Dear Students,
We've been looking at Canada's trading partners over the past couple of weeks. I've posted our project outline under Social Studies and, as you begin to focus on your research, here are a couple of good sites to consider:
National Geographic Kids (I've linked to the United Arab Emirates, but there are many countries to choose from via Google)
http://kids.yahoo.com/reference/world-factbook/flags
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ae.html
Happy Researching!
Ms. G
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Biodiversity
Dear Parents,
This week we'll dive into our first project of the year. Each student will choose one organism to look at more closely. The project outline (and rubric) are posted here and in the science section.
Regards,
Ms. Goegan
Starter Sites for Biodiversity Research:
This week we'll dive into our first project of the year. Each student will choose one organism to look at more closely. The project outline (and rubric) are posted here and in the science section.
Regards,
Ms. Goegan
Starter Sites for Biodiversity Research:
http://kids.yahoo.com/animals
www.biodiversity911.org
www.hww.ca
http://canadianbiodiversity.mcgill.ca/english/index.htm
http://www.globalissues.org/issue/169/biodiversity
http://www.amnh.org/ology/?channel=biodiversity#
http://www.countdown2010.net/biodiversity
http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/eco_info/topics/biodiversity/index.cfm
www.biodiversity911.org
www.hww.ca
http://canadianbiodiversity.mcgill.ca/english/index.htm
http://www.globalissues.org/issue/169/biodiversity
http://www.amnh.org/ology/?channel=biodiversity#
http://www.countdown2010.net/biodiversity
http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/eco_info/topics/biodiversity/index.cfm
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Curriculum Links
Grade 6 is a big year for students. If you're interested in finding out more about the EQAO testing upcoming in May, try going to http://www.eqao.com/, where you'll find information about past tests and sample questions if you want to see how ready students are for success.
If you're interested in finding out more about curriculum in general, please go to http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/elementary/, which is the Ontario Elementary Curriculum site. The links there connect to all strands of the curriculum.
And, if you have specific questions, I'm always ready to answer them.
Upcoming in the classroom:
1. This Friday is Terry Fox Day. We'll have a morning assembly and an afternoon walk. Students who wish to bring in a donation for the Terry Fox Foundation are encouraged to do so and everyone is encouraged to dress in Red and White for our first Spirit Day.
2. On Monday, October 1, we'll welcome a scientist in the school to our classroom for a Classy Critters presentation, where students will get hands on experience with a variety of organisms.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Scientist Powerpoint
There are many kinds of Biologists. Pick one below:
Marine biologists
Botanists
Biochemists
Immunologist
Molecular Biologist
Histologist
Paleontologist
Parisitologist
Pathologist
Pharmacologist
Toxicologist
Geneticist
Evolutionary Biologist
Make a PowerPoint slide showing:
- What this kind of scientist studies
- At least one picture relevant to your topic
- One major scientist in the field, with details about their work in your own words, a date of birth and death (if applicable) and a photo of them.
- Once you’ve done this research, make sure your slide is readable and visually pleasing.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Thursday, August 30, 2012
September 1, 2012.
Welcome back to another school year!
It's been a busy and eventful summer for me, personally, and I'm looking forward to hearing about everyone else's summer when we return to class next week.
As most students are returning to the class this year, many of my expectations will be familiar, but I am hoping to build more chances for project based learning and more exploration of the opportunities for learning outside the classroom that Toronto offers us as well.
I'll be using this blog to post photos of our work, useful links and updates on events in the classroom. Please feel free to subscribe on the left in order to ensure you're automatically updated when new posts appear. Daily homework will be written in the agenda, which you're encouraged to check on a regular basis. If there are any notes in the agenda, I'll be sure to initial that I've read them and would appreciate if parents do the same. I try to check them daily to ensure students are marking in their homework and I will write up any overdue work myself to help you keep track of student progress.
In brief, a data key or usb stick would be a useful tool for students to have, as we will be using computers more in the classroom this year. More detailed information about the curriculum is below and, as always, if you have questions or concerns, please contact me via the school at 416-393-9025 or through email at lisa.goegan@tdsb.on.ca
Language
This year, I'm looking forward to doing more work with literature circles and hope to introduce students to some of the great YA novels I've been reading over the summer as well. I like having students read in groups because it gives them opportunities to share their ideas and learn collaboratively from each other.
We'll also be exploring some different modes of writing and media. Happily, we have access to some laptops for the class. I think these will be tremendously useful in building research and presentation skills and I'm hoping that we'll be able to use them to create video, powerpoint and other media in the classroom as well.
Math
We'll begin the year by reviewing basic arithmetic skills and continue to use the Nelson math text books to support our learning and make sure we're ready for EQAO in the spring. I'm proud of the progress the class made in this area last year and we'll continue in many of the same routines that proved successful for us, with math sheets going home for practice once or twice a week.
