The Learning Never Stops

Circles and crystals

5/24/2019

The day started with a Laurier SOAR assembly, and fitness Friday. After recess, we had a little story time, and the students were introduced to Sir Cumference. This story lead us into our new math measurement unit. A little time to work on Art or Novel study took us to lunch. After lunch, we looked at crystalline structures, and how their particles are ordered. We made a supersaturated sugar solution, and will now wait to see if we can form some large sugar crystals. The day ended with a little time outside.

REMEMBER TO BE AT SCHOOL AT 8AM ON MONDAY.

IMPORTANT:

MONDAY FIELD TRIP if you haven't returned your form you will not be able to go on the field trip.

On Monday we will be joining many other elementary schools from around the lower mainland to play soccer for the entire day at BC Place. Division 1 & 2 will be split into up to 7 or 8 teams.

Be at school for 8am
Subway lunch and compass card are provided
Wear comfortable athletic clothing and be ready to play soccer
Bring snacks and a water bottle

1) GRATITUDE:

Post some weekend gratitude in the gratitude journal

2) HOMEWORK:

Math:
- pg 199. questions 7-9, 11 & 12 in your Math Focus book
- click here for homework pages
Novel Approach:
- next meeting on Tuesday May 28th
- Powerful Response due May 31st
Transformations Art:
- due Wednesday May 29th
- including your artist statement with coordinates for 1 of each of your reflections (flip), rotations (turn) and translations (slide)

3) POST A RESPONSE:

On Friday afternoon we talked about crystalline structures and what makes them different from regular solid structures. We did a lab using sugar and water to create a super saturated solution. We are going to let our solution sit for a few days. What are we hoping to see when we revisit this lab?
Watch the video below.
In a short paragraph explain How we can recover solute crystals from a solution, and what makes crystals different from regular solids. Also, predict what we are hoping to see when we revisit the lab.
Provide feedback to another persons post to support learning.

9 Comments

Sunny day at Animal Farm

5/23/2019

31 Comments

Today the students had an opportunity to walk their city in the sunshine, as we made our way to Granville Island. At Granville Island we watched the play 'Animal Farm' put on by the Arts Umbrella, at the waterfront Theatre. A group of high school students from around Vancouver have been working all year to prepare for this performance. After watching the performance, the students had some time at Granville Island market at to eat their lunch. From there, we had a brief stop at the water park before making our way back to the skytrain. Perfect weather for some exercise, the Arts, and learning to be out in public.

1) POST A GRATITUDE JOURNAL ENTRY:

2) FIELD TRIP FORMS FOR BC PLACE:

3) HOMEWORK:

Science Write up from Wednesday
Novel Study Book club

4) POST A RESPONSE:

Today we watch the play Animal Farm at the Waterfront Theatre
In a short paragraph or two (75 words or less) re-tell the story of Animal Farm.

31 Comments

chemical and physical changes

5/22/2019

58 Comments

Ms. Nguyen demonstrates physical and chemical changes. (click the image to see more)

Today was a very exciting day of learning. Our guest teacher Ms. Nguyen started off the day by taking us to the gym to work on our field hockey skills. Following this, student's worked on their cross curricular math and fine arts activity. They are making amazing geometric designs using reflections, translations and rotations. After recess, students were introduced to their new math unit on measurement (see Learning intentions below). The afternoon was spent with some exciting demonstrations to teach students the differences between physical and chemical changes. We closed off the day getting deep into or inquiry on religions.

***BE AT SCHOOL BY 8:30 AM TOMORROW***

1) Gratitude Journal Entry

2)Field Trip Tomorrow

Bring your compass card a bag lunch or money to buy lunch
Dress for the weather
Be at school at 8:30am

3) Science:

Complete you Lab writ up for the baking soda a vinegar lab

4) Post A Response:

Today you learned about physical and chemical changes in science
Post 8 different changes (about 4 that are physical changes and 4 that are chemical changes)
Reply to another students post and say whether you think the change is PHYSICAL or CHEMICAL
Check the reply to you post. If you disagree with any of the answers to the 8 changes you posted reply and explain your thinking.

or

58 Comments

States of matter

5/21/2019

37 Comments

It was a great day of learning after 4 days off. We got right back at it with Social studies to start the day. We went over critera for the Socials project and let the groups start collaborating. After recess the Algebra tests were returned and the rest of the block was used to work on their Transformation Art. The afternoon started with Novel Approach book club meetings to share their learning, and ended with a Science lesson on the States of Matter.

***RETURN YOUR FIELD TRIP FORMS***

1) GRATITUDE JOURNAL

post some daily gratitude

2) FIELD TRIP FORMS:

Thursday May 23rd (Granville Island)
Monday May 27th (BC Place)
Load those compass cards

3) HOMEWORK:

Science Worksheet
Read for Novel Book Clubs
Keep inquiring for Socials
French (a few of you still need to hand in your maps and assessments)

4) POST A RESPONSE

Today in Science we talked about States of Matter and what the atoms might look like when elements and compounds are in their various states
We also did a mini lab to see if we could support this idea by asking "How does temperature affect the rate at which a solute dissolves in a solvent?
We used varrious temperatures of water as our solvent and red food colouring as our solute.
In your own words write a short paragraph to explain what happened in the experiment, and how that might relate to the movement of atoms in varrious states.

