The Learning Never Stops

Natural Selection with Ms. Chohan

11/20/2018

Today was crazy awesome! We participated in a fantastic natural selection simulation with Ms. Chohan and from recess to lunch we learned how to use a balance scale for weighing heavier objects and a very sensitive digital scale that can weigh objects as light as one one thousandth of a gram. Students worked hard to complete their first ecosystems observation. In the afternoon we got into INQUIRY. Today in our NOVEL APPROACH MEETS INQUIRY LESSON we practiced making our thinking visible. Teachers modeled using the reading strategies of: setting a purpose, making connections and using background knowledge and monitoring comprehension and then students practiced. It was great to be ale to see all the great thinking. After telling Mr. Hong about the great day of learning he missed he was so pumped up he sent me about 35 text messages. We are so sorry you missed it Mr. Hong, but as you know........#thelearningneverstops!!!!!!

1) MATH:

Complete any unfinished assignments
Finish marking the handout from Monday

2) ECOSYSTEMS:

The next observation will be on Thursday or Friday

3)POST A RESPONSE:

Complete any unfinished PAR's from this week. I will be checking and handing out homework alerts tomorrow
In a complete paragraph, explain the simulation we did today
What were the results of the simulation?
How does this simulation explain the theory of natural selection
In your conclusion answer tis question: After completing this activity, what does the theory of natural selection mean to you?
Give one student feedback based on the above criteria and the givens (spelling, capitals, punctuation, grammar).
Edit/revise

Novel Approach Meets Inquiry!!
Whoot whooot!!!

20 Comments

Natural Selection

11/19/2018

66 Comments

Mr. Hong (AKA master of the volleyball dance) set us on the path to success and now it Is time to: BUMP, SET, SPIKE! That's where we want to get to in volleyball! In science, we learned the difference between qualitative and quantitative data and then planned out the data we will collect when observing the ecosystems. Students then started organizing their data collecting sheets to get ready for observations #1, which we will complete tomorrow! After music, we practiced comparing and ordering decimals. Tomorrow we will learn about natural selection from Ms. Chonan and Mr. Collins so do the PAR very carefully to help build your background knowledge!

1) MATH:

Complete the math handout (click)

2) SCIENCE:

Complete the unit self assessment (click)

3) POST A RESPONSE:

Watch the following video and in a paragraph with an introduction, body and conclusion explain the ideas of: Common descent and natural selection.
Use these questions to help guide your paragraph:
What is the theory of common descent?
What is the theory of natural selection?
How did the theory of natural selection help support the theory of common descent?
Give another student some feedback on their paragraph
Edit/revise to improve you post

VIDEO LINK
WHAT IS NATURAL SELECTION

66 Comments

vancouver Symphony orchestra

11/17/2018

34 Comments

On Friday we had a great field trip to the Orpheum Theatre where we watched Vancouver Symphony Orchestra play their greatest hits concert. The concert was put together to celebrate the VSO turning 100 years old. Amazing! We heard different music from all around the world from ballets to sonatas and even a waltz. What a great experience. What instrument do you play or would like to learn? Enjoy the sunny weekend.

1) Homework and Reminders:

Home reading
Bring any other items you may want tao add to your ecosystems on Monday!

2) Post A Response:

Scientists have to make careful observations and have to collect data in many different ways. This data can be used to draw conclusions and make hypotheses.
Watch the video posted below and complete this PAR
Define each type of data: QUALITATIVE and QUANTITATIVE
Below each definition make a list in point form of at least 5-10 examples of kinds of data you may collect from your ecosystems over the next few weeks.
Give another student some feedback on their post to help them add to their list or improve their post.
Edit/revise based on the feedback you receive
DO NOT COPY other people lists. Try to think on your own!

#itsallaboutthethinking
#thelearningneverstops

VIDEO LINK
Qualitative Vs. Quantitative Data

34 Comments

Ecosystems Project Underway

11/15/2018

63 Comments

Today we practiced paragraphing. We learned that good writer's chunk up longer pieces into paragraphs of similar ideas. Students helped me in deciding where paragraphs should go in in a piece of my writing. Thanks Div 1. for being so supportive and helping me! After another exciting fractions and decimals unit, we were introduced to several reading strategies that we will be practicing for the next few weeks. The afternoon was spent on the edge of chaos while students worked very hard and with great enthusiasm to put together their open ecosystems.

1) Homework:

Math Lesson (click here)
Complete the handout on converting fractions to decimals and decimals to fractions
Home reading
Learning Reflections of Fresh Grade

2) Field Trip to the Symphony:

Check out the video below and the Study Guide for the VSO Greatest Hits Concert (click here)
Bring the form and fee
Compass card or bus money
Dress for the weather
Money to buy lunch or a bag lunch

3) Post A Response:

Today we learned about 7 different strategies good readers use to help them understand what they are read.
List the 7 strategies
Identify three strategies that you use. Explain the strategy as best you can and provide an example of when you have used it and how it help deepen your comprehension.
Give another students some feed back on their post
Edit/revise you PAR based on the peer feedback and the PAR Success criteria

VIDEO LINK

63 Comments

Fractions & Decimlas

11/14/2018

53 Comments

Today Ms. Chohan gave us a great volleyball lesson and then we had some time to work on our learning refections for several project and units that have been completed. I am looking forward to reading your learning reflections and hearing about how you are owning your learning! You al all doing so great. I am so proud of you all. In math, we went over the fractions and decimals learning intentions and students did a self assessment. The learning intentions have ben posted to Fresh Grade so please be reviewing and woking on these concepts throughout the unit. The afternoon was spent on our SS inquiry. Students were engaged and made some great progress! #thelearningneverstops!

