June 15, 2021
Weekly overview:
Monday:
- Review chapter 4 study material on Iroquois Confederacy
- Chapter 4 Test
- Quiet Reading
- Review how to write a story (if everyone finishes test)
- Creative Writing- Picture Prompt for a short story
- Review elements of a story, pick a picture prompt, brainstorm ideas, plan out story
- Begin rough draft of story IF all planning slides are complete
- Write rough draft of story (2-3 pages, single or 1.5 spaced, size 12 font)
- Story should be written by Friday
- Edit story IF finished
- Peer edit story, improve story
- Story due Monday- we will share stories in class next week.
June 11, 2021
The Iroquois research and slideshows are due today at 9:00 pm.
On Monday, we will review content for chapter 4 (decision making in the Iroquois Confederacy) and the chapter 4 test will be on Tuesday, June 15. Please spend some time studying this weekend! You will also be asked to compare the Iroquois Confederacy to decision-making in Ancient Athens and Canada, so be sure to review these concepts as well.
June 7, 2021
Monday: introduction, review expectations, ask questions.
Tuesday- Wednesday: research information, complete research chart. This should be done before end of class on Wednesday.
Thursday: work on slideshow
Friday: add finishing touches to slideshow, edit, submit. Due Friday, June 11 by 9:00 pm.
June 6, 2021
Google Meet Code posted on Google Classroom- same as before. Monday June 7 is Day C.
May 20, 2021
- re-listen to the podcast as needed (maybe just the ending?)
- plan out your ending on the slideshow
- begin your comic using StoryBoard creator
May 17, 2021
Finish slides 1-11 of the "Eleven" Character and POV slides for tomorrow. You will have 15 minutes to finish up slides 12-14 tomorrow (Tuesday) and the slides will all be due Wednesday, May 19. Remember to explain your reasoning- this means using "because" or "so" statements!
May 13, 2021
- Homework: finish the "Eleven" post-reading discussion questions slides so we can discuss them tomorrow (Friday). If you did not finish your "Eleven" Short Story Practice slides (including Plot, Conflict, and Theme) then that is homework too. Remember to "Turn In" on Classroom.
May 12, 2021
- Homework: Read "Eleven" by Sandra Cisneros
- complete the Character and Setting slides for tomorrow
May 10, 2021
Monday
- finish Kidnuz Podcast questions and summary
- 30 minutes quiet reading time (try going outside with your book! Use a physical book if possible!)
- reading reflection task
- Root Words
- Short Stories Introduction- elements of a story
- Characters practice
- Short story elements mini lesson
- Tortoise and Hare practice
- "Eleven" Character and Setting practice
- Short story elements mini lesson- Plot and Conflict
- "Eleven" Plot & Conflict practice
- Current events
May 7, 2021
I just realized I did not post the weekly overview here on the blog- my apologies!
This week, students continued working on understanding root words, practicing interviewing skills for news articles, and using tone in their writing. Today for current events, students practiced listening skills by listening to a kids news podcast.
Next week, we will continue practicing listening skills, wrap up article writing, and being reading/listening to short stories. There is no homework for the weekend, except to finish up the Cat Prompt article/tone practice if it was not completed. Try to get outside and enjoy some fresh air, even in the rain!
April 27, 2021
Today was the first day of online learning this time around for grade 6s. Please see the Weekly Overview below for details on what is being covered this week. Students can also check Google Classroom for this information. If you have any questions, please email me at ranewson@cbe.ab.ca
Monday- P.D. Day. No school.
Tuesday-
- Online Expectations
- Spaceship Video- how to be productive in isolation
- Root word: auto-
- Fairy Tale Article- review what was started, 5 +1 W's Chart for homework (should be done tomorrow, April 28)
Wednesday-
- Root word: fort-
- Current Events from last week to present
- Fairy Tale Article Writing- Inverted Pyramid/rough copy
Thursday-
- Root word: re-
- Fairy Tale Article Editing- Good copies due Monday, May 3rd
Friday-
- Current Events- see Google Classroom for who is presenting on each topic (students only)
April 20, 2021
Today students reviewed the answers to their fact vs. opinion practice, and learned about what makes a good headline. Students began looking at headlines from local news stories and analyzing them according to the headline rules we reviewed in class. If students did not pick 10 headlines to analyze in class today, those need to be chosen and recorded by tomorrow to be analyzed in class. We will also be practicing writing articles this week!
April 16, 2021
This week, students began looking at functional writing- specifically, newspaper articles. Students got to read some examples, evaluate journalists organizational skills, and try their hand at writing their own. Please ensure your re-written "Man Punches Cougar" article is submitted on Google Classroom. Next week, we will continue looking at articles considering how to identify bias, fact, and opinion, and how to write headlines and lead paragraphs.
April 6, 2021
Welcome back! Today, students had some quiet reading time before doing some Ancient Athens review. Students will be writing the Ancient Athenian Democracy unit test on Thursday, April 8th. Tomorrow we will spend some time reviewing vocabulary and the pillars of democracy. Pillars of democracy posters were due today. I will not be assigning part 2 of the project as we are going to be moving on in the curriculum shortly.
