Week 12 - Nov 18 - 21

Hey folks! This is a super-short week. Thursday is CC day, which likely means a shortened day for you. And Friday is a Pro-D day. Enjoy that extra day, okay? In the meantime, here is our plan:

** DUE TO ANOTHER GNARLY WEATHER FORECAST, THE SALISH SEA FIELD TRIP WILL BE DELAYED AGAIN. ** Our new date is now Thursday, November 28. The transportation plan remains the same. The program will be the same as planned. We'll get out on the water eventually, and hopefully the sea-state will be nice and relaxed, making for a more comfortable, safer journey.

The Most Magnificent Thing: On Wednesday morning, we'll begin building your Most Magnficent Things. To do this, you will need to bring your building supplies! I will supply hot glue guns and glue, along with cardboard cutters (please don't bring your own). Other than that, you are on your own. How will you remember to bring all that you need to make progress on your build?

Math: This week, we'll discuss "divisibility rules" - little tricks that let us know if a number can be divided easily by a given divisor. We will also begin to look at what happens when things don't work out evenly. We'll chat about the meanings of those leftover bits (are they important? can they be ignored?), and how best to express remainders.

Writing: A new task is now up and running on Classroom. Through the "How-To Comic" piece we will look at building a text with both words and pictures, and do so in a logical, sequential and organized way. I'll set you up with a few tips and tricks for building instructional graphic texts.

Social Studies: We'll explore some ways that people are working to solve problems with commercial and sport fisheries in the Salish Sea. Be prepared to add what you know to your learning log.

Science: Once you've completed your brain "hat", we'll run a mini-lab that attempts to "map" your nerve endings. This relates to the sensitivity and responsiveness of your skin on various parts of your body. Your central nervous system does an interesting thing when it prioritizes touch sensitivity to some areas, and makes other parts less sensitive. We'll attempt to understand why this is the case.

That's all for this week, folks!

Week 11 - Nov 12 - 15

Hi Division 13 Superstars. We've got a four-day week this time around. Here's the plan:

Our Salish Sea field trip has been postponed! The weather on Tuesday night and into Wednesday sounds positively gnarly and frightful. So Eagle Wing has kindly moved our trip to Wednesday, November 20th. Please stay tuned for more information about this. Thanks for your patience as we get things reorganized.

Social Studies: This week's cooperation-in-Salish-Sea-stewardship theme is fisheries. We'll attempt to answer questions that governments and conservation groups and the commercial fishing industry have wrestled with for decades. Easy! We'll get involved in a fishing industry simulation game, and we'll look at what conservation and restoration groups are doing to keep the Salish Sea's fish stocks healthy. 

Math: We'll spend some time working with a division strategy called the "partial quotients" strategy. Check the video in the sidebar for a refresher.

Writing: You have now received feedback about your Halloween stories. Please hold on to the assessment page: I'll ask you to apply this feedback to your next piece. We have moved into the Organization writing trait. To start with, we'll think sequentially as we organize details - listing things from first to last helps keep things predictable and easy to read for our audience.

Science: The brain is so complex. We'll build a wearable model to help us remember the various functions of important parts of our cerebrum. Fun!

That's all for this week! Enjoy!

Week 10 - Nov 4 - 8

Here we are, folks... your weekly dose of blog stuff! Here's the plan:

Math: Let's spend a bit of time with rounding and estimating products. And then we'll move into learning about "common multiples" - these are multiples that are shared by a set of numbers. Understanding how to find these can be useful when working with fractions. We explore common multiples now because we are in a multiplication mindset: the skills we need to use to find common multiples are things we're already working on, especially those pesky basic facts.

Social Studies: We've begun our unit that will revolve around our big trip out on the Salish Sea. We're working toward answering our essential question: "What are examples of people or groups working together to solve problems in the Salish Sea?" This week we'll look at plastic pollution. Side note: if plastic pollution makes you angry and you want to help, check out Surfrider Foundation's beach clean-up calendar... there's two more events, one this coming Sunday at Island View Beach... Consider lending a hand with your family!

https://vancouverisland.surfrider.ca/beach-cleanups 

Also, on this Wednesday we'll host folks from Eagle Wing who will give us a preview of next Wednesday's big trip out. How exciting!

Writing: The second of six writing traits - Organization - is up to bat this week. We'll look at the keys to organizing your writing, and how to guide your readers through your writing.

Reading: This week will feature a Remembrance ceremony (on Friday). In preparation, we'll read and respond to an article about Canada's Remembrance traditions.

Science: Our look at the nervous system continues. This week, we'll learn about your optic nerve, one of the pathways for sensory information to travel to the brain. Did you know that each of your eyes has a small blind spot? And that we can "map" that spot? We'll get into an explanation about the eye's sensory abilities, and the ways our brain fills in the missing information for us. 

Whoo! That seems like a lot! As usual, these plans are aspirational (now that's a fun word!). If we don't get to it all, well, that's next week's problem, right? Speaking of next week, remember that Monday is a holiday. Next post on Tuesday, Nov 12. See you then!

