Inspiring Invertebrates Assignment

Task:

• Using online resources and books to help you complete the chart for the assignment:
  "Inspiring Invertebrates". The four groups of invertebrates are sponges, molluscs, worms, and arthropods.  For each group, state characteristics, then choose one living thing and dig in with some questions about that invertebrate.  Before you start your research, ask one questions about that invertebrate.  As you complete your research, try to answer the question, and add two new facts you discover along the way.
• "Inspiring Invertebrates" Assignment
• Resources:
• All invertebrate:
•  http://glencoe.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/dl/free/0328600529/303856/chap13.pd 

• Molluscs:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mollusca
• http://animals.about.com/od/molluscs/p/molluscs.htm
• http://canadianbiodiversity.mcgill.ca/english/species/molluscs/index.htm 

• Sponges:
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sponge
• http://www.biology4kids.com/files/invert_sponges.htm
  

Don't Give Up

Our Monday morning routine in Grade always involves sharing highlights of our weekends, and then discussing a selected "Quote of the Week".  Today was a little different because rather than discussing someone else's quote, we wrote our own.  To inspire our quotes, we watched a clip from the movie "Facing the Giants".  The clip is above, and here is a blog posting, "Don't Quit" on the clip that I think is worth reading- a little inspiration for the start of your week!  The blog author is my older brother, Steve McMillan.


Here are three sample quotes that students wrote after viewing the clip:

“Always put forth your best effort until you have nothing left.  Never give up.”  

                                                           -Sarah

“When things get hard, you get stronger to learn.”

                - Emily 

“You never know what you can do until you push yourself beyond your limits.”

                                                           -Kyle 

Friday!

Some bonus reading buddy time while the Band crew is away! 

Way to go, Grade 6!  We reached our goal for the Food Drive and, as a result,
Mrs. McCrea treated everyone to some amazing cupcakes!
The final result: happy students!

The Great Tree Investigation

Exploring the diversity of plant life....sneak peek into today's Science lesson:

Update Time!

Hello, everyone!  I hope you enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend with family and friends! A couple things to note:

• Math: We are correcting the Review assignment today, tomorrow we will play a review game to practice, and Friday we will write the Unit 1 Test.  Today we are also spending time specifically reviewing Lesson 8.  
• Reading: We are closing in on the end of our novel study on the The Breadwinner.  Our booklets should be completed by Wednesday, October 17, and we will have a test next Friday, Wednesday 19.
• Next week, Mrs.McCrea will begin teaching Unit 2 in Math.  The following week, beginning Oct. 22, she will begin teaching her three-week block, which means she will be handling the full load of classroom responsibilities.  You may contact Mrs. McCrea by phone at the school, or email: tiffany.mccrea@go.rbe.sk.ca.
• One of the highlights of our Grade 6 Phys. Ed. program is curling lessons!  We will be going to the Tartan for our curling lessons on the following dates: Nov. 29, Dec. 11, Dec. 13, and Dec. 18, from 9:30-10:30am.  Parents are more than welcome to join us for any of the above dates, but especially on Dec. 18.  This final lesson is a "game day" and we could use extra hands to help out on the ice.

That's all for now!  Have a great day!

The Gratitude Experiment

With Thanksgiving approaching, we have been discussing the importance of gratitude in our everyday life.  Our quote of the week was: 

"It is not happiness that makes us grateful, but gratefulness that makes us happy".

We have also considered that  often a grumbling or complaining spirit gets in the way of being a thankful person.  We decided to try out a simple little experiment in gratitude this week.  Students were given elastic bands to wear as bracelets. Each time they audibly complained, they were to switch the band to the opposite wrist- the intent being to raise  awareness about our grumbling habits!  So....onto the homework assignment!

I am curious to hear reflections on your 48 hour (or more!!) bracelet experiment.   Here are some questions to guide you along the way:

• Was it easy or difficult to keep your bracelet on one arm? Why?
• What did you find yourself complaining about most often? 
• Did anything surprise you about this experience?
• What did you learn about your attitude?  Reflect!

Your response should be a minimum of 3-5 sentences long.  Just click on "comments" below to get started!  Don't forget to include your name at the end of your response.

Mr. MacKenzie's 85th Birthday Party!

We had such a fun celebration for Mr. MacKenzie's 85th Birthday today!  We had many special people at the school for the party- parents, students, former principals and directors and other friends of Mr. MacKenzie!  A big shout-out to our very own Mrs. Turta, Mrs. Leflar and Mrs. Markusson who were busy bees in the pancake making and flipping business...thank you for your help!

Here is the video/game, "The True, Or Not So True Story of Mr. MacKenzie" that was shared at the assembly! I think we all learned some new things about Mr. MacKenzie (I sure did!).