rest can carpool and bring the equipment up to the hill.

Volunteers are welcome to bring their children home from the ski trip in their cars.

We will be back from the ski hill, ready to be picked up, at approximately 4:45 PM.

Thanks for your support. We are looking forward to an amazing day of skiing.

Here is a video and a helpful hint sheet provided by Mount Pakenham, which we discussed in class today, in order to prepare for the trip.

Ski Safety Video

http://mountpakenham.com/Helpful_Hints.pdf

Have a good night.

Mr. Skinner

Ash Wednesday

Hello,

This morning, the students from the class, who participated in the Ash Wednesday liturgy, did a great job.

I was also very happy to receive more report card sheets, envelopes and French pathway sheets. Please continue to send in those forms. Thanks.

Our main focus today was reviewing our 2D Geometry unit. We worked in our table groups on a variety of problems, to help us prepare for a wrap-up evaluation activity tomorrow. The students will be expected to complete multiple choice and short answer questions, similar to the examples we worked on today.

Have a good evening.

Mr. Skinner

Preparing for Lent

Hello,

First, I hope everyone had a great Family Day yesterday! Also, thanks for your amazing support of the cake raffle. Over $1 000 was raised for our end of the year trip to the Y Camp.

This morning, we enjoyed our Shrove Tuesday pancakes, decorated and said Goodbye to our Alleluias for the Lenten season, wrote who we would pray for during Lent and what we would do to help others, or give up during Lent.

We also finished up our constructing polygons activity in Math and read a short story called "The Green Detective" and answered some multiple choice questions during Language instruction time.

Please remember to return the envelopes, signed report card sheet, and the French Program pathway sheet as soon as possible.

Have a good evening.

Mr. Skinner

Report Cards

Hello,

First a reminder that the term one report cards came home with the students today. Please make sure to review them with your children.

This morning, we did some peer editing, delivering feedback to students for the literature circles. The idea was to see if the students had provided enough detail that the responses would make sense to another student who had not read the book.

In Math, we worked in partners to create a variety of polygons, based on side and angle descriptions. We will continue both of these tasks tomorrow.

Finally, a reminder to bring in your cakes and your money for raffle tickets (you can even try to win your own cake) for tomorrow's cake raffle. I know everyone is working very hard and the raffle will be a great success.

I'm going to the grocery store with Stella right now, to buy an amazing cake!

I almost forgot! Here is the final interview to watch.

Doorway to Danger Interview 2

Have a great evening.

Mr. Skinner

Our Final Literature Circle

Hello,

This morning, we completed our final literature circles. The students did a good job of presenting their jobs and engaging in group discussions. The students worked hard, but they would still benefit from providing a few more examples and explaining their thinking in their responses.

Also, the remaining groups, finished up their work on their literature circle character interviews. We hope you enjoy the fictional talk show interviews created by the students.

Nexus Ring Group 1 Interview 1

Nexus Ring Group 1 Interview 2

Nexus Ring Group 2 Interview 1

Nexus Ring Group 2 Interview 2

Gregor the Overlander interviews Group 1

Gregor the Overlander Interview Group 2

Gregor the Overlander Interview 2 Group 2

Stargirl Interview 1

Stargirl Interview 2

Doorway to Danger Interview 1

In Math, we discussed the angle and side properties of various polygons, worked on creating some class anchor charts, and continued to come up with ideas for our angle art and poetry. We will continue to work on these tasks tomorrow.

Have a great night.

Mr. Skinner

Talk Show Interviews

Hello,

This morning, the students finished filming their interviews of characters from their novel studies. Each group produced two videos, with each member taking turns filming or playing a role on camera. A few groups are finishing up their second videos, but the rest of the videos have been posted to my YouTube account. I will post links to the videos this evening, or tomorrow at the latest.

We also continued to work on our announcements advertising this Friday's cake raffle. Katie, Renee and Conrad did a great job when they read their announcement for the school, during the lunch announcements. We hope everyone can bring some wonderful and tasty cakes on Friday, to help us raise some money for the end of year trip.

In Math, we are working on some 2D Geometry-inspired poetry and artwork, which we are planning to use to make some unique Valentine's Day cards. Some students started to work on this today, and the rest of the students will begin this task tomorrow.

If you still haven't brought in your ski trip money and forms, it's not too late! I have extended the deadline to Wednesday.

Finally, a reminder that students need to have their final set of jobs completed for tomorrow's final literature circle for our current novels. Please make sure to have your part finished, so you can participate in the group discussions.

Have a good night.

Mr. Skinner

Sweaters and Symmetry

Hello,

First, it was great to hear the positive feedback from parents and students about the after school basketball program. I'm so glad everyone enjoyed it and I look forward to continue with the program for the rest of the year. 

This morning, it was great to see so many students in their comfy sweaters and toques. We went to the Learning Commons to take out new books and to sign the massive sweater Mme. Helbecque had created.

Next, the students started to create announcements in their seating groups, to advertise next week's cake raffle (a note will be coming home on Friday).

Finally, the students explored symmetry and discussed the relationship between how many equal lines and how many lines of symmetry a given shape has. Tomorrow, we will begin to look at rotational symmetry.

Don't forget to bring in your ski trip forms.

Have a great night.

Mr. Skinner

Comparing Quadrilaterals

Hello,

This morning we completed our third week of Literature Circles. The students had some great discussions, they just need to make sure they are including examples and clearly explaining their thinking in their answers. Next week will be our final literature circle. At long last, the students can read to the end of the book and complete their final jobs.

We also wrapped up our conversations about the Super Bowl commercials. The students agreed that the Doritos ads were funny and effective, the Toyota ads would work on sensitive Dads, and no one really enjoyed the blackout or foot fungus commercials.

In Math, we examined the differences between squares, rectangles, parallelograms and rhombuses. It led to some interesting talk about whether shapes can fall under more than one of these classifications.

If anyone is interested in ordering pancakes for Shrove Tuesday, please print off the form, which I have shared with all of the students on their Google Drives, and send it in, along with the money.

A reminder that Thursday is National Sweater Day. We will be taking part in an energy saving initiative, by lowering the school temperature by two degrees for the day. Students are asked to take part by wearing a comfy sweater and warm toque for the day.

There is no new homework tonight, so this is a great opportunity to get a head start on your Literature Circle work.

Have a great night.

Mr. Skinner

Super Bowl Commercials

Hello,

This morning we were missing quite a few students. I hope everyone is feeling better by tomorrow.

In Math, we discussed and corrected our work on parallel lines. We will continue to look at the different properties of shapes. The students should have both double-sided sheets completed, so that they can continue correcting tomorrow.

In Language, the students worked on their Literature Circle jobs. All groups will be presenting their Week 3 work. The Stargirl and Doorway to Danger groups will be presenting both their Week 2 and Week 3 work, due to illnesses within the groups. We will also continue to work on our character interviews, and begin filming them tomorrow or Wednesday.

Finally, for Media, we looked at some of the commercials from yesterday's Super Bowl. The students are asked to watch five to ten of the commercials tonight and pick their favourite and least favourite commercial. They need to be prepared to discuss what made this commercial effective or ineffective.

All of the commercials can be found at the following link. Please be sure to only select appropriate commercials, so that we can discuss them in class.

Super Bowl Commercials

Have a good night.

Mr. Skinner