High School
Many of you made some good progress on course selection today. Remember - Feb 16th is the date that you actually "hit send" or submit your choices. Here are links to community involvement forms if you want to get started on that this summer.
Potential Community Involvement Opportunities
Math
For your tessellations assignment I'll be looking for two parts. First - you create a tessellation on a Cartesian Plane that has both rigid transformations and dilations. Second - write a description of the transformations and dilations in your tessellation using both the vocabulary we have been discussing and coordinates.
Poetry Slam
Now we have success criteria for both writing:
1. Use of descriptive language (metaphor, simile etc...)
2. Quotes and statistics to support your ideas
3. What? - So What? - Now What?
4. Mic drop ending
5. SPG
and the oral presentation or delivery:
1. Clarity of voice (can we understand clearly what you are saying?)
2. Varying speed/tempo (sometimes speaking faster and sometimes slower)
3. Varying volume/dynamics (sometimes louder and sometimes quieter)
4. Body language/gesture (use your body to emphasize your words)
Two final amazing examples of all of the above:
Reminders:
Schedule - Thursday January 28th
8:30 -Wake up to Wellness - Start the day with laughter!
9:00 - Friday Funday - (it's a surprise...)
9:30 - French
10:10 - Recess
10:30 - Math - (Google Meet)
11:20 - Looking ahead - High School (My pathways/blueprint)
12:10 - Lunch
1:10 - Independent Reading
1:30 - Orbiting Jupiter (Google Meet)
2:00 -Poetry slam - (Google Meet - Individual shared docs)
High School
Thank you to Mrs. Rifle for joining our class today to (hopefully!) calm the worries about high school. She also sent out an email to all grade eight families outlining the process and important dates this link will take you to that outline.
Math
Today we looked a dilations. This may help you to solidify your understanding.
Today we started talking about the delivery of your poem. You should now be starting to practice saying it out loud. Consider the tempo or pacing. When should you be speaking quickly? When should you be slowing down? What words or phrases are really important?
Schedule - Thursday January 28th
8:30 -Wake up to Wellness - Stretching
9:00 - Phys Ed
9:30 - French
10:10 - Recess
10:30 - Math - (Google Meet)
11:20 - Body Image - (Google Meet - Shared document)
12:10 - Lunch
1:10 - Independent Reading
1:30 - Orbiting Jupiter (Google Meet)
2:00 -Poetry slam - (Google Meet - Individual shared docs)
Joy Project
I'm still having fun with ice! I made an ice lantern. I froze water in one container with another container inside it weighed down with rocks to make to make the lantern space. I hope you will consider continuing to make things for our neighbourhood art gallery.
Orbiting Jupiter
Today we found out that Joseph's father is seeking visitation rights with Joseph. But we only find this out through one side of a phone conversation. Who's voice is missing? What effect does this have on our assumptions and judgments? Please write your response in your learning journal.
Math
Please make sure you have a definition of Congruence in your learning journal. Be precise!
Are these two shapes congruent? Why? or Why not? Explain fully.
Health - Body Image
Today we began to create a Body Confidence Pledge. Think about what your group drafted up. What is missing? What should be reworked?
Schedule - Wednesday January 27th
8:30 -Wake up to Wellness - A-Z of Coping Strategies
9:00 - Community Circle (Google Meet)
9:30 - French
10:10 - Recess
10:30 - Math - (Google Meet)
11:20 - Body Image - (Google Meet - Shared document)
12:10 - Lunch
1:10 - Independent Reading
1:30 - Orbiting Jupiter (Google Meet)
2:00 -Poetry slam - (Google Meet - Individual shared docs)
What is your one word this week? How will you stick to it?
Science - Naked Egg Osmosis
Final observations:
In your learning journals, please write down the observations for all three stages of this lab (vinegar, corn syrup and water with food colouring). Write conclusions for each stage - make sure you are including vocabulary - and explain the "why" of what happened. Here is a link to the video we watched in class.
