Lego Movie

I wonder if anyone in our class is the target audience for this movie!

Happy Holidays

 

Thank you to everyone for all your hard work so far this year. 

When I'm asked how I'm enjoying teaching grade 6 this year, I tell everyone how lucky I feel to have such a great class (don't let it go to your head).

I hope everyone has a great holiday with your family and friends.

Be prepared to work hard and "think outside the box" in the new year!

Mr. Congram

To do...Dec. 18

1. Rubrics - some students still need to return signed rubrics
2. $4 for Holiday Dance (tomorrow afternoon)

Reminder that there is no school on Friday.

To do...Dec. 16

• Rubrics signed (math test, Science poster, book review, 50 things I Like)
• Reading Projects - presentations continue on Tuesday
• Holiday Dance - Thursday ($4)

Learning Goals

Estimating and Measuring Angles

Alien Angles

Measuring angles

Angles

Angle Asteroids

Things We Like...

To do...December 12

1. Narrative - good copy due tomorrow (1 period to work on it)
2. Independent Reading Project - presentations begin Monday
3. Tomorrow is the last day to donate to Highview's Toy and Clothing Drive
4. Secret Santa will take place next Thursday

Enjoy the Holiday Concert tonight! The grade 6 band sounded great this afternoon.

To do...December 10

1. Math - worksheet & review from textbook
2. Math test - Thursday
3. Science - Blobz Guide to Electricity due Wed.

Donations to Highview's Toy and Clothing Drive due by Friday.

Holiday Concert - Thursday evening

Quotes for the day

Secret Santa

To celebrate the holiday season, our class will be having a ‘Secret Santa event. We do this activity as one way of building community in the classroom. This is a completely optional activity. If students are going to be away or choose not to participate they will not draw a name. We are encouraging students not to spend any more than $5. We will reveal our ‘secrets’ on Thursday, December 19th. 

To do...Dec. 9

1. Math checkpoint signed
2. Math homework - textbook p. 357 #1-3
3. Science - "Blobz Guide to Electricity" worksheet due Wednesday
4. Art - Google Doodle: due Friday
5. Narrative - good copy due Friday
6. Independent Reading Project - presentations begin Monday
7. Math test on Thursday 

• conversions
• area of a rectangle, parallelogram and triangle
• area of composite figures

"Things I Love" feedback

Learning Goals

To do...Dec. 6

1. Math - worksheet (area of parallelogram)
2. Blog post due Monday
3. French - Scene 5

Nelson Mandela

World Mourns the Death of the Nelson Mandela

To do...December 5

1. Math - textbook p. 353-354 #1, 3, 4, 6, 7
2. Blogpost due Dec. 9
3. Independent reading project - presentations begin Dec. 16

Tomorrow is pajama day! 

To do...Dec. 3

1. Math worksheets - area
2. Checkpoint tomorrow (conversions, area, perimeter)
3. Social Studies presentations tomorrow

To do...December 2

1. Math - p. 348 #5, 7, 8 (which dimensions are the best and why?), 9, 10
2. Science title page - Electricity
3. Blog post due next Monday, December 9
4. Independent reading project - presentations will begin Dec. 16 (earlier for some)
5. Holiday Toy and Clothing Drive
6. Pajama Day - Friday

Composite figure

Reading Project

To do...November 29

1. Math - worksheets (area and perimeter)
2. Science Poster due Monday
3. Fiction novel read for Monday

To do...November 28

1. Equations Quiz signed!!!
2. Narrative -first draft by end of Friday
3. Science poster due Monday
4. Math - textbook p. 344 #1, 2, 4, 6, 7 and worksheet"
5. French quiz signed
6. Social Studies presentation next Wednesday
7. "Favourite Things" blog post due Dec. 9 

Poinsettias are ready to pick up at the school.

Reminder you will be painting Friday afternoon.

Another example of "Things I Love"

Comet of the Century

Check out this article. In grade 6, we will be studying SPACE in Science.

http://teachingkidsnews.com/2013/11/26/4-ison-comet/

Learning Goals

To do...Nov. 28

1. Equation Quiz - signed
2. Blog Post due December 9
3. Science poster (due on Monday) - still class time this week
4. Narrative - rough draft due Friday - still class time this week

Favourite Things Rubric

Blog Post - Favourite Things

30-50 THINGS YOU LIKE

Learning Goal:  To create a digital or paper representation of "30-50 Things You Like"


You can use any app/program you want as long as the finished project is one snapshot!!  PAPER may be the best option for this task

Example:  Pic Collage (Limits you to 30)

Compare the digital and paper versions?  What are the advantages/disadvantages of each ?

