Exhibition Action Film Festival

We are in the process of brainstorming, drafting and receiving feedback on our action plans. Over the next few days we will be examining some videos and articles that show people taking action throughout the world. Enjoy a glimpse into our film festival with these selections.

 

Writing Myths: Resources and Videos

For our new unit, Where We Are in Place and Time, grade 5 is exploring how people learn about the past. We have already put the puzzle pieces together for what makes a civilization and are exploring how places change over time.

Central Idea: Historical evidence helps us connect today's way of life with the past. 

Lines of Inquiry:

• Processes involved in collecting, analyzing and validating evidence
• How people build upon previous understanding
• Ways in which our understanding of the past has evolved over time, and shapes the future. 

We are also looking into mythology and writing our own myths. To help us get some instruction on how to write myths we watched these two videos.

How To Write Myths
What Is A Myth?

After watching the videos, we began our pre-writing task. In table groups, the students wrote ideas about what we could write about to explain the natural world. Some of my favorites were "Why do snails have shells?" and "Why do hounds have long ears?" Next, we brainstormed words associated with the topic to go in a word box and then plotted out several story possibilities. Our next step this week will be to learn about different Gods and Goddesses so that we can build them into our myths.

I will let you know how they progress, but until then, here are some other websites that might be useful.

Characteristics of Myths
Creating Your Own Myth
Scholastic Writing With Writers: Jane Yolen
Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses
Scholastic- Myths, Fairy Tales and Folktales
Write Your Own Myth
Myth Story Examples

Also, the Mythic Warriors series shows are great for learning about the Gods and Goddesses. Youtube has a ton to watch.

Fractions Math Test on Friday!

Hi students! Hope you are getting ready for your math test on Friday. I know this was the first test I actually wanted you to "study" for. It is important that you take responsibility for your learning more and more the older you get and studying is one way to do this. I know we have IXL and you have your daily homework, but I wanted to share with you some videos that also might help you with some concepts covered on the test. Enjoy!

The Big 7 Division Strategy

Finding Equivalent Fractions

Improper Fractions to Mixed Numbers

Improper Fractions To Mixed Numbers Song

Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions

Adding Fractions With Unlike Denominators

Converting Between Fractions and Decimals

Percent Circle Graphs

Circle Graphs

 

Season of Giving Thanks

In the spirit of American Thanksgiving last Thursday I showed this video and then we participated in a sharing circle with all of grade 5. Each student and teacher got to take time to tell the group what they were thankful for.

The spirit of giving thanks has continued in my class with notes and poems of thanks. Many of my students have found or written me poems to show their appreciation for the work I do as a teacher. They have brought me to tears. I wanted to show some of what I have been receiving.

I fully believe that for as much as we do for children, they do so much for us too. I truly love my job and my students and am thankful for both every day!

 

Multiplying Decimals: Three Ways

Here is a video for the lattice method:

Here is a video for the estimation method with the traditional method:

Here is one more video for the more traditional method:

 

Geometry Video Collection 1

This unit in Everyday Math is focusing on geometry and while some of the concepts are pretty basic, boy are the words challenging! I would like to share some resources and videos to help you with the vocabulary.

First, there is Study Jams. This is a free site that gives you so many lessons for kids to learn math and science. Today we learned about congruency. Use it because Study Jams is awesome, awesome, awesome!!!

Also, here are the IXL topics you can use to practice on your own. The starred ones are the ones I would like you to work on first!

*B.10
  B.12
*B.13
  B.30
  B.31
  B.32 (challenge)
*B.33

Vertical and Adjacent Angles

Singapore Math Triangle Angles = 180 Degrees

Classification of Triangles

How To Use A Geometric Compass

 

Geology Videos to Check Out

Krakatowa Erupts Up Close

Forces That Have Changed Our Earth

National Geographic: Lava

 

Learner Profile and Attitudes of the Month: Curious and Inquirer

The definition of inquirer is to look for or gain information by asking questions. 

The definition of curious is someone who is eager to learn or know.

Picture Credit: http://goo.gl/PozR4C

This month at ISL we are focusing on recognizing PYP students who are curious and inquirers.

I would like to share a wonderful website with you that fosters these ideas. It is called Wonderopolis and it is truly a great resource. It takes many questions that people have about the world and answers them with text and video. The website is a great way to foster students who are inquirers and curious.

 

Peacemaker Videos

For our Peacemaker project, you looked at this website to choose a Peacemaker to study. Here are some videos that you can use to gain more information about Peacemakers around the world and throughout history.

Enjoy!

Mahatma Gandhi

Dorothy Day

Martin Luther King Jr. 

Dalai Lama

Mother Theresa

Cesar Chavez

Desmond Tutu

Albert Schweitzer

Thich Nhat Hanh

Aung San Suu Kyi

Nelson Mandela

Jody Williams

Rosa Parks

Ruby Bridges

Wangari Maathai

Anne Frank

Henry Dunant

Jane Addams

Joan Baez

What Kids Need To Know

Last week after watching Kid President for Video Friday I created a homework assignment for my students to go home and create a project that shares what they think kids need to know on their first day on Earth. There were some great projects and I was really proud of the time and thought that went into them. Take a look at the photos and don't forget to click on Preston's video at the bottom.

