Monday, December 19, 2011

Minute to Win It

Challenge 1




Challenge 2


Challenge 3



The Roots - Game Theory - 00 - Clock With No Hands

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Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Holocaust Time Line: How Could This Happen?

In order to have the proper context when studying the Holocaust, it is imperative to have a basic understanding of the events that lead to Hitler getting pwer, maintaining power, the treatment of the Jews and other groups, Jewish resistance, and the demise of the Nazis.  The way we will be doing this is through group work, group investigation and group presentation. In your group of 3-5, you will be responsible for learning about and presenting 1 section of the timeline to the rest of the class.  You will also be responsible for the making and the adminstering of a quiz on your section.  







 
 
 


The Timeline section focuses on the history of the Holocaust, chronicling the years from 1918 to the present. Hitler's rise to power was the initiation of a period that wrought great fear and destruction. Millions were forced to live in ghettos, only to be deported later to the concentration camps. The tragic details remained obscure until the liberation of the death camps and the further revelations during the Nuremberg War Trials. The subsections below offer a simplified outline for thinking about how the Holocaust unfolded. However, it should be kept in mind that many of the categories overlap.
Presentation

After you have spent considerable time making jot notes on your section (make sure you have a good understanding of all the information you present), it is time to present your learning to the class.  Your group can present any way you chose.  Possible options are:
  • Presentaions using:
    • OneTrueMedia
    • Googledocs
    • Comic Life
    • Animoto
    • Movie Maker
    • Glogster
    • Other
  • Visuals
    • simular to the Heritage Fair displays
  • Oral Presentations
    • need to have visuals to go with speech
  • Other
    • need to meet with teacher
The medium you use is important, but not not as important as the information you are presenting.  Make sure you spend considerable time researching and understanding your section since you will be available for questions after your presentation.

Quiz

Your group will also need to have some sort of assessment at the end of your presentation to check for class understanding.  The quiz may use the  following formats:
  • Short answer questions
  • multiple choice
  • matching
  • essay-remember you have to mark it too!!
Holocaust Presentation Grading Sheet
    Example of Presentationusing One True Media

    Paragraph Writing-The Wave

    The Wave

    
    Answer the following questions on your blog in paragraph form.  Make sure you use proper paragraph structure, punctuation and grammar.

    1. How can movements such as The Wave be defeated?



        2. What does this film say about authority and power?




        3. What does this experiment say about the cause of the Holocaust?



    Monday, December 12, 2011

    Population Density in Holocaust Ghettos

    During the Nazi occupation of Poland, 255,000 Jews were forced to live in a ghetto in Lódz, Poland. By the end of 1941, the 4.3 square kilometer ghetto was occupied by an average of 3.5 people per room.

    By October of 1940, Nazis had confined nearly 400,000 Jews in a 9.06 square kilometer area of Warsaw which normally housed about 160,000. The area was surrounded by a wall 10 feet high and was sealed off on November 15, 1940. Jews were forbidden to go outside the area on penalty of being shot on sight. No contact with the outside world was allowed.

    Let's compare those numbers to how we live in Saskatchewan and Saskatoon:

     Saskatchewan
    • Population:  1 053 960
    • Area: 588 276 square kilometres
    Saskatoon
    • Population: 257 300
    • Area: 144 sq. kilometers
    Fairhaven School
    • Population: 405
    • Area: 3688 sq. meters
    Complete the following sheet: Population Density: Ghettos in Poland


    What problems would arise in the crowded ghettos due to such a high population denisty?
    • starvation
    • disease
    • uprising
    Activities
    • After reading Smoke and Ashes: The Story of the Holocaust by Barbara Rogasky, write a poem or a journal entry about the life of a young child living in the ghettos.  Think about ideas from the reading like, "The countless children, whose parents had persihed, sitting in the streets.  Their bodies bodies are frightfully thin, the bones stick out of a yellow skin that looks like parchment....They crawl on all fours, groaning..."
    • Also, make a chorcoal drawing to represent your poem or journal entry.  Here are some examples of drawings from the ghettos.

    Monday, November 28, 2011

    No Time To Say Goodbye-Expository Essay

    Expository writing is a type of writing where the purpose of is to inform, explain, describe, or define the author's subject to the reader in a well thought out and logical way. 