March 26. , 2021
Today, current events presentations and discussion took longer than anticipated, so a few students felt rushed completing Part 1 of their Ancient Athenian democracy poster. This is due for Day A, Tuesday April 6th. That means there is no homework for humanities during the break, unless you have to finish up the front portion of your poster. We will complete Part 2 and wrap up Ancient Athenian Democracy at the beginning of April. Please enjoy your break and follow COVID-19 protocols in place as mandated by the province. Rest and enjoy!
March 25, 2021
Today, students had the chance to begin putting together their Pillars of Athenian Democracy poster. Each student should have their good copy of each paragraph written out and ready to glue onto their poster tomorrow, March 26, so that this portion of the poster can be marked.
Once students return from Spring Break on Tuesday, April 6 (Day C), we will continue on with Part II of the Pillars of Democracy final assignment, writing a mini story that demonstrates how each pillar functioned. We will then have an Athenian Democracy unit test toward the end of the week (approximately April 9th).
March 24, 2021
This week, students have been reviewing paragraph structure and creating a paragraph to go on a poster that will teach others about the three pillars of Athenian Democracy- the Assembly, the Council of 500/Boule, and the Court. For each pillar, students must explain what it is, how it worked, and why it was important in an 8-10 sentence paragraph. This will be due on Friday, March 26. Paragraphs should be written and edited by March 25 (Thursday) so that the posters can be worked on in class on Thursday.
March 11, 2021
In humanities this week, students continued learning about Ancient Athens and wrote a letter from the perspective of an Athenian parent. Students also created a visual piece to illustrate the contents of their letter. This is due on Monday if it was not completed in class. Please remember there is no school on Friday, March 12, and that clocks must be set ahead one hour on Sunday!
March 4, 2021
Today, students reviewed what the expectations for the "Letter to an Athenian son/daughter" are, and looked at a non-example and explained how to make it better. Then, students wrote the rough copy of their letter and began to illustrate the contents of the letter on either a water jug or kylix. Tomorrow, students will continue with this, writing out the good copy of their letter and working on colouring and finishing their illustrations.
March 3, 2021
Today, we finished up discussing how what the social hierarchy looked like in Ancient Athens, and students began their letter assignment writing from either the perspective of an Athenian mother or father writing to their child. In their letter, students are writing down advice to the child, and including facts and details about their role in Athenian society to demonstrate their understanding. This is posted on Google Classroom. We will continue working on it tomorrow.
Please have a book to read for Friday! We will be doing some partner reading.
Friday, February 26th,
Today students presented on their current events and reviewed how to look for key information in news articles. On Monday, students will be finishing up their Ancient Athens chapter 3 notes and doing some independent reading- it is important that all students have a book to read on Monday!
Thursday, February 25th,
Today, students worked on Chapter 3 questions and engaged in class discussion on the class structure of Ancient Athens, the purpose of the Agora, and how rights and responsibilities were divided up in society. Tomorrow, students will be either presenting or listening to Current Events presentations from their peers, and reviewing what they learned this week.
Tuesday, February 23rd,
In humanities today, students reviewed their answers for the stations on Ancient Athens, and reviewed their vocabulary. Tomorrow, we will begin to work through chapter questions about Ancient Athens as a foundation of democracy.
Monday, February 22nd,
Today, students volunteered (or were volun-told) to present on a current event on Friday. The instructions for this task and the assessment criteria are posted on Google Classroom.
Students had the remainder of the block to finish up their Ancient Athens Stations booklet, which is due tomorrow, February 23rd. This must be completed for tomorrow so we can go over it and begin chapter questions.
Wednesday February 17th,
This week, we have been continuing to look at Ancient Greece, focusing on geography and culture through online stations. These stations must be completed by next Tuesday, February 23rd as we will review it in class. Since we do not have Humanities tomorrow due to it being a short day, there will be one full block on Monday to finish up the rest of the stations booklet.
Additionally, please check PowerSchool to see if you have any assignments marked as missing.
Tuesday, February 9th,
In humanities today, we reviewed how to write a summary of a story. Students were reminded that a summary is not a detailed retelling, but rather a condensed explanation of all the crucial details and information. We followed the "Somebody... wanted.... but.. so.. then.. next.. in the end..." format, and students practiced summarizing two Greek Myths as posted in Classroom. Tomorrow, we will be writing out a good copy of one of these summaries and creating a visual to go along with it. The two summaries started today must be completed for tomorrow (Wednesday) so that students may work on their good copy in class on Wednesday.
Monday, February 8th,
Today students had time to read for 25 minutes at the start of the block. All students are encouraged to read one of the books on Ancient Greece I have borrowed from the library. Remember, we cannot share books or switch unless there has been a 3-day isolation period for the book as they cannot be easily sanitized.
We also reviewed the "We Have a Vaccine" article and questions. This must be submitted on Classroom by tomorrow.
Tomorrow, we will finally take time to read through each of the Greek myths and summarize them. I will show you how to write a proper summary tomorrow during class, then you will do your own.
Hello!