Two information sheets/permission forms went home today.
1. Photo release form. On Oct 12th we will be planting trees in the wetlands, in partnership with the Lake Simcoe Region Conversation Authority. They would like to take photos that day and are asking for your permission. Please take a look at this form and return it me as soon as you can.
2. Newmarket High Jump Start Clinic. The music department is offering a free clinic to all of the feeder school students. This looks like a great opportunity! If you are interested, please send the form back filled out asap.

Today I collected rough drafts of our persuasive writing assignment. I will be offering feedback over the weekend. If you did not submit - it is now late. Please share it with me on Google drive as soon as you can.

Walking Home
If you get a chance - check back into the website. There is some really good additional information for you to check out. It might get you thinking about some new ideas for your upcoming inquiry. We finished chapter 16 today.

Math
Checkpoint today - no homework. You're welcome!

Geography
I introduced a new assignment today - The Monarch Butterfly: a great traveller in peril. Please don't work ahead on this as there is some teaching I have to do as we walk through the assignment. You can certainly start to gather your thoughts and ideas on this though...

Today we did part two of our bull ring challenges.
Some great team work and communication going on!
Here is a video (of another group)to give your families an idea of what we accomplished today.
Well done!

This morning we established our sit spots in the wetlands. We are working on balancing out our time working with others in a collaborative and team setting, and working independently with time to think on our own. Sit spots will be a place for quiet, meditative and thinking time. Well done everyone!

Math 
Please complete "Fraction Party Problems" if you did not get to finish in class.
There will be a checkpoint tomorrow. This is a "quiz-like" assessment. So I can check in on how you are doing with our learning so far.

Literacy
Persuasive writing rough draft is due tomorrow. I will read them over the weekend and offer you feedback on how you could improve before your final draft is due. It can be handed to me in hard copy or shared with me on Google Drive.

Book orders are due tomorrow.

We had our school Terry Fox run this afternoon.
A great way to honour a great man.

Today was a day of disruptions and a great deal of waiting during which we were asked to work on a variety of things, including our persuasive writing assignment.
Some of us chose to use our time wisely and some did not.
Let's aim to do better!
Remember - the mark of good character is doing the right thing even when nobody is watching.

Remember that tomorrow is day 2. Please be prepared to learn outside.
Tomorrow is also the Terry Fox Run.Wear red and white and bring a Toonie for Terry, if you are able.
Book orders are due Friday.

Literacy
Class time was given today for our persuasive writing assignment. Please remember that your rough draft for feedback is due Friday. You should be finished your "persuasion map" graphic organizer and be on to your rough draft.

Kenya literature study (Wangari Maathai and Walking Home)
Please come to class with five possibilities of topics that you would like to study for our upcoming inquiry. What has interested you in these books?
examples - Maasai Warriors, The Greenbelt Movement, The Nobel Peace Prize, Refugee camps

Art
We continued with our project work on the Indigenous Group of Seven.
By now you should:
1. have chosen the artist you wish to study
2. have chosen the piece you wish to study by that artist
3.  be well into your copy of the piece you are studying OR finished your research on your artist.
Please check back in earlier in the blog for the outline of this assignment.

How did you describe your weekend?
We are still working on our oral communication skills both sending and receiving. Did your body language let us all know that you were involved in the conversation?




We also revisited our goals that we set last week.
How are you doing on those?

Remember! Picture day is tomorrow!
Book orders are due Friday.

Math
Practice questions: (pictures, numbers and words)
1) 2/5 + 3/4
2) 5/24 + 9/16
3) 7/9 - 1/2

Reminders of today's clothesline lesson:

Literacy
Today we looked at some samples of persuasive writing and we discussed what made them effective.
We will be writing  our own persuasive piece.
Topic: Which of the seven grandfather teachings is the most important?
Rough draft will be due this Friday (Sept 29th) for feedback and final draft is due the following Friday (Oct 6th).
Here is the rubric that was handed out:

Assessment Of Learning	Level 4 Went Past Expectations	Level 3 Met Expectations	Level 2 Almost Met Expectations	Level 1 Did not Meet Expectations
Thinking: What you say Including ideas, logic, persuasive idea. Provides persuasive reasons for argument Use word choice that is interesting and sophisticated Use sentences that are varied in length and style
Communication: The way you say it Including sentence fluency, voice, conventions, Makes no errors in SPG (Spelling, Punctuation, Grammar). Organizes ideas logically.
Application: The way you connect it Including reasoning, connections, ect. Makes connections to other ideas that help your audience relate to the argument Uses tools such as quotes, statistics etc. Is highly persuasive
Knowledge: What you write Including text form, elements Includes 5 paragraphs as outlined States thesis statement in the introduction Repeats statement and reasons in conclusion Provides 3 reasons which support persuasive argument

Our last four butterflies came out today and are raring to get going!
Farewell to Jomo, Stuart, Mershie Mersh and Wangari. Safe travels.

Reminders for next week:
- Fresh from the Farm fundraiser is ongoing - order your local fruits and veggies and programs and initiatives at Stuart Scott.
- Monday 25th - PA Day
- Wednesday 27th - Picture day and immunizations
- Thursday 28th - Terry Fox Run (wear red and white)


We had a good knowledge building circle leading us toward our first inquiry project. Some of us are still working on body language to indicate active engagement and we are working on balancing out the conversation. Here is what the conversation looked like visually:

Math
We continued with finding equivalent fractions in order to add and subtract fractions.
We took a movement/rhythmic angle on this today. Can you explain how we did this to your families at home? Here is a hint:

Get outside and enjoy the weather this weekend!

Wonderful discussion this morning!
Thank you.

We talked about our last of the Grandfather Teachings - Respect.
The conversation moved into a beautiful place where we discussed the interconnectedness of  the teachings and how if we truly follow one - the others come along too.

We did some further reading on Wangari Maathai and her Greenbelt Movement. Tomorrow we will have a Knowledge Building Circle where I will track the balance of the conversation. Please come prepared with some thoughtful questions and also knowledge to share (answers). Read the articles given to you, and if you have time, do some further research. This way you come tomorrow prepared to participate in the conversation.

In geography we talked about the plight of the Monarch (an issue dear to my heart, as you all know). We talked about which of the Global Goals for Sustainable Development would help the Monarchs, if reached. Here is the interactive map that we looked at as we discussed deforestation.
http://www.globalforestwatch.org/

Art
We continued work on our Group of Seven Project.
Full apologies from me. I did not give any indication of timelines when I introduced this assignment last class. We will have at least three weeks of class time to work on this and each day I will give an indication as to where we should be.
Today :
1. You should have your artist chosen
2. You should have chosen a piece by that artist that you want to study.
3. Your should have started your copy OR started your research on the artist.

Math
Today we walked though a sample fraction question together so we all know what is expected in a full answer - with full communication.
Follow up practice 7.3.1 and 7.3.2

Monarch update:
One male and one female eclosed today.
Safe travels to "Muchoki" and "Jata" as they fly home.

We arrived to, yet another, two new butterflies this morning!
We released them after school.
Farewell September and Butter! Safe travels.

We had a great time doing a scavenger hunt with our nature buddies. Through these activities we are learning and showing our skills in responsibility and collaboration.

Field Trip Information
I have tentatively planned three field trips for this year.
They are in October (McMichael Gallery), February (ROC) and April (Young People's Theatre) each costing between $25 - $30.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns about these trips

Tomorrow we continue our art project and The World's Largest Lesson in Geography.