Students Hard at Work - Preparing for SLCs

 To prepare for our Student Led Conferences, students sorted through their Book Apartments, attached Proof Cards to their work and prepared a document to help them tour their guests around the classroom.

 Some students did their work on paper, and others did theirs on the Drive.

Clara Was Inspired by Magritte

After watching our Rene Magritte slideshow, Clara was inspired. So inspired that she wrote one of her typically creepy and brilliant poems. Check it out. 

Our Dream of 1:1 ChromeBooks

Shauna went to a conference called the Google Apps for Education Summit in Montreal two weekends ago and learned that the EdTechTeam who put it on is providing class sets of ChromeBooks or Nexus 7s to some classes in order to give back!

We realized that we consistently take our tech to the next level and hope that we can get 1:1 devices in our classroom.

Students created the amazing video above and we all worked together to write our application for the grant.

Wish us luck!

Mood Boosters!

Some members of our classroom community have been having a tough time lately. As always, the Rainbow Eggheads have sprung into action and done what they can to boost people's moods. Check out the amazing projects the students of Room 209 whipped together for our friends!

Do babies remember things? By Millie

So last week our reporter, Anita, (who interviewed us in the newspaper) brought in her 7month year old, Nisha!

We decided to do some science experiments on Nisha. Not the the ones like poring a bunch of chemicals on her, but some mental experiments.

We wanted to know if babies remember things. Do you remember stuff from when you were a baby?

To do that, Anita brought some of Nisha's favourite toys. She also brought a blanket. 

Our plan was to put the toy in front of Nisha, have her crawl toward it, and the hide it under the blanket to see if she remembered that the toy was there. 

Ok, so this is what happened. 

Nisha did not have a nap that morning, so she was a bit grumpy, but not that much. We set the toy out in front of Nisha. She started crawling toward it, but she got so distracted by all of us around her, she started crawling toward us! Some of us moved out of the way. We tried it again, and Nisha crawled toward it again. We covered it up with the blanket and she kinda looked around with this facial expression: 

So, I don't really think babies remember things when they are about 7 months old, because I don't remember anything when I was that age. And also, Nisha didn't seem to remember what was there. 

By Millie 

Genius Hour #1

We are doing this cool new thing called Genius Hour. Genius Hour is where we do something with a purpose. It is kind of instead of Friday Free Time, which was where we basically do whatever we want. This time, we are doing Genius Hour!

Here are some examples of the things we do in Friday Free Time:

-play random games

-play with blocks

-SOMETIMES work on something that has a point

-goof around

Here are some of the things we do in Genius Hour:

-take things apart (example: toaster)

-record a song and put it on the class YouTube or blog

-write a story with Heather C’s grade 1s or 2s

-endangered species small projects
by Lauren and Millie

 Hunter created a strange little monster and then dissected it!

 Laryssa created some beautiful Plasticene crafts for her grandmother and their family Easter celebration


Haydon created Plasticene characters and used one of the class iPads to film Stop Motion animations.


 

Genius Hour Expectations:

Purpose:

-to be doing something that is useful but that you are not already doing for school - Fiona

-something productive have a goal! - Hunter

-you can work in groups or independently -Fiona

-it might not fit into a category/subject at school - Laryssa

-you may start to bring in supplies for Genius Hour - Pat

-if you’re NOT SURE, just CHECK!

Brainstorm ideas:

-take something apart (toaster) (CHECK WITH PARENTS and SHAUNA FIRST!) - Hunter

-make something - Gabby

-art project, make a painting - Kaleigh

-be an imagineer, make a model of a ride, submit it to Disney - Pat

-practice programming on Hopscotch - Shauna

-make a Puppet Pals video with a student from Heather C’s class about Skippyjon Jones - Shauna

-record yourself singing a song and post it on our Youtube channel - Shauna

-make a Show Me about Math - Jack

-create a Sifteo game - Fin

-draw on Paint with the new drawing pad - Fin

-install the new webcam - Shauna

-research an apple, make a Smart Ideas about it, make a whole project about it - Thomas

-make a Plasticene earth and split it in half - Molly

-make a video game - Hunter

-make a board game - Shauna

-make a Math game - Miggy

-do a project on “boys” and “girls” toys - Fiona

-draw something and label it with the drawing pad (an organ, for example) - Fin

-make something with Plasticene - Sophia

-make a news report - Madi

Liam and Daniel recorded themselves singing.

Toaster Where Project

Our Tech Innovators Slideshow

Students in Room 209, especially Hunter, Vickie, Rickie, Thomas and Fiona, worked really hard on this slideshow that we shared with an organization called Ottawa Network for Education. They wanted to learn about innovative technologies that are being used in schools around our city. After ONFE saw our slideshow, they selected us as one of three finalists to possibly win a $5000 grant to spend on technology for our school! This will be presented at an EduGala event later this month. On Monday, May 13th, a camera crew from GAPC will be coming in to capture some of the exciting things that we are doing!

Below, check out last year's three finalists.
http://www.onfe-rope.ca/programs/capital-educators039-awards/attend-edugala/innovation-award

Mel and Lauren's Where Project - photos by Gabby

Fiona and Thomas' Where Project Presentations

Students in Room 209 are continuing to present their hard work in the Where Challenge. Fiona told us all about Sherwin-Williams environmentally friendly latex paint and even gave Melodee a chance to make some!

 Students and teachers help to evaluate students on the rubric we made together while students present.

Thomas presented his Where Project about headphones.

Liam's Where Project - by Fiona

Today Liam is presenting his Where project in mood rings. Mood rings were invented by Joshua. Mood rings are rings that can tell what mood you are in. For example dark blue is calm and red is fear.

Here are some pictures of mood rings and his poster he made:

I think Liam did a GREAT job on his Where Project!!


