Survival in Antarctica - "Do we really need a billiard table on an iceberg?"

The grade 7s have started reading Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World, the true story of Ernest Shackleton's expedition with Endurance with 27 other crew members who set out to be the first ones to cross Antarctica from one side to the other. The novel portrays a perilous journey that involves an almost unbelievable story through stormy seas and hardships that one can only imagine. 

As we begin our unit, the students were broken into groups and given a list of 20 items. All of these items were taken on the Endurance by Shackleton and his crew. Once their ship was stuck in ice and sinking to the bottom of the ocean, the men had to decide what items to take for survival and which ones to leave behind. It was up to the students to decide which items were the most important and which ones they could part ways with. They needed to list their items from 1 (being the most important) to 20 (being the least important). It was interesting to see and hear what rationale and explanations the students came up with to make their lists. While some felt that taking a rifle and ammunition was the most imperative for survival, others felt that having matches and lumber would help far more than anything else. 

This activity took an entire 40 minute class. The students had time to decide as a group which items they needed and then as a class we discussed which groups made the best list by going over the top 10 and eliminating lists that we thought needed work or were missing key items. 

I cannot wait to get started on this novel. Along with reading the book, the students will be viewing the documentary about the Endurance as well. Keep checking out the blog for updates! 

Divergent

The grade 9 class has been reading the novel Divergent. As we get further and further into the story, our ideas and thoughts about a dystopian world continue to change as we reflect upon and dissect this novel. I have never seen a group of students so involved in a book before. The conversations we have are not only related to the characters in the story and how they're dealing with change and certain life-altering situations, but also how the students would feel if they were placed in such scenarios as the ones our protagonist, Tris, deals with.

The students placed themselves into reading groups where they read together, work on chapter booklets, and analyze everything from character motivations to relationships. Along with our readings, we have our Kahoot quizzes (find one of our quizzes at https://play.kahoot.it/#/k/f00d8162-24c5-473f-81f4-9e3f8c39e07a). These quizzes are a fun way for the students to remember moments in the novel and experience an interactive comprehension test. 

When we are done reading the novel, the students will be placing themselves in their own groups of 5 and creating a faction. After that, we will have a choosing ceremony of our own (much like the one in the novel - minus the blood, of course)! Stay tuned for updates! 

All Kinds of Genius!

The grade 7 classes have been working on their Genius Hour projects. Every Friday the students get 80 minutes to research a guiding question of their choice. While some students are researching world history, others have decided to go the citizenship route. Topics range from the evolution of hockey, to fundraising for the local SPCA, to creating their own poetry portfolio! 

I'm more than thrilled to see what these kids come up with! They are all truly geniuses in their own right. With each Genius Hour class that passes, the more and more involved they are and willing to share their information and ideas with their peers. It's great to see such hard work and enthusiasm!