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Today, the Grade 5's enjoyed a great day at Springwater Provincial Park, learning how to locate water, build an emergency shelter and start a fire, using traditional First Nations methods.

Our instructor was park manager and Beausoleil First Nations elder Jeff Monague, who infused his teachings with the principles of taking only what is needed from the land, demonstrating respect for living beings, and showing gratitude for nature's provisions. Mr. Monague also gave us advice about animal encounters and taught us several Ojibwa words.

Here are some images from our trip:

This is a short video of students using a fire bow to start a fire (click the link and the video will open in a new tab):

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We want to thank Mr. Monague for his thoroughly engaging and very practical workshop. We are confident that if students in our class were ever lost in the woods they would be able to find water and build emergency shelters. (Fire-building might take a bit more practice!)

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Thank you for visiting our class BLOG.  If you have any questions or comments, feel free to e-mail me (Margaret Black):  mblack@scdsb.on.ca or to add a comment to this page.

Today, the Grade 5 and 6 classes at Rama Central P.S. travelled to Midland, Ontario, to learn about the outpost where the Jesuit and members of the Wendat community lived an worked together for a brief period in the 17th century. This trip fulfilled expectations in Grade 5 Social Studies.

This is a link to the St. Marie website:
http://www.saintemarieamongthehurons.on.ca/sm/en/Home/

Here are some pictures of our day at St. Marie, which included a tour of the village, two crafts, a tour of the museum, and a game of lacrosse:

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Thank you for visiting our class BLOG.  If you have any questions or comments, feel free to e-mail me (Margaret Black):  mblack@scdsb.on.ca or to add a comment to this page.

During recent Social Studies and Literacy periods, our class participated in an island survivor simulation. The exercise was designed as a culminating task for Grade 4 Social Studies (Physical and Political Regions of Canada) and Grade 5 Social Studies (Government). The simulation also stretch students’ ability to work collaboratively in assigned groups and provide opportunities for students to engage in role play and oral discussions.

This is the basic outline of the project (Click on any photo to enlarge it.)

 

STEP ONE:

For the purpose of the island survivor exercise, Grade 4 students were assigned to crash land in the physical region of Canada that they studied as part of their Social Studies unit.

After the class was divided into their survivor groups and they listened to a story about the crash scenario, the Grade 4 students in each group taught their Grade 5 island-mates about the region of Canada where they found themselves stranded:

 

STEP TWO:

Within their small groups, students began brainstorming a list of all the things they might be able to do with the items that were salvaged from the plane.

 

STEP THREE:

Groups began work on survival plans and land use maps of their islands. Then they were told they had been rescued and needed to prepare a presentation for the press.

 

STEP FOUR:

Groups presented their survival plans at a press conference. When students were not part of a particular presentation, they became members of the press gallery. Ten members of the press rated each group's chance of survival, based on the plans they shared. Mrs. Black assessed the drama aspect of the project, based on how well each student acted his/her roles and listened during other groups' presentations.

THE RESULTS ARE IN!

These are the scores the press gallery gave each group's overall survival plan, based on their performance at the press conference:

  • Newfoundland:  73%
  • Nunavut:  72%
  • British Columbia:  64%
  • Ontario:  60%

The press gallery was also asked to rate the odds of each group surviving a winter in the wilderness, based on the survival plans they presented. These are the class' estimates:

  • Newfoundland:  83% chance of survival
  • British Columbia:  70% chance of survival
  • Nunavut:  66% chance of survival
  • Ontario:  60% chance of survival

Congratulations to the survivors who crash landed off the coast of Newfoundland! You are the winners of Island Survivor 2017/18!!

Island Survivor was a thoroughly enjoyable experience for most students in the class; a mildly frustrating one for a few. While groups were meeting to brainstorm ideas and achieve consensus about their survival plans, Mrs. Black circulated. She stepped in and facilitated whenever personality clashes or inexperience with consensus-building created an impasse. She hopes the one-on-one and small group coaching that transpired during this activity will provide students with some new tools and strategies they can employ next time they are collaborating with others on a project.

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Thank you for visiting our class BLOG.  If you have any questions or comments, feel free to e-mail me (Margaret Black):  mblack@scdsb.on.ca or to add a comment to this page.

This morning, Simcoe County educator and First Nations elder Roseanne Irving visited Rama Central and conducted a circle with students in the Junior Division. She conducted a smudging ceremony, provided an opportunity for sharing and taught us about some First Nations medicines.

Here are some images from this morning's circle:

We want to thank Mr. Fitzgerald for arranging this visit, and Ms. Irving for coming to the school to help us celebrate Aboriginal Day!

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Thank you for visiting our class BLOG.  If you have any questions or comments, feel free e-mail me (Margaret Black):  mblack@scdsb.on.ca or to add a comment to this page.

Rama Central's Grade 5 students recently had the privilege of attending a "Youth Teaching Youth" First Nations event on the Rama Reserve.  Grade 5 and 7 students, plus teachers from Mnjikaning-Kendaaswin Elementary School and community elders, shared their cultural and environmental teachings with us.