    Directions: Write a 5 paragraph expository essay on the following topic:

    Imagine the characters from the novel No Time To Say Goodbye are real and alive. Pick one of the characters and ask yourself, "What questions would you like to ask the character?" Explain why your questions are important to you. Tell the character what you've learned and how you feel after hearing their story. If you can relate their experiences to any conditions facing your generation, explain those connections. Describe for the character what you will do to teach future generations the lessons you've learned from learning about the residential schools.

    The Writing Process


    Graphic Organizers- print off the one you want to use


    Example of Planning

    Thesis: In my essay I will be talking about the many questions I would like to ask Thomas if he was around today.


    Tuesday, November 22, 2011

    Expository Essay Writing-Peer Editing 1st Draft

    Use the Peer Drafting Form to have 2 other classmates edit your first draft of your expository essay.  Use the feedback from the form to make changes on the second draft of your essay.  Be sure to keep all planning/drafts of your essay since that will be a large percentage of final grade.

    Monday, November 21, 2011

    January 15, 1919-Flowing Fluids Flood City: Can explain it using the kinetic molecular theory?

    Buying a New Car-Steps One and Two

    How to Buy a New Car at the Best Price

    Buying a new car is a big decision, but it doesn’t have to be a difficult one. The average person will buy 10-12 cars in their lifetime. Preparing yourself and doing your homework is the key to being able to make the important decisions with total confidence.

    Step 1: Narrowing Down Your Choices: Does the car fit your scenario?

    Take a minute and, on your blog, write down what scenario you  are presently in.  For example: I am a single male living in Saskatchewan, aged 25 years old.  I love sports and the outdoors.  I love taking my quad into the wilderness and driving like a madman with my friends.  I work at a potash mine and make $80 000/yr.  I want to spend anywhere from $25 000-$45 000 on my new vehilce.
    • One of the most important steps of new car buying is deciding exactly what type of car fits your needs. Do you want a large vehicle with lots of room or a small car that’s very fuel efficient? Whether you’re looking for a practical Dodge Caravan minivan to take the kids to hockey practice , a 4x4 truck to haul stuff around or a sporty Mazda Miata convertible to drive through the summer, it’s essential to define your model class and price range.
    Step 2: Research

    Once you have defined the class and price range, the next step is to research features, safety ratings and reviews. There might be ten different cars in the class you are looking at, therefore using existing analysis from expert sources to narrow down your choices can be very useful. There are many places to do in-depth research about new cars, including online car magazines such as Car & Driver http://www.caranddriver.com/, TheCarMagazine http://www.thecarmagazine.com/, Motor Trend http://www.motortrend.com/ and CanadianDriver http://www.canadiandriver.com/. Some of the better Canadian car manufacturer websites are http://www.honda.ca/ , http://www.toyota.ca/ , http://www.ford.ca/ , http://www.nissan.ca/ , http://www.bmw.ca/ , http://www.mazda.ca/ and http://www.subaru.ca/. For reliability rankings try http://www.edmunds.com/ , http://www.jdpower.com/ or http://www.consumerreports.org/.
    • Find 3 or 4 vehicles that fit into your price range and needs and post them on your blog.

    Expository Essay Examplar

    Look at the following Expository Essay as a guide for level 4 expository essay writing. The bolded sentences are key sentneces that keep the essay organized and flowing. The writing in red explains why the senteces are key componenets.

    Friendship
    A dictionary contains a definition of friendship somewhere in the F’s between the words “fear” and “Friday.” An encyclopedia supplies interesting facts on friendship. But all the definitions and facts do not convey what friendship is really all about. It cannot be understood through words or exaggerations. The only way to understand friendship is through experience because it is an experience that involves all the senses. A good thesis statement since it lets the reader know what the essay is about in a clear and concise manner.

    Friendship can be seenAll the topic sentences in this essay are well written and to the point. It is seen in an old couple sitting in the park holding hands. It is the way they touch, a touch as light as a leaf floating in the autumn air, a touch so strong that years of living could not pull them apart. Friendship is seen in a child freely sharing the last cookie. It is the small arm over the shoulder of another as they walk on the playground. Seeing friendship is not casual. It is watching for subtlety, but friendship is there for eyes that can see. The concluding sentences in each paragraph are well written and wrap up what the paragraph was about.

