Friday March 30, 2012

Dear Friends,

Many important events have happened these past two weeks: Officer Marcy spoke to you about bullying, Storyfest, Earth Hour and more.

Math and Poetry
*The Big Idea: write a free-verse math poem to begin exploring fractions

Success Criteria:
- write lines of poetry
- apply poetry devices (similes, alliteration, rhyme, word choice, sensory details)
- describe yourself in fractions
- communicate your ideas and math knowledge clearly and accurately

Fractions of Me

3/6 of me is a crowd cheering to me

like the high tide in an ocean.

1/6 of me is making an invention

like a robot talking.

2/6 of me is a smile

with a friend at a park

or anywhere else.

That's all of me.

3/6 + 1/6 + 2/6 = 6/6

By Jason, grade 4



repitition of beginning sounds ("she had four flat flippers")



comparison using like or as ("I am as white as a dove")



Sensory details help brighten a poem and draw the reader in (...all chewy and sugary and covered with bright wrappers)

 

THERE ARE MANY MORE POETIC DEVICES.  YOU DO NOT HAVE TO FEEL LIMITED TO USE JUST THESE.

Book Recommendation:

Love That Dog, by Sharon Creech, is one of my favourite children's novels.  If you love poetry, read it.  If you don't love poetry, I really suggest you check this out!



March 16, 2012

The Theme: History


The Big Question: WHY DO SOME CIVILIZATIONS DIE AND OTHERS SURVIVE?


Key Words: 
*Civilization - any type of culture, society, etc., of a specific place, time,or group: Greek civilization.


*Medieval - of the Middle Ages 


*Middle Ages - the time in European history between classical antiquity and theItalian Renaissance (from about 500 a.d. to about 1350):sometimes restricted to the later part of this period (after 1100)and sometimes extended to 1450 or 1500.


*Folk tale - noun

1.

a tale or legend originating and traditional among a peopleor folk, especially one forming part of the oral tradition ofthe common people.

2.

any belief or story passed on traditionally, especially oneconsidered to be false or based on superstition.

The Importance of History

*What is history?

*How can we record important events in history?

*What would the timeline look like of your:

-life

-parent/s' life

-nation (people of a certain country)

-pet

EXAMPLE OF ANCIENT EGYPT 

We will be looking back in time by reading folk tales from different cultures (i.e. Egypt, China), examining art and performing in drama activities.

Yorkville Art Walk

You did such an amazing job analyzing different art forms, styles and works.

                 










Then, you did some critical thinking by asking such rich questions.

Now, think about:

Here is an abstract painting done by a female artist.

Why is art important?

Here is a contemporary painting by a Canadian male painter.  

How has art changed over time?

Norval Morrisseau was an artist from Sandy Lake Reserve in northwestern Ontario.  He was born in 1931.  He was part of the First Nations community. He was the first Ojibwa to break the tribal rules of painting Indian legends and design shapes to illustrate his folklore. 

How can art teach us about a civilization?

This artist chose the shape or form of a tree in his paintings.  

Why is the shape or form of a tree important here?

 What does the tree look like?