Gr. 5 Weather unit - Final project

Students are getting much better identifying cloud types - cirrus, stratus and cumulus. Students have been using homemade cloud viewfinders to identify cloud types.


 Cirrus clouds are thin, wispy clouds often made of ice crystals. They are found extremely high in the atmosphere. Cirrus clouds indicate changes in weather.  Stratus clouds are low-forming clouds covering the horizon in a thick, grey blanket. Precipitation is commonly associated with stratus clouds. Cumulus clouds are the white fluffy clouds seen at mid altitudes. They look like cotton balls! Cumulus clouds usually indicate sunny and hot weather. But, be on the look-out for cumulonimbus clouds. These are storm clouds which often produce heavy rainfall, hail and high winds! 


Students are currently working on researching wild, wacky weather like flash floods, tornados, hurricanes and blizzards. Students will create a Severe weather emergency preparedness brochure with survival tips.


More details to follow.

Cardboard Egg cartons

I am asking Grade 5 students to bring cardboard egg cartons to school a.s.a.p. for a special Art project - decorating the school's showcase at the front of the school.


No Styrofoam egg cartons, please!

Gr. 4/5 Science Sound unit - Musical instruments

The Grade 4/5 students are going to make, bring to school and play a song on their homemade musical instruments on Friday, May 4. I handed out a planning sheet last week so students could brainstorm different musical instruments - percussion, wind or stringed instruments.


The Grade 5 students have the same expectation, but since they have already done this project last year, they are to create a Rock Band with their instruments and lip sync a song for the class.

Gr. 6 Sciencefair - June 12,2018

Last week, I informed Gr. 6 students that St. George would be hosting what I would hope would be the first of many Sciencefairs. It is scheduled for Tuesday, June 12, 2018. I handed out a parent Sciencefair bootklet outlining the details of what a sciencefair is, what student expectations are, the Scientific Process and the schedule of events. I am working on securing a guest judge. 

Grade 4/5 Science: Sound unit

A week or so ago, the Grade 4/5 class began a Gr. 4 Sound unit. For the Grade 4 students, one project is to have students create a homemade musical instrument, bring it to school, explain the Science behind it, and play a short musical song on it.


Since the Grade 5 students have already done this project last year, I changed it slightly so they must create  a musical instrument, bring it to school, explain the science behind it but form a band of different instruments ( ie: Rock Band) to lipsync a song in front of class.


More details to follow.

Gr. 5 Weather Science unit

The Grade 5 class began a Weather science unit last week. We have covered some properties of Air, First Nation's perspective on Air as well as the importance and types of clouds. Your child may come home and ask you to identify 3 main cloud types: cirrus, cumulus and  stratus clouds. Turn the tables on them and ask them to describe each of these 3 types of clouds!!!

Gr. 3 Structures and Materials - Bridge testing

Grade 3 students were broken into partners to build popsicle bridges using only 50 popsicle sticks! Groups had to build a bridge 30 cm long and approximately 1 popsicle stick wide. Groups had to consider strength, attractiveness and design when creating their bridges. Unique designs were created, and we tested the bridges for strength by placing weights on them. Every bridge withstood 3700 grams. But, can the bridges withstand more weight??


I am getting more weights into the school. On Tuesday, April 17 we will try to determine a winner of the strength competition!! Good luck to all teams!

Gr. 6 Flight unit

We have been begun a new Science unit: Principles of Flight. We began the unit by studying the Four Forces of Flight. They are:
1) Lift
2) Drag
3) Weight
4) Thrust


We will be examining these forces as we progress through unit

Gr. 5 Health: Decision Making unit

The grade 5 class began a Health: Decision Making unit a week or so ago. We have been learning about how a decision we make can ripple outward affecting many people in the process. We wrapped up Lesson 1 by examining Real Life Scenarios. Each group was assigned a real life situation to analyze how a decision rippled through a community (starts with the self; then family/friends; then community members)


Homework for Wed. April 18: 3 questions on the Problems with Drugs. 

Gr. 3 Science Structures and Materials Unit Test

There will be a Gr. 3 Science Structures and Materials unit test on Wednesday, March 21/2018 during Fully Alive period as time before Term 2 Reporting Period is running out. I handed out a study guide note to all students today. Students should begin studying now.

