Your Age on Other Worlds

How old are you on Mars?  How about Venus or Uranus?

Find out.

Videos from class

A few recently shared videos from class:

Lego/Smartphone Cube Solver

Less quick, but lego robots are up to other things as well...

Toronto City Hall Blinkenlights Display As Featured on Daily Planet

Blinkenlights Stereoscope @ Daily Planet from Tim Pritlove on Vimeo.

Computer Lab:  November 25, 2011

Fill out this reading survey.  Each member of your pair should do this completely and carefully.  When you are finished, check with Mr. Crunkleton for further instructions.

Reading at Funbrain (check it out during computer lab)


What does it feel like to fly over planet Earth?

Today you'll all be reading and experiencing an interactive history lesson of sorts that will give you an understanding for what life was like in the trenches during the terrible conflict of World War I.  You often hear about this conflict which is where the tradition of wearing the poppy began, but sometimes it is difficult to relate to what life was like during the time.

Treat this experience with respect and please remember it is based upon what real people had to go through.

Listen to the story, with the volume VERY LOW (or you will forfeit the right to use the volume at all), but mostly read the interactive story you will be involved with.  Click on vocabulary words to find out more about them.  In another tab, open this question form that contains questions about the experience you are reading.

** Make sure your group has completed the question form and the interactive reading before leaving computer lab today. I will be checking from home.**

The interactive reading:

Instructions:

1. Click here, on interactive reading.
2. Click begin your adventure.
3. When it asks you for your name, a friend's name, and the city you live in, it isn't going to keep the information.  It's to put you inside the story.  You can make up a false name if you like, but keep it respectful.
4. Enjoy the experience, remember to keep your volume very low.  If it is too high, you will be asked to do this without the volume, and just by reading.  Use your good sense!
5. Appropriate behaviour for a computer lab and a remembrance day activity please.

Create a Stem and Leaf!

Computer Lab:  November 3, 2011:  Pokemon Steam and Leaf Assignment

Today in computer lab we will be creating a steam leaf plot based on the Pokemon Trading Card Game expansion sets. There have been many sets of expansion cards in the Pokemon Trading Card Game. The first expansion "Jungle" came out in 1999...that's before you were all born. An article detailing these card sets can be found here.

Today you'll be using the following website to create a stem and leaf plot of the number of cards in various Pokem Trading Card Game Expansion sets.  Don't use the "base sets", just expansion sets.  You can include as much data as you want...there are plenty of expansions sets to use.  If you just want to do third generation up for example, you can do that.  Or you can try to include EVERY expansion set, you know, if you gotta catch'em all.

Stem and Leaf Plot can be made here.

We'll go over how to use it in class.  Each group will be responsible for printing one stem and leaf plot today.  Each plot must have a properly worded title.  The title should be representative of what information is in the plot.  If you only detailed third and fourth generation expansions, make sure you say so.  Don't just call it "stem and leaf plot".  I can see that from looking at it, I want to know what the data I'm looking at is, even if I didn't know what the assignment was.

Try to include as much data in your stem and leaf plot as you can.  When it is finished, print it out and include your name and your partner's name on the sheet and turn it in.  Include the date as well.

States of Matter: Changes

Grade 5 Science:  States of Matter:  Changes

Getting Started, something to get us thinking about changes in state.

When have you observed a material undergoing a change of some kind?

Reversible and Irreversible Changes

Check out this interactive online lab activity exploring reversible and irreversible changes, and how they are different.

Let's try to share all the types of changes.

Vote on the most effective setting poster projects!

 Results to follow.

Results from Character Poster Project

The results are in from the class vote on the most effective Character Posters from last week's homework project.

Students created posters using text features to effective showcase a character from the narrative each student was reading at home that week.  There were a lot of impressive posters, and the students selected their favourites.

Here is the result of that vote:

Computer Lab Thursday

Today we'll be practicing using an interface we'll be doing a number of things with this year.  It's called a form.

Each partner will be responsible today for filling out this form.

We'll then go back to class and see how the results work.

Solid, Liquid, Gas

Thursday grade 4's will be beginning their study of the regions, provinces, and territories of Canada with Ms. Li and grade 5's will be beginning an investigation of the Properties of and changes in matter.

Here is a link to today's grade 5 science handout.