    Friendship can be heard. It is heard in the words of two friends who squeezed in lunch together on an extremely busy day. It is the way they talk to each other, not the words. Their tone is unique. Friendship can be heard by those willing to listen.

    Friendship is felt in a touch. It is a pat on the back from a teammate, a high five between classes, the slimy, wet kiss from the family dog. It’s a touch that reassures that someone is there, someone who cares. The touch communicates more than words or gestures. It is instantly understood and speaks volumes beyond the point of contact, to the heart.


    Friendship has a taste. It tastes like homemade bread, the ingredients all measured and planned, then carefully mixed and kneaded, then the quiet waiting as the dough rises. Hot from the oven, the bread tastes more than the sum of its ingredients. There is something else there, perhaps the thoughts of the baker as her hands knead the dough, or her patience as she waits for the dough to rise. Unseen and unmeasured, this is the ingredient that makes the difference. Warm, fresh from the oven with a little butter, the difference you taste is friendship.

    Friendship has a smell. It smells like the slightly burnt cookies your brother made especially for you. It smells like your home when stepping into it after being away for a long time. It smells like a sandbox or a sweaty gym. Friendship has a variety of smells. Taken for granted at the moment, they define the memory of friendship.

    Friendship is something that affects all the senses.  Friendship is also an experience of the heart; it is the language of the heart—a language without words, vowels, or consonants; a language that, whether seen, felt, heard, or tasted, is understood by the heart. Like air fills the lungs, friendship fills the heart, allowing us to experience the best life has to offer: a friend.

    Monday, November 7, 2011

    Hovercraft Group Activity- Blueprints



    Blue Print Example

    • Meet with your group and spend considerable time investigating what type of hovercraft you want to build
      • what size?
      • what type of materila will it require?
      • how difficult will it be? MAKE SURE YOU DON'T BITE OFF MORE THAN YOU CAN CHEW
    • Start working on the blueprints
      • look at example below
        • side view, top view, back view
    • Blue Prints:
      • Due Tuesday, November 15th 

    No Time to Say Goodbye

    Moday, Nov7, 2011

    Read and Post

    Here is the link that is a read aloud for Page 100-136. Feel free to listen to it! Read as much as you can. Today's reading is from Pg 117- 163 which will be Post #9 for today. If you are not able to finish this will assigned for Homework. Mrs. Nelson

    http://vocaroo.com/?media=vSZKUB35ARaWjoSVW

    Here is the Vocaroo link I read aloud from pg 100-136 from the Novel.

    Wednesday, November 2, 2011

    Wanuskewin Trip-Homework

    Homework:

    Science
    Review -Science 8.2-correct in class tomorrow - Thurs. Nov 3

    QUIZ   
    Science- 8.1 + 8.2 Quiz-Fri. Nov 4

    LA
    EDMODO Post #7
    Due Tomorrow - Thurs.Nov 3
    Novel: "No Time to Say Goodbye" Read pg100-117 Quiz tomorrow

    Social
    First Nation's Constellation & Myth Assignment
    Reminder-Finish Coloring with Markers & Wax Crayons-
    Print out an Animal for tomorrow at home. 

    Math
    Fraction Test
    Group A + B -Next Mon. Nov 7


    Wanuskewin Trip 


     Tuesday Nov 2, 2011


    Good Morning, 
    Today the we will be going on our Field Trip to Wanuskewin Heritage Park- We will be leaving at 9:15am and arriving back at 12:30pm. The original plan was to stay all day but at the last minute I decided to change it as we would not have programs in the afternoon. I hope that the weather isn't too bad as we will be heading outside for the buffalo hunt (program). I will take pictures and I am sure the students will have a good visit! I will post the Itinerary for the morning it is below. Have a good day.


                                                                                                      Sincerely,   Mrs. Nelson

    Wanuskewin Heritage Park » Contact Us

    Wanuskewin Heritage Park » Contact Us

    Friday, October 28, 2011

    Star LAB Friday Oct 28,2011

    STAR LAB


    On Friday we had the pleasure of spending the morning in the Star Lab with Mr. Waldron; the Grade5/6 Teacher. Mr.Waldron shared his knowledge of  the history and origins of the stars and constellations of Astronomy. He explained how most of the constellations originated from the ancient Middle Eastern, Greek, and Roman cultures. That they identified clusters of stars as gods, goddesses, animals, and objects of their stories. How each star formed a pattern or picture like Orion the Great Hunter, Leo the Lion, or Taurus the Bull.


