Sunday, February 24, 2013

Data Management Projects

Here are our Data Management Projects (end of unit evaluation). Students completed a project that consisted of creating a higher-order survey question, collecting and displaying data, constructing a variety of graphs both on paper and using technology, and finally wrote an interpretation of their data. Students and I are very pleased with their final projects!

                            

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Explorer les propriétés du son

Learning goal: 
Explorer les propriétés du son (l'amplitude et la fréquence) avec nos instruments de musique
To explore the properties of sound (both amplitude and pitch) with our musical instruments
Students were asked to use recyclable materials to create a musical instrument (I referred to it as a 'sound' instrument). The focus was to create sound made through unique vibrations. I exposed students to artists such as John Cage, Janet Cardiff and Lauri Anderson who have used unique objects integrating sound into an art form.

We learned the basics of sound (discoveryeducation.ca) and with Mme Kohut's class, had several discussions about its properties.

Students were able to assess their instrument and predict how it will preform when amplified in chart form.
There was one centre where 5 students at a time could place a contact mic onto their instrument and begin testing the sound of their instrument. The contact mics were connected to a mixer, which was connected to our large class speakers. At times, it was a little loud.




Using Garage Band, students could clearly see the frequency of their vibrations. I have recorded a few group compositions. The recording is much different from what was heard in the classroom because the mics only picked up on the vibrations. (to be posted soon)


Check out how other Canadians are making music: http://www.cbc.ca/player/Shows/Shows/The+National/Only+in+Canada/ID/2337399419/

Saturday, February 2, 2013

QR Codes and les régions physiques

This past week, we've been fortunate to use the brand new school iPads for our learning.
Students are learning more and more about the 7 physical regions of Canada. They have chosen 2 regions to compare their natural resources, climate, vegetation and more. Not only are they using textbooks in the classroom, but they are using the QR scanner on the iPads which gives them access to links to appropriate websites about the regions. Students are also using videos from discoveryeducation.ca on the iPads as another research tool.
I gave students all kinds of resources in the classroom and independently, they chose a resource and worked at their own pace. To their surprise, the textbooks seem to have all the answers ;)
We'll continue next week!

Les traits physiques Inquiry

As in introduction to the physical regions of Canada, students were inquiring about the landforms and waterways of Canada. They have already used Google Earth as one tool to help them look at Canada from a different perspective (as a whole) and observe it's physical features from above. Students came up with excellent examples (French vocabulary) of landforms and waterways.

Photo will be placed here shortly



I then took those vocabulary (added a few more), had enlarged personal photographs from my own adventures in Jasper (along with some calendar photos) and distributed them among the students. Students had to associate the vocabulary with the photographs. Not only did they learn more French vocabulary, but they were able to visually identify the landform and waterways. Great opportunities to have purposeful talk (amongst peers) with the photographs!