Merry Christmas

Today we had our Christmas celebration. Students enjoyed their game time as well as the probability game Farkle!

Have a safe and happy holidays. Merry Christmas

Christmas Celebration

Tomorrow Mr. S's class will be celebrating a low key Christmas party. During first block we will be playing a probability based game called Farkle and going to the library to do our last book exchange before the holidays. During second block students are invited to bring their own device, board game, or other fun activity. Students are also invited if they wish to wear their PJ's to school. Students may also bring in their own snacks if they wish but snacks must be peanut and nut free as there are students who share the classroom who are extremely allergic to nuts. If there are any questions do not hesitate to contact me at benjamin dot spindler at ocsb dot ca.

The probability of Snow arriving this Christmas is not very high

This last week before the Christmas Break we begin our unit on Data Management and Probability. We are learning about conducting probability experiments to solve a problem and how to use simple percents like 10%, 25% 50% 75% and 100% to describe probabilities.

In Language we continued to find new ways to make connections with what we are reading. We began reading a series of three letters about the organization Nets to Africa which provides nets to places in Africa to protect people against malaria. we have already been making connections between what we have read and our own personal experiences with mosquitoes.

In religion we discussed how Isaiah was a prophet who told the people to turn back from darkness towards God's light. we are reminded during Advent that as we get closer to Christmas, we are closer to the arrival of Jesus the light of the world.

A reminder for those who wish to bring back the signed Gift of Learning letters for those who wish to participate in the program as soon as possible.

Have a great week!

Literature Study

As part of our study of literature, each student will need to do various tasks or jobs to get a better understanding of their chosen text. The following jobs will be completed by the end of every month according to the schedule.

Literature Study Jobs Book 1

Due December 11
Connector: The connector describes how the text connects to his/her own life: (text to self), to other texts (text to text) and to the world around them (text to world)

Due January 5
Illustrator: The illustrator creates a picture, graphic organizer or other visual to illustrate something important from the text. The illustrator also gives a reason for why they chose that visual.

Vocabulary Enricher (at least 3 words or examples of figurative language.): The Vocabulary Enricher identifies and interprets key words and figurative language in the text.

Due January 11
Summarizer: The summarizer provides a clear well organized summary of the text, with a focus on key details, characters, events or timelines.

Due January 18
Literary Luminary(Passage master): The literary luminary selects key passages from the text to read aloud and discusses why those passages are important.

Due January 25
Discussion Director: The discussion director guides the group discussion by posing relevant and interesting questions, and encouraging all members to contribute equally to the discussion.

geometry links

The following website is a good place to go for extra math work. The following links includes what will be on the geometry test Monday.

https://ca.ixl.com/math/grade-6 clikc on geometry topics :y: 2 angle review, measure and classify, y: 3 estimating angle measurments, y: 4 name angles, y: 6 classify quadrilaterals y: 12reflection rotation, translation, y: 26 front, top and side view, y:30 nest of 3 dimensional shapes,

Transformations

This week we begin looking at 3 kinds of transformations of shapes. We will learn how to perform and describe rotations reflections and translations to a shape. We will also look at rotational symmetry and identify how many times a shape can be rotated along lines of symmetry before returning to its starting position.

In Language we begin our literature study. Students have already selected a book and are to complete the Connector job this week. The Connector makes connections between the text they are reading and themselves (text to self), another text( text to text) or the world around them.( text to world). Each week students will complete one or two new jobs. For most jobs it is not necessary that students have completed the book, but they are asked to complete the book by the end of the month. Students are asked to bring their book to class with them each day so that if they finish class work early, they can read their book.

We will also be learning more about making connections through our new literacy unit this week. 

Once again at St. Anne our Angel Tree Project is ready to go for this Christmas Season. Every year, families at St. Anne are asked to select an Angel from our tree to purchase a gift for a child who may not otherwise get one. Please write a note in your child’s agenda to let their teacher know to send them to get an angel off the tree.  Their angel will be pink for girls, or blue for boys, and the age of the child will be written on the back. Please purchase a gift for the child and return it to the school by Wednesday, December 9th. Gifts will then be delivered to the students before the Christmas holiday. Thank you in advance for making a child’s Christmas one that they will not forget!

3D Geometry and Independent book study

This past week we have been exploring 3D geometry in various ways. We learned to construct a shape built from cubes using an isometric sketch as well as drawing the isometric sketch of a cube based shape. We have also represented a 3D shape in three perspectives: front, side and top. 

Next week we will begin our independent book review. Students have already chosen a book and are to begin reading it over the weekend. On Monday students will begin one of several tasks that they will have to complete in relation to the book. They may use any book they wish as long as it is an appropriate book for the student's reading level. A good rule for selecting a book that is an appropriate reading level is the five finger rule. Open the book to any page in the middle. For each word the student doesn't know they raise a finger. If at the end of the page 1 finger or fear is raised it is too easy- save that book for vacation reading. If two or three fingers are raised it is just right. If there are four fingers raised it will be a challenging book. If five fingers are raised by the end of the page or before it is too challenging; save that book for later. 

Enjoy the weekend!