    Just before lunch Mr. Yves Bousquet our Principal of Fairhaven School shared his knowledge that was given to him by First Nations Elders. He shared the Indigenous perspective and their origins of the stars and constellations . The constellations we learned about were the Lizard Constellation, from the Native American-Navajo Culture and the Spider Web Constellation of the First Nations-Cree & the Anishinaabe-Ojibway Culture.





    LA
    In Language Arts we have read half way through the Novel "No Time to Say Goodbye" by Silvia Olsen which is about 5 children who were sent to residential school. Through this novel the class is learning what it was like for students who attended Residential Schools. The students have read up to page100 and and are working on Post #7 on their EDMODO student accounts. We watched an Interview with Authur Fourstar a former Residential School Survivor. Later the students discussed the the similarities and differences between the Survivor-Arthur Four-star to the characters within the Novel. They worked on a handout comparing and contrasting the characters to Authur.
    Social
    I am teaching about the different Worldview of the British ( Western) and First Nations Cultures in relation to the Treaties and the perspective that both groups were coming from. Using the example from the Star Lab we examined the different worldviews of the Roman & Greeks to the Aboriginal Worldview of the stars and the origins of their constellations.  We listened to a oral story The Coyote and The Stars that I shared using Vocaroo (it was my first time using) which was made into a children's story. The story is about how the stars and constellations came to be with the help of the character named Coyote. This Native American story is derived from The Navajo Nation. If you click on the Vocaroo tab you will be able to listen to the story. 






    Math
    In Math - I worked with the the Grade 7s  on a handout where the students had to show fractions using pattern blocks while Mr. Catton taught the Grade 8's. We ended the day Sock Wrestling which was my first time playing and alot of Fun! It was a good day as everyone was excited that it was Friday and the weekend. The  Grade 8's students planned a Halloween Dance fundraiser for their After grad party.


    Hope to See you there! Mrs. Nelson

    Tuesday, October 25, 2011

    Update - Wanuskewin Field Trip

    Wanuskewin Forms & Fee$


     The Gr7/8 class will be going on a field trip to Wanuskewin Heritage Park on Nov2, 2011. The park is located just outside of Saskatoon. In Social, I have started the Unit on Treaties and the first topic is examining the  First Nations people and British (Western) people historical worldviews. Wanuskewin is a historical park that teaches about the cultural, spiritual and archaeological side of the First Nations people of Saskatchewan. The class and I are excited to go on a field trip and since this is my very first field trip as an Intern Teacher I think I am more excited then they are. 

    Students need to bring $3.50 for the trip. We will be taking a bus to and from the park. I sent a letter home last week with the details of the trip. If a parent/guardian can sign the letter and send  it back with your son/daughter this would be appreciated. Once I have the itinerary for the day's event I will post it to the blog. 


    Students may bring along some extra spending money for the restaurant and gift shop! Make sure your son/daughter is dressed for the weather as we will be going outdoors for some of the activities.Students may pre-order a meal and I will send forms home tomorrow. I encourage students to pre-order their meals before hand. If you are able to print off the menu and fill it out and send it back to school tomorrow this would help. We are still in need of two chaperones and if you are able to volunteer we would greatly appreciate it! There would be no admission cost for the parent volunteers. Thank you in advance. 