1) Homework

Fractions and decimals lesson (click)
Math p53 #1-17 (#6 optional)
Fresh Grade Learning Reflections: Personal Collage, Splatter Painting, Math Unit 1

2) Ecosystems Project

Keep bringing in the components for you ecosystems!

3) Field Trip Forms:

Skating
Symphony

2) Post A Response:

Learning Intention: I can explain the learning process in a paragraph.
In a paragraph, use an activity we have completed this year to explain the learning process using the principles of learning. Be sure to include each principle in your explanation.
Read the Learning intention and provide another student with a peer assessment based on the success criteria. Be sure to give them some descriptive feedback to help them improve! Ask any questions you have here. If you do all these things you will be taking ownership of your learning!
Edit/revise to improve your post

53 Comments

Ecosystems are amazing!

11/13/2018

62 Comments

Today we got our science groups and started getting organized for our ecosystems investigation. We will be building small ecosystem in class and will be studying them over the next several weeks. We will be the stewards of these ecosystems and need to make sure we care for them well and meet all the basic need of the organisms. While collecting the components needed, be sure to remember the criteria we built in class. See below to review the behaviour expectations. We also got back our unit evaluations for math and the results are posted on Fresh Grade. In the afternoon, we got our KBC groups and got started on our second inquiry. See Fresh grade to see the learning focus for this second inquiry! Also, a big welcome back to Ms. Chonan and Mr. Collins who will be here at Laurier for the nest two weeks!! #TheLearningNeverStops

1) Homework and Reminders:

No word work this week
Show your Math evaluation to your parents
Field trip forms: Skating and Symphony
Start collecting and bringing in you ecosystem components

2) Post A Response:

Part 1: You started INVESTIGATING you new inquiry questions today!

- Post your Inquiry question
- Post two things you learned today during inquiry

Part 2: You stared your ecosystems project today!

- What is an ecosystem?
- What were the names of the groups we used to categorize the elements of ecosystems?
- Include at least 3 examples for each group

Give another student some feedback focusing on the PAR criteria.
Edit/revise as needed!

#thequestionsneverstop

62 Comments

REMEMBRANCE DAY

11/11/2018

40 Comments

This week was a short week due to student conferences It was great to meet with all the parents and the students at the same time. I was very happy how well students were able to self assess their strengths and stretches and were able to provide evidence to support their assessments. I feel very fortunate to be able to teach and learn with such an amazing group of students. Have a great long weekend!

1) HOMEWORK AND REMINDERS:

Home Reading

2.) POST A RESPONSE:

** You can use this PAR as a paragraph for your Alphabiography so make sure you include enough of your own thinking and experiences to make it a personal piece and not just an informational piece of writing***

Watch the posted video and reflect on what you know about Remembrance Day.
In paragraph format (intro/body/concluding sentence) write a paragraph about Remembrance Day. Use the following questions to help guide your writing:

-What is Remembrance Day is all about?
-Why do we pay our respects on November 11th every year?
-Has anyone in your family served in a war of for their country?
-What do people do on this day?
-Is it important to remember? Why?
-How might Remembering influence the future?

Be sure you add in some of your experiences and opinions to make it personal
Give two students feedback on the givens (spelling, capitals, grammar, sentence structure, and/or punctuation).
Edit/revise your original post based on the feedback given to you or a self-assessment.

40 Comments

Parent/student conferences!

11/7/2018

34 Comments

1) Homework and Reminders:

Word Work Test Tomorrow
Remembrance Day Assembly tomorrow @ 11am
Conferences Tomorrow
Early dismissal tomorrow at 2pm

2) Post A Response:

Today you will do your PAR on Mr. Hong's Site (Click here)
Remember to be good digital citizens!
REQUIRED: Give feedback to someone form Div 2.
Post a note here when you have complete your PAR!

34 Comments

Early HUmans Inquiry questions

11/6/2018

67 Comments

Click the pic to access Inquiry Questions
Click here for Questioning Lesson

Today we got busy writing again! We had a writing tip focusing on how good writers use a variety of transition words in their work and how they they use figurative language like metaphors and similes to help readers make connections and build mind pictures. Students then practiced incorporating these tips into their writing. After recess and GRA we started our next math unit: Fractions and Decimals. (Click here for the unit learning Intentions) The afternoon was spent narrowing down our top 3 inquiry questions for out early humans social studies unit. Our last project of the day was writing GRA postcards to send to other classes around the world. What great day!

1) Homework & Reminders:

Word Work: Unit 8 test Thursday
Home Reading
No School this Friday
Remembrance Day Assembly Thursday
Conferences Wednesday and Thursday!

2) Post A Response:

Answer the following question in full sentences. Provide a detailed explanation to support your answer
If you could be one character form Amal Unbound. Who would it be and why? (Provide a detailed rational/explanation for you choice)
Give another student some feedback on their PAR
Edit/revise as needed

67 Comments

November 05th, 2018

11/5/2018

59 Comments

Today we carried on with our volleyball unit and read a couple exciting chapters of Amal Unbound. In the afternoon, we finished up the last of the collage art projects and did some final prep for the conferences this week. We also received another postcard. This one from Washington. Let's write some postcards for the global read aloud and get them in the mail tomorrow!

1) Homework:

Home Reading
Word Work: word analysis

2) Post A Response:

Finish your PAR form yesterday!
Write a short postcard for the Amal Unbound Global Read Aloud to be mailed to another school. Either write a reply to one of the postcards below or make a new postcard to be sent to another school.
Success Criteria for a GRA Postcard: