Friday, November 30th, 2018. Day 1.

Friday, November 30^th, 2018. Day 1.

Science: students will continue with their presentations on Monday, December the 3^rd.

Math: work on your knowledge hook; complete two ladder of inference questions.

Language: Should smart phones be permitted in elementary school classrooms?  Provide 3 ‘for’ statements with support and 3 ‘against’ arguments, likewise with support.  This is due Monday, December 3^rd.

History: students need to begin their research and choose a method to bring a topic from their chapter to life; this should be completed by Friday, December 21^st.

Health: the boys have a health test on Wednesday, December the 5^th.

Reading: you should have your selected fiction book read by next week.

French: complete page 14

*Boys must return their basketball forms.

*We are still collecting food for food drive.

Thursday, November 29th, 2018. Day 5.

Thursday, November 29^th, 2018. Day 5.

For language, students engaged in the following debate and generated the below statements:

The City of Toronto should widen its sidewalks

1.    The wider sidewalks would allow for greater safety by alleviating congestion.

2.    The widened sidewalks could serve as pedestrian and bike routes.

3.    Wider sidewalks give people with mobility issues, such as walkers and wheelchairs, more space.

The City of Toronto should not widen its sidewalks.

1.    Existing roads will be compromised or narrowed.

2.    The cost would cause an increase in property taxes and other forms of taxation.

3.    The construction could create further details and traffic jams.

Rebuttal:

1.    The construction would be short term and benefit everyone in the long term.

2.    Sidewalks are less expensive to widen than entire roads.

3.    Front lawns will be more so affected in the suburbs.

Rebuttal:

1.    The combination of bikes and pedestrians is a recipe for disaster.

2.    Riding bikes on the sidewalk is a violation of municipal laws.

3.    Protective railing and plastic barriers are more cost effective than wider sidewalks.

Additional Comments:

1.    Dog owners benefit since there could be more room to walk dogs.

2.    Toronto is increasing in its population but not its public space for pedestrians.

3.    Mothers and their strollers and toddlers will have more space.

Additional Comments:

1.    Fully grown adults can already fit on existing sidewalks.

2.    Construction only adds to pollution.

3.    A further study needs to be done to determine the maximum space that can be taken from roads, lawns, businesses and existing spaces available for expansion.

Mr. Jopko’s class participated as a panel to determine which side of the sidewalk debate raised the best points and counter-points.

Bringing History to Life

For history, students drew numbers that corresponded to chapters.  Individually or in groups, they must choose a topic from their assigned chapter and ‘bring history to life.’

1.      Teach students how to do a traditional dance.

2.      Recreate a fort such as Fort Halifax, if you have the topic of British North America.

3.      Research a traditional meal such as hard tack or meat pie if this appears as topic in your chapter.

4.      Design a dress or make hat out of felt or construction paper.

5.      Design a front page of newspaper that reports a historical event from your chapter.

6.      Recreate a “Heritage Moment” or video clip of an event in history.

7.      Do a claymation or a stop -and -go recording.

8.      Create a poster.

9.      If Instagram existed, what would Sir Isaac Brock’s account look like?

10.    Recreate a trial.

11.    Perform a skit.

12.    You can learn a traditional song or perform a rap about the topic that you are performing.

13.    Build a tool of use.  Safety is a concern.

14.    Create a board game.

15.    Design a cereal box.

16.    Write a script for a short play that groups may perform.

17.      Create a coding project or use Minecraft to recreate something from your chapter.

18.      Design a ‘Jeopardy’ game show.

19.    Make a doll or perform a puppet show.

20.    Draw or create a mural or form of visual art.

21.    Bake a cake that resembles something from the past.  (Be aware of food allergies.)

Planners:

Boys’ Health: Wednesday, December 5^th, there is a test.

Science: there are presentations tomorrow.

History: projects are to be completed by Friday, December 21^st.

*There is a Good News Assembly tomorrow.

*The boys who are interested are asked to bring in their basketball forms as-soon-as-possible.

*We are still collecting food for the food drive.

