This week, November 30th to December 4th

Calendar Notes:

Wednesday, December 2nd, PJ DAY

Friday, December 4th Report Cards go home.

Academic Notes:

English: This week we will continue to annotate and discuss the main ideas and themes in The Giver. We will begin work on our own Dystopic fiction. Our grammar focus continues to be repairing sentence errors like sentence fragments and run ons.

S.S.: We will be exploring the Viking religion. On Thursday, we will play a game of Barbarian Tag. Come dressed appropriately (eg. wearing animal pelts).

French: We will continue working with adjectives and the verbs avoir and etre.

HCE - we are looking to do a community project between now and Christmas break.  Most likely helping out the food bank or families in need within Sooke.

Math 

grade 8 - we have started to use the Pythagorean Theorem.  Homework was given over the weekend, due on Monday.  We will move on to word problems using the Pythagorean Theorem, homework to be expected on Monday and Wednesday.

Science - a pie graph is due on Monday and another will be assigned on Monday.  On Monday I will assign a graphing project to be completed for Friday.  

Today's word: REPORT

Let's hope not...

November 27th

Block 1: S.S. Div 5 We concluded watching the documentary on the Vikings and taking notes.

Block 3: English Div 5 Annotating text. I modeled how to select, record and reflect on selections of text. I reviewed the criteria for annotating text. Editing/proofreading for Sentence Fragments and Run Ons test on Monday.

Block 4: English Div 6 Reading and annotating The Giver. You were given the criteria for annotating text. Editing/proofreading for Sentence Fragments and Run Ons test on Monday.

November 26th

Not so funny, if you were an Anglo Saxon.

Block 1: S.S. Div 2 - The Vikings by Nova. We watched a documentary that highlighted how Viking history was recorded and the reasons for their successes in battle, trade and exploration. The viking longboat was key.

Block 2: English Div 2 - Reading block.

Block 3: S.S. Div 5 - The Vikings by Nova. Why did the Vikings voyage beyond their shores? Why were they so successful in battle, trade and exploration. We looked into these questions and watched the documentary.

Block 4 and 5 - EXPLORATORIES

Today's word: exploration

November 25th

The Vikings is a History Channel series that recreates and creates a story revolved around the Vikings in history.

Block 1: S.S. Div 5 - Viking boat construction time.

Block 2: S.S. Div 2 - Viking boat construction time and boat test runs. We assessed whether the boats were buoyant, could withstand low and high wind situations. Sadly, many an imaginary Viking sailor was lost today.

Block 3: S.S. Div 5. - Viking boat construction and boat test runs. We assessed whether the boats were buoyant, could withstand low and high wind situations. More Viking sailors survived these tests, but there were still many who sank to the bottom of my kiddie pool.

Block 5: English Div 6 - We read The Giver, annotated and analyzed it.

November 24th

Tomorrow is Character Day


Block 1: English Div 5 - We reviewed the test on correcting sentence errors. There will be another sentence editing quiz next Monday.

Block 2: English Div 6 - We also reviewed the test on correcting sentence errors. There will be another sentence editing quiz next Monday.

Block 3: French Div 5 - We reviewed the verb avoir and etre. You completed a verb chart. We looked at how these verbs pair with adjectives to describe people. You highlighted French adjectives that describe you.

Block 4: English Div 6 - Reading, annotating and analyzing The Giver. You were asked to identify quotes that point to the nature of the community, dystopic or utopic? At minimum, you should have 5 quotes. We will set a finish by date tomorrow.

Block 5: Social Studies Div 5 - You began building your Viking boats. We will continue working on them first block tomorrow.

Today's word is: construction

November 23rd

Viking women fought along side their men.

Block 1: English Div 6 Run on/Sentence Fragment Test

Block 2: S.S. Div 2 We finished our Viking boats and read about a Viking raid. We will test our boats on Wednesday.

Block 4: HCE 6 Div 18 We reviewed SMART goals for Term 2, finished questions on exercise and the brain, and learned about different learning strategies.

Block 5: English Div 5 Run on/Sentence Fragment Test -- a surprise to some even though I had the test noted on the homework board for a week and reminded you about it on the blog. Not only that, the test itself was also posted on the English course link. Take ownership of your learning, Div 5. I am giving you the tools, but you aren't using them.

Today's word is: "ownership"

Ragnar says, "Get to work you Thralls".

November 23rd to 27th

Calendar Notes:

This Wild Wednesday is character day. Come dressed as your favourite character from books, TV or film.

Academic Notes:

Health and Career: We will continue to exercise in advisory to experience what the science is saying, kids do better at school, if they start the day with physical activity. We are already noticing that some of you come into school very sleepy and grumpy, but after 15 minutes of activity, you are more alert and brighter eyed. 

English: You have a quiz on repairing sentence fragments and fixing run on sentences this Monday. This is a test of your editing ability following our lessons on sentence structure. We will continue to read, annotate and analyze The Giver. Our focus will be on disguinshing whether the community is utopic or dystopic. You will be asked to identify quotes that support your opinion. Remember that one person's utopia can be another's dystopia. 

S.S.: You will continue to explore Viking innovation specifically their nautical technology. We will be engaged in an engineering challenge to build "sea-worthy" boats. Also, we will be looking at the Norse religion and its gods. The Vikings were polytheists; they worshipped multiple gods.

French: We will be conjugating two irregular, but highly important verbs, avoir and etre. In addition, we will be looking at how to use adjectives to describe people.

Math and Science: click on my link to Madame's website to the right of this screen. 

Today's word is a name: Thor, god of thunder and son of Odin. Somehow I don't think the Vikings had him fighting an Ironman.