English 8/9 (2)

Today we had our group round table discussion in lieu of a unit test for The Pearl.

The discussion was meaningful and every student made fabulous contributions.

Thanks everyone!

Foods 11/12

Today we feasted!!  It was our Greek Feast.

English 8/9 (1)

Today students participated in a collaborative discussion outlining the many events in Of Mice and Men.  Students did a great job of connecting elements of the story with other texts, personal experiences, and outside world events.

Congratulations to almost everyone on a job well done!

Language Arts 7

Today students began with a spelling test.  Prior to the test, we had an informal spelling bee.

Students then worked as a class to come up with a list of criteria that make for a great discussion.

Students then in small groups generated specific qualities that criteria that would fall under the categories listed below:

Finally, students acted out a scene that embodied their specific qualified criteria.

English 8/9 (2)

Today students had a tea and read.

A few students graciously peeled and prepared many pears too ripe to let sit any longer.  These will be cooked in muffins at some point, to be handed out to hungry students.  Thanks for helping out!

English 8/9 (1)

As our grade eights were away today, the grade nines were given some extra time to watch the movie,  Of Mice and Men, or read while enjoying a cup of tea.

Most students opted for the movie.

Language Arts 7

Today students were taught how to make a progress rubric by making and assessing paper airplanes.

We first discussed the process of a baby/toddler first beginning to walk.  Students created the following rubric:

Students then generated criteria to use in the creation of a paper airplane.  Next, students began designing a plane using either a set of provided instructions, or could use their own expertise or the expertise of others.

Students were allowed a test trial.

Then, students had to create their master craft, which we tested in the gym.

Upon returning to the classrooms, students began filling in the rubric criteria for beginning, developing, accomplished, and exceeding.

	Beginning	Developing	Accomplished	Exceeding
Aerodynamic ·      move through the air ·      height	little success moving through the air hits ground straight away	had some success moving through the air flies for a bit but then hits ground	flies for a while successfully keeps its height for a while then slides on the ground for a bit	slices smoothly for a long time stays on the same track flies so high it gets stuck in a tree and can’t come down
Visual ·      quality of paper ·      accurate folds ·      symmetric ·      pointed nose	poor quality paper (lined, flimsy, thin) mistakes in folds lopsided, not symmetric flat nose	okay quality paper only a couple mistakes in the folds almost symmetric nose a bit crumpled
Distance ·      how far does it fly	falls to the floor straight away	flies one metre then falls	flies 2 metres then falls	flies over 2 metres before falling
Accuracy ·      can it hit a target	does not come close to hitting the target
Pilot Behaviour

After lunch, students set up for band.  We have now officially been introduced to three notes!