Lesson 88

 

Students read their personal novels for 10 minutes to start the block.

We went over Quiz #2.

We watched video sections for Men of Cloth and Holy War notes.

Have a great weekend!

Lesson 87

 We started today's block by going over Practice Quiz #1.

Students received Practice Quiz #2 and worked on that for 15+ minutes - - Those who finished early read their personal novels.

We then watched the segment of the video for "The Plague" notes - discussed the section - talked about witches and cats, and listened to this classic tune  by They Might be Giants.

Lesson 86

 

 Today we went over yesterday's "Extra Practice" to open the class.

Students then did their first practice quiz - if they had extra time, they read their personal novels. If you did not get the quiz done, please have it done before tomorrow's class.

We then watched two more sections of the Dark Ages doc and students took notes. 

Lesson 85

 

Students read for 10 minutes, before continuing grammar work.

We went over the review page from yesterday together, and then they received an "Extra Practice" sheet (due tomorrow).

Once that was finished, we watched "The Waning Empire" section of our current documentary, and created notes for that section together.

Lesson 84

 Today involved a LOT of catch up!

We did pages 35-39 of their grammar work (make sure you know what a subordinate clause is!) Page 39 is homework. Please note, as discussed in class, the second pre-filled example on page 37 is incorrectly done.

We did a gallery walk of the sketchnote work from this week, and students evaluated the posters that best illustrated the the key ideas and questions of the Rise and Fall of Rome. 

We began the transition from 476CE (the absolute end of the Empire) into the "Dark Ages."

The overarching question for the history section of this unit is: Does the Early Middle Ages deserve the name the Dark Ages?

We began watching a documentary on this time period - Students took notes on "The Sacking of Rome."

 

Lesson 83 - Break

 

We paused today's lesson for a DANCE SHOW!

Next week, we move from 476CE (the absolute end of the Empire) into the "Dark Ages."

A special round of applause for those in today's dance show - amazing! 

Lesson 82

 The entirety of today's block was dedicated to an in-class sketchnote to illustrate "The Rise and Fall of Rome" (or The Roman Empire), and answer the questions: Why did Rome become so successful? Why did Rome fall?

There is no homework for tomorrow - HOWEVER, students who are  finding it challenging to identify the subjects and verbs in sentences should absolutely be reviewing grammar work at home, perhaps in tutorial, and in the Writing Lab as needed.

Lesson 81

 

 We are rocketing forward with skills - ideas - timelines!

Students read their personal novels at the beginning of class.

We did pages 33 &34 of the grammar package (phrases and clauses)

Students received their textbook notes (some did not do a good job of those notes - they will need to add to them tonight).

We looked at sketchnoting techniques, and we discussed how sketchnotes differ from mind maps. 

Students began a sketchnote on "The Rise and Fall of Rome" and will have tomorrow's block to power through this first run-through with these techniques (we will use these pieces to learn techniques, and see what works - then apply them on a subsequent project).

BRING COLOURS!

 

Lesson 80

 

 We covered a lot of territory today!

Students read their novels, completed and reviewed the latest grammar package, reviewed and handed in their textbook questions from last class, and began taking notes on a video on Rome.

 ***NB - Please note, this video was originally produced in Spanish, and is dubbed into English using AI. Furthermore, AI has clearly played a central role in much of the creative process. While we are using this piece to offer a short overview of material (30 minutes for the rise and fall of the empire) I will not be using it in the future.

Homework: Finish note taking for the video. Humanities A got to 15:14 and Humanities B got to 18:04

Lesson 79

 

 Students set their mind maps out at the start of the block, and were able to do a gallery walk. Everyone worked hard on these pieces - lots of different strengths were obvious across the work - Well done!

We shifted modes entirely and began work with simple and compound sentences. students should have pages 26-30 of the package complete for Monday (really, just the last exercise may have a few left to do - we did the rest in class). Students also viewed "Conjunction Junction" just for kicks :)

Students went over our new unit - we are looking at the overarching question: If Rome was the most powerful civilization in ancient times, why did it fall?

Students received a package on the Roman Empire - there are questions on pages 3 and 4 of the package that relate to pages 9-12 of the text. Anyone who needed more time to complete the questions (all of Humanities A) took pictures of the pages so they can do the questions at home. 

Students are absolutely welcome to take the weekend off and just pop in to complete these pieces during Monday's tutorial.

Congratulations on all the hard work!

Lesson 78

 

 Today was the last day for  mind map work! Many students made use of tutorial and the Writing Lab - many still have some work to do for tomorrow. 

Mind Maps for the Abrahamic Religions are due at the start of tomorrow's class.

 Students are reminded to bring their novels tomorrow - we will read, start some grammar work, and then begin to look at Ancient Rome.

Lesson 77

 

Students had the  block to work on their projects - it is imperative that they have the necessary materials ready for tomorrow's class (many were still in need of rulers, erasers, and colours today!)

***Many students took their mind maps to the Writing Lab for an extra boos today - it will also be open to mind map work tomorrow at lunch.

Tomorrow's class is the last block to work on these - they are due AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS ON FRIDAY.

Lesson 76

 Students had a chat about this visual in relation to current events (we also reviewed the terms atheist, polytheism, and monotheism):

Students had the remainder of the block to work on their projects - it is imperative that they have the necessary materials ready for tomorrow's class (many were in need of rulers, erasers, and colours today!)

Lesson 75

Students handed in their documentary viewing sheets at the start of today's class. 

After a review of their assignment, and a look at a number of examples, students had the block to work. This project is to be complete by the beginning of Friday's class. 

Students can take their work home (as long as they bring it back daily), can work on the pieces during tutorials, and will have three more full blocks to continue this very challenging piece.

Lesson 73/74

We opened the class by going over the textbook questions from yesterday's class.

Students worked on their Islam Review sheets (just as they did the last two faiths).

Students received their mind maps, and began thinking about the major mind map assignment for this unit - they received a rubric and some rough ideas, but will see examples and categories again on Monday.

HOMEWORK:

• Documentary sheets due Monday
• Islam Review sheets due Monday 
• If you  have not transferred the holiday/ritual/symbol information from photos onto the pages of the first packages, or there is more to add to those packages, DO SO OVER THE WEEKEND - this is catch up and should be long finished.
  
• Be sure to bring in colours and a poster paper for your mind map work.

Lesson 72

 Students read their personal novels today - most were prepared, but a number of students did not come with a novel.

We finished the documentary from the previous block - question sets should be finished, using only the documentary itself, for Monday's class.

We read the "Story of Mohammad," then watched a brief summary of the prophet's life