Due date:  Monday, December 9

Science Research

Learning goal: create a poster (hardcopy or digital) highlighting a Canadian event or person in the history of flight

Canadian aviation history

http://scdolinski.weebly.com/uploads/4/4/6/0/4460107/canadian_aviation_history.pdf

http://www.canadianflight.org/

Possible topics (these are only suggestions):

• Royal Canadian Air Force
• Snowbirds
• Silver Dart
• Avro Arrow
• de Havilland Canada (DHC-2 Beaver)
• Bombardier
• Silver Dart
• Air Canada
• Billy Bishop
• Marc Garneau, Roberta Bondar, Chris Hadfield
• First Trans-Canada flight

News from the music department

Dear Grade 6 Parents:

On Thursday, December 12th, at 7:00 pm, all the grade 6 students from Highview P.S. will be performing on their concert band instrument in the Highview Holiday Concert.

We hope both you and your son/daughter will be available to join us for this community event. 

Musically Yours,

Mrs. Walker
Music Teacher
Highview P.S.

Science Poster Rubric

To do...Nov. 21

1. ART - monochromatic collage due Friday
2. SMART goals due Friday
3. Read fiction novel by December 2

Don't forget we leave the school at 11:30 for the Apple Store. Bring a lunch, we are eating earlier.

Flying Car?

Aeromobile

Videos to Inspire

What are the BIG ideas for our class?

To do...November 20

1. Algebra Review - worksheet
2. Algebra Quiz - tomorrow

Batkid

Did anyone see this story on the news?

To do...November 19

1. Math textbook - p.18 #4, 6, and worksheet (only the back)
2. Math test signed (by Wednesday)
3. Blogpost due Friday (SMART goals)
4. Patterning Quiz - Thursday

To do...November 18

1. Blogpost due Friday - SMART goals for term 1
2. Math test - Patterning signed
3. Math Quiz - equations: Thursday
4. Art: Monochromatic - by Friday
5. Photo retakes - November 21
6. Superhero Day - Friday

Independent Reading Project

Please bring in a fiction book for an upcoming project. This book will have to be read by December 2.

Blog Post

On your blog, write:

• 2 Academic Goals  ex.  I want to improve on the thinking and application sections of Math Tests this term
• 2 Learning Skills Goals  ex.  I want to participate/answer at least 1 question each day
• 2 Personal Goals (Can include out of school activities) ex.  I want to make the Int./Junior Volleyball/Basketball team

For each goal, please include why achieving these goals are important to you.

Due: Friday, November 22

To do...November 14

1. Math - textbook p. 18 #1, 3
2. Science group presentations - Monday
3. Silent Auction donations - "Gone to the Dogs"

Other ways to say...

Making Connections - videos

Rudy Garcia Tolson - Iron Man

To do...November 13

1. French - cahier work & scene 2 be prepared
2. Scholastic due tomorrow
3. Science - group presentations moved to Monday (tomorrow will be to prepare)
4. Blogpost due Friday
5. Return report confirmation form

Tomorrow is a Friday schedule (we have gym)

To do...November 11

1. Math test on Wednesday
2. French - Vocab test (Wednesday)
3. Science - group presentations (Thursday)
4. Silent Auction donations - "Gone to the Dogs"
5. Blogpost due Friday

Learning Goals

Making Connections

I read the article below and made some text to self connections. Any guesses whose $60 is in the above picture?

Dog Who Ate $100

Doodle 4 Google

The theme is "If I could invent anything, I would invent..."

Doodle4Google

Google Doodles

Things I Wish I Could Do But Can't...Yet!

10-15 Things You Wish You Could Do

Due Friday, November 15

Here is the start to mine. It is only a work in progress.

1. Make a hula hoop work:

Using a hula hoop is not terribly important skill. No one wins an Olympic medal for it. Is rhythmic gymnastics still in the Olympics? The hula hoop always seemed like a very simple skill, at least it looks simple when a seven year old girl grabs a hula hoop and starts it spinning! Apparently, my hips don't work, because when I grab the hula hoop it falls to the ground as quickly as gravity will take it.

