Blog Archives

FRIDAY: Happy Holidays!

12/20/2014

Excited for the holidays! #gradwear

Today, students enjoyed a fun day of activities. Students participated in some Christmas drawings, computer programming, fun math games using the coordinate system, fun card games, and delicious snacks! In addition to this, the students also participated in Secret Santa! The students enjoyed giving gifts to their classmates and which showed the true meaning of the holiday season.

Boys and girls, I want to take this opportunity to wish all of you a happy holiday! I wish you all the best and hope that you have a nice time with your families. For those of you who celebate Christmas - Merry Christmas! If you are interested in learning about other celebrations from different cultures that occur around Christmas, click here.

PARENTS: The Math booklet your child received is for review only. It will help your child with their basic math facts on some topics that have already been covered in class. The answer key to all worksheets is stapled to the back of the booklet.

1.) MATH: Complete booklets and mark all worksheets at home using the answer key that is stapled to the back of your booklets.

2.) POST A RESPONSE #1:

Watch this video you made a few days ago.
In the comments section of this video ON YOUTUBE, write about anything you would change about the way you presented your word, sentence, and wish for the world. You can talk about your voice level, grammar, wording, vocabulary, content, facial expressions, etc.

VIDEO LINKS / USEFUL LINKS:
A Wish For the World - Holiday Greetings from Mr. Hong's Class
The 21st Century Learners of Division 4
Throwback to the Grouse Grind Field Trip

THURSDAY: TERM 1 NEARS AN END

12/18/2014

To be updated

1.) SECRET SANTA: Bring your gifts to school tomorrow if you haven't already done so.

2.) HOLIDAY PARTY: Bring snacks/drinks to share with your classmates!

3.) POST A RESPONSE:

Click on here to watch the video of the holiday wreaths we did in Art class
Post a learning reflection in the comments section of the YouTube video.
In paragraph form, explain what you learned, what was easy, what was challenging, what it was like working with cedar branches/coat hanger/glue gun/decorations, etc.
Would you do anything differently if you were to make another wreath? If so, what would you do?
Did you enjoy making a wreath?

VIDEO LINKS / USEFUL LINKS:
Learn How to Make Holiday Wreaths with Mr. Hong's Class

WEDNESDAY: TO BE UPDATED

12/17/2014

Holiday Wreaths

Today, the students completed their holiday wreaths. They used a variety of different decorations, ornaments, ribbons, etc to create a unique look they were proud of. Many students were so excited about their completed wreaths that they asked if they could take them home today. Unfortunately, students will not be taking them home until Friday. We want them to be displayed inside the school for at least one day so everyone can see your awesome creations! Click on the image to the left to see a larger view of some of the completed wreaths. Click on this link to see a video that we created on our class YouTube channel. (The link will be live shortly)

1.) POST A RESPONSE:

What is one word that best describes what you feel the holidays is all about?
What is one sentence that best describes what the holidays mean to you?
What is one sentence that best describes how you think we could improve life for all humankind?
Ask 2 students about their post.
Respond to any questions you receive.

VIDEO LINKS:
WestJet Christmas Miracle: Spirit of Giving
Division 4 Holiday Wreath Making Video (To be updated)

TUESDAY: HOLIDAY WREATHS

12/16/2014

Holiday Wreaths

Today, students started creating their holiday wreaths. They are using coat hangers as a frame for their wreaths and are decorating them with ribbons, ornaments, poinsettias, tinsel, etc. The students will also bring other holiday decorations to school tomorrow to decorate their wreaths with. It has been great to see the holiday spirit alive and well in the classroom. The students are all looking forward to the upcoming holiday to spend some quality time with their families.

1.) ART: Bring any decorations you wish to put on your holiday wreaths. You can bring ornaments, tinsel, ribbon, etc.

2.) COMPUTER SCIENCE:

Watch this video on Graph Paper Programming.
Explain what you did in class today to your parents. Explain to them what an algorithm is and what a program is.

3.) POST A RESPONSE:

Do you celebrate Christmas? If so, what traditions does your family have? Explain.
If not, do you celebrate something else? Explain.
Ask 2 students questions.
Respond to any questions given to you.
NOTE: Students who have not been participating regularly on our class site, this has not gone unnoticed. Your parents will be emailed tomorrow if you do not get caught up your blog work.