Poetry Slam
Our class poetry slam will be next Thursday (Feb 4th) I am available for feedback all this week - all you have to do is ask!
Here is the success criteria for the written work (not the delivery or performance)
1. Descriptive language - metaphor/simile
2. Stats and quotes to support your ideas
3. Mic drop ending
4. What? - So What? - Now What?
5. SPG
Schedule - Tuesday January 26th
8:30 -Wake up to Wellness - Box Breathing
9:00 - Orbiting Jupiter (Google Meet)
9:30 - French
10:10 - Recess
10:30 - Math - (Google Meet)
11:20 - Health - Body Image (Google Meet)
12:10 - Lunch
1:10 - Independent Reading
1:30 - Poetry slam - (Google Meet - Individual shared docs)
2:00 - Phys Ed.
How will you get your colour back this weekend?
Ringo Reading Responses.
Your first ringo is due on Monday. Please put it in your learning journal - with a clear title and date.
Community Joy Project
Photographs of your contribution to our community art gallery are due to me by Monday. Please email the photos to me. Here is my latest work for my community art gallery. This weekend I have plans to make a larger scale piece - and I'm going to try the ice lantern idea!
Naked Egg Osmosis
Here are the photos of today's portion of the lab. Make sure you have observations from what we saw today and a hypothesis as to what will happen over the weekend. Remember! A level 3 or 4 hypothesis explains WHY.
Poetry Slam
This poem is totally awesome for so many reasons. They talk a lot about different themes we have been exploring this year. I bring it to you as an example of the mic drop ending. How will you end you poem to leave the audience with a "WOW"?
Schedule - Monday January 25th
8:30 -Wake up to Wellness - Dancing!
9:00 - Community Circle - (Google Meet)
9:30 - French
10:10 - Recess
10:30 - Math - (Google Meet)
11:20 - Orbiting Jupiter (Google Meet and Jamboard)
12:10 - Lunch
1:10 - Independent Reading
1:30 - Science-Complete lab (Google Meet)
2:00 - Poetry slam - (Google Meet - Individual shared docs)
Math
Today we looked at reflections. You only need one piece of information for this one - the line of reflection. But remember!!! The line of reflection might not be the x-axis or the y-axis. It could be another line. As promised, here is a tutorial for review.
Schedule - Friday January 22nd
8:30 -Wake up to Wellness - Alike - watch this short film and think about balancing things you see as work and the things that give you joy!
9:00 - Community Circle - (Google Meet)
9:30 - French
10:10 - Recess
10:30 - Math - (Google Meet)
11:20 - Science - Lab check- in
12:10 - Lunch
1:10 - Independent Reading
1:30 - Orbiting Jupiter - (Google Meet)
2:00 - Poetry slam - (Google Meet - Individual shared docs)
Music - Storyboard assignment
Due date: January 29th (this is the due date for both 8Nye and 8Targonsky)
Click here for the music for this assignment
Step 1 - Analyse the music based on the five elements of music that we have been discussing; Beat, Tempo, Dynamics, Timbre and Texture.
Step 2 - based on your analysis create a storyboard for a new and original scene. The music would be the soundtrack for your scene. The music dictates what is happening in your scene. For example, if the tempo is presto or vivace but then slows down to an andante perhaps someone was running and they are growing tired and have to slow to a walk.
Sample storyboard:
Orbiting Jupiter
Here is the role on the wall we worked on together. If you were to choose this for your reading response, I would be looking for you to analyse the role on the wall in writing as we did orally in class.
Poetry Slam
What an amazing poem delivered today by Amanda Gorman for the inauguration! Today we talked about what an extended metaphor might look like. Look at the example below where G. Yamazawa uses the grenade/weaponry/war metaphor throughout his poem. It helps paint the picture and it gives it unity.
Schedule - Thursday January 21th
8:30 -Wake up to Wellness - Stretching for energy!
