Human Body Research Project

Here is a copy of the guidelines if you are working on a disease or disorder. Remember that you have to state your resources (books, websites, etc), there must be research involved (if you have a relative who suffers from a disease, like cancer, they can help you will examples from their experiences but may no know all the treatments, discoveries, etc), and all projects have a written component (you can't just show videos or pictures on the SMARTboard).

Diseases & Disorders of the

 Human Body

1. Choose a disease or disorder that affects a system, organ, part or structure of the body.

2. Use the guidelines below to help you research information about your disease/disorder. Remember that these are suggestions, include any information that you think is important.

Guidelines: 

              Who discovered your disease?

              How did it get its name?

              What type of people does it affect (race, gender, age)

              What system of the body does it affect?

              Causes or risk factors.

              Describe the symptoms.

              What does the disease do to the body?

              Can it be prevented?

              Is it treatable/curable?

              Why did you choose to research this?

              What are your reactions to your research?

Presentation Methods:

            SMARTboard presentation

           

            Newscast/ Video

            Model/Diorama

            Comic book / Storyboard

           

Examples of diseases/disorders

            Diabetes               Stroke

            Asthma                  Downs Syndrome

            Lou Gehrig’s Disease

            Epilepsy               

Folktale

Here is our outline of writing your First Nations folktale. Remember to stay true to the format and remember your target audience.

A folk tale is a traditional story that has been passed down orally from generation to generation. Traditional First Nation folktales often are told to explain a natural event, an animal characteristic, a belief, a theme or a message.
When writing your folktale you need to included all the elements of narrative writing:
Characters: -can include North American animals, spirits, tribes

-have many traits such as being greedy, sneaky, helpful, etc.

-include dialogue
Setting: - North American setting

Plot: -should contain three conflicts or problems for your characters to solve, can be a quest to solve, characters trying to trick each other...etc
Lesson/Creation: -what will your folktale explain to you readers?

To Do

1. Outline your story on your story map.

2. Fill out the character map to better understand your main character.

3. Write your narrative. Should be approximately 3 pages, single spaced

4. Conference with Mr. Kitchen often

Editing and Revising checklist

 Did you begin your story with “Long ago” or a similar phrase?

 Does your story teach a lesson or tell how something came to be?

 Is the lesson/creation clear?

 Is your setting described briefly?

 Have you described your characters through their appearance, actions and speech?

 Have you used dialogue?

 Was the conflict/plot solved?

 Did you use proper paragraphs and varied sentences?

Patterning and Algebra

I know this has been on the minds of many of my parents.  "What in the world is my child learning in math?  I haven't seen homework from them in weeks!"
Don't worry, we still work on math in school but math has changed from when you and I went to school.  Instead of "drill and kill" or "around the world", which really only meant memorizing your basic facts, we are now understanding and explaining how math works and is inter-related.  In the past two weeks we have been part of a brand new focus group that is working on increasing the student's understanding of multiplying through algebra and patterning.  It is truly amazing to see what they are doing and they will soon be coming home with some demonstrations for you.  In the meantime, here are some patterns that they are finding rules to.  Have them tell you what the composite rule is and how they know it is correct.

Report Cards and Interviews

By now, you've had a chance to see and read the new progress report card.  You'll notice a bigger emphasis on learning skills and behaviour than marks.  As I've always told the students, "Your learning skills usually dictate the types of marks you'll see."
Just a reminder that interviews are on Thursday November 18th from 4pm-7:30 and Friday November 19th from 12:15pm-3:00.  I've tried to accommodate most requests and I will be sending home the times of your interview on Wednesday.  Don't forget that regardless of the option you choose, I will be making sure I've had a chance to talk to all parents either face-to-face or by phone. 

The Daily 5

Here's a speedy version of what the Daily 5 looks like in my classroom!

