Math Makes Sense eText-Books

All of our Grade 5 and 6 students have access to an online etext-book. Each student was given a unique login name and password. Please ask you child's teacher if you need a login name or password reminder.

The link to the etext-books is:

www.pearsonetext.com/secure

Notes on Skin

The Human Body Book

In Science, we've been learning about different systems in the human body. One of the projects that students have been working on is making a Human Body book. Here are the notes that we referred to in class.

Click on image to enlarge.

Notes on Human Cells

These are the notes for the Human Cells mobile we are making in class:

Click on the image to make it bigger.

Online Virtual Microscope

Many of our students were really intrigued by this interactive online virtual microscope. It simulates a real microscope. Students can look at different types of cells. They can zoom in and out just like a real microscope. To jump to the microscope website click on the picture or the following link:

http://www.open2.net/science/microscope/frames.html

Online Resource for Cells

There are many really good resources on the Internet about cells. Here is a link to Amazing Cells. There, you will find lots of great information about cells. Be sure to check out the interactive program that lets you explore the inside of a cell.

http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/cells/

Cells and Cell Structure

In Science we are beginning our study of the Human Body. Our first topic is Cells and Cell Structure. Students were asked to draw and make observations of various cells. We looked at two microscopic images of plant cells (onion bulb and elodea leaf) and two animal cells (amoeba and paramecium). Then the students were asked to compare and contrast the two types.

Onion Bulb Cells

Elodea Leaf Cells

Amoeba Cell (single-celled organism)

Paramecium Cell (single-celled organism)

Our Country, Our Parliament

As we continue with our Government and Citizenship unit in Social Studies we are learning about a variety of topics related to the Government of Canada. Some of the topics we are learning about are: how Parliament works, Citizenship and Immigration, and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The following is a link to an online resource we have been using in class called:

Our Country, Our Parliament
http://www.parl.gc.ca/About/Parliament/Education/OurCountryOurParliament/index-e.asp

connectED - Interet Safety

As part of our Making Healthy Choices Unit, we have been looking at Internet Safety, Privacy, Security, Netiquette and Cyberbullying.

"connectED" is a cross-curricular resource that teaches students in Grade 4-6 how to be safer in an ever-changing world of technology. It is a program developed by OPHEA (The Ontario Physical and Health Education Association) with support from the Ontario Ministry of Education.

Parents are hihly encouraged to discuss these topics with their children.

The video clips from the DVD are also available here:

http://www.reallifeonline.ca/

Descriptive Writing

Students were asked to write a paragraph to describe this picture. Here is a sampling of some of the best writing:

The Halloween Mansion
By: A.B.

     There is a creepy, haunted mansion that looks like it is abandoned. It is scary and looks like there are ghosts living in there. The yard is flat and lifeless. There are only a few green patches and the rest of the grass is dead. Many rusty brown leaves cover the grass. The front face has a satellite right under the second window in the middle. None of the windows have any lights on. The windows are tall and rectangular and they are surrounded by dirty, white frames. All the bricks are just grayish black. The wooden porch does not have any stairs and the paint is peeling. The worn-out wood looks like it is going to break because it is slanting. It looks like there is a ghost at the window to the left, just below the porch roof. There are cinder blocks holding up the porch. The roof has three broken windows and looks like there is a broken air conditioner above. Many of the bricks on the wall get darker as they go to the top of the roof. The grey brick chimney is narrow and rectangular. The tall cylindrical tower has a black cone roof and there are four rectangular white and black windows. Some of the bricks are brown and rusty…BOO!!!

THE OLD DEADLY HOUSE
By: M.S.

     There is an old deadly house with three floors. This house is very old and falling apart. It is also very creepy and spooky. Overall this house is odd. The front face of the house is any thing but pretty! The bricks are grey, brown and black. There are three curved windows and FIFTEEN rectangular windows! Above one of the windows there is a white air vent. The roof is black and is starting to fall down. The shingles are falling off too. On the sloping roof there is also a red and black chimney. The house has an ugly tower in the shape of a grey cylinder with a black cone on the top. If you look closely on top of the cone there is a green tip with bats flying around it. There are four windows in the tower. Below the tower there is a mysterious satellite dish. Below the satellite dish there is a grey, brown, and black wooden porch. The porch is also falling apart. There are no stairs leading up to the porch. In fact, there are cinder blocks holding the porch up. On the left of the house is a shed and wires. On the right of the house there are trees and another house.  In front of the porch is a yard covered with crumpled dead leaves. The yard has not been cared for, and it looks gross and ugly.

The Old Abandoned Mansion
By: M.E.

