Week 2

Grade 6/7

Week 2 Lessons

LITERACY

Writing in Role - Writing From a Character’s Point of View

To learn that different characters have different points of view and different perspectives. 

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Reflecting on Text and Writing a Book Review

To think more deeply about what we are reading, and write a review for an audience.

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Activities by Topic

These activities may take a few days or a week to complete.  They can be varied or modified to suit your environment.

LITERACY

Reading and Writing

Reading:

Ensure you have a text for reading (something you chose and that you enjoy)—read at least 30 minutes per day Choose a short “just-right” story to read aloud to someone else in your home—think about reading with expression and fluency (smoothness). You could also record yourself reading aloud and listen back. Check out “The Mysteries of Harris Burdick” by Chris Van Allsburg online (http://tiny.cc/harrisbur).
  • Create a table like the one below, or write in point form.
  • Choose four of the pictures to take notes about with each of these headings
  1. Name of Picture
  2. What I Observe [what objects/people do you see in the image?]
  3. What I Wonder [what questions do you have about who, what, where, when, why, how?]
  4. What I Infer [what do you think might be going on?]).

Writing:

  • Keep a reflective journal – focus on feelings, experiences, and observations
    (the “inside story”); write in it 3x per week
  • Write numbered instructions for a simple task that you know off by heart (i.e., making and sandwich or brushing your teeth). Include written and visual instructions. Could someone else follow this easily? If you have computer and internet access, check out the Josh Darnit Exact Instructions Challenge on YouTube – PB&J Classroom Version http://tiny.cc/85sqlz
  • Choose one set of the Harris Burdick notes, and put them into full sentences to make a paragraph.
  • Write a short story about one of the Harris Burdick images (could be the same one you wrote about, or a different one!)

Reader's Theatre:

  • choose a book that you want to recreate in a script
  • identify speaking parts (including narrators) and break down the story into dialogue
  • what stage directions are needed for the actors?
  • If you have enough people in your home, you can read your script together, otherwise hang onto it for later!

NUMERACY

Multiplication Snap

  • To sharpen recall of multiplication facts!
  • Split a deck of cards between two players (use cards A-10, but for a challenge you can use J [11], Q [12], and/or K [13 or some other value]).
  • Players do not look at their cards.
  • Each player draws their top card and slaps it down at the same time.
  • The player who says the product first wins that round and collects the cards – ex, Player A draws 5, and Player B draws 6. Player A says, “30,” first and collects both cards.
  • Whomever has the most cards at the end of the game, wins!
Fibonacci Sequence A long time ago, a man named Fibonacci discovered a very interesting number pattern, which is now called the “Fibonacci Sequence.” It goes like this: Can you work out how to make that pattern? Try to work out the first 25 numbers in the sequence. If you have access to a computer, research Fibonacci—where and when did he live? Who was he and what did he do? How does this shell relate? If you have grid paper at home (or can print some out), try drawing the spiral created with this sequence. Consider the direction of the spiral—is it clockwise or counterclockwise? Does it work if it goes the opposite way?
Patterns & Products (From youcubed.org)
  1. Complete the first seven entries of the 142,857 table using technology (creating a spreadsheet or use a calculator).
  2. What do you notice about the first seven table entries?
  3. Fill in the next five rows without using technology.
  4. Use technology to check your entries. Use technology to find the decimal equivalents of 1/7, 2/7, 3/7,…
  5. Write about your observations.

If you have access to a computer, try Prodigy Math:

https://www.prodigygame.com/pages/parents/
Parents will need to sign up for a free account. This site provides opportunities to think, play with math ideas and support extensions. Select Number Sense or Measurement.
*NOTE: it is a good idea to limit screen time to 15 minutes.

MAKER TIME / ADST

Follow the Leader:

  • You will need Player A and Player B

  • Player A creates a simple design (a doodle, a small Lego creation, a pattern with blocks, etc)—this design must be kept HIDDEN from Player B!!

  • Player A verbally describes their design, while Player B follows the instructions and tries to recreate it (*make sure there is enough materials for Player B to use, too!)

  • Both Players reveal their designs—were they the same? Similar? Way off?

  • Switch roles and play again!

Structures:

Using materials around your home, how wide a bridge span can you construct? Build your span connecting two chairs or other pieces of furniture. Can you put weight on the bridge? What kinds of strategies did you use to strengthen and support your bridge?

Extension Activity

Tynker:

  • If you already have an account with your class, you can continue working on your assigned courses.
  • If you do not have a class account, Tynker is currently offering free access if you sign up at home.  https://www.Tynker.com

Mosaics:

A mosaic is a picture or design made from many little pieces of any material assembled together. They are often made of ceramic or glass shards. Mosaics date back to ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, Greece, and Rome. You might even say it was the first “pixel art!”

Using what you have at home (magazines work great for this!), create a mosaic. If using magazines, make small pieces of “tile” by ripping up a page (the rough edges look great). Choose what pages to use by looking at the colours. Sort your ripped pieces into colour piles for your palette. Glue pieces down onto blank paper to create your picture.

Extension Activity

Zentangle: A Zentangle is a miniature abstract work of art created by a collection of patterns. It is typically done on a 3 ½” x 3 ½” paper “tile” using a pencil and a black pen. The small size allows for a work of art that can be completed in a relatively short period of time. The “zen” part of it is that it can be a very relaxing and meditative experience. The size of the artwork actually can be any size and color can be added as well. You can use any size paper you like, but I do think a square is a good idea. Use a black pen that has a fine tip. Directions:
  1. Using a pencil, put a small dot in the each of the corners of your paper.
  2. Connect the dots with a line, not necessarily a straight one though.
  3. Using the pencil, sort of “scribble” in some lines, going this way and that, until you have created several spaces on the paper.
  4. Using your black pen, create a different pattern in each one of the spaces that you have drawn with your pencil.
  5. If you like, do some shading with a pencil.
  6. Zentanglers create a signature of sorts, most use initials, and put these in the bottom right hand corner of their Zentangle. Give your work a title and date on the back.

Extension Activity

Scientific Sketching Scientists are expert observers. Long ago before people could easily take photos of things, scientists would have to carefully sketch out their observations. Choose something to observe closely and sketch it—pay close attention to shape and texture. If you are outside, look for a tree beginning to bud, or a flower, or some bark. Even a blade of grass! Remember to look with your eyes only, and handle any living thing with great care—please do not pick or cut anything! Include any notes or wonders you have while sketching, and try to include more than one angle of your specimen.