Mom and Dad, Please Read me a Story

I know how that title sounds but this is going to be good.  The students and I have decided that since they are such pros during "The Daily Five", they are going to share what they have learned with you.  This upcoming weekend they are going to be bringing home an assignment called "Read to Self".  This simply involves reading by yourself in a comfy spot without distractions.  26 of us do this everyday in school for 1/2 hour!!

But what about the grocery shopping, hockey, clubs, yard-work, dinner???  We had a great discussion about this and thought in the entire weekend, couldn't we all just fall into a book for only 1/2 hour sometime between Friday and Sunday night.  Who says the enjoyment of reading has to stop at the end of school. (now I remember the types of books they had "back in our day", but writers are so much more entertaining now).

Here's how we are going to help.  First ask your child what a "Good-fit Book" is.  I'm a firm believer in abusing my library for free books and you are more than welcome to borrow from my collection at school.  Next, have your child tell you how to "Read to Self" from their anchor books.  After that, you need to find a comfy spot, have everything you need within an arms-length (coffee in my case), and let go of everything else to begin reading!  Your son or daughter is an excellent role model; you can look at them to help you because hopefully they're laying on the floor, feet up on the couch next to you, reading.  Enjoy!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I hope you all enjoyed the fantastic weekend full of sunshine, family and good food.
Don't forget to finish the rough copy of your interviews and I hope you all put in your hour of reading (I polished off two books this weekend. "Wake" and "Fade".
I hope you saved all your paper towel rolls to create our arms on Wednesday.  We need only 15 more!!  Congrats to Aleks and Kelsey for solving the weekend cipher; "Don't eat too much turkey this weekend".  See you tomorrow!!

Alien X-Rays

One fun assignment we created this week was for studying the skeletal system in science; we call it the Alien X-Ray.
By taking anatomically correct bones from the human skeleton, we had to design an alien and write a short biography about him/her/it???? We then showed them during our sharing assembly on Friday. 
Here are a few fan favourites.

Pettela Nutella by Faith
 Mr. Handy by Aleks
 War Machine by Nick
Claw-Arm Calvin by Kelsey

Curling up With a Good Book

You may not know this but we are now reading 1/2 hour every day. 1/2 hour!!!! If you could be a fly on my classroom wall this is what you would see; students sprawled out, laying on pillows, curled up in a corner, feet up on the chairs and every single one of them reading. There isn't a sound in my classroom. Did you know they could do that? If they can do that with 25 other people in the class, could you imagine how easy it would be to spend some time at night, curled up on a couch/bed/pillow, to read your favourite book? I don't know about you but I am completely jealous of my students. I think tomorrow I might pretend to be one..just for a 1/2 hour.

Podcasting with Audacity

A new feature to the blog this year will be podcasting.  The students are going to be making a weekly, online review to let you know about some of the major events that took place over the week.
First we will be learning how to create a podcast using "Audacity".  This program will allow the students to digitally record their voice on the computer and then we'll upload it to the blog.  You can also download this program at home for free by clicking on the "Audacity" link above.  I've thrown in a quickie tutorial to get you started.  I can't wait to hear about all the exciting events that take place in our class.



Audacity Tutorial from Mr. Kitchen on Vimeo.

First Day!

Wow! Here we are already.  For those of you new to my class, welcome!  This blog is a way to keep you informed of what happens during the school days.  I update this blog often so be sure to keep coming back.  As you can see there have been a few changes to my usual class blog.  We will be featuring a podcast this year where the students will review what has happened over the week.  As usual, I have useful websites the students are using and an event/homework updater.  I can't wait to see how this year unfolds.
Here is the tentative schedule for my class.

New Year, New Look!!

The countdown is on.  Since we're about to start a new year I've decided to give the blog a major overhaul.  Note the newly added "Weekly Podcast" where you'll be giving a weekly review on the major happenings in our class.  I've also subscribed to a podcast called "Kidspeak" where students like you give tutorials on technology (Audacity and Movie Maker) and subjects.  I hope to keep adding new elements to help us with our upcoming year.  To get you started here's our new buzz worthy theme this year; "The Daily 5" (Start finding your reading materials now!!)