Please find attached a .pdf word mat including our central idea, lines of inquiry and a second sheet containing our new unit vocabulary. It may be useful to print these documents and display them at home.

WordMat

How could you make a difference?

If you could change one thing about the World in which we live, what would it be?

Over the next 4 weeks in computer class we will be creating a 3 minute video highlighting our issue and identifying a law that could be put in place to safeguard ourselves. The project is based upon the MakeWaves project, which includes a superb initial video:

https://www.makewav.es/lcp

The winner of last year’s project highlighted the importance of First Aid Training and encouraged a law to make training compulsory to all Under 16 pupils. The students make a very strong case:

https://www.makewav.es/story/389963/title/thewinnersoflightscameraparliament201112

What would your law be?

How would you change your World?

This project will get you thinking in the build up for the Exhibition.

Over the last few weeks I have been writing reports for all students which will be sent home shortly. Please take the time to read the reports carefully and feel free to contact me if you would like to chat about anything.

Love

Matt

Reading – Literature Circles

Last week, Grade 5K (non-ESL) began completing Literature Circles within our reading classes. Before the winter break students had been completing a more guided or teacher directed approach during reading. Literature circles allow students a greater degree of independence and ownership providing a more interactive forum for students whilst discussing books and completing reading activities.

Overviews of literature circles can be found at the following sites:

http://www.litcircles.org/Overview/overview.html#what

http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/DE/PD/instr/strats/literaturecircles/index.html

Further reading is available:

http://www.litcircles.org/research.html

Within 5K students self assign roles

DISCUSSION DIRECTOR. Your job is to lead the discussion, keep the group on task and keep order. You need at least one FAT question for each group member. (FAT questions cannot be answered with just a yes or a no).

SUMMARIZER. Your job is to summarize the selection. A summary is a brief statement with the main events of the chapter(s). Make sure you use your own words. Remember you are only doing a small part of the story. At the end of your summary, include a prediction of what you think will happen next.

PASSAGE PICKER. Your job is to select passages from the text that catch your attention. Make sure you choose passages for different reasons such as, a great description, wonderful vocabulary, a particularly fun or sad event or one that contains important information.

WORD WIZARD. Your job is to select 6 words from the text. The purpose is for us to study vocabulary and expand our knowledge. Record each word below including the page number you found it on and use a dictionary to find its definition. Be sure to pick challenging and interesting words!

CONNECTOR. Your job is to ‘connect’ any part of the reading to another piece of literature, a past experience of your own or a movie or something else in the world.

ILLUSTRATOR. Your job is to visualize what the author has verbalized. That’s the great thing about literature is it leaves a lot to the imagination. Recreate a favorite event from the reading and share it.

The following document includes descriptors and posters for each role.

Lit Circle Templates

This week’s article is about a new approach to learning language. I tried it out and can now read a Chinese menu, please let me know how you get on!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/nov/09/learn-language-in-three-months

http://memrise.com/course/749/the-guardian-chinese-challenge/

(I have taken off the IST logo so teachers can use them in other schools)