HOUR OF CODE!!
December 8, 2016 - We had an opportunity offered to us by Templeton computer teacher Mr. Janze, and so we have come to Templeton to try some coding and participate in an "Hour of Code". We walked over on the icy sidewalks in the brilliant sunshine, and got our first introduction to Templeton School by working in their computer lab, which is within the library space. High school student mentors from Mr. Janze's computer classes helped us to figure out some coding, on the Code.org website, which we accessed through Mr. Janze's blog (blog.janzeteachesit.net) There were a variety of possibilities to try - Minecraft, Star Wars, Flappy Bird, and Artist, to name a few. Div 26 students were pretty adept at learning how to direct their characters, and use the code blocks. I can't wait to try myself!
The overall verdict - FUN STUFF!! I think we'll try this out back at Hastings as well.
Team Photo Scavenger Hunt -
September 14, 2016
Welcome to the September 2016 version of Division 26. Grade 6 & 7 students, I am so excited to begin this year with you. I am looking forward to trying lots of new and interesting ideas and challenges, and working together to learn new skills.
So let's start with the first new skill of the year! Welcome to our class blog. You are working in teams to find this website using a school iPad supplied to each team and following the instructions on our classroom chalkboard. The class has been divided into 7 teams named for 7 different colours, with a mixture of boys & girls and Grade 6s & 7s on each team.
Your teams are going on a scavenger hunt around the Hastings Elementary school grounds. I have taken 21 photos of items to be found outside on our school grounds (INSIDE the perimeter fence) as well as in the foyer and gym and music hallways. You will work together as a team to find the 21 locations, and take a "team selfie" (using the iPad camera) at each location to prove that you found it. When you have found all 21 locations and have 21 photos on your team iPad to prove it to me, you will find me in the shade on the basketball court and turn in your team iPad.
There are going to be 7 sets of three photos posted below this introduction. Each team is going to start at a different set. For example, Team Red will start at Set 1, and then continue down the list to finish with Set 7. Team Orange will start at Set 2, and then go all the way down the list through Set 7 and finish with Set 1. Team Yellow will start at Set 3, go down the list through Set 7, and then back to the top and find Sets 1 & 2. Team Green starts at Set 4, goes through Set 7, back to the top and finds Set 1, 2, & 3. Team Blue starts at Set 5 and finishes at Set 4. Team Purple starts at Set 6 and finishes at Set 5. Finally, Team Pink starts at Set 7, goes up to Set 1, and then down the whole list to finish at Set 6.
Are you with me so far?
Ask any questions you have now.
Then here are the rules:
Rules:
1) You must work together as a team. You must include and encourage all your team members in a positive manner. Points will be deducted from your team total if I hear foul language or rudeness between team members or towards other teams.
2) All 4 members of the team must be in EVERY "team selfie".
3) Each "team selfie" must be at the location and show it within your picture.
4) Each "team selfie" must include parts of all 4 faces OR all 4 left hands holding the coloured Team Card that has your names on it OR four different left shoes.
5) You may ONLY enter and exit the school building through the front glass foyer doors. NO OTHER SCHOOL DOORS MAY BE USED FOR THIS ACTIVITY.
6) All 4 team members must report together to Mrs. Brothers to hand in their team iPad.
Point Allocation:
Penalties:
Any team that is rude or disrespectful to another team will lose 10 points immediately.
If a second offense occurs Mrs. Brothers will remove the team from the activity.
If you do not support and include all team members, your team may lose anywhere from 5-20 points, depending on the frequency and severity of the issue.
I am sure that this will be a very successful FIRST ANNUAL DIVISION 26 SCAVENGER HUNT and I am grateful to you all for your enthusiastic participation. Now let's get started!!
So let's start with the first new skill of the year! Welcome to our class blog. You are working in teams to find this website using a school iPad supplied to each team and following the instructions on our classroom chalkboard. The class has been divided into 7 teams named for 7 different colours, with a mixture of boys & girls and Grade 6s & 7s on each team.
Your teams are going on a scavenger hunt around the Hastings Elementary school grounds. I have taken 21 photos of items to be found outside on our school grounds (INSIDE the perimeter fence) as well as in the foyer and gym and music hallways. You will work together as a team to find the 21 locations, and take a "team selfie" (using the iPad camera) at each location to prove that you found it. When you have found all 21 locations and have 21 photos on your team iPad to prove it to me, you will find me in the shade on the basketball court and turn in your team iPad.
