An Abridged April Advisory (apt as we are abuzz)

We apologize for the delay in getting an update posted, we have been busy and there is a lot going on in class.  We we returned from Spring Break all the grade 8’s at Hillcrest had selected 2 workshops on Renassiance topics and classes were blended. Students completed the workshops and a Fair was hosted.  While the grade 8’s were reviving the Renassiance with Ms. Moody and other grade 8 teachers, the grade 6/7’s went on scientific adventures with Ms. Abbot & Mr. Utting.  Here are some of our highlights:

1. The Renassiance Fair

2. Mr. Ellis, a teacher with the Aboriginal Education Department, came in to share his experience and stories in our circle.  He joined both grade 6’s and grade 7’s to share examples of oral stories and then we had each group practice telling a story. It was an interesting experience to tell a story to someone else and tell what we remembered and what stood out to us.  It was an amazing experience for both groups with work with Mr. Ellis.

3. We all had the opportunity to learn about badminton and played several round robin mini-tournaments.  The grade 6’s even invented four-square badminton which adds a whole new dimension.

4. The grade 7’s worked on Patterns and Equations with Mr. Utting and focused on divisibility, input/output tables and an introduction to algebra.  The grade 6’s have been working on fractions concepts.  Some students have been working on multiplication & division of fractions and others have been using fraction strips to understand equivalent fractions.

5. In science with Mr. Utting and Ms. Abbot, students learned Cell Theory, about how to use microscopes, field of view and how to draw scale drawings.

 

 

6. The grade 6/7 classes  had 4 Yoga classes with Jessica and they have continue to develop there yoga practice and learned about its benefits for self-regulation.

7. The grade 6/7’s completed a poetry anthology and have learned about figuative language and literary devices.  The grade 8’s are continuing to work on their anthology projects, which is a collection of essays on their topic. Here are three examples of the Poetry Anthology assignment (more to be posted shortly)

Marcus’ Anthology                                  SarahL’s Anthology                                      Sena’s Anthology

8. A small group of students went to the Evergreen Cultural Centre for a Water Colour Painting class.

9. The grade 6/7’s had a brief introduction to World Religions and we learned about Holy Week and Easter in the Christian tradition and Passover in the Jewish tradition.

10 Students are working on an independent novel study this term.  They had the choice between several books including: Kira Kira by Cynthia Kadohata, Island of the Unknowns by  Benedict Carey, Beacuse of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea, The Grave Robber’s Apprentice by Allan Stratton, Promise the Night by Michaela MacColl , Libertad by Alma Fullerton, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by  Sherman Alexie, Last Summer of the Death Warriors by Francisco X Stork, After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick, and Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool.  They have choice between several assignments to be collated into a journal for presentation. 2014 Term 3 Novel Study Project