-Fiona

Stop Motion Filming

Mathady Presentation

The amazing Digital Degus create innovative, exciting reflections in Math. You should have seen Laryssa's last two presentations! She shared her version of Jeopardy, "Mathady" with us to demonstrate her learning about Area and Perimeter. 

Three contestants, Liam, Kaleigh and Vickie, got to participate as Hunter kept score and Laryssa hosted. Thomas even brought Anna up to watch on Skype!

There were a variety of questions in a variety of topics, each more challenging than the last. Many of the students were eager to participate and Laryssa did a phenomenal job sharing her creative ideas with her classmates!

For her next Reflective Math presentation, Laryssa created another game, her version of Hangman, "Hangmath", asking the audience to answer questions about the addition and subtraction of decimals.

Many of her classmates were eager, enthusiastic and inspired by Laryssa's amazing creation of these games and subsequent hosting!

Hard at Work on Fancy Shmancy Day - photos by Jack, writing by Erika

On Fancy Schmancy Day, a day that happened a long time ago, Pat made a black handsome paper hat!

Jack's mom came in to talk to us about farms and how busy they are, so here were are writing a thank you letter to her.

It was cool to come to school on Fancy Schmancy Day to see all the fancy clothes that people have. It's almost like going to work, dressing up nice and fancy.

We also kept a graph for Spirit Week so we could see how many people participated!

-by Erika

Stop Motion Movies - Our Groups

People Learn in Different Ways on Different Days
-Millie
-Sophia
-Mel

Tell it to the Potato (what is the message?)
-Thomas
-Jack
-Miguel
-Daniel

No Matter How Small or Tall You Are, You Can Make a Difference
-Vickie
-Madi
-Fiona
-Kaleigh

Just Get Back Up
-Molly
-Fin
-Lauren

The Man Who Bought the Sun: Don't Be Greedy and Selfish
-Camden
-Liam
-Jackson

It Doesn't Matter What Colour Your Skin Is
-Gabby
-Hunter
-Erika

Do What You Want to Do - Dance How You Want to Dance
-Pat
-Laryssa
-Ethan
-Haydon

On the Digital Degus' Blogs This Week

I am constantly amazed at the initiative my students show. I have given short lessons to some of these students, but for the most part, they have learned to blog ALL. BY. THEMSELVES! Check out the amazing things they're up to!

Camden's providing us with a quick way to learn ukulele! He said that this could even teach someone non-musical - like ME!

You've gotta read what Fin did on the weekend! She's caught the altruistic bug! She and her family took part a really fun and charitable event!

Fiona's got all kinds of stuff going on! She's writing about Mystery Skype, Stop Motion, and she wrote a book review. Something went wrong the with the photos on the book review, though. I can't see them, can you?

Mel's joined the blogging world! Make her feel welcome, will you!?

Miguel posted a song from Youtube, but it was taken down. Take a look and see if you can figure out why it was taken down.

Sophia has a cat vote going on. Do any of the cat's personalities affect you in YOUR heart?

Molly JUST started her blog today! Very exciting! Welcome to the blogosphere, Molly!

Liam has promised to tell us about Chinese New Year! Stay tuned to his blog to learn more!

I'm looking forward to seeing blog updates from Gabby, Jackson and Millie! Vickie is going to get her blog back up and running too and I know there are a few more students getting set up with theirs! Great stuff, Digital Degus, you're getting more digital each day!

On The Daft Degus' Blogs

Millie is writing about how much she's enjoying Math and giving you tips on how to calculate area and perimeter. We'll talk more about Bansho in class and do an official Bansho lesson, which is a three-part Japanese-style collaborative Math lesson.

Camden made a crossword about computer functions that you can click and fill in right on his blog! Super cool! He's so techy, I can always rely on him (and Pat) to help me out with my tech problems!

Fiona did some magic tricks with Juliana to confuse her family. I wonder if they ever confuse them by switching places?! They actually videotaped the tricks and posted them to teach them to you!

Gabby's posting lots of music, especially helpful for ukelele players! Check out all the cool videos she posts.

Head over to Miguel's blog to vote in his contest for the cutest wiener dog! Today is the last day for voting!

Sophia is playing with the settings on her travel diaries blog and she'll be putting up photos of her trip to Montreal soon!

Melodee's starting her blog tomorrow. Vickie's getting hers back up and running tonight! If you'd like to start one also, talk to your parents, make sure you have your own gmail address and make a plan with me to take some time to start it up. It doesn't take long. Just ask Sophia!

Talk about awesome initiative! Keep up the great work, bloggers!

Indoor Recess: Lots Going on in Room 209 - by Camden

Me and Jackson making art for our pre-coming band.

Laryssa reading! Why does she have tape on the corner of her book?

That's Hunter, Pat and Melodee playing a game, that I forget what it's called on Pat's computer.

I believe that is Vickie, Erika, Finley, Fiona and Gabby with erasable white boards.

Kaleigh and Madi making pictures.

It's Jack and Haydon playing Fire Boy and Water Girl.

Thomas, Lauren, Miguel and Liam on computers.

Erika, Gabby, Fiona, Finley and Molly and I think Vickie's here too, just from a different angle.

Well, indoor recess was happening because of how cold it was outside. I thought it was kind of cool how it was snowing. I didn't really notice how cold it was, but I guess a lot of people did. When we stayed inside, people sort of got into random groups and it sort of stayed like that for two recesses. As you can, see some of the girls. Then, there was Melodee, Hunter and Pat. Then, there was me and Jackson, etc. There were a few groups playing games on their computers. Jackson and me were making art for our pre-coming band. We didn't do really a lot during recess, but it was worth it. At least I thought so. A lot of people didn't really like staying inside, but I did.

-by Camden