There are going to be 7 sets of three photos posted below this introduction. Each team is going to start at a different set. For example, Team Red will start at Set 1, and then continue down the list to finish with Set 7. Team Orange will start at Set 2, and then go all the way down the list through Set 7 and finish with Set 1. Team Yellow will start at Set 3, go down the list through Set 7, and then back to the top and find Sets 1 & 2. Team Green starts at Set 4, goes through Set 7, back to the top and finds Set 1, 2, & 3. Team Blue starts at Set 5 and finishes at Set 4. Team Purple starts at Set 6 and finishes at Set 5. Finally, Team Pink starts at Set 7, goes up to Set 1, and then down the whole list to finish at Set 6.
Are you with me so far?
Ask any questions you have now.
Then here are the rules:
Rules:
1) You must work together as a team. You must include and encourage all your team members in a positive manner. Points will be deducted from your team total if I hear foul language or rudeness between team members or towards other teams.
2) All 4 members of the team must be in EVERY "team selfie".
3) Each "team selfie" must be at the location and show it within your picture.
4) Each "team selfie" must include parts of all 4 faces OR all 4 left hands holding the coloured Team Card that has your names on it OR four different left shoes.
5) You may ONLY enter and exit the school building through the front glass foyer doors. NO OTHER SCHOOL DOORS MAY BE USED FOR THIS ACTIVITY.
6) All 4 team members must report together to Mrs. Brothers to hand in their team iPad.
Point Allocation:
- one point for each photo taken at a correct location (max 21 points)
- one point for having all 4 team members in each photo (max 21 points)
- BONUS points will be awarded as follows:
- SPEED BONUS: 10 points for being the first team finished, 8 for the second team, 6 for the third team, 4 for the fourth team, 3 for the fifth team, 2 for the sixth team, and 1 for the final team.
- FACES BONUS: 10 points for all 4 faces in all 21 photos; 5 for all 4 faces in 15 - 20 photos; 3 points for all 4 faces in 10-14 photos; 1 point for all 4 faces in fewer than 10 photos
Penalties:
Any team that is rude or disrespectful to another team will lose 10 points immediately.
If a second offense occurs Mrs. Brothers will remove the team from the activity.
If you do not support and include all team members, your team may lose anywhere from 5-20 points, depending on the frequency and severity of the issue.
I am sure that this will be a very successful FIRST ANNUAL DIVISION 26 SCAVENGER HUNT and I am grateful to you all for your enthusiastic participation. Now let's get started!!
PHOTO SET 1 (Team Red starts here)
PHOTO SET 2 (Team Orange starts here)
PHOTO SET 3 (Team Yellow starts here)
PHOTO SET 4 (Team Green starts here)
PHOTO SET 5 (Team Blue starts here)
PHOTO SET 6 (Team Purple starts here)
PHOTO SET 7 (Team Pink starts here)
That's all, Division 26 September 2016 Scavenger Hunters. GOOD LUCK!!!
Mid-May Update May 13, 2015
Well, time flew again. Here we are now in the middle of May, and we've been super busy! We've been writing some amazing poetry booklets, and studying Ancient Egypt and Chemistry, and we're about to dive into some Lit Circles to wrap up the year. We might even get some Ignite-style presentations happening!
I'm going to have the Div 26 students write some reviews of some of our recent adventures, so check back soon for information about Hastings Hip Hop (May 6), Circus West's The Circus of Oz (May 8), and the Vancouver School Board's First Peoples' Festival at the Museum of Anthropology (May 11).We also survived an Earthquake drill (May 7), and are getting ready for the Hastings School Marimba Concert (May 21). And don't forget, the annual Lip Sync contest is on the horizon, and so is Grade 7 Camp!! So many options to write about!
In the meantime - check out the new photos in the Photo Gallery, from the First Peoples' Festival on Monday May 11.
And don't forget to check back before the end of May, to hear more about all of our exciting adventures!