Week 9 - Oct 28 - Nov 1

Boo! It's Halloween week! This is the plan:

Math: expect a quizzy on multiplication strategies on Tuesday. If it looks like we're ready to move on after that quizzy, we'll spend some time with rounding and estimating products. We will also explore some data resulting from our recent Provincial election. 

Writing: Your Halloween stories are due this Wednesday. Work at home to ensure you have a story to share with a small group on Thursday. We will also make time to do a self-assessment task.

Social Studies: We will begin learning about the Salish Sea. Our goal is to develop an understanding of how people can cooperate to solve problems, and to recognize some of the barriers we face when trying to solve issues. International cooperation is tricky. Finding solutions among those with competing interests can be challenging. We'll build our understanding in advance of Eagle Wing's visit to our classroom next week. 

Science: So far we've looked at the excretory system and the endocrine system. We're on track; well done!  Be sure you are keeping your notes and activities organized and completed. This week we'll move on to explore the nervous system. 

Thursday is Halloween. Costumes are encouraged, but please be thoughtful about these. We'll chat again about appropriateness of your costumes and accessories. But the basic advice stands: if you think your costume or accessory might be a problem, it very well might be. Still not sure? Ask!

Enjoy your week, everyone.

Week 8 - Oct 21 - 24

Hi! This is our 8th week together already. Time is flying by, isn't it? With a pro-d day coming your way on Friday, we have just four busy days ahead of us. This is the plan:

Writing: Many of you have made a really great start to your Halloween story; well done! Here are a few things to keep in mind: 

• the project due date is October 30th. That's next Wednesday. This is a pretty strict deadline, as I'd like you to share your piece with a small group on the 31st. 
• you should double-check the criteria for the piece. You'll find this under the Halloween Story tab here on the blog, or on Classroom.
• if your first draft is complete, it is time to begin revising your story. I've left a few ideas to get you started on revising your piece under the Revision Ideas tab here on the blog
• fast finishers become peer revisers. We'll talk about how to kindly critique a peer's work, and how to offer helpful and reasonable suggestions that fit their story and writing style. 

Math: We've jumped into using the Array Model strategy for multiplication. Have a look at the video on the blog's sidebar for a refresher. Let's spend a couple of days practicing this strategy.

TypingPal: You now have a TypingPal account! This is your opportunity to practice typing here at school or at home. Be sure to follow the program closely, and aim to learn correct posture and finger positions. Practice well. It isn't a competition; I'd rather you touch-type slowly rather than hunt-and-peck quickly.

Social Studies: We will continue to monitor election results as they come in. With a short week ahead of us, we won't move into our next unit until next week.

Science: We're learning about the endocrine system. Our body's messaging system, we'll learn about the glands that produce the hormones that our body relies on to communicate changes. 

Salish Sea Field Trip update: The dates have changed for this suite of activities. The new dates are as follows:

• Classroom Visit: November 6
• Eagle Wing boat cruise: November 13
• Follow-up session with Eagle Wing staff: November 20
• Learning showcase: Date TBA

Enjoy your week, everyone!

Week 7 - Oct 15 - 18

I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving weekend. We're back for four days of action-packed learning:

Social Studies: Our focus this week, in the lead-up to Saturday's election, will be on learning about one of the party platforms. You'll work with a small group to build a brief slideshow. Expect a handful of sessions to complete this research and to build your presentation. 

Math: We've moved into multiplication. For some, the basic facts to 10 x 10 have already been mastered. If that's the case, I have a handful of challenges for you, including learning some other useful facts (like learning each of the perfect squares up to 20 x 20. For most of us, though, we will benefit from practice. Please make it a goal to master these facts; they are the foundation for so much of what we'll do going forward. Rapid recall of those products will make your math life so much easier down the road! We will also explore some ways of "showing" products, and we'll work toward a reliable strategy for multiplying multi-digit values. 

Science: Let's move into learning about the endocrine system this week. Expect a video log, a puzzling activity, diagrams and discussion. 

Writing: The Halloween story project continues. The due date for this one is just two weeks away! Be sure to keep your story compact. Be realistic about how much time you have for your story writing. And leave enough time to revise your tale (at least one whole hour for this!). Be sure to take note of the feedback you will get this week from the "My New Island" task, and apply what you learn from my critique to this next piece. I look forward to reading your short stories!

Timetable: Thanks to a small increase in support in our classroom, some minor tweaks will show up on our Timetable later this week. Stay tuned. 

That's all for now, folks. Enjoy your week!

Week 6 - Oct 7 - 11

Hi All, 

We have a full week ahead of us. With a few activities already on the go, along with one or two new things to be introduced, we'll be busy. Here's the plan:

Writing: Last week, you began creating characters; ones you might (or might not) use in your story-writing this month. The Halloween story will roll out over the next few writing sessions. We'll build your setting, add a limited number of characters, and map out the plot for a simple, spooky story. 