VIDEO LINKS:
Graph Paper Programming - Alogorithms

MONDAY: Holiday Assembly

12/15/2014

Holiday Assembly

Today, the students enjoyed watching their peers perform in front the parents. The holiday spirit was alive and well in the halls of Hillcrest and it was clear how much time and effort many of the students spent practicing their lines, songs, and dance routines. Term 1 is nearing an end and the students have worked very hard this term. I am looking forward to seeing the students work harder in term 2 and we can't wait to see the students learn even more!

1.) LA:

Complete 'CAPITALS' booklet
Complete 'AVIAN FLU' Reading Comprehension booklet
If you have any questions, be sure to ask them here. Help your classmates out by helping them by answering their questions.

2.) ART:

Bring 2 metal or bendy coat hangers tomorrow.
If you have any ornaments, tinsel, ribbons, holiday decorations you want to put on your holiday wreath, please bring them to school tomorrow.

3.) POST A RESPONSE:

Post at least 2 questions related to your 'CAPITALS' booklet and your 'AVIAN FLU' booklet. This can be related to instructions, vocabulary, content, diseases, flus, epidemics, pandemics, etc.
Answer at least 2 questions from your peers (preferably ones that have not been answered already).
I want to see all of you helping each other on tonight's post! Let's see how teamwork can help you learn better!

VIDEO LINKS/USEFUL LINKS:
Explore Venice, Italy with Google Maps

FRIDAY: SWIMMING

12/12/2014

Today, the students went on a field trip to the Walnut Grove Swimming Pool. It was a field trip to celebrate their success in term 1. It was a reward for general work habits, website, and behaviour. Although most students were able to participate this term, there will be no second chances next term. Don't forget to keep up with your school work next term so you can participate in the term 2 trip.

1.) ART: Bring 2 metal or bendy coat hangers to school on Monday. We will make holiday wreaths in class this week.

2.) No HW or POST A RESPONSE this weekend.

3.) OPTIONAL: Do some more computer programming practice on code.org and see what you can create. Post your creations here like Azbo did!

VIDEO LINKS/USEFUL LINKS:
To be updated

THURSDAY: HOUR OF CODE

12/11/2014

Today, the division 4 students participated in an 'HOUR OF CODE' and learned about the basics of computer programming today. They were able to use basic programming language to make Princess Elsa skate on ice and create a creative snowflake. Check out our blog stream from today and visit one of the links the students posted to see their creations.

1.) MATH 6/7: Any assigned work.

2.) POST A RESPONSE:

Copy and paste your shared link to your 'HOUR OF CODE' Frozen snowflake.
Explain in your own words if you enjoyed coding and what skills you think you have learned from it.
If you decide to continue coding at home, feel free to share your links to your programs/games on tonight's post.
Ask at least one student about their post.
Give them a suggestion on what they could do to make their snowflake more creative.

VIDEO LINKS:
The Hour of Code
Frozen Hour of Code

WEDNESDAY: ACHIEVING GOALS

12/10/2014

Fortress Dodgeball

After receiving you first report card, many of you likely have new goals for term 2. These will likely be goals to improve your learning in many different areas. Hopefully the video that was posted today will give you some ideas on what you can do to achieve your goals.

1.) MATH 6: Any assigned work.
MATH 7: Test on Division tomorrow (base ten blocks, number
lines, long division, and word problems).

2.) POST A RESPONSE:

Watch this video on 'ACHIEVING GOALS'
According to the video, how do you achieve a goal? Please respond in paragraph form and also include your own personal opinions in addition to what you learn from the video.
Ask two students questions about their responses/opinions.
Respond to any questions you receive.

USEFUL LINKS/VIDEO LINKS:
One-Step-At-A-Tie Goal Achieving Cartoon Doodle

TUESDAY: WINDY DAY

12/9/2014

A WINDY DAY!

Today was a very windy day and the students enjoyed spending some much needed outside time having some fun! They played in the Autumn leaves and jumped around in the puddles!

The students made their final edits/revisions to their 5 paragraph essays and began their edits/revisions to their passion trailers. We are all looking forward to seeing how their writing will affect their ideas for their passion trailers. All of the students already feel that their improved trailers will blow their original ones out of the water!