I'm going to have the Div 26 students write some reviews of some of our recent adventures, so check back soon for information about Hastings Hip Hop (May 6), Circus West's The Circus of Oz (May 8), and the Vancouver School Board's First Peoples' Festival at the Museum of Anthropology (May 11).We also survived an Earthquake drill (May 7), and are getting ready for the Hastings School Marimba Concert (May 21). And don't forget, the annual Lip Sync contest is on the horizon, and so is Grade 7 Camp!! So many options to write about!
In the meantime - check out the new photos in the Photo Gallery, from the First Peoples' Festival on Monday May 11.
And don't forget to check back before the end of May, to hear more about all of our exciting adventures!
Where have you been,
Mrs. Brothers? Feb 2, 2015
Sometimes, you have to leave something you love, and then come back with a fresh batch of energy and new perspective. That's how I feel about my class blog. I've missed it.....let's see if we can get things going again. And don't worry, 2014-15 Grade 7s.....I'm going to be getting you writing this soon - just you wait!
I'll start things off today with a very short post about our quick trip over to Templeton to watch the Green Thumb Theatre production of "Tagged", by Dave Deveau. I thought it was fabulous - can't wait to chat about it with the class tomorrow! Check out the website of Green Thumb Theatre if you want to learn more: http://www.greenthumb.bc.ca/index.php/tagged1/
And our next activity is Global School Play Day, on Wednesday Feb 4. Here's a link to their website - don't forget to bring your (NON-ELECTRONIC) games on Wednesday, Grade 7s!
http://globalschoolplayday.com/
On Friday, Feb 6, we'll be heading back to Templeton to spend the day at the 2nd Annual Templeton Science Challenge. The marshmallow mousetrap catapults are coming along...will a Hastings team take the distance crown? The Templeton STEM students in Grade 11 & 12 will be sharing their knowledge and learning with us as well - check out this article about them in the local papers recently!
http://www.vancouversun.com/touch/news/education/High+school+robotics+program+goes+beyond+textbook/10775728/story.html?rel=831135
Look for more posts soon....hopefully written by students! We have lots of recent activities to share about, and more upcoming.
I'll start things off today with a very short post about our quick trip over to Templeton to watch the Green Thumb Theatre production of "Tagged", by Dave Deveau. I thought it was fabulous - can't wait to chat about it with the class tomorrow! Check out the website of Green Thumb Theatre if you want to learn more: http://www.greenthumb.bc.ca/index.php/tagged1/
And our next activity is Global School Play Day, on Wednesday Feb 4. Here's a link to their website - don't forget to bring your (NON-ELECTRONIC) games on Wednesday, Grade 7s!
http://globalschoolplayday.com/
On Friday, Feb 6, we'll be heading back to Templeton to spend the day at the 2nd Annual Templeton Science Challenge. The marshmallow mousetrap catapults are coming along...will a Hastings team take the distance crown? The Templeton STEM students in Grade 11 & 12 will be sharing their knowledge and learning with us as well - check out this article about them in the local papers recently!
http://www.vancouversun.com/touch/news/education/High+school+robotics+program+goes+beyond+textbook/10775728/story.html?rel=831135
Look for more posts soon....hopefully written by students! We have lots of recent activities to share about, and more upcoming.
Circus Arts Workshop -
Lights, Water, Drums Festival
Wednesday January 29, 2014 - We were very lucky the last two weeks - our class was picked twice to participate in workshops for the Light, Water, Drums festival on Saturday February 1 at Hastings Park. Last Wednesday morning, we made papier mache lanterns using balloons as our base. We made the final touches today in class, and they are ready to be taken to the festival on Saturday evening. We also had the opportunity to participate in a Circus Arts workshop, taught by Circus West members Brian and Lindsay. Students got to try their hand at juggling scarves, and also learned the skills to allow them to brace and balance their way into some human pyramids! Well done, Division 26! Hope to see you on Saturday evening!
Remembrance Day Observations -
School Assembly Friday November 8, 2013
Vancouver Writers Festival Field Trip
We had a fabulous field trip to Granville Island and the Vancouver Writers Festival on Thursday October 24. I was really pleased that my students demonstrated so much responsibility, on both of our bus trips, during the presentation, and during the time on Granville Island after the presentation. They were attentive listeners, and I think they may have even enjoyed learning about some of the "people who changed the world". The authors, both from Ontario, were entertaining presenters. And we were lucky enough to have fantastic weather and a great opportunity to explore Granville Island in small groups after the Festival.
