Wednesday, 5 December

Today I introduced a new element to class - knot tying.  As I start to examine how I might incorporate outdoor education to the p.e. program and how that might lead to a backcountry trip, perhaps to Bachelor Lake Cabin in Tetrahedron Provincial Park, I'm going to start to get the class thinking more about careful listening to directions, and following directions with precision.  I also want them to get used to working with equipment in a mature and professional way.  Today we learned some rope terminology: standing end, working/running end, bight, bird's nest, rat's nest, dressing a knot, and setting a knot.  We learned how to tie a figure-eight.  Some students were able to tie is with their eyes closed.  Others could tie it behind their backs.  I will slowly add more knots so that when and if we go on a small expedition, students will have some basic backcountry skills.  A good resource for knot tying is a website called Grog's Knots.  The "scouting knots" index would be a good place to begin:

Animated Knots by Grog (TM)

Next, we did art with Joanna.  We examined perspective and afrom the furniture industry to see how black and white can be used as complimentary colours.  We created so word/sketch combinations in response to questions Joanna asked that related to our experiences in 2012, and then we used that imagery to complete a piece that had a perspective that disappeared on a horizon line. That piece will be completed in class.  The next action item to be competed is an calendar (may be like an Advent calendar) that includes pockets and utilizes complementary colours (example: red/green). 

After recess we read for ten-minutes and then did math.  The 7s continued to work on the integers review and most are ready to do the unit pre-test.

In the afternoon we did socials.  We did a jig-saw activity where pairs of students did a section of the reading on pages  91-93, and then did scribed notes.  These are notes that involve pictures as well as words.  They take practice to do well and they involve a lot of thinking as one is requires to make symbolic representations of what are often complex ideas.  How, for example, would one draw the following idea: "The Egyptians relied on the Nile for security"?  We'll share our scribes next class.

We ended the day with p.e. and again, I was dissatisfied with the behavior of many of the students.  Next class I will chose the groups because I am not prepared to endure another class like that; we achieved very little in terms of practice for the fitness test.  If your goal is to be taken into the backcountry you will need to be able to follow instructions, even at the end of the day.

Remember that tomorrow is band and Mr. Grice had two new songs that he wanted you to practice.

There is a grade 7 parents fund-raising planning meeting in the library tonight at 6:30 p.m.  All are welcome to attend.

 Parents of students who had "I"s on their report cards: Friday is the deadline for missing work.  The following students have one or more missing test or assignment:

Kaneeka

Bowen

Amber

Javen

Cody

Avery