Science and Social Studies
Our first unit in Science is Diversity of Living Things and I'm looking forward to exploring all the different types of life that surround us. I'm hoping to get a Scientist in the School to support this strand as well. Other topics we'll be looking at include Electricity, Space and Flight.
For Social Studies, we'll begin the year looking at Contemporary Native Issues. Next term, we'll look at Canada's Trading Partners, where students will focus on a particular country's relationship with Canada and, in the last term, we'll look at European Explorers and First Contact.
Arts and Physical Education
Students will have Ms. Greenwood for Music as in past years, but Drama and Art will be integrated into our classroom learning. Dance will be covered by Ms. Fenton as part of her gym program.
Welcome back to another school year!
It's been a busy and eventful summer for me, personally, and I'm looking forward to hearing about everyone else's summer when we return to class next week.
As most students are returning to the class this year, many of my expectations will be familiar, but I am hoping to build more chances for project based learning and more exploration of the opportunities for learning outside the classroom that Toronto offers us as well.
I'll be using this blog to post photos of our work, useful links and updates on events in the classroom. Please feel free to subscribe on the left in order to ensure you're automatically updated when new posts appear. Daily homework will be written in the agenda, which you're encouraged to check on a regular basis. If there are any notes in the agenda, I'll be sure to initial that I've read them and would appreciate if parents do the same. I try to check them daily to ensure students are marking in their homework and I will write up any overdue work myself to help you keep track of student progress.
In brief, a data key or usb stick would be a useful tool for students to have, as we will be using computers more in the classroom this year. More detailed information about the curriculum is below and, as always, if you have questions or concerns, please contact me via the school at 416-393-9025 or through email at lisa.goegan@tdsb.on.ca
Language
This year, I'm looking forward to doing more work with literature circles and hope to introduce students to some of the great YA novels I've been reading over the summer as well. I like having students read in groups because it gives them opportunities to share their ideas and learn collaboratively from each other.
We'll also be exploring some different modes of writing and media. Happily, we have access to some laptops for the class. I think these will be tremendously useful in building research and presentation skills and I'm hoping that we'll be able to use them to create video, powerpoint and other media in the classroom as well.
Math
We'll begin the year by reviewing basic arithmetic skills and continue to use the Nelson math text books to support our learning and make sure we're ready for EQAO in the spring. I'm proud of the progress the class made in this area last year and we'll continue in many of the same routines that proved successful for us, with math sheets going home for practice once or twice a week.
Science and Social Studies
Our first unit in Science is Diversity of Living Things and I'm looking forward to exploring all the different types of life that surround us. I'm hoping to get a Scientist in the School to support this strand as well. Other topics we'll be looking at include Electricity, Space and Flight.
For Social Studies, we'll begin the year looking at Contemporary Native Issues. Next term, we'll look at Canada's Trading Partners, where students will focus on a particular country's relationship with Canada and, in the last term, we'll look at European Explorers and First Contact.
Arts and Physical Education
Students will have Ms. Greenwood for Music as in past years, but Drama and Art will be integrated into our classroom learning. Dance will be covered by Ms. Fenton as part of her gym program.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
As we begin to get more in depth with our Ancient Civilization Projects, we've been looking for good resources to share as a class. These are some that we've already found useful. Keep looking back here because I'll add more as we find new and better sites to explore.
kidsspace.torontopubliclibrary.ca
mrdonn.org
mrdowling.com
kidsspace.torontopubliclibrary.ca
mrdonn.org
mrdowling.com
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Ancient Civilizations Library Trip
May 7, 2012
Dear Parents,
We will be travelling to Annette Street Public Library tomorrow afternoon as a class in order to gather resources for our Ancient Civilizations projects.
Permission is covered by the walking excursion forms already returned at the beginning of the year. I would, however, greatly appreciate it if a few parents were able to accompany us, even with such short notice. If you are able to come tomorrow afternoon, please contact me via email at lisa.goegan@tdsb.on.ca , through the school phone at 416-393-9025 or leave a note in your child’s agenda.
Students are encouraged to come to school with their library card and appropriate walking gear.
Incidentally, I've also added the scaffolding questions for the ancient civilization topics to this site for student use.
Sincerely,
Lisa Goegan
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Science Fair
We've been hard at work preparing for the upcoming science fair at IRC. Students are working in pairs to create 2 structures that they will compare against a single force (i.e. Wind or a Fixed Load seem to be the most popular tests).
The first structures are due Monday, and the second structure on Thursday. Ms. Bains has created a write up template to help students get everything they need up on their boards for Friday of next week (you can find that on the Science Page). In the meantime, much of our classtime has and will be spent putting the structures and project together as well.
Hope to see everyone's completed models on Monday.
Ms. G
The first structures are due Monday, and the second structure on Thursday. Ms. Bains has created a write up template to help students get everything they need up on their boards for Friday of next week (you can find that on the Science Page). In the meantime, much of our classtime has and will be spent putting the structures and project together as well.