    Mrs. Nelson

    Monday, October 24, 2011

    Important After-Farewell Announcement by After-Farewell Committee


    *****ATTENTION GRADE 8 PARENTS*****
    As part of the gr. 8 after-grad fundraising, the students are delivering doorknockers in the College Park Area of the city. We have to deliver 10,000 of these before Nov. 1. They will be paid $1200.00 for doing this and the money is going towards their after-grad party at the end of June. This is a big job and it is crucial that all of the students participate in helping.  Mr. Catton has graciously given us some class time for some of it. Thursday, October 27 we will be leaving the school at 11:30 and returning to the school by around 3:00. We have 4 parents going along to supervise, but it would make it even better if we could possibly get another 4 parents to help drive kids over to the east side as well as help supervise. Unfortunately, 3 hrs will not be enough time to deliver them all, but a good portion should get done. We are asking if you would be available in the evening this week either Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday to possibly take your child or a couple of gr. 8 students and go out to deliver some. It would really help. We have 27 map areas to cover and the organization we are delivering for will be checking the areas we work on to ensure that the doorknockers are indeed being delivered to guarantee that we get paid for this. So, if you can please help out in any way at all call Connie Shelley at 202-9084 or 979-8837 and we can get you set up to go.  Thank-you very much.
    The kids are also holding a halloween fundraiser in the gym on Saturday, October 29 from 1pm-4pm. They have volunteered to stay after school Friday to decorate and set up the maze. We have also asked them to bring in decorations that can be used for Saturday and they will be brought home on Saturday afternoon once everything is cleaned up. We are asking the kids to be at the school on Saturday by 12pm to allow time to make popcorn, get all the lights going, etc. If you are able to come and help us Friday after school with decorating or Saturday during the event and with clean-up afterwards, that would be great. Every little bit helps. We are doing all of this to raise the money to cover the kids for after-grad. The more money we raise, the less you, as parents, will have to put in at the end of the year for your child. Our hopes are to raise enough this year so that no one has to pay out of their pocket. So please encourage your child to help with these fundraisers and come spend some time with your child and the other kids from their class and have some fun.
    Lastly, a couple of weeks ago, the After-Grad Committee sent home a letter with your child listing some options for the after-grad. We needed it signed by a parent and returned so we know what to book for the kids. We have only received 7 out of 17. Please return them and if you didn't receive 1 let either Mr. Catton or Connie Shelley know and we will get 1 out to you. Thank-you.  There will be more notes to follow about the other fundraisers we have planned.  All of the participation from the students and the parents will go a long way.
    Thank-you!                                                                                                                                                              Grade 8 After-Grad Committee

    Gr. 7/8 Math- Cooking with Fractions


                                                            



    Gr. 7/8 Math- Cooking with Fractions

    Your last party, where you served apple crisp, was such as success that your friends have been hounding you to host another party.  You’re happy to do so, but now you feel a little stressed since you are pressured to do something even better than the first party.  You decide to go out and buy your first cook book and you start flipping through the pages.  After a lot of contemplating, you decide on the 2 recipes below.  The only problem is that you have invited 12 guests and the recipes make either 6 muffins or 50 cookies.  You decide you only want each guest to have 1 muffin and 2 cookies since you don’t want them to overstay their welcome.  Which of the 2 recipes do you have to ½? Double? Explain.

    Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

    Makes 6 muffins
    Ingredients
    Preparation
    1.    In large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

    2.    Mash bananas in small bowl with fork

    3.    Beat eggs; blend in buttermilk, oil and vanilla with bananas. Pour over dry ingredients. Sprinkle with chocolate chips; stir just until dry ingredients are moistened.

    4.    Spoon into greased or paper-lined muffin cups, filling 3/4 full. Bake in centre of 375°F (190°C) oven until tops are firm to the touch, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool in pan on rack for 5 minutes; transfer to rack and let cool.
    NEATLY rewrite the Chocolate Chip Banana Muffin ingredients below so the recipe will serve 12 people
    Smartie Cookies
    Makes 50 cookies
    Ingredients

    1 cup
    butter
    250 ml
    1 1/2 cup
    brown sugar
    375 ml
    2 tsp
    vanilla extract
    10 ml
    2
    eggs
    2
    2 1/4 cup
    all-purpose flour
    550 ml
    1/2 tsp
    baking powder
    2 ml
    1/4 tsp
    salt
    1 ml
    1 1/2 cups
    SMARTIES candies (about six 50g pkgs) 
    375 ml

    Preparation
    Step 1: In large bowl, beat softened butter and packed brown sugar until creamy.  Beat in vanilla and eggs.
    Step 2: Beat in flour, baking powder, and salt.
    Step 3: Drop slightly rounded tablespoons about 5 cm  apart onto greased baking sheets.  Flatten cookies slightly and press 5 SMARTIES into top of each.  Bake for 8 to 9 minutes.
    NEATLY rewrite the Smartie Cookies ingredients below so the recipe will serve 12 people