The day began with an opening circle, which included a smudging ceremony:

Following our opening circle, students attended an Ojibwa class:

... and a craft class:

Next, our hosts treated us to a traditional First Nations lunch, consisting of a delicious stew, fried biscuits, cedar tea, and strawberry shortcake.

After lunch, we attended a gym class, featuring traditional First Nations games:

Our day closed with a visit from a jingle dancer, from the community. She shared stories and danced, and then several boys from Mnjikaning-Kendaaswin school sang and drummed for us:

These are notes of thanks written by students in our class, after we returned from the Youth Teaching Youth event:

Thank you for this amazing day. It was so cool. I loved the food and really everyone was nice.  EH

Thanks for arranging this day. It was so fun. The one thing that surprised me was the arrow catapult. It was hard but really fun, and lunch was delicious. My class and I had a lot of fun and learned a lot about First Nations. Thanks again.  JH

I had a lot of fun and met a new friend named Emmet!  KL

I had lots of fun today. The students and staff at the First Nations school were very kind and awesome. My favourite parts were the probability game with Mr. Snache and the jingle dance. Thank you for inviting us. SM

Thank you for letting us come to your school. My favourite part was everything, because it was all fun!  PL

Thank you for arranging the trip for my class. I had lots of fun, especially the arrow thing. Thank you. AT

Thank you so much for teaching me all of the cool stuff.  MB

My favourite part of the day was meeting a new friend named Lily. She was funny!  SW

Our day was very fun. I liked the circle (outside) and all of the inside activities.  PD

What a super-fun day!  Thank you.  AK

Today I had lots of fun because of all the art and dancing.  EG

I learned a lot about the three sisters and water. Thank you for a wonderful day!  AR

Thank you for arranging this day. My favourite part was painting rocks and hanging out with my friends. I really want to go to your school, not because my friends are there, just because your school is AWESOME!  EC

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Thank you for visiting our class BLOG.  If you have any questions or comments, feel free e-mail me (Margaret Black):  mblack@scdsb.on.ca or to add a comment to this page.

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From February through April, our class had the privilege of hosting a teacher-candidate from Lakehead University's Faculty of Education.

Miss Whipp, who is in the first year of the two-year teacher's college program, spent five Wednesdays observing in our classroom, and then five full weeks observing, co-planning and co-teaching. Miss Whipp started off her five week block teaching one subject. By Week 5 she was teaching almost full-time, in consultation with Mrs. Black.

Here are some pictures of Miss Whipp's time with us:

MATH

 

LITERACY

 

GYM & DAILY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY (DPA)

 

HEALTH

 

SOCIAL STUDIES

 

DRAMA

 

FAREWELL PARTY FOR MISS WHIPP!

This afternoon we threw a farewell party for Miss Whipp.  A good time was had by all!

We want to thank Miss Whipp for inspiring us to learn, with her creative and fun lessons.  We loved having her in our class and we are going to miss her!!

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Thank you for visiting our class BLOG.  If you have any questions or comments, feel free e-mail me (Margaret Black):  mblack@scdsb.on.ca or to add a comment to this page.

 

Today, our class enjoyed a wonderful afternoon at Springwater Provincial Park, learning how to locate water, build an emergency shelter and start a fire, using traditional First Nations methods.

Our instructor was park manager and Beausoleil First Nations elder Jeff Monague, who infused his teachings with the principles of taking only what is needed from the land, demonstrating respect for living beings and showing gratitude for nature's provisions. Mr. Monague also gave us advice about animal encounters and taught us several Ojibwa words

We want to thank Mr. Monague for his thoroughly engaging and very practical workshop. We are confident that if students in our class were ever lost in the woods they would be able to find water and build emergency shelters. (Fire-building might take a bit more practice!)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you for visiting our class BLOG.  If you have any questions or comments, feel free to e-mail me (Margaret Black):  mblack@scdsb.on.ca or to add a comment to this page.

During recent Social Studies and Literacy periods, our class participated in an island survivor simulation. The exercise was designed to introduce the concept of government, stretch students’ ability to work collaboratively in assigned groups and provide opportunities for students to engage in role play and oral discussions.

This is the basic outline of the project (Click on any photo to enlarge it.)

 

STEP ONE:

within their small groups, students began brainstorming a list of all the things they might be able to do with the items that were salvaged from the plane.

 

STEP TWO:

Groups began work on survival plans and land use maps of their islands. Then they were told they had been rescued and needed to prepare a presentation for the press.

 

STEP THREE:

Groups presented their survival plans at a press conference. When students were not part of a particular presentation, they became members of the press gallery. Ten members of the press rated each group's chance of survival, based on the plans they shared. Mrs. Black assessed the drama aspect of the project, based on how well each student acted his/her roles and listened during other groups' presentations.

This gentleman took his role very seriously, making his hair appear as if he'd been out in the wilderness for months!  🙂

 

THE RESULTS ARE IN!