    2.   Proper cartwheel

A cartwheels fall into the same category as the hula hoop. Physical skills that appear simple to me, but when attempted are actually superhero like tasks. My window of opportunity for this one may be closing, as I get older and slower. Every once in a while, when no one is looking, I give it a shot.

   

  3.  Play the guitar

I love music! I especially love great guitar players, like Neil Young or Eric Clapton (look them up). When I was a teenager working at summer camps, it was always the guys with guitars,playing "Wild World" by Cat Stevens, who attracted the crowds, especially the girls. My advice to you: if your parents offer you music lessons, go for it!

1. Hit a 300 yard drive down the middle of the fairway
2. Draw
3. Stop properly on skate
4. Dance without being self conscious
5. Really speak a second language
6. Drive a manual transmission car
7. Really like gardening
8. Slam dunk like Michael Jordan
9. Solve the Rubik's cube

To do...November 8

1. Math Review - p. 26 #1-6, p. 402 #2-4 and "Patterning Problems"
2. Math test - Wednesday
3. Silent Auction items or $
4. Remembrance Day on Monday - donation for poppy

Today we had a great presentation from T.M.'s dad. Thank you very much!

www.remembernovember11th.com

Strong Beginning - Part 2

Is this true of our classroom?

To do...Nov. 6

1. Math textbook: p. 383 #7 (hand in tomorrow)
2. Math textbook: p. 386 #1a, 2, 6

Strong Beginning Activity

Silent Auction - Gift Basket

To do...Nov. 6

1. Math - worksheet (both sides - graphing patterns

Reminders

• photo orders due Nov. 7
• Apple Store trip form
• volleyball clinic tomorrow at lunch
• interview form
• Silent Auction basket donations (see note above)

To do...November 4

1. Math homework - p. 382 #1, 2, 6
2. Math checkpoint signed (and any other rubrics not yet signed)
3. Apple Store permission form signed
4. Literacy - find an example of a great beginning (need a copy)
5. French - practise scene 1

Dialogue Assessment

Choose one of the three comics. Cut and paste into a Google Doc and write the dialogue using proper punctuation and dialogue tags.

Learning Goals

Kids These Days

Here is C.C.'s blog-post for this week. Thinking outside the box!

Descriptive writing

To do...Oct. 31

1. Math Checkpoint tomorrow
2. Blogpost due on Monday, November 4
3. Rubrics returned (Math test, blogpost etc.)
4. Enjoy your Halloween night!

Haunted House - descriptive writing

To do...Oct. 30

1. Math test and blogpost rubrics signed
2. Halloween Hop $ due tomorrow
3. Next blogpost due Monday, November 4
4. Picture Orders - due November 7 (photo retake day is November 21)

Our class will be dancing in the afternoon tomorrow. The tradition in the older grades is that costumes are only to be worn from lunch on. Regular classes will take place until lunch.

Art on the iPad

Last week, we had a great class discussion about graffiti and art. I was impressed with the quality of ideas expressed by everyone. It was argued that passion and creativity were key ingredients to make ART (even I could create art with these ingredients my students claim). A day hasn't gone by without me being surprised or impressed with the ideas and thoughts expressed by this group of grade sixes.

Is this the future of art?

Art Hockney get creative on an iPad

Descriptive Writing - Picture Prompt

Writing Contest

Thank you to K.M.'s mother for sending me this link to a great contest:

http://meaningofhome.ca/

It ties in very nicely to the article we read, "No Home." After our presentations on "important items," we realized there was a great theme about the importance of family and friends running through all the selections. The contest is affiliated with a great organization called Habitat for Humanity. Check it out.

To do...Oct. 28

1. Science test - Wed.
2. French - read Halloween story & test (Wed.)
3. Social Studies due tomorrow
4. Old magazines?

Art Assignment

Your assignment this week is to create an original monster. Here is some inspiration:

Blog-post

Complete a blog-post, responding to the prompt below. It is up to you how you will make your post stand out from everyone else. Due Monday, November 4.