    Conversion Table

    1 cup= 250 ml
    1 tablespoon= 15ml
    1 teaspoon= 5 ml

    ____________________________________________________________________________

    Baking Groups



     



    Reflections:
    Again, the students did a great job!  As I told the class, there are not many grade 7/8 classes of 30 students that could pull this off.  All 32 of us, along with some teachers from other schools who were observing, were crammed in the staff room during this activity.  It could have lead to disaster, but instead was an authentic learning experience where students used their understanding of fractions in 'real life' situations.  This is extremely important for many reasons.  Below is a summary of what the students told me they took from this experience:
    • understanding  +, -, x and /  fractions is very useful in the real world
    • it's really important to use proper reading strategies when you are cooking because it's easy to make a mistake....and for your food to taste gross
    • it's important to understand units of measure because a tsp of salt is a lot different than a cup of salt
    • when cooking, it's way more effecient and quicker if you're able to model/visualize fractions compared to using a process/pencil/paper
    • when working in a group, it's important for everyone to feel valued and for the group to communicate and be organized
    • can't wait to do it again!!!
    Taste-test Winners- (Thanks Mr. Waldron)
     


    Friday, October 21, 2011

    No Time to Say Goodbye-ASSIGNMENT LIST





    POST Assignment List


    Post  1- title
    Post 2 - portray a character pg  1 -20
    Post 3 - portray a character pg 20-36
    Post 4 - portray a character pg 36-55 
    Post 5 - portray a character pg 55-67 This is due tomorrow Oct 25, 2011
    Post 6 - portray a character pg 67-82
    Post 7 - portray a character pg 82-100
    Post 8 - portray a character pg 100-117-This is due Thursday Nov 2, 2011

     
    Today Oct 24, 2011

    Read Pages 82-90 (We will be working on Post#6 & 7 ) Just a note that the school will no longer have computer time until the Star Lab is finished date Nov 2nd, 2011. Get as much as you can finished and use your time wisely!

    Writing Process for EDMODO
    Pre-writing
    o   brainstorming
    o   planning
    Writing
    o   rough copy
    Editing
    o   punctuation
    o   spelling
    o   sentence and paragraph structure
    Publishing-good copy
    o   neatness

    Wanuskewin Field Trip


    Wanuskewin Heritage Park Field Trip


    Dear parent/guardians,

    Just around the corner, Mrs. Nelson & Mr. Catton grade 7/8 class will be going to Wanuskewin Heritage Park on Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011 The cost of the trip will be $3.50 per student. In Social studies we have started the Treaty Unit. I Mrs. Nelson was employed as an Interpretive Guide throughout the summer for the last 10years at the park. I know first hand that this will be a great learning opportunity to experience First Nations Culture. The students will learn how it was to live and survive off the land. The students will also learn the traditional ways of the Plains Cree people. We will be renting a bus to travel to and from the park. What’s important now is finding 2 parent-volunteers for the trip to go ahead. If you are able to volunteer, please contact Mrs. Nelson via email (nelsonte@spsd.sk.ca). It would be great if we could have the 2 parent-volunteers.  Thanks in advance.

    The Tour Package includes:
    ·         DVD Presentation (20min)
    ·         Access to all Trails, Exhibits, Galleries
    ·         Plus any two programs OR 1 Module
    ·         Traditional Dance Performance when scheduled
    ·         Min of 12 required to for Tour packages
    *Chaperones with Groups FREE

    It is essential that Adults\teachers are present during the tour. They require one adult for ten students in our group. Your assistance will be needed to prepare and distribute materials, monitor students, to provide a speed you the use of equipment and most importantly assist in cleanup. Chaperones are also expected to assist in monitoring the tour group and ensure that the artwork and walls are not touched. Please remind your students prior to your arrival and during your visit that the works of art must not be touched.
       
    Here is a link to Wanuskewin Heritage Park
                                    http://www.wanuskewin.com/seeking-knowledge/plan-your-visit/ 

    *Any help you can offer is great appreciated! Please remind your children prior to your arrival and during your visit that the works of art must not be touched.

                                                                                                             Mrs. Nelson & Mr. Catton