Today we will be introducing 2 important big ideas:

1.  There are 3 main states (or phases) of matter.  Solid, Liquid, and GaS.

Other more exotic states/phases exist (such as plasma) but are not as commonly experienced.

2.  Matter the changes state is still the same matter.

Water that freezes into ice is still water, it's just changed into the solid state.  Water that evaporates or boils into water vapor (or steam) is still water, it's just changed into the gaseous state (changed into a gas).  Every kind of matter can change its state...not just water.  Rocks can melt, or even be vaporized if enough energy (heat) is applied.




So what is matter and how does it change into different states?

Okay, rocks can melt.  I get that.  But what does rock in the gas state look like?

A Day Without Gravity
Narrative Writing

Today students began by watching two quick videos about experiences in zero gravity situations.

Students paired up and exchanged ideas of fun situations and problems that could occur on a day without gravity.

We reflected together afterward about four of the characteristics of a narrative we had touched upon previously:

Setting, Characters, Problems, and Solutions.


Finally students began sharing some of their ideas and we grouped them into each category as best we could.  We talked about the importance of pre-writing before doing any sort of narrative writing.  We want our story to be focused, fun, and to avoid being disorganized.  Pre-writing is the fun and imaginative first step of the narrative writing process!

Today we began our unit on narratives.  We didn't get as far as expected, but we began a shared reading that will continue on to Tuesday of Anything For The Bike.  Students should have this hand out in their language folders.

Today the students had their first music/drama class with Ms. Amenta.  Despite a hot muggy classroom the students seemed to do very well with the introduction to body percussion.

Our routines slowly are being applied, one at a time.  This week we can expect the homework routine to be clearly defined at some point.  Students should be reading nightly, and reviewing their planners whether or not they have any other work listed.

Homework will NOT be assigned on weekends unless students are behind in their class work this year.

Homework is not meant to be new material, and is to give support to what we learn in class.  It should never take more than 40-50 minutes.  If it does, please write a note in the homework journal or feel free to call the school and discuss it with me.  Our homework policy is tied to the large TDSB policy on the subject.

Update on beginning of the year form completion:

It is still important that all students submit ALL beginning of the year forms including the Student Data Verification Form and the "rainbow" packet that was sent home this first day.

We had our first fire drill of the year this year, and I'm pleased to report the class behaviour and efficiency during this time was exemplary.

The class was introduced to Apples to Apples:  Junior edition today.  The game is incredibly fun and encourages all the right types of thinking in students.  It is directly tied to vocabulary building, synonyms, and the art of thinking about how we express ourselves and write.

Daily Vocabulary:

exemplary:  Adjective, comes from the word "example".  Worthy of being imitated or patterned after.

Amanda has a birthday coming this weekend.  Enjoy your day Amanda!

We continued our discussion of synonyms and how they can inform our thinking about how we express ourselves in writing.  The class watched a movie clip from the movie We Are Marshall and received a hand out containing a paragraph written about the scene.  The paragraph expressed the general idea but had some underlined words and phrases for the students to consider editing with an eye toward more effectively communicating.

We Cannot Lose
We Are Marshall — MOVIECLIPS.com

Students met at first in teams to discuss and brainstorm ideas, and then returned to their desks to re-write the paragraph individually.

The class reviewed basic presentation procedure for written work to be handed in.  Identifying the front of a piece of paper, using both margin lines, skipping the first line, and selecting a descriptive title were all discussed.

The second introduction team challenge went swimmingly.  Students reflected on some key oral presentation elements (examples:  pacing, facing the audience, deciding for yourself whether or not your audience can probably hear you.) and most students showed marked improvement from the first introductions team challenge.  A couple even brought their classmates to applause.

We also practiced our evacuation procedures thoroughly, and by the third or fourth time the class did marvelously.

Some Vocabulary:
margin
indent
ellipse
elliptical
isosceles
scalene
drill

Today we began our class team challenges.  Students focused on learning more about each other and working together to accomplish a shared goal.

Towards the end of the day we set up our language folders.  Our first page was a reference sheet on synonyms.   Our lesson focused on not just what synonyms are but how exploring them and thinking about the subtle differences between them can make our writing more effective.

In discussing the difference between "good" and a synonym we found in the thesaurus, "appropriate" we reflected upon the following video:



We discussed how the gum Violet chewed was clearly very "good".  However we probably wouldn't use the synonym "appropriate" to describe it.  After all, it didn't turn out to be a very good idea!