Hope to see everyone's completed models on Monday.
Ms. G
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Computer, Art and Science...Oh my!
Dear Parents,
It's been a while since my last posting. I want to update you on what's been happening, what is happening and what will be happening soon.
Rooom 210 has been busy in the past couple of months. I was running a computer club for some of our students and enjoying the challenge of that. With the lovely weather, I've decided against trying to start something new up since March Break, but am planning and plotting for next year. On that front, I wanted to let you guys know about an upcoming "Hackjam" hosted by Mozilla (of Firefox fame) focused on getting kids into programming. If you're a teacher or interested yourself, here's the link to register for the event on May 5th: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/3216268947/efbnen
We had the luck and good grace to have worked with Ms. Sitara Saif, a student teacher, for the past couple of months and I'm lucky enough to have another excellent teacher candidate in the room for the next month as well. Ms Bains accompanied us on our recent trip to the NFB and she said it was her favourite trip with a class so far. I think the kids also had a lot of fun:
Coming up is another trip on April 17th (to see Kenneth Oppel at Perth) and a school science fair on April 25th. More information on that went home in a letter for parents today, but we'll be building structures for that and may need some help with gathering materials. Because each pair has a different topic, we're trying to set it up in order to make sure that everyone has all the information and materials they need to do a great job on this project.
Finally, we looked at a bridge building game in class yesterday that I promised I'd link to. You need to download the Bridge Game at the bottom left of the page for whatever type of computer you have. Link: http://www.bridgebuilder-game.com/
It's been a while since my last posting. I want to update you on what's been happening, what is happening and what will be happening soon.
Rooom 210 has been busy in the past couple of months. I was running a computer club for some of our students and enjoying the challenge of that. With the lovely weather, I've decided against trying to start something new up since March Break, but am planning and plotting for next year. On that front, I wanted to let you guys know about an upcoming "Hackjam" hosted by Mozilla (of Firefox fame) focused on getting kids into programming. If you're a teacher or interested yourself, here's the link to register for the event on May 5th: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/3216268947/efbnen
We had the luck and good grace to have worked with Ms. Sitara Saif, a student teacher, for the past couple of months and I'm lucky enough to have another excellent teacher candidate in the room for the next month as well. Ms Bains accompanied us on our recent trip to the NFB and she said it was her favourite trip with a class so far. I think the kids also had a lot of fun:
Coming up is another trip on April 17th (to see Kenneth Oppel at Perth) and a school science fair on April 25th. More information on that went home in a letter for parents today, but we'll be building structures for that and may need some help with gathering materials. Because each pair has a different topic, we're trying to set it up in order to make sure that everyone has all the information and materials they need to do a great job on this project.
Finally, we looked at a bridge building game in class yesterday that I promised I'd link to. You need to download the Bridge Game at the bottom left of the page for whatever type of computer you have. Link: http://www.bridgebuilder-game.com/
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Computer Club is back!
Today we sent lovebombs.
Rizza and Vibrant sent this:http://cmon.lovebomb.me/waddqvyb
Megan T. and Jessica sent me this: http://cmon.lovebomb.me/ycpbuovh
Carol sent me this: http://cmon.lovebomb.me/frxatqrd
Fionn and Habib sent me this:http//cmon.lovebomb.me/lgdefbhx
Jason sent me this: http://cmon.lovebomb.me/mfeqfmi
Rizza and Vibrant sent this:http://cmon.lovebomb.me/waddqvyb
Megan T. and Jessica sent me this: http://cmon.lovebomb.me/ycpbuovh
Carol sent me this: http://cmon.lovebomb.me/frxatqrd
Fionn and Habib sent me this:http//cmon.lovebomb.me/lgdefbhx
Jason sent me this: http://cmon.lovebomb.me/mfeqfmi
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Computer Club Information
Dear computer club members,
I wanted to make sure you could access the two sites we looked at these past two weeks:
Http://hopscotchkits.com
htmledit.squarefree.com
Today we looked at < h1 > tags, < P > tags, and < img src > tags.
Keep Hacking.
I wanted to make sure you could access the two sites we looked at these past two weeks:
Http://hopscotchkits.com
htmledit.squarefree.com
Today we looked at < h1 > tags, < P > tags, and < img src > tags.
Keep Hacking.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Dear Computer Club Members,
In our first meeting this Wednesday, we worked with a program called Hackasaurus. If you want to try working with it at home, you'll need to work with Firefox or Chrome as your browser and download the xray googles to hack around the web on your own time.
You can even publish it to >htmlpad.org to share with your friends.
See you guys next week! Have fun hacking!
Ms. G
In our first meeting this Wednesday, we worked with a program called Hackasaurus. If you want to try working with it at home, you'll need to work with Firefox or Chrome as your browser and download the xray googles to hack around the web on your own time.
You can even publish it to >htmlpad.org to share with your friends.
See you guys next week! Have fun hacking!
Ms. G
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