1.) LA: Essays must be handed in tomorrow at the latest with your 2 criteria checklists.

2.) MATH 6: Any assigned work.
MATH 7:

Continue review booklets (2).
You must complete booklet one by tomorrow.
Also, page 1 of the second booklet should be finished by tomorrow. You may use a calculator for the magic squares.
Click here for the answers to the booklet questions. (1) (2) (3) (4) MARK AND CORRECT THE ONES YOU COMPLETE AT HOME!
If you have any questions, post them here and someone will answer your question.
UNIT TEST IS ON THURSDAY

3.) POST A RESPONSE:

Using the words you highlighted in the reading from today, look up the definitions in a dictionary.
Some words have multiple meanings so be sure you have selected the correct one.
Then, read the word in the CONTEXT in which it was used in the reading. Depending on how it is used in the sentence, it will mean something different.
Explain in your own words (NOT THE DICTIONARY'S WORDS) what the sentence from the reading means based on your dictionary research. YOU WILL HAVE ONE SENTENCE FOR EACH WORD.
Don't forget to include your source! Thanks AZBO!
TIP: If you type 'DEFINE+THE WORD' in the Google Search, it will give you the definition just like a dictionary.

VIDEO LINKS/USEFUL LINKS:
A fun link for all you YOUTUBERS! - YouTube Rewind 2014

MONDAY: KINDNESS

12/8/2014

Today....(to be updated)

1.) LA:

Finish giving your classmate feedback.
Finish making your final edits/revisions in order to submit your essay tomorrow.
If your classmate has yet to give you your assessment sheet, you will have some time to work on it tomorrow.

2.) MATH 6: Any assigned work.
MATH 7: Complete first two pages of review booklet.

3.) POST A RESPONSE #1:

Click here and continue the conversation from yesterday.
Ask at least two students questions about their post.
Respond to any questions you were given and add to your post with a deeper perspective on what happened in Friday's video link.
Engage your peers in conversation on our class website.

4.) POST A RESPONSE #2:

Watch this video and write a paragraph on your opinion about it.
In your response, be sure to include how the video makes you feel and how it will change how you act or behave in the future?
Ask at least one student a questions about their post.
Respond to any questions/comments given to you.

VIDEO LINKS/USEFUL LINKS:
Kindness Boomerang

FRIDAY: Prejudice, Discrimination, Stereotyping, and Racism

12/6/2014

On Friday, we learned about prejudice, discrimination, stereotyping, and racism. We learned the meaning of each of the terms and also discussed real life incidents of discrimination. Many students shared their experiences and I we learned that some students have been hurt deeply through acts of discrimination. We learned that standing up for yourself and for others is not an easy thing to do, but something we should do if we are discriminated against or if we see someone else being affected by discrimination. You must watch this video for this weekend's post a response assignment.

1.) LA: Continue giving feedback to your classmate.

2.) MATH 6: Any assigned work.
MATH 7: Long division worksheet.

3.) POST A RESPONSE:

If you haven't already, you must watch this video. It is a religious discrimination experiment.
Write how you would react if you saw a cashier or store clerk being racist and discriminatory towards another human being because of their race, culture, sex (male/female), colour of their skin, religion, sexual orientation, etc.
I am looking forward to reading how all of you respond to this very serious topic over the weekend. Please be thoughtful in your response and give your honest opinions. I will share my opinion on this video at school on Monday and we will have a class discussion on it.
When writing your post, remember not to use any inappropriate words which may offend another human being.

VIDEO LINKS/USEFUL LINKS:
Religious Discrimination Experiment

THURSDAY: One for the Murphys

12/4/2014

Today, the students had an opportunity to listen to the creator of the Global Read Aloud and the author of 'ONE FOR THE MURPHYS' answer questions from students around the world. Students contacted them through social media and asked questions about the story, her motivation for creating certain characters, and various other questions. One main point the students took from this chat was that anyone can make something of themselves no matter what cards they are dealt.

1.) LA:

Continue working on your essays.
Be sure to finish giving feedback to your classmates via Google Drive.

2.) MATH 6: Any assigned work.
MATH 7: Complete the long division (decimals) worksheet. Check your answers with a calculator.
Textbook work is not for homework.