Pictures below, from left to right: Entrance to Granville Island with Vancouver Writers Festival sign below; empty stage before our presentation started; Authors on stage: Liz MacLeod and Frieda Wishinsky; fog around the Granville Street Bridge; watch out for those seagulls!
Pictures below, from left to right: Entrance to Granville Island with Vancouver Writers Festival sign below; empty stage before our presentation started; Authors on stage: Liz MacLeod and Frieda Wishinsky; fog around the Granville Street Bridge; watch out for those seagulls!
A Fresh Start.....
Monday September 9, 2013.
I had all sorts of intentions last year when I started this classroom blog. I was going to blog daily, or at the very least, weekly, letting the students be involved and sharing our learning with parents. Well, it didn't quite work that way....but the great thing about September is that it's a time for a FRESH START. So, here's my second attempt at a class blog. Let's see what happens this year!
Mrs. Brothers
I had all sorts of intentions last year when I started this classroom blog. I was going to blog daily, or at the very least, weekly, letting the students be involved and sharing our learning with parents. Well, it didn't quite work that way....but the great thing about September is that it's a time for a FRESH START. So, here's my second attempt at a class blog. Let's see what happens this year!
Mrs. Brothers
Classroom Blog? What classroom blog?
February 17, 2013
It's been pretty busy this term - so busy, I haven't even looked at our class blog. Not what I had intended, that's for sure!
Now we are coming towards parent conferences and the end of Term Two - and before we know it, it's going to be Spring Break (less than one month from today!) We have a few projects that have been keeping us busy, and another couple still to wrap up. Also a field trip to fit in before Spring Break (details coming this week), as it's been some time since we've left the school environs to learn.
Finished projects this term: we completed our stop-motion animation work with Mr. Janze at Templeton High School, using the iPads - here's a link below this post to see our videos and some from the other two Gr. 6/7 classes as well.
We also completed projects about Internet Safety using the Book Creator app on the iPads - I'm hoping to be able to share those here too.
We're currently doing group projects about public speaking, with Mrs. Burkett, our Project Teacher. She chose eight well-known speeches, and each group has analyzed one and shared their knowledge with the rest of the class. Half our groups have already presented, and the other half will be going this week.
Each student is also completing a poster project on Ancient Rome, learning about one aspect of Roman civilization, such as the military, transportation, writing, art or government. These projects are due on Friday March 1, after which they will be displayed outside our classroom. Currently you can see the Earthquake Preparedness poster projects from just before Christmas, part of our second term Science work.
Finally, everyone is working on a diorama project for French and Art right now. Using the vocabulary we've learned about Winter Activities in French class, students are creating dioramas of ice rinks or mountain resorts, demonstrating knowledge of the different winter activities that can take place in these environs. I can't wait to see the finished products!
It's been pretty busy this term - so busy, I haven't even looked at our class blog. Not what I had intended, that's for sure!
Now we are coming towards parent conferences and the end of Term Two - and before we know it, it's going to be Spring Break (less than one month from today!) We have a few projects that have been keeping us busy, and another couple still to wrap up. Also a field trip to fit in before Spring Break (details coming this week), as it's been some time since we've left the school environs to learn.
Finished projects this term: we completed our stop-motion animation work with Mr. Janze at Templeton High School, using the iPads - here's a link below this post to see our videos and some from the other two Gr. 6/7 classes as well.
We also completed projects about Internet Safety using the Book Creator app on the iPads - I'm hoping to be able to share those here too.
We're currently doing group projects about public speaking, with Mrs. Burkett, our Project Teacher. She chose eight well-known speeches, and each group has analyzed one and shared their knowledge with the rest of the class. Half our groups have already presented, and the other half will be going this week.
Each student is also completing a poster project on Ancient Rome, learning about one aspect of Roman civilization, such as the military, transportation, writing, art or government. These projects are due on Friday March 1, after which they will be displayed outside our classroom. Currently you can see the Earthquake Preparedness poster projects from just before Christmas, part of our second term Science work.