37 Comments

Sports Day

5/17/2019

24 Comments

Wow! What a day, fresh air, being active, team spirit, and SOARing with friends. The morning was full of 13 fun and active stations, and loads of friendly competition. After lunch Division 1 and 2 showed their school and team spirit with well practiced team cheers. It was then time for the tug of war between divisions. This ended with the ultimate tug of war between the grade 7's and the teachers who were assisted by the Grade 9 volunteers from Churchill. Division 1 & 2 ended the day with a sprint competition. Enjoy the long rest and we will see you back on Tuesday.

****FIELD TRIP FORMS DUE BACK BY TUESDAY MAY 21****

FORM and PAYMENT for 'Animal Farm' at Granville Island May 23rd
FORM for the May 27th BC Place Soccer tournement
Load your compass cards

GRATITUDE JOURNAL:

post some gratitude for each of the three days this long weekend

NOVEL APPROACH:

READ your agreed pages
complete your 'Thinking and Learning" and 'Gift of Words'
Be ready to discuss

POST A RESPONSE:
Write a short paragraph about sports day and in the paragraph explaining these three things;

What station was your favourate station at sports day and why?
What station did your find the most challenging and why?
What does it means to be a good sport?

24 Comments

Art and Earth Bites

5/15/2019

28 Comments

Today we started with Art. We used students to help understand what translations, rotations and reflections look. We also used our hands show the different movements. From there the class was given more time to work on their Cheers, as the big performance is tomorrow. After recess there was music before our Math evaluation. After lunch we had Earth Bites were groups took turns in the garden, and classroom. In the classroom we talked about hydration, and made a tasty cucumber, mango, radish salad with an apple cider vinigar and honey dressing. YUM! We ended the day with one last chance to cheer.
Sports Day tomorrow. Wear you colours and dress for the weather.

**** SPORTS DAY TOMORROW ****

1) GRATITUDE JOURNAL:

Post some gratitude

2) FIELD TRIP FORMS (ANIMAL FARM):

return signed form
pay on-line

3) HOMEWORK:

Reading for Novel Book clubs
Science worksheet
Memorize your cheer

4) POST A RESPONSE:

Today in EarthBites we talked about hydration.
We learned: 1) how to tell when you are dehydrated? 2) how to stay hydrated? 3) why it is important to be hydrated?
Write a short paragraph answering the three questions above based on what you learned today, and include your stratagey for staying hydrated through sports day tomorrow.
Support another student with some feedback

28 Comments

FIRST BOOK CLUB MEETING

5/14/2019

8 Comments

We started the day off with our first group session with our novel book clubs. After a session of shared learning, and making sure everyone in our group knows what the expectations are for next meeting, we spent some time on our sports day cheers. After recess we spent some time on 'The Boundless' before going over the Math pre-test. In the afternoon the students had some time to reflect on their Tennis unit, and finish up their French. Finally Ms. Jivraj came to our room to share what it means to her to be Muslim.

** See Information Below About Churchill Orientation **

1) GRATITUDE JOURNAL:

post some gratitude

2) FIELD TRIP FORM

Return signed forms
Pay on-line

3) HOMEWORK:

study for Math
Novel book club reading
Science Sheet from Monday

4) POST A RESPONSE:

See above: post some Gratitude
Study for your Math

8 Comments

Ice Pops and Field hockey

5/13/2019

40 Comments

Today we started off with a quick Science lab where we looked at one way of testing to know if a solution is a pure substance. We made juice dilutions and put them in the freezer to see if they froze at the rate as water. From there we headed down to gym to continue working on moving with a field hockey stick and ball. After recess we hopped back aboard 'The Boundless' before practicing our sports day cheers. The afternoon brought music and a pre-test for our math evaluation on Wednesday. The day ended with a freezie for our efforts.

1) GRATITUDE JOURNAL

Daily entry on the Gratitude page

2) MATH:

Evaluation Wednesday
Finish pre-test

3) SCIENCE:

Back page of Procedure Sheet some reflection questions

4) NOVEL BOOK CLUBS:

Make sure you have read to the agreed pages and have looked at your package for discussions on Tuesday

5) POST A RESPONSE:

Last week we had a Pastor come in to speak to our classes about the experience of being Christian, and what it means to be Christian. This week(Tuesday) we will have our very own Ms. Jivraj come in to discuss her experience as a Muslim, and what it means to her to be Muslim.
Lets practice our Question-building skills!
Below post 3 questions that you would like to ask Ms. Jivraj about Islam to help guide your learning in whichever religion you are inquiring on.
Be thoughtful, respectful and focused to help push your learning further.

40 Comments

Happy MOther's day weekend!

5/10/2019

18 Comments

Click to see Div. 1 Mother's Day Video

Today we started off with a quick Novel club meeting. This meeting was to set an agreed schedule to keep members accountable so everyone has read what is needed to facilitate deep discussions when groups come together. We then began a perspective photography project, and as pictures rolled off the printer we put all the finishing touches on this special project. After recess we had our last session on Isolating the Variable to solve one and two step equations. We will follow up next week to get everyone ready for the Wednesday Evaluation. In the afternoon we had guest speaker pastor Bethel Lee come in and answer many questions to help build students back ground knowledge for their social studies project. We ended the day with some creative thinking as sports day groups finished making their cheers and started planning their choreography.

***Watch the Mother's Day video with your Mother***

1) MATH

Finish worksheets

2) NOVEL APPROACH:

Keep reading your novels

3) POST A RESPONSE:

Your Novel Approach Book Club Response #2 need to be connected to Fresh Grade
Please post a link for your RESPONSE #2 as a comment on The Novel Approach Activity on Fresh Grade
Make sure you select "can be viewed" by anyone on the link
Go to you Fresh Grade Portfolio and make sure the link works
Reply here when the link is posted and working
If you are having any trouble ask someone here!