Vocabulary we discussed today:

Words with Flavour!
titanic = "like a titan (really really big giants from Greek mythology)"
fantastic = "like something from a fantasy (a nice dream)"
wonderful = "so good it makes you wonder..."
marvelous = "so good it makes you marvel (show astonishment, surprise, wonder or awe!)"

Our fourth grade students also experienced their first French class today with Madame Hunt.  Our fifth graders had their first French class of the year.

Welcome Back

It's an exciting time of year.

We have an exciting school year ahead of us, and it is a great time to be a junior student at Stilecroft Public School.  On the first day of school we'll be covering a lot of ground and learning a lot about what to expect from the coming year and each other.

Some things we covered:

1. Materials we need.
2. Morning checklist.
3. Our Personal Planners
4. Making the 20 minutes a night of independent reading the best homework ever.

EDIT:  Well we didn't get to these next two things after all, but we expect to tomorrow.

1. Personal Inventory
2. Teamwork in the classroom, featuring the video:  Dolphin Dinner.

Today's Vocabulary

• measurement 
• legend 
• goal 
• data
• data management
• line graph 
• pie graph (or chart) 

Another source to try for math related vocabulary.

Homework Today (Tuesday September 6, 2011)

The first day of school means a lot of materials will be sent home that need to be reviewed and filled in.  The package of papers being sent home this year needs to be reviewed and filled in properly as soon as possible.  Some materials are required for students to participate in a wide range of activities at school, and getting this paperwork completed is very important.

Connect 4 Game Link

Connect 4

Bitstrips!

Welcome students!

Access the following website today, called bitstrips.

You will be given your class access code so that you can find our class area on the website.

Today you are being asked to create your own "avatar" or what you will look like when on bitstrips and add it to the class picture.

You can also create a series of characters for future use in your comic strips that you will be creating in bitstrips.

Feel free to try and learn the interface early and create your own bitstrip today, but that will be our lesson for next computer lab.  For now, make as many characters as you like.

When you are finished you should have made your avatar and at least one other character.  If both you and your partner have done this, you may do any activity directly linked from this website.

Class photo as of 5/2/2011 (Add your avatar today!)

The first bitstrips assignment is up...make your first comic and submit it today.  Christine has already had her first comic published!  Good job Christine!

Let's Get Logical.

Welcome to Computer Lab!

Today we're going to be playing logic puzzles, like we learned to do in class on the Smartboard.

To do this follow these instructions.

1.  Go here.
2.  Click on "New Game" near the top right corner of the screen. 
3.  Wait for the puzzle to generate.
4.  Click "Start Game!"
5.  Work on solving the logic puzzle with your parter.  Remember to read the puzzle carefully and look at the information you have with which to solve the puzzle.  Use the grid like we learned to do in class.

Have fun, think carefully, and LET'S GET LOGICAL!

The Thesaurus Game

Welcome to computer lab!

Today we'll be playing the Thesaurus Game.

A thesuaurus is a book of synonyms.  Synonyms are interesting in that even in many dictionaries the word is listed as meaning two words with the "same" meaning.  The truth is that synonyms don't usually have the exact same meaning.  Most synonyms have subtle "shades" of difference in their meanings and the way they are used.  In this way words are very much like colours.  There are literally millions of shades of blue.  In fact, some words can be synonyms AND antonyms (opposites).  Depedending on how some words are used they can actually mean very different things...sometimes so much that they can be considered their own opposite.

Object:  From the starting word, make steps.  Each step in the chain is a synonym of the word before.  The game ends when you reach a word that is an antonym (means the opposite of) the original word.

Game Procedure:
1.  Open Microsoft Word
2.  Select a word to start with.  Look up the definition of that word and use it in a sentence.  You can make up a word or use a random word generator.  Simple adjectives often work really well.

random word generator:  I suggest using adjectives.  Don't forget to look up the word to find out what it means before you begin.  Common words with a obvious antonyms work best.  Don't be afraid to use this until you find a word you WANT to start with.