These are the scores the press gallery gave each group's overall survival plan, based on their performance at the press conference:

  • Nunavut:  65%
  • British Columbia:  56%
  • Ontario:  53%
  • Newfoundland:  36%

The press gallery was also asked to rate the odds of each group surviving a winter in the wilderness, based on the survival plans they presented. These are the class' estimates:

  • Nunavut:  64% chance of survival
  • Ontario:  55% chance of survival
  • British Columbia:  48% chance of survival
  • Newfoundland:  26% chance of survival

Congratulations to the survivors who crash landed near Graham Island, Norwegian Bay, Nunavut! You are the winners of Island Survivor 2017!!

Island Survivor was a thoroughly enjoyable experience for most students in the class; a frustrating one for a few. While groups were meeting to brainstorm ideas and achieve consensus about their survival plans, Mrs. Black circulated. She stepped in and facilitated whenever personality clashes or inexperience with consensus-building created an impasse. She hopes the one-on-one and small group coaching that transpired during this activity will provide students with some new tools and strategies they can employ next time they are collaborating with others on a project.

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Thank you for visiting our class BLOG.  If you have any questions or comments, feel free to e-mail me (Margaret Black):  mblack@scdsb.on.ca or to add a comment to this page.

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In March and April, we had the pleasure of hosting Lakehead University Faculty of Education teacher-candidate Amanda Medeiros in our class. "Miss M." observed Mrs. Black during her first week with us, and then started taught the class in weeks 2-5, starting with Math and DPA and adding one or two subjects each week.

Here are some pictures of Miss M. in action!

MATH

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DAILY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY & GYM (Volleyball)

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DRAMA

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HEALTH

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SOCIAL STUDIES

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LITERACY

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MISS M'S "GRADUATION PARTY"!

As of today (Tuesday, April 26th), Miss M. has fulfilled all of the requirements for her B.A. and B.Ed. degrees!  We threw her a party, to celebrate!!

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IMG_3695IMG_3684We loved having Miss M. in our class, and wish her all the best in her future as an educator!  🙂

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Thank you for visiting our class BLOG.  If you have any questions or comments, feel free e-mail me (Margaret Black):  mblack@scdsb.on.ca or to add a comment to this page.

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Last week, during Literacy and Social Studies periods, our class participated in an ice storm survivor simulation. The exercise was designed to consolidate learning in Social Studies and Science, while stretching students’ ability to work collaboratively in assigned groups, and providing them with an opportunity to engage in role play.

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Students were placed in "cabin groups" of four to six. They were asked to imagine what they would do if we were on an overnight school ski trip and, in the morning, they woke up to find themselves isolated, with their cabin power out and a freezing rain storm raging outside. Each cabin group was provided with a list of items they could use to help themselves keep warm, hydrated and fed for several days, and asked to create a plan that included a decision-making structure, rules, and strategies to ensure their survival while creating as little damage to the cabin and property as possible.

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These were their imaginary cabins:

Cabin1 Cabin2 Cabin3

Cabin4 Cabin5

During the game, a few curves were thrown at each group. They were asked to choose from a deck of "calamity cards" that listed injuries and illnesses, accidental loss of tools or loss of food for which they needed to compensate with their plans. Then, "life imitated art" when Mother Nature dropped a major ice storm on Central Ontario... an ice storm that caused power outages, the cancellation of school buses, and delayed the completion of our ice storm survivor game!  🙂

These are pictures Mrs. Black took near her home, during the "real" ice storm:

rain-trees

ice

This map depicts extensive power outages, south of Barrie, the day after the ice storm:

outage

Once we were able to return to school, we shared our real-life ice storm experiences, and then continued with planning and problem-solving related to our fictional ice storm game:

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These are the maps that groups drew of their cabins and surroundings:

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After student groups were "rescued," they were invited to share their survival plans and experiences at "press conferences":
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"Life imitated art" a second time when this student, who was assessed as having a fictional hand injury during the game, later sustained a real-life hand injury (she's going to be fine!):

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Students in our class served as members of the press gallery, when they were not busy presenting. Members of the press gallery posed questions in the role of reporters, and evaluated group presentations and chances of survival.

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Students critiqued their collegues' chances of surviving more than a week on their own, based on the plans they presented:

  • Jesse:  52% chance of survival
  • Girl's Weekend Cabin and Ice Warriors:  54% chance of survival
  • Kiki-waka: 56% chance of survival
  • Ice Gladers: 64% chance of survival
  • Ice Crew: 70% chance of survival

Congratulations to The Ice Crew, winner of this year's Ice Storm Survival Competition!

IMG_3329"Ice Storm Survivor" was a fun, interactive team-building activity that helped students learn to cooperate, collaborate and seek consensus, while role playing themselves in a survival situation. Through our sharing of real and imagined ice storm strategies and experiences, students also took away some practical power outage preparedness ideas to share with their families, making "ice storm survivor" a valuable experience on several levels!

Thank you for visiting our class BLOG.  If you have any questions or comments, feel free e-mail me (Margaret Black):  mblack@scdsb.on.ca or to add a comment to this page.

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