Science: You'll finish the "learning lab" that you began last week before we dive a little deeper into the role and importance of staying hydrated. 

Math: Having explored a handful of subtraction ideas and strategies, let's work towards your first quizzy. These happen a handful of times each term. And, while they do make up a portion of my assessment of your progress, they are not the only way for you to show what you know. My goal for all of you is to have many opportunities to demonstrate proficiency. So, do the best as you can on this quizzy. Bring your "can-do" attitude. Show your thinking. Do your best to be independent, yet ask a question if you need to. But if you are off your game, or haven't mastered a skill yet, don't worry. There will be other chances to show your learning. Before the end of the week, we'll get into practicing those pesky multiplication facts.

Social Studies: BC's Provincial election is coming up in under two weeks. We'll look at the parties that are vying for our votes, and the platforms upon which they stand. 

Have a great week, everyone!

Week 5 - Oct 1 - 4

Hi All, this is another short week. Here's the plan:

Tuesday is a short day. You'll be dismissed at 1:54. Parents, I look forward to meeting with you Tuesday afternoon or evening. 

Math - we will explore more ways of thinking about subtraction. You'll get a potpourri of strategies to tinker with. Do your best to approach these with an open mind. Who knows? Maybe one of these strategies will become your new go-to technique for finding the difference between numbers!

Reading - We'll jump back into some reading skills work this week.

Social Studies - The upcoming BC election will remain our focus over the next 3+ weeks leading up to voting day.

Science - You'll jump into a "stations lab" situation this week. This is a chance to explore aspects of the excretory system in small groups in a variety of modes. This "lab" will take two sessions. If you miss part of it due to absence, please do your best to catch up during flex time.

Writing - Thank-you for finishing and turning in your "My New Island" piece. (If yours isn't finished yet, its not too late! Try to get it done soon, though.) We'll turn our ideas toward storytelling next. October is upon us, and it's time to get into Mr. Pite's annual Halloween story writing piece. Spooky? Yes please! Bone-chilling terror? You bet! Candy, costumes, monsters, ghouls, ghosts, goblins and creepy-crawlies of all shapes and sizes? Bring it on!

Skating - our first OBRec field trip is happening Friday. Be prepared! 

Enjoy your week, everyone.

Week 4 - Sept 24 - 27

Hi team, welcome back to the blog. Here's the plan for the rest of the week ahead:

Terry Fox fundraising: as a class, we're doing well. Thanks to some generous donors, we've already surpassed our modest class goal of $500. This Thursday's event - the annual Terry Fox run - will end our effort. So if you haven't yet donated, please take the time to do so. Here is the link to our class fundraising page. Or, send in cash or a cheque. Thanks!

Math this week will focus on subtraction strategies. On the full-screen version of the blog you might spot a small handful of videos on the sidebar. Look for the ones about subtraction for a preview of my approach to these strategies. 

Science - Our look at the excretory system kicks off our unit about body systems. You'll view a pair of in-class demonstrations that model kidney function. Pay attention to how you present your learning with the follow-up write-ups about these. Accuracy and presentation are important for scientific writing; be sure to take your time.

Social Studies - The writ has been dropped. Wait... what? That's a weird sentence. We'll dive into governance an elections over the next three weeks. This mini-unit will take us into the provincial election on October 19th. 

Writing - Remember the piece you began writing last week about the discovery of a new and mysterious land? We'll finish that one off before the end of the week. 

Language Arts - During LA time we'll turn our attention toward Truth and Reconciliation Day. 

That's all for this week, folks.

Week 3 - Sept 16 - 20

Hi again! We're into our third week together. We're beginning to get familiar with classroom routines and expectations. We know each others' names and are learning about each other. We are ready to dive deeper into the curriculum. Thank you all for bringing the best of yourself to Division 13 each day. Keep up the great work!

Language Arts - Did you watch any of the Paris Olympics over the summer? We'll read and respond to an article about one of the best Olympics events in recent memory. Be sure to stay current with this. We will also carry on with developing reading strategies through pictures that we started last week.

Writing - Okay, explorers. You have discovered a new island. How did you find it? What is it like there? What is it about your new island that you'd return for? We will launch into our first writing task. Be sure to pay close attention to the criteria for this piece.

Science - We will begin our look at body systems. In grade 5, you may have explored a few systems, like the circulatory and digestive systems. For the first part of grade 6, we'll look at the human body's waste disposal system, the chemical messaging system, and the body's control center.

Math - A few number concepts are coming your way this week, including how to read and "speak" whole numbers. We'll explore "subitizing" - the trick of knowing how many without counting. And let's explore number lines, comparing and ordering whole number values (>, <, =), and writing and reading numbers in expanded form. 

French - begins on Tuesday with Ms. Carradine.

The Terry Fox fundraiser continues. This is the link to donate. Cash and coins can come in any time, or you can collect at home and bring in money all at once. We're off to a good start, folks. Keep that money coming in so we can reach our class fundraising goal of $500.

That's all for this week. Enjoy!