3.  Type the word, spelled correctly into Microsoft word.  Below it, use it properly in a sentence so you have demonstrated that you know what the word means.
4.  Highlight the word.
5.  Click "Tools" --> "Language" --> "Thesaurus"
6.  To the right a thesaurus window will open.  Sometimes it take 30 seconds or so for the search to be performed.  A bunch of synonyms will appear (also an antonym...don't pick that one.  It will be labeled.).  The thesaurus groups words according to their general shade of meaning. 
7.  Choose one of the words...try to predict which one will lead to a different "meaning path" and type that word under the word you started with in the main window.  Then click on that word in the thesaurus panel.  It will then look up that word in the thesaurus.
8.  Continue this process, each time typing the word beneath the last in the chain.  Carefully select the next word to try to move the definition away from the original word you started with.  Eventually you should be able to find your way to an antonym of the original word if you try.
9.  When you get there, highlight the last word and count the number of steps it took you to reach the antonym.  Take turns with your partner.  Completing the loop is always a victory, but try to do it in as few steps as possible.  Try using lots of different words, adjectives work best though.


Example of a game card:

-------------------------------------------------------------------

large

His shoe was so large that two of my feet could fit inside.

Synonym list

large

1. generous
2. liberal 
3. moderate 
4. restrained 
5. discreet 
6. unnoticeable 
7. imperceptible 
8. small

  Small is an antonym of large! I completed the loop in 8 steps.

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Welcome to Computer Lab.

Welcome to computer lab.

Grade 4:

1.  You will be continuing work on your social studies project, developing castle characters.
2.   In developing your character's coat of arms you may find the following resources helpful:

Coat of Arms symbols and their meanings
How to Make Your Coat of Arms   (You can print a shield and work on it using the advice this page gives.)

Grade 5:

You will be researching your social studies innovations topic.  Every group will be turning in a record of properly taken notes derived from today's lab period.  We will review proper note taking procedure in class today, and you will receive your notes back once I've given you feedback and seen what you have accomplished.

Computer Lab: Thursday February 24, 2011

Welcome to computer lab!  Today we're going to be focusing on the following tasks.

1.  Read Jeffery's message to the class and send him a reply.  Click the link, read the message then click on the link at the bottom of the message that allows you to write back to him.  Include a salutation in your message and make sure you pre-read your message before hitting submit and decide whether you've fulfilled the success criteria for the task.

2.  Read and discuss a web article about school uniforms with your partner.

3.  Try to come to a decision with your partner which side of the debate you agree with.  Together, complete a persuasion map to organize your ideas.  Refer back to the original article to gather ideas to support your point of view.

4.  If you have time and you or your partner need time to complete a reading record, take this opportunity to do so.

5.  If you are finished all of these things, check in with Mr. Crunkleton so he he can see your persuasion map (yes, you can print it!) and then pick one of the previous lab's activities and revisit them.

Nova ScienceNow Profile: Pardis Sabeti

Thursday's Inspiration Profile:

Mail from Jeffery

I just received the following mail from Jeffery, passing it along to the class.  You guys need to write him back.

Today is the first day of school. I did great and made a few friends today. My new school is like my Stilecroft but the only differences is that we eat in the classroom and there is a smartboard in every class.

To write back to Jeffery, click here.  I will forward your messages!

Dance-a-thon Music Request

Request a Song!

Click here to request a song for our Dance-a-thon on March 4th.

Remember to type in the "group name".  The "group name" should be very familiar and should be on your pledge envelope.  No password is needed.

Online Pledge!

If you'd like to allow someone to make an online pledge, it's easy.  Just direct them to our homepage and click here to make an online donation for our dance-a-thon.  They will need to know your school name and they will need to know my name so they can give your class credit for the donation.

Social Studies Exploration II

During today's computer lab you have the following options:

Grade 4:  Medieval times

1.  Complete a Reading Record.  (click on the book to the right)
2.  Explore Medieval castles.
3.  Explore Medieval Life
4.  Ask an expert:  What was life really like in a castle?
5.  The Medieval Arms Race
6.  Building a real trebuchet.
7.  Destroy a castle with a trebuchet.

Grade 5:  Ancient China

1.  Complete a Reading Record. (click on the book to the right)
2.  Ancient Chinese Tanagram Puzzles
3.  Learn about dragons!
4.  Learn about the Chinese art of caligraphy.

5.  Try your hand at caligraphy.  (Explore link 4 thoroughly first!)

Social Studies Exploration

Design your own heraldry!

Explore Ancient China.  Read the story.  Explore.  Then see if you are up to the challenges!

Multiplication Practice

Multi-Player Multiplication Space Race

Multi-Player Multiplication Grand Prix