Finally, everyone is working on a diorama project for French and Art right now. Using the vocabulary we've learned about Winter Activities in French class, students are creating dioramas of ice rinks or mountain resorts, demonstrating knowledge of the different winter activities that can take place in these environs. I can't wait to see the finished products!
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaOg3brrnCe8ZeGneccQUuGvbXNX9r40L
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
We made it through December, and capped off the afternoon today with a class party - which the students turned into a surprise birthday party for me! Thank you so much to everyone who helped to organize and contribute to this. I was completely surprised, and very touched.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a restful break, and I look forward to seeing everyone back in class on Monday January 7, 2013.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a restful break, and I look forward to seeing everyone back in class on Monday January 7, 2013.
November 20
Looming Deadlines....
That's right......the end of term is coming, and report card writing is drawing nigh. That means there are lots of quizzes, tests, assessments, and project deadlines coming up! Parents: have you checked in with your son or daughter to see what's on the calendar over the next three weeks? Div 26 students: hope you copied down those dates from the board yesterday! But just in case you missed them, here they are again......
- Wed November 21 - Math quiz on Adding Fractions **POSTPONED TO THURS 22**
- Thursday November 22 & 29 - Assessment of Volleyball skills during PE class
- Friday November 23 - Math Problem Solving Strategies test (Ch. 1 strategies)
- Wed November 28 - Ch. 8 Test in Science
- Thurs November 29 - SHRB (Silent/Home Reading Book) Project due - book review, character report card, and art component (Wanted/Missing/Advertise A Book poster)
- Dec 3-7 SHRB oral presentations due
- Socials - Ancient China Postcard and Title Page due by Friday Dec 7 at the latest
- French - a quiz on "La Famille" before Dec 7 and maybe a small Christmas vocab quiz too
- Math - quiz on Subtracting Fractions before Dec 5 and CH. 2 test during week of Dec 3-7
- Mythology - quiz on Friday Dec 7; three more written assignments due before then
November 7
Our Student Teacher
We have a student teacher working and learning in our class this year. Her name is Madame Chantelle Roy, and she works in our classroom every Thursday. She has been with us every day for the last two weeks, and tomorrow is the last day of her time with us before she returns to attending classes at UBC.
Mme Roy has been teaching us lessons in French about "La Famille", and also teaching some of our Math and Language Arts. She came with us on our field trip to the Library last week, as well as our field trip to Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge earlier in October.
We'll miss having Mme Roy with us every day, but we're glad she'll be back each Thursday. And we're really looking forward to April and May, when she'll be with us every day for two months. Welcome to Division 26, Madame Roy!!
Mme Roy has been teaching us lessons in French about "La Famille", and also teaching some of our Math and Language Arts. She came with us on our field trip to the Library last week, as well as our field trip to Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge earlier in October.
We'll miss having Mme Roy with us every day, but we're glad she'll be back each Thursday. And we're really looking forward to April and May, when she'll be with us every day for two months. Welcome to Division 26, Madame Roy!!
October 30
Field Trip to Downtown VPL
Today we went to the Downtown Vancouver Public Library for a workshop on Research Skills. Students learned:
- how to access databases through the VPL website (www.vpl.ca),
- how to search the databases
- about making citations (on bibliographies) to show proof of research
- that not everything on the Internet is TRUE!!! Have you ever heard of the Endangered Pacific Tree Octopus? (hint: type that into your Google search bar and see what comes up!)
After our library workshop and some time to choose books, we went to Pacific Centre to eat lunch at the Food Court. Kudos to the students - everyone was at the "meet-up point" ON TIME!! Well done, Div. 26. Finally, after lunch, we also looked at some of the distinctive buildings downtown, such as the Hotel Vancouver, the Hotel Georgia, and the Vancouver Art Gallery. Then we caught a bus back to school, getting back just before the rain started again. I hope everyone enjoyed their experience downtown and at the workshop!
Mrs. Brothers starts our class website.....
Well, here we go......let's get started!
We are going to be exploring all sorts of learning opportunities through the year, plus sharing what we've done, on this site. Some of the students might learn faster than me - and that's okay! We'll all be learning together.
We are going to be exploring all sorts of learning opportunities through the year, plus sharing what we've done, on this site. Some of the students might learn faster than me - and that's okay! We'll all be learning together.