     There is an old abandoned mansion that looks very queer. It looks disowned and is dilapidated. It is also very scary looking. The front yard looks as if it was burnt from the sun. It is also well trimmed. The colour of the yard is a brownish yellow. The front face of the house has an out of place satellite dish on it. The front door’s frame is wooden and there are many tiny windows in it. Next to the door is a closed widow with shutters. Some parts of the front face are brown and some are grey.
     The tower on the scary looking house has a cone roof and a greenish point. On the bottom of the tower you can see the window to the basement. The tower has four windows and is a tall cylinder. The roof of this house is black and is not falling apart like the rest of the house. Also there are two extra windows from the roof of the porch to the roof of the house. It has a white vent. On the top left side of the roof there are windows replaced by boards. The roof also has bats or birds flying around it. The side of the house has four rectangular windows and two trees that are bare. It also has an extra little shed at the back. There is a chimney at the top right hand side. The right side of the house’s windows stick out and are elevated. The porch of the house is falling apart and is held up by cinder blocks. There is what appears to be a little white mailbox at the porch’s right hand side. The porch is also dark and discoloured. BOO!

Student Vote 2011 and Election Day at RV

 

On Tuesday, October 4th, two days before the 2011 Ontario Provincial Elections, the students from Room 208 cast their own ballots in a simulated vote. This was part of Student Vote 2011, a national program designed to teach students about this important civic duty.

Using resources provided by Student Vote (e.g., authentic ballot boxes, voting screens and ballots), our classroom was transformed into a polling station. Some students volunteered for various roles including Polling Clerks, Deputy Returning Officers and even Scrutineers representing the various political parties. All the students went through the process of voting and depositing their ballot into the box.


To cap off this wonderful learning experience, our students had the opportunity to observe the real voting in our school gymnasium on Election Day. One of the election officials was gracious enough to answer questions from the students.

Geometry Test #1

Students had their first Geometry Test on Monday, October 3rd. Students received the results from their test on Friday.

Virtual Math Manipulatives

Here are two great websites that students are encouraged to use at school and at home. These math manipulatives can be used for self-study as well as an aid to complete Math assignments.

National Library of Virtual Manipulatives

Glencoe - Virtual Manipulatives

Student Vote 2011

In Social Studies, we have been learning about Citizenship and Government. As part of the unit this year, our class has been paying particular attention to the Ontario Provincial Elections. The class is participating in a program called Student Vote 2011. The program's purpose is to increase young people's awareness of the importance of voting and actively participating in a democracy.

For more information, parents and students can go to the Student Vote website

http://www.studentvote.ca/

Descriptive Writing

In Language Arts, we have been practising our descriptive writing skills. Students were asked to look at a photograph of a building and to write a passage describing what they saw. Here are the two photos that we used for reference.

#1 The Old Fashioned Mansion

#2 The Haunted House

NEWS FLASH #1

WELCOME to ROOM 208!!!

We’ve had a great start to the new school year. Everyone’s started to settle into their new routines. I’d like to take this opportunity to say “Welcome!” to all our new students and “Welcome back!” to all the students from last year!


ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER:

This Newsletter will be sent home periodically to update you about things happening in our class.


AGENDA’S:

The agenda’s are our primary means of communication. Students will communicate day to day information in the agenda. Reminders of any HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS will be noted here. I will also relay any information (e.g. letters and forms from the office) in the agenda. Please be sure to check and initial your child’s agenda every night.

Also please feel free to write and let us know of any exciting events that happen at home or any other information you wish to relay.

If you know your child is going to be away please also note that in the agenda. It is extremely helpful to us and greatly appreciated!


NEW SCHOOL TIMETABLE:

A student timetable will be going home next week.

Our school is on a 5 DAY schedule rotation.

The advantage of this system is that activities and classes previously scheduled on Mondays or Fridays will not be missed because of long weekends and P.A. Days. (e.g., if “Day 3” happens to be on a Friday before Thanksgiving weekend, then “Day 4” will be on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving Monday).

Currently Tuesday is DAY 1, since school started on a Tuesday.


PHYS. ED. & Km CLUB:

All of our students participate in Physical Education. Our class has gym periods twice a week.

On days, we don’t have gym class, we still spend a Ministry mandated 20 minutes of “Daily Physical Activity).

For the next few weeks students will also be participating in Kilometer Club. This is usually run at morning recess.

It is important for students to have running shoes for school everyday.


LIBRARY:

We have Library every Day 1. Please make sure your child has a chance to read the library book at home and that he/she takes responsibility for the care of the book. The library book needs to be returned every week to be exchanged for a new one.


HEALTH & SAFETY:

We have students at school who have severe NUT allergies. Please keep this in mind when your child is packing his or her lunch and snacks.