Wednesday 24 April 2019

Data Management Assessment
We will be having a data management assessment tomorrow (Thursday, April 25th).

To date, we have covered the following topics in our data management unit:

-conducting and analyzing surveys
-bar graphs
-continuous line graphs
-broken line graphs
-scatter plots
-changing the intervals on graphs
-organizing data (stem and leaf plots, Venn diagrams, charts)
-mean, median, mode, range



Please note that overall math marks are a compilation of grades from several areas: math communication (journals, group work, conversations), problem solving (group, partner, individual – with a focus on the four-block model), tests, daily work. All of this contributes to the triangulation of data (observations, conversations, products) that come together in one final grade for each strand on the report card.

I hope you find this helpful!

Mrs. Hodgins

Monday 4 February 2019

February Update


Wow! What a busy month January has been! February is finally here! Below, you will find a class calendar for February. You will also be able to find this calendar in the Google Classroom.


Please keep reading below for a quick summary of what we will be working on in February!

Math

We will be working on two short mini-units on patterning and algebra. We began patterning last week, and students have done very well grasping concepts taught thus far! We have been working on looking at the pattern rule, explicit pattern rule, as well as extending and creating geometric patterns using algebra tiles and position cards. Students have used the explicit pattern rule to find the value of any term in multiplicative and composite patterns. There were be 2 short quizzes on these concepts this month. A practice quiz has been posted in the Google Classroom for anyone who wishes to use it. It is not mandatory. On Friday, we will begin a short mini-unit on algebra. Students will be looking at expressions, equations and variables. A short practice quiz is posted for algebra as well. Once we are finished with patterning and algebra, we will begin our unit on ratios.

Practice Quizzes

Literacy

A major focus for our class in reading this month will be to read short texts and answer questions using specific examples from the text to justify our answers. One method we will use as a class is to use highlighters and highlight exactly what the question is asking. In the same colour of highlighter, we will look through the text and highlight evidence from the text that answers exactly what they question is asking for. We will then incorporate the specific proof from the text using the Answer Sandwich format. This will allow us to ensure that we are answering the question being asked and provide proof to support our answers.

This model provides a nice easy-to-follow formula for writing paragraphs: top bun (topic sentence), three toppings (important details), three kinds of sauce (specific examples from the text to support each detail), and finally the bottom bun (concluding sentence). This method has been very effective at improving overall writing in our classroom. We continue to work on editing for CUPS (capitals, understanding, punctuation, spelling).

In writing, students will also begin to research a person of their choosing who has made the world a better place. They will use their research notes to write the biography of their chosen person. The biography writing will continue throughout March as well.

In media literacy, we will continue our study of the Kindness Diaries. So far we have met an incredible person, Leon Logothetis, who has given up his career in finance and comfortable lifestyle to travel the world relying only on the kindness of strangers. Not only does he accept acts of kindness from strangers, but he also chooses people to receive his life-changing gifts of kindness. So far, we have tracked Leon’s journey around the world beginning at his home in Hollywood, California. Each week we have enjoyed a new part of Leon’s adventure! We have learned valuable lessons in caring, happiness, geography and culture. Thank you Leon!

Science

In science, we are finishing up our unit on biodiversity. We have classified living things, examined the 5 kingdoms, animal groups and plant groups. Students worked on independent research projects on the biomes of their choosing and presented their findings using google slides. We have learned about the alpine, tundra, desert, savanna, tropical rainforest, temperate forest, boreal forest, ocean, and wetlands biomes. Next, we will talk about invasive species and the human impact on biodiversity. After we complete our biodiversity unit, we will move on to space.

Social Studies

We have just finished our unit on Heritage & Identity: Communities in Canada Past and Present. We examined the experiences of many different immigrant groups as they integrated into Canadian society. Next, we will look at Canada’s relationships with the global community.

Gym

We will continue with our volleyball unit. When this is complete we will move on to basketball.

February will be a very busy but fun month! We will begin many new units with the start of term 2.
Thanks again for all of your continued support!

Mrs. Hodgins

Thursday 20 December 2018

Minesing Talks

In January, we will begin writing TED Talks-style speeches. Some students might want to begin thinking about a topic for their speech so that they are ready to go in January. Attached below, you will find the TED Talks assignment, success criteria, evaluation rubric, timeline, as well as some ideas for possible topics.

MINESINGTALKSTEDTalkPersuasiveSpeechWritingAssignment.docx.pdf

Upcoming Science Assignment

Please find attached below the Biome Research Assignment that the grade 6 students will be working on after they return from break in January. They may wish to review the assignment now and have an idea of the biome they would like to research.

2019 Grade 6 Biome Research Assignment.pdf


Tuesday 11 December 2018

December Update

Wow! December is quickly flying by and it has been another busy month! I would like to thank you all for your kindness and generosity in support of our Christmas Cheer Drive. It has really blown me away just how amazing this class is!

In language, we are still working on our novel study, The Breadwinner. Students have been asking many questions and making predictions while responding to the text. This book has also allowed us to learn more about people in other countries, as we make connections between our novel study and events that we hear about in the news.

When writing we continue to work on editing for CUPS (capitals, understanding, punctuation, spelling).

In math, we are still working on fractions, decimals and percents. We have talked about some key terms: numerator, denominator, equivalent, multiples and factors. We have compared and ordered fractions using fraction strips, and finding equivalent fractions with common denominators. In the next few days we will work on comparing fractions using a number line, and relating fractions to decimals and percents. We will also continue to use the four-block problem solving model when working on rich problems in math.

In science, we have finished our unit on electricity. Now, we are ready to begin biodiversity. We will be classifying living things, looking at many different species living in ecosystems, the human impact on biodiversity, and invasive species. In January, students will have the opportunity to research a biome of interest to them.

In social studies, students have been learning about the experiences of various immigrant groups once they arrive in Canada. In the next three weeks, students will be working with a partner to choose two immigrant groups and compare and contrast their experiences upon arrival in Canada. This will lead to some very interesting discussion and further questions regarding the history of immigration in Canada.

Students have been working very hard on a country line dance that they will be performing at the Merry Mustangs night on December 12. We can’t say any more because we want this to be a surprise!

We look forward to a well deserved holiday!

Thursday 18 October 2018

Spooky (not scary) Halloween Mystery Story!

In class we will be reviewing the characteristics of narratives and more specifically, mystery narratives. Throughout the month of October, students will be working on their own Spooky (not scary) Halloween Mystery narratives! Below, you will find the assignment outline as well as the graphic organizers we will be using in class. This assignment is also posted in the google classroom. Also, students have paper copies of the assignment, as well as the graphic organizers. In the Google Classroom, there is an electronic copy posted of the graphic organizers in Google Slides format so that the students can type right into the graphic organizer if they choose to do so.

I am looking forward to a very spooky October!