New Technology Helps Communicate

Being the proud uncle that I am, here is a link about my niece Abby. She was on CTV news over the weekend:

New technology helps people with Rett Syndrome communicate

To do...Oct. 25

1. French - Quiz on Wed.
2. French - Learn scene 3 for Friday
3. Science - test (Wed.)
4. Science - find a topic for Science poster (Canadian person, event or flying craft)
5. Math - worksheet 1.1 (#1,2 and 1)
6. Literacy - dialogue for "Calvin and Hobbes"
7. Art - due Monday

Science Test - next Wednesday

What do you need know?

• 4 forces or principles of flight; and explain how they work
• explain how the shape of a wing helps a plane fly
• Bernoulli's Principle (examples)
• characteristics of birds that help them fly
• experiments (what did they prove?)
• properties of air (including heated air)
• planes vs. helicopters

To do...Oct. 24

1. Art - pastel design (due Monday)
2. Bring in any old magazines for Art
3. Scholastic due tomorrow
4. Science questions - helicopter (due tomorrow)
5. Social Studies - drawing & paragraph (due Tuesday) - show what you've learned

"Mathletics"

Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) – York Chapter is hosting their annual “Mathletics” competition for all York Region elementary students in grades 5 through 8.  The event will take place on Saturday November 16^th 2013 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Sir William Mulock Secondary School in Newmarket. 

If anyone is interested in this event, let me know I can give you more information.

Using dialogue

To do...Oct. 21

1. Math test tomorrow
2. Blogpost due tomorrow - be prepared to present (talk about your items)
3. Science - questions "What did You Learn?" p. 245 #1-4
4. French test signed

Science Questions due on Friday

To do...Oct. 18

1. Math test - Tues. and Wed. (review p. 76 #6-9, 11-16, factor trees)
2. Blogpost due Tues. - remember you are presenting to the class
3. Bring in any old magazines for ART

To do...Oct. 17

1. See note about Math test below
2. Math homework: textbook p. 70 #1 a-c, 4
3. Don't forget about the Blogpost due Tuesday!
4. French Test
5. If anyone has old magazines please send them into class. We need them for a future Art assignment.

Math Test

Part A: Knowledge - Tuesday, October 22

Part B: Thinking, Communication, Application- Wednesday, October 23

• Multiples (LCM)
• Factors (Common, GCF)
• Prime/Composite (Product of prime factors)
• Order of Operations
• Adding/Subtracting/Multiplying/Dividing

We will be reviewing Friday & Monday

Malala Yousafzai

This teenage girl is one of my heroes right now. She may win the Nobel Peace Prize. What questions do you have when you hear some of her story?

To do...Oct. 16

1. 3 rubrics signed (oral recount, reading history blogpost, recount)
2. Weekly blogpost - don't leave it until the last day!
3. Thanksgiving Food Drive is still going on
4. French test on Friday and read Scene 1 of play

Mr. Congram's Important Items

You may have a noticed an orange chair sitting by the window in my room. I've been surprised that no one has asked me about it. It is a chair that has many teaching memories for me. When I began teaching, fifteen years ago, my parents were getting rid of this chair that had belonged to my grandmother. I had many fond memories of my grandmother from when I was very young, plus she had been a school teacher when my mom was younger. 

As I set up my first classroom the chair seemed destined to be a part of the space. When I taught grade 3 it was the reading chair and when I've taught grade 8s it has been the hang out chair. I think of many different people when I see it. When you sit in it be careful, it is getting old!

 When I went off to university for my first year, this card arrived in the mail. It was a note from my dad. I won't give you all the details of what it says, but in it, my dad told me how proud he was of me and how much he loved being my dad. I kept the note and I would pull it out and read it when I needed a boost. Last year, when my dad was visiting me, he handed me the letter I had sent him in response to his note. Both of us had saved the notes for over twenty years. It reminds me of how lucky I am! 

This is my wedding ring. If I didn't include this one I would be in trouble. It is a reminder of a promise I've made. It reminds me that I am very lucky to have my wife in my life. Sometimes I think about my wedding day and what an amazing day it was. I still remember when my wife put it on my finger and gave it a little tap. 

Paperman

To do...Oct. 15

1. Math homework - text p. 66 #3, 5, 9, 10
2. Blogpost - start your assignment (choose items & take photos) - due Oct. 22
3. Add your Bitstrips to your blog
4. Finish your writing - Down the Stairs

TOMORROW is Picture Day.