Gr. 6 fieldtrip to Saskatoon Light and Power

As part of the Grade 6 Science curriculum, we will be heading on a fieldtrip to Saskatoon Light and Power on Wednesday, April 11/2018 for an electrifying experience! Students will be learning about future careers in the field of electricity; current energy requirements and the future of energy within Saskatoon; hands on electrical safety,etc.


The bus will pick us up at 12:30 p.m. for the presentation from 1:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. We should be back at St. George School by approximately 3:15 p.m. I sent home a permission note yesterday. Parents may join us either on the bus or by meeting us at Saskatoon Light and Power (322 Brand Road).

Rube Goldberg Machines Project

Last Monday, March 12 I sent home a note that outlines the upcoming Rube Goldberg Machine Project. Students were to design, build and then test a machine that contained all six simple machines that work together to complete a task. In this case, the machine must crack a raw egg!!!


Students create the machine at home and then film/video it to share with the rest of the class. Project is due for Tuesday, March 13. Students can either email me the video at rdoll@gscs.ca , bring their device in to the school or put it onto a memory stick.


*I have viewed many machines already. The machines look very creative, and they almost all worked at cracking the eggs!!!!!

Gr. 4/5 and 5 Science Unit test: Forces and Simple Machines

The two grades, Grade 4/5 and 5, will be having an upcoming Forces and Simple Machines unit test. The Grade 4/5 and 5 classes will be granted an extension on the unit test date. The new date for the test for both classes will be on Thursday, March 15.


I handed out a study guide note last week Monday, March 12 with details of the test and sample exam questions.

Gr. 5 Lenten Liturgy

The Gr. 5 class is hosting a Lenten Liturgy this Tuesday, February 27 at 1 p.m. in the gymnasium. All parents, grandparents and guests are welcome to hear our class talk about how we can become the best version of ourselves during the time of Lent as it means " a time of change".

Gr. 5 Heath: Puberty Unit Test

There will be a Health: Puberty Unit Test on Monday, March 5, 2018. I sent a note home today outlining the test as well as topics covered.


Good luck studying!

Gr. 5 Art: Mona Lisa

The Grade 5 class has been learning about one of the most famous pieces of artwork in the world - The Mona Lisa. In order to learn as much as possible about the painting and its famous artist, Leonardo Da Vinci, we embarked on 3 projects:


1) very large cooperative classroom Mona Lisa on the bulletin board
2) written research project using the internet to find out who Mona Lisa was; and to learn about Da Vinci
3) a fun Mona Lisa parody placing just Mona Lisa's face and hands into a student's own 21 st century context.


These projects are now due Monday, February 12, as we are starting our next unit - Printmaking.

Gr. 6 Science: Electricity homework

Today we learned about complete circuits, and how to draw them using electrical symbols. Today's homework that reinforces the ideas of complete circuits:


Pearson 6 Science textbook pg. 111 (1-4). Due Wednesday, Feb. 14

Gr. 3 Science- World Famous Structures models

Grade 3 students are working on a research project on World Famous Structures such as, but not limited to, the following: The Eiffel Tower, London Bridge, Great Pyramids, Gugginheim Museum, Sydney Opera House, Canadian Parliament buildings, First Nation's teepees, Inuit igloos, etc. Once students complete their research, they then begin building a model of their Famous World Structure at home using common, everyday materials:  cardboard, paper, string, glue, paint, spaghetti and even Lego!


Once completed, the students can bring their models to school to be displayed in the hallway. Students will give a small presentation to the class.The due date for completion is Friday, February 2, 2018.  Hopefully this gives students enough time to finish their research, gather construction materials, and build their model. Parents are welcome to help their child in the building process, but please let your child lead you in the project.


Thank you.

Gr. 3 Science update: strengthening shapes

The grade 3 class was learning about how to strengthen shapes - squares, rectangles, octagons, etc. They discovered that if you added a diagonal brace, the shape would be strengthened!!

Gr. 4/5 and 5 science update: Friction experiment

Students from both classes conducted an experiment on friction. They tried to learn the difference between static friction (friction holding an object at rest) and kinetic friction (friction slowing down  moving objects).

Gr. 6 Science update: Static electricity

We conducted 3 experiments on Static Electricity last week. Students handed in one of the three experiments to be graded. Students are currently learning about renewable energy sources. I will be handing back their graded experiments tomorrow.