9:00 - Phys Ed
9:30 - French
10:10 - Recess
10:30 - Math - (Google Meet)
11:20 - Science - Lab check- in, Health - Body Image (Google Meet)
12:10 - Lunch
1:10 - Independent Reading
1:30 - Orbiting Jupiter - (Google Meet)
2:00 - Poetry slam - (Google Meet - Individual shared docs)
Remember - Your ice art community joy project and your first Ringo reading response are both due Monday.
Orbiting Jupiter
"Jackie, I'm a whole lifetime ahead of you." What does Joseph mean by this? How might it affect Jack?
Science
New concepts: permeable, selectively permeable, impermeable, diffusion and osmosis.
Make sure you have our "Naked Egg Osmosis" lab set up in your science notes.
Math
What is the fewest number of questions you need to ask to create an accurate slide translation? What would those questions be?
Schedule - Wednesday January 20th
8:30 -Wake up to Wellness - Wellness - Would you rather?
9:00 - Music (Google Meet)
9:30 - French
10:10 - Recess
10:30 - Math - (Google Meet)
11:20 - Science - Lab check- in then - Watch the Biden inauguration live together?
12:10 - Lunch
1:10 - Independent Reading
1:30 - Orbiting Jupiter cont'd - Role on the Wall (Google Meet - class shared doc)
2:00 - Poetry slam - Large scale metaphor or central image (Google Meet - Individual shared docs)
The Saga of Carla the Duck
On the weekend, my sister, Christine, was out bird watching in a beautiful place where Trumpeter Swans and ducks gather.
Here is a family of Trumpeter Swans. Mom and Dad up front and behind are the cygnets with some grey feathers still.
Christine was taking pictures (she's quite a photographer) when she noticed a female mallard duck that allowed her to get quite close.
Upon further observation, Christine noticed that the duck's bill was broken. She took more pictures and posted them to social media to see if anyone could help. Many people were very interested in helping and an animal sanctuary nearby offered to take her. But first they had to capture her!
So now folks are tracking Carla's movement to figure out where and when to best try to pick her up. When she is spotted, people take pictures and note her location and the time.
Best case scenario - Carla will be picked -up, assessed, rehabilitated and then released back in the wild. If she is unable to obtain and eat food on her own they will keep her at the wildlife sanctuary where they can care for her.
I'll keep you up to date as the saga of Carla the Duck continues...
Buckthorn Berry Ink
Today we boiled the buckthorn berries and mashed them with some vinegar. Now they need to cool and we'll strain them later this week.
What is your one word mission this week? The word I chose was "efficient". I have a boatload of work to do this week and I'm going to work on being efficient. How can I best use my time?
Community Joy Project
How is your ice sculpture coming along? Have you contributed to our community art gallery yet? Please have your photographs of this art project to me by Monday (25th).
Math
Excellent group work today! In your learning journal please tell me what information you need to know to find a rotation. Also please have the definitions for the following: Rotation, Angle of Rotation, Direction of Rotation, and Point of Rotation (also called center of rotation)
Body Image
Many of your journal answers last week used the term "perfect body" . In your learning journal, please write your definition of what a perfect body is. Also please note the words that came up regularly in other people's definitions.
Orbiting Jupiter
I read a very tense passage today. There is no journal entry today. Just process all of the information that we learned about Joseph's story. Is there anything you don't understand? Just ask.
Poetry Slam
One of the best poetry slams of all time! In your learning journal, please note examples of simile and metaphor in this speech. Please make sure by tomorrow you know which of your poems is THE poem for you. This is the one that you will work on all week this week to prepare it for our class slam. Tomorrow I will give you time to start to infuse metaphor and simile into your writing to make your descriptions clear. Paint pictures with your words.
Schedule - Tuesday January 19th
8:30 -Wake up to Wellness - Breathing Exercise
9:00 - Orbiting Jupiter (Google Meet)
9:30 - French
10:10 - Recess
10:30 - Math - (Google Meet)
11:40 - Science - (Google Meet)
12:10 - Lunch
1:10 - Independent Reading
1:30 - Poetry Slam - (Google Meet and shared documents)
2:00 - Phys ed
Notes from Nature...