Wednesday, November 28th, 2018. Day 4.

Wednesday, November 28^th, 2018. Day 4.

Here is what we did today in language class:

Rules for a Debate

A debate is not the following:

a)    anything that resembles a Jerry Springer Show

You should avoid the following:

b)    shouting

c)     interruptions

d)    chanting

e)    talking over someone else

f)      having private conversations among groups or people

You should do the following:

g)    respect people by avoiding laughter

h)    use a respectful tone and maintain eye contact

i)       project your voice

j)       avoid mumbling

k)    be aware of time

l)       look for logical flaws

Here is the structure:

1.    The ‘for’ is given 3 minutes to present their case, which is three points each is followed by and details.

2.    The ‘against’ presents their side, using the same format within 3 minutes.

3.    Then, the ‘for’ side can clarify by asking questions.

4.    The ‘against’ side gets to ask questions for clarification.

5.    The ‘for’ side gets to ‘poke holes’ in the opposing arguments.

The 'against side' gets the same chance.

There are closing remarks for the ‘fors.’

There are closing remarks for the ‘againsts.’

A panel decides the winner.

This takes 18 minutes plus 2 minutes for closing arguments.

Statement: Coding or computer programming should or should not be taught through the Ontario curriculum and reported on all Ontario provincial report cards.

The following statements were generated by student input.  Some other points were later added.

For:

1.    Coding is easy to learn.

2.    Coding teaches the basics of logical or sequential thinking.

3.    Coding can be extended outside of the classroom.

Against:

1.    Coding competes already with a heavy course load.

2.    Coding takes away from legislated time requirements and may decrease time from math or language.

3.    Coding increases screen time or time with electronics which has adverse effects.

Rebuttal to the Against Side:

1.    Some research suggests that coding can improve learning skills such as the ability to focus and would therefore not take away but enrich the programme.

2.    The volume of work will not increase since the new coding subject will take the place of additional or former math and language homework.

3.    Coding increases screen time, but jobs and careers of the future will largely require people with these technical skills.

Rebuttal to the For:

1.    Contrary to popular opinion, coding is not necessarily easy to learn.  If it was easy, perhaps more people would be doing it outside.

2.    Coding outside of the classroom is perhaps wishful thinking.  People have opportunities already to code, but they use their computers for homework, social media or video games.

3.    Cross training may not necessarily transfer.  If you swim more, you do not become a better runner.   If you code more, it does not guarantee that it will transfer logical skills.

*For: Even old programming languages such as Pascal are still used by the military.  Learning old codes or new codes constitutes learning or life skills.

*Against: technology and coding becomes obsolete, especially with A.I. and new ‘game changing’ innovations, so coding is a waste of time and money.

Closing Remarks and additional comments of the ‘For’  and 'Against' side:

For/Against:

In conclusion,_________________________________________.

Wednesday, November 28^th, 2018. Day 4.

Language: provide a chart or in a written format, three ‘for’ statements, examples, and details and three ‘against’ statements, examples, and details for the below statement drawn from student suggestions.

The City of Toronto should widen its sidewalks.

Math: there is a test tomorrow on fractions, ratios, percentages, and decimals; work on your knowledge hook; complete page 174 #1-11 and wrap up questions #1 & #2

*The boys in Grade 7 have a health test on Wednesday, December the 5^th.*

Science: students must present their science projects on Friday, November the 30^th.

*Those boys who are interested in playing basketball are required to return their forms A.S.A.P.*

*Please bring in non perishable goods, such as soup cans, for the Norseman Food Drive to help the Daily Food Bank.

Homework for Monday, November 26th, 2018. Day 2.

Language Arts:  you must provide 3 ‘for’ statements, followed by examples and details; likewise, you must provide 3 ‘against’ statement followed by examples and details for the below topic.

Elementary schools in Ontario should or should not teach and report on the subject of coding or computer programming.

This is due on Wednesday, November the 28^th.

Tomorrow, we have a field trip to the Toronto and Montreal Stock Exchange.

We are still accepting food donations for our food drive.  It ends on December the 12th, 2018.