3..) POST A RESPONSE:

Many of you were not pleased with how 'ONE FOR THE MURPHYS' ended.
Rewrite the end of the novel from Carley's perspective so you are satisfied with the ending.
Give feedback to one other student and focus on spelling, capitals, grammar, sentence structure, etc.
Respond to feedback given to you. Edit/revise your work.

VIDEO LINKS/USEFUL LINKS:

Lynda Mullaly Hung Final Chat - One for the Murphys

WEDNESDAY: 3D SNOWFLAKES

12/3/2014

Today, students created 3D snowflakes by following instructions and learning from their peers. One of our students, Hailey, helped us use the correct cutting method to minimize the mistakes and to minimize wasting paper.

1.) MATH 6: Any assigned work.
MATH 7:

Click here to play the long division video game.
Click here to watch the Khan Academy video on dividing decimals.
We will continue working on division in class tomorrow.
If you are still struggling with long division, watch this video.

2.) POST A RESPONSE:

Time to do some research!
Research 5 major rivers around the world that we may have heard about and do the following on today's post:

1. Give the name of the river.
2. Give 3 interesting facts about each river.
3. Copy and paste the reliable link you used to obtain your information here.
4. Why do you think it is reliable?
5. Create a new map on Google Maps and a new layer called 'RIVERS'.
6. Label the rivers that you researched by name and with a marker of a colour of your choosing.
7. POST A VISIBLE SHARED LINK TO YOUR MAP HERE!
8. Look at one other research link posted by any student and state why you think it is reliable.

VIDEO LINKS:
Khan Academy - Dividing Decimals
Khan Academy - Long Division Simplified

TUESDAY: River Systems

12/2/2014

Holiday Elf

Today, students continued adding to their arsenal of mapping skills by learning about river systems. They learned about the different elements in a river system: drainage basin, confluence, source, oxbow lake, meander, mouth, delta, ground water, and tributaries. They learned how to explain each in their own words using synonyms and analogies.

1.) MATH 6: Any assigned work
MATH 7:

Complete the remainder of the textbook work.
For those of you who need extra practice with long division, please click here to play a fun video game on long division. It lays the steps out clearly.

2.) SOCIAL STUDIES:

Study for your quiz on mapping skills (Climate and rivers)
Watch this video to help prepare you for the quiz tomorrow.
Click here to read more about river systems to help you review for the quiz tomorrow.

3.) LA: Continue editing/revising your essay. Ask for feedback if you would like more.

4.) POST A RESPONSE:

You have earned a 'POST A RESPONSE' holiday! Enjoy it!
Feel free to ask questions or to communicate your learning to one another here (if needed).

USEFUL LINKS / VIDEO LINKS:
River Systems Video
Long Division Video Game (Step by step instructions to help you master your division!)
River Systems PDF

MONDAY: What Else Can We Learn?

12/1/2014

Today, students continued learning mapping skills. They learned about the different climate zones and their relationship to the Equator, Tropic of Cancer, and Tropic of Capricorn, Arctic Circle, and Antarctic Circle. They are now familiar with which areas of the globe and warmer and which areas are colder.

Tomorrow, they will learn more about the different zones and what other things can influence the climate of a location. We will learn about altitude, latitude, air masses, ocean currents, global wind systems, and the proximity to the ocean, sea, or large lakes.

1.) LA: Continue editing/revising your essays. Be sure to respond to any feedback suggestions you have received.

2.) MATH 6: Any assigned work. Check your teacher's website.
MATH 7: Pg 126-127 (Section 3.7 of text) #1-6, 7, 9, and 12.

3.) SOCIAL STUDIES: Complete page 1 of 'Patterns in Physical Geography: Climate'.

4.) POST A RESPONSE 1:

Time to put your research skills to good use!
In your own words, describe the climate that exists between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.
Where will it be warmest?
Include any links that helped you answer this questions.
Today, please focus on your capitals, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure.
Give at least 2 students feedback on the above points that were just mentioned.
Respond to feedback and edit/revise your original post.

5.) POST A RESPONSE #2:

Watch this video and also this one on the deep sea.
Based on the two videos above, what do you think we can learn through technologies such as Google Maps?
List at least 3 different things and why they would be useful for humankind to learn about them.

VIDEO LINKS/USEFUL LINKS:
Learn about the Arctic with Google Maps
The Deep Sea with Google Maps