I was out hiking today and I collected a bunch of Buckthorn berries. I'm going to make ink out of them this week. I've heard that although the berries are a beautiful purple colour, the ink makes either a yellow colour or a dark green coloured ink. Let's see how this experiment goes...
Schedule - Monday January 18th
8:30 -Wake up to Wellness - Wake up - Fresh Start
9:00 - Community Circle
9:30 - French
10:10 - Recess
10:30 - Math - (Google Meet)
11:40 - Health - Body Image
12:10 - Lunch
1:10 - Independent Reading
1:30 - Orbiting Jupiter (Google Meet)
2:00 - Poetry Slam - (Google Meet and shared documents)
Please remember - tomorrow (Friday Jan 15th) is a PD day.
This weekend you can:
- work on your outdoor art for our community gallery
- work on your music analysis
- make sure your learning journal is up to date
- get outside each day if you can!
Orbiting Jupiter
A bit of a cliffhanger today. In your learning journal, please tell me what you think Joseph will tell the family when he tells them "everything".
Math
We played Cartesian Plane battleship today. Next week we continue to look at movement within the Cartesian Plane.
Community Joy Project - Support for Healthcare Workers
Thank you for your beautiful and thoughtful messages of support for our community healthcare workers. I know this practice of gratitude for us will bring joy to people who are being stretched very thin right now. We have lots of beautiful gratitude, we could use a few more slides of encouragement. If you have time, could you add a slide with words or quotes or pictures of encouragement? I would really appreciate it. I'll extend the deadline in hopes that some of you add more. I'll send it off Monday.
A note from Mrs. Rifle!
Grade 8 Students and Families:
Hello,
I hope you are all doing well.
At times, I will be sending you emails about high school and/or opportunities to engage in activities or workshops. Please check your mail regularly in myPathways (little red envelope icon, top-right). Information about high school course selection will be arriving soon.
Here is a free webinar shattering stereotypes about #womeninSTEM on January 23rd. Meet the woman who keeps your Netflix stream streaming: Amy Smidutz.
Here is the link to sign up today: bit.ly/3oxBwha
If you have any questions about high school, please email me: cindy.rifle@gapps.yrdsb.ca
Keep safe! Keep Happy!
Ms. Rifle
Orbiting Jupiter
In your learning journal, please answer the following:
Schedule - Thursday January 14th
8:30 -Wake up to Wellness - Start your day with energy!
9:00 - Orbiting Jupiter (Google Meet)
9:30 - French
10:10 - Recess
10:30 - Math - (Google Meet)
11:40 - Science - (Google Meet and Google Form)
12:10 - Lunch
1:10 - Independent Reading
1:30 - Community Joy project - Front Line Health Workers (Google Meet)
Reminders
* Please do not "resolve" the comments I leave in your learning journals. I like to keep a running record of my feedback.
*History essay is due tomorrow. Please make sure it is shared with me.
*Science quiz Thursday.
*How is your ice art coming along?
Orbiting Jupiter
In your learning journal, please write a short summary of today's passage and tell me why you think this passage is significant to both Jack and Joseph.
Body Image
Here is the link to the slide deck we are all working on. Please make sure you have completed your slide. What I've seen so far is amazing work!
Poetry Slam
I loved our class poem!!! You guys are very thoughtful and creative writers. I just wish you would share your amazing words with each other more in class.
After today, you should have five poems started. Next week we will choose the one poem that you think is the one. This is poem we will work together to refine, revise and add to to get it ready for our class poetry slam.
Schedule - Wednesday January 13th
8:30 -Wake up to Wellness - Self care during online learning - see below
9:00 - Phys Ed
9:30 - French
10:10 - Recess
10:30 - Health - Body Image (Google Meet and Shared Slide Deck)
11:40 - Music (Google Meet and Blog Assignment)
12:10 - Lunch
1:10 - Independent Reading
1:30 - Math (Google Meet)
2:00 - Literacy - Orbiting Jupiter (Google Meet)
Wake up to Wellness
Please read through these tips and make sure you applying as many as possible to keep yourself healthy while we are in front of screens for so much of the day. Thank you to Ms. Duni for creating this graphic.
