This week we will be working on the following:
Language
Writing - Persuasive Writing. With research completed, students will begin writing their essays. Mini lessons will focus on writing strong introductory paragraphs and topic sentences, attribution, the use of direct quotations, and how to construct solid conclusions.
Reading/Media - Clichés. Just in time for Valentine's Day, we will finish up our look at clichés in song lyrics and why we need to avoid them in our writing. We will take a close look at Avril Lavigne's "Keep Holding On" and Chris Brown's "Forever." Who will take the prize for the most clichés? Stay tuned.
Math - We have just started Geometry. Students will be working with protractors. We will be measuring the angles of various triangles to determine if it is a right, acute, or obtuse. We will continue working on long division as well. There will be a short quiz on long division on Thursday. Students comfortable with the short-cut long division may use that method, so long as they arrive at the correct answer.
Science - Monday, we will be completing Pulleys and Gears by designing and constructing a pulley system with a milk carton. The Sound unit begins humming along on Tuesday. I will be bringing in some interesting instruments and there will be plenty of "hands-on" investigation as we examine pitch and frequency this week.
Social Studies - We have completed an intensive look at the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, as well as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. This week, we will learn about what it takes to become a Canadian citizen. Our Canadian Province and Territory research will provide the foundation for tourist videos which the students will plan and film over the next two-to-three weeks. We will kick off this project comparing Ontario's tourism commercials then and now. "Give us a place to live. And a place to grow..."
Art - Elements of Design - Perspective: Students will create a landscape collage. Please bring in clean foam trays, if you have any.
Field Trip
On February 26th, we will be going to Theatre Direct's production of Binti's Journey, an adaptation of Deborah Ellis' book, The Heaven Shop (which centres on the plight of AIDS orphans in Africa). I will begin reading this book to the class this week. Look for field trip permission forms soon.
Literature Circles Coming Soon
Speaking of Deborah Ellis, I will soon be running literature circles in our class. We will be reading Ellis' The Breadwinner. I can order this book in sets from Scholastic at a price that works out to $3.33 per book and the book is the student's to keep. The Breadwinner is also readily available from the Toronto Public Library, if you choose to go that route.
If you wish to order the book, please bring $3.33 in as soon as possible and I will place the order.
Thank you.
