In math the students finished up their divisibility unit and we began looking at fractions, creating equivalent fractions, place value fractions, finding common denominators, converting improper fractions to mix numbers and mixed numbers to improper fractions, adding and subtracting fractions and adding and subtracting mixed numbers. We just started looking at converting fractions into decimals and putting that decimal into percentage.
In our math problem solving class the students have started to plan and will be filming next class a how-to math video. Each group picked an outcome (concept) from the curriculum and had to plan how to teach someone through video. Once they are done I am planning on sharing them with you! Before starting we watched a few math how to videos from the YouTube channel Schmoop.
In Language Arts we finished up our mystery unit with the students writing original mystery stories. We have now started with our novel study. The class is reading Camp X by Canadian author Eric Walters. This is a great adventure story about to young Ontario boys during 1942 who stumble upon a secret government training camp. This story is a historical fiction and Camp X is an actual place that was one of the most important spy training camps for World War II. It is believed that Ian Fleming, author of the James Bond series, took his personal experiences from training at Camp X for inspiration for his world famous series! The kids are really enjoying the book and I love to see them discover a part of Canadian history in a fun and adventurous way. By the end of the novel students will create a book trailer for the book.
In Social Studies we started a new unit looking at globalization and how that effects the world, sweat shops, and how technology effects globalization. Currently, the students are researching "The Good, the Bad & the Ugly Brands" of our world. Each student chose a brand that they wanted to learn more about, within their research they had to find how the company treats their employees most specifically in third world countries where the labor has been outsourced. As well as looking at a brand students also found an organization that is fighting for labor rights in these countries. The students will put the information that they have found into a multimedia presentation that they will present to the class.
In Science we have had a special guest for the last month, Miss Unruh, an intern that has been teaching at our school since September. She has been teaching in the high school end for the most of her time, but wanted to experience a middle year classroom. She has been teaching the students about mixtures and solutions, chemistry. Students have completed a few labs and are learning about the particle theory.
We have also continued to blog. Friday mornings have become our blogging class. As well as, every Friday students also blog throughout the week in our classroom.
There are only three weeks left of school until Christmas holidays. I can't believe how fast this year is going. Something new this year is that the last day before break, December 20 it will be a regular school day with regular dismissal time. We will enjoy the traditional turkey dinner though, yum yum!