Enjoy,
 

Thinking Routine: Connect-Extend-Challenge

Currently I am taking two classes to keep my teaching mind fresh. It is difficult to take classes in TZ and the internet is a wonderful thing for professional development opportunities. The two classes are on differentiation and visible thinking. I am talking with my kids open and honestly about my continued learning and they know that I am trying things out on them.

Today I tried a new visible thinking routine called Connect-Extend-Challenge. We watched a time lapse video of a watermelon growing and they had to write sentences fitting each category on three separate stickies. It was a good thinking activity and the students came up with some great thoughts. The extend part was the most challenging for them and I need to reflect on how to rephrase it and make it more clear, but all in all, it was great.

Try it yourself if you like. Watch the following video and then write one sentence for each of the three prompts. See what thinking comes out of it.

Inspirational People Video: The Cochran Family

This is a wonderful video about kindness, compassion and love. Enjoy!

 

Inspirational People: Richard Turere

One of the teachers on my team found this video for our new unit on inspirational people for the PYP transdisciplinary theme Where We Are in Place and Time. It is a wonderful video about a child thinking of a way to solve a serious problem for his family, village and community around him.

After watching the video, the class made a web of all of the PYP Learner Profile and Attitudes that Richard exemplified and paired up to write and illustrate their thoughts. The kids did a great job on them.

 

Decemebr Music Concert

This morning the music department hosted another wonderful music morning. I love going to see the kids belt it out and listen to the progress they have made (especially on those squeaking recorders!) The teachers chose lovely songs with wonderful messages. Take a listen!

It also gave us a chance to take a snapshot of the class out of uniform and dressed up. The kids looked so grown-up although it was a bit too sunny.

Thanks music teachers!

 

Published Procedural Writing Projects

 It is no secret that I "heart" technology and I try to pass my love along to my students in numerous ways. I share their work on our blogs, use games and resources to teach, have "Video Friday", conduct real time research and inquiry with the internet, and utilize my wonderful Smart Board daily, just to name a few.

This year was the first year I tried using iMovie, not only myself, but with my students. We created projects showing their procedural writing pieces. Take a look at some of these wonderful How-To videos and pay attention to the sequence of step, wonderful details and use of transition words!

Carter wrote about How-To Surf...

 Grace wrote about How-To Sing...

Mimi wrote about How-To Play Every Sport...

Ville taught us How-To Make Pizza

Piya taught us How-To Swim

Sania taught us How-To Make a Mango Smoothie

 P.S. I can't wait to use iMovie with my students some time soon!

What It Means To Be a 21st Century Teacher

I know this is what I am up against and yet, it doesn't intimidate me, it makes me want to be a better teacher.

Teaching To Do List:

• reflect
• adapt
• change
• reflect
• grow
• learn

 

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes

I revisited this book recently and loved reading it again. I remember reading it as a child and being amazed at the story of bravery, hope and inspiration this little girl embodied.

Sadako Sasaki lived in Hiroshima when the atom bomb fell and a few years into her childhood she got sick with Lukemia. While in the hospital, her goal is to fold 1,000 paper cranes because as legend has it, if a sick person folds 1,000 cranes, the gods will reward the person with health and long life.

I highly recommend this book; it fits perfectly with our PYP Unit about Heroes. Sadako Sasaki is a hero and in Hiroshima there is a Peace Memorial showing a statue of her holding a gold crane in her hand. I hope to see it in person one day. Due to this little girls hope and dedication, the paper crane has become a symbol of peace around the world. I remember visiting 911 Ground Zero site a few years ago and being reminded of Sadako when I saw all of the paper cranes children from around the US sent as a peace gesture.

You can watch her story on YouTube using the link below.

Also, use these links to find out more information:
Sadako Sasaki and the Thousand Paper Cranes
Special Exhibit: Sadako Sasaki
Angel Hero: Sadako Sasaki (This site also has links to other heroes from around the world)

Links for teachers and parents:
Sadako Reading Activities
Activity
Fiction Level 2-3: Sadako Lessons
Oragami Resource Center
 

Let's Continue The Dance Party!

Today was AWESOME! Why? Well, shall I make a list using bullets? Yes!

• Watching rockets launch while it drizzled. Thanks grade 5... nice work
• Photographing my students swim and run in the pouring rain and finish the first "Aquathon" of the year for grade 3. Thanks Awesome Owls!
• Publishing our letters to our new student who joins us on Monday
• Eating a treat from the Bake Sale grade 4 put on to raise money for CCBRT, a cause near and dear to our hearts. Thanks Arran, especially since after our Economics unit you understood the direction "Get me something, anything chocolate... but make sure it is a good value for my money!"
• Eating a second surprise treat from the Bake Sale. Thanks Omar
• Enjoying our indoor recess dance party. Thanks MJ
• Cracking open the new math Student Journals and listening to cheers from the owlets
• Receiving high-fives from all of the students for a great week before they all departed to start their weekends
• Participating in a good student/parent meeting after school
• And last but not least... keeping the dance party going throughout the weekend with this video. Thanks Kid President

Have a productive, successful, enjoyable weekend 3R and I will see you rested and ready for another awesome week on Monday!

Stop Motion Animated Body Video

 I am so proud of my kids! They worked together successfully and completed a stop motion animation video that takes you through the circulatory system and explains where blood cells go within the body. Check it out and leave a comment. The kids would love to hear from you!