RINGO! Reading Response Journal
Here is a link to the outline of the assignment
Here is a link to the RINGO choice board
Here is a link to the appendix that explains the different tasks on the choice board.
History Essay
Please remember that your history quote essay is due Wednesday. Please Please Please - review the rubric to make sure you have covered the requirements. Here is the link to the assignment sheet with the rubric.
Orbiting Jupiter
Please make sure you have answered the question from last week in your learning journal.
Health - Body Image
Thank you for your thoughtful discussion as we start this learning together. Please answer the following questions in your learning journal.
1. How well do the images I see in the media reflect me? Do they reflect my physical appearance? Do they reflect my interests and experiences?
2. How do I feel about the images I view on a daily basis? Do I feel represented?
3. What is media telling me? What is is telling my friends and peers?
Art - Neighbourhood Joy Project!
Here is the link to the side show as promised.
I'm really looking forward to seeing how you will spread joy in your neighbourhood through art!
Poetry Slam
Today we looked at advice poems. What pillar of joy will you give advice about? What advice do you have to give? Who will you give it to?
Schedule - Tuesday January 12th
8:30 -Wake up to Wellness - Mindful Breathing
9:00 - Literacy - Orbiting Jupiter (Google Meet)
9:30 - French
10:10 - Recess
10:30 - Health - Body Image (Google Meet and Learning Journals)
11:40 - Science - (Google Meet - Jamboard)
12:10 - Lunch
1:10 - Independent Reading
1:30 - Introduction to Independent Reading Assignment (Google Meet)
2:00 - Literacy - Poetry Slam (Google Meet)
Schedule - Monday January 11th
8:30 -Wake up to Wellness - Morning Stretching
9:00 - Literacy - Orbiting Jupiter (Google Meet)
9:30 - French
10:10 - Recess
10:30 - Health - Body Image (Google Meet and Learning Journals)
11:40 - Art - Neighbourhood Joy Project (Google Meet and independent work)
12:10 - Lunch
1:10 - Independent Reading
1:30 - Literacy - Poetry Slam (Google Meet)
2:00 - Phys Ed
Review
Beat - Steady? Strong? Implied? Played outright?
Tempo - Largo? Andante? Allegro? Presto?
Dynamics - Piano? Forte? Crescendo? Decrescendo?
Timbre - the tone colours of the instruments (not actual colours)
Texture - Thin? Thick?
The piece of music above is from a movie. Your assignment is to write a full analysis of the music using the vocabulary we have discussed in class for each of the elements of music.
Once you have analysed the music, you will apply this analysis into your storyboard assignment.
Using the storyboard template linked here create a storyboard for what is happening in this scene based on the music you hear. You may need to use two templates. On your storyboard please include timestamps in the recording so I know how your storyboard lines up with the music.
I do not want a summary of what actually happens in the movie! I want you to be creative and storyboard NEW and totally different scene that would reflect this music.
Overall - great first week of online learning! Thanks everyone!
Orbiting Jupiter
Please answer the following question in your Distance Learning Journal:
I have had feedback sessions with many of you. Please take the time to apply my suggestions as you revise your work. PLEASE read the rubric on the Assignment Outline - Linked here and make sure your a covering what I am looking for.
Poetry Slam
By now you should have three poems in rough draft. Today we looked at personification. What would forgiveness have to tell you if it was a person? What would humour have to say?
Here is am example of emotions personified:
I have completed marking the Green New Deal assignments. Your marks are emailed to your gapps account email. If you would like more detailed comments please let me know and I can talk to you about your marks in person. If you did not hand yours in - its very late - but never too late! This is a major assignment in science, math and literacy - get it done!
Science
Using the resources posted in the previous blog post, please make sure you have notes on the parts and their functions of both animal cells and plant cells. There will be a quiz on this next week.
Math
Your "Animate Your Name" coding assignment is due tomorrow. In Scratch you need to share your animation in order for me to see it through the classroom. Please use the success criteria and the peer feedback you got today do ensure you have done your best.
Schedule - Friday January 8th
8:30 - Feedback sessions (individuals on Google meet)
9:00 - Literacy - Orbiting Jupiter (All on Google Meet)
9:30 - French
10:10 - Recess
10:30 - Friday Surprise!!! (Google Meet)
11:40 - Math (All on Google Meet/CSFirst/Scratch)
12:10 - Lunch
1:10 - Independent Reading
1:30 - Literacy - Poetry Slam (All on Google Meet)
2:00 - Essay Feedback sessions (Individuals on Google Meet)
Animate your Name Coding Project
This project is due Friday and will be marked based on the success criteria we came up with together:
1. A background
2. A variety of colours - visually appealing.
3. Some movement (3-5 animation moves)
4. Sound - music accompaniment - and individual sounds connected to at least one sprite.
5. Unity - a theme connecting everything.
Poetry Slam
Here is the 8 Pillars of Joy Poetry Slam Challenge
Today we looked at "Dear Poems". Which pillar of Joy will you write to? or from? or talk about?
Schedule - Thursday January 7th
8:30 - Feedback sessions (individuals on Google meet)
9:00 - Literacy - Orbiting Jupiter (All on Google Meet)
9:30 - French
10:10 - Recess
10:30 - Science (All on Google Meet)
11:40 - Math (All on Google Meet/CSFirst/Scratch)
12:10 - Lunch
1:10 - Independent Reading
1:30 - Literacy - Poetry Slam (All on Google Meet)
2:00 - Essay Feedback sessions (Individuals on Google Meet)
Great job today everyone! Thank you!
You should all have the schedule now for essay feedback - please sign up for a time.
Based on your amazing discussion, I'm really looking forward to reading Orbiting Jupiter with you!
Schedule for Wednesday January 6th
9:00 - Morning meeting - Google Meet
9:30 - French
10:10 - Recess
10:30 - Math - Google Meet/CS First/ Scratch
11:20 - Science - Google Meet
12:10 - Lunch
1:10 - Silent reading - independently
1:30 - Literacy - Orbiting Jupiter - Google Meet
2:00 - Feedback sessions for the essay - shared documents
A message from Mrs. Rifle!
Good Morning and Happy New Year, Grade 8s
Welcome to 2021. If you need any help with your school work or if you have questions about high school, please feel free to contact me at cindy.rifle@gapps.yrdsb.ca.
I can help you through email, Google Classroom, telephone, or Google Meet. Please note that I will be teaching my class for Math and Language periods, as well as supporting the Primary students. I will respond to you as soon as I can. Have a great week learning at home.
💕 Ms. Rifle
Schedule for Tuesday January 5th
9:00 - Community Circle on Google Meet (the meet code will be in our class chat)
9:30 - French with Mme. Catanzaro (check your Google Classroom)
10:10 - Recess
10:30 - Math - Coding on Scratch (Start together on Google Meet)
11:20 - Science - Continue introduction to cells (together on Google Meet)
12:10 - Lunch
1:10 - Literacy - Starting an AWESOME new book together (Google Meet and Jamboard)
Happy New Year!
As you all know by now, we are online this week. I will be continuing to post to the blog as my main source of communication. Tomorrow (Monday) will be what is called an "asynchronous" day as I will be setting up for the rest of the week. Below you will find our work for the day and you can work on that on your own schedule. If you have any questions, you can contact me on our class chat. Starting Tuesday we will be learning online together (synchronously) throughout the day similar to what we do at school. I will post a schedule here in the blog by the end of the school day Monday.
Literacy/History
You should be working on your Quote Essay Assignment. I will be giving individual feedback on your rough drafts starting on Wednesday. Please have a first draft done for Wednesday. The final copy of this assignment is due next Wednesday - January 13th.
Science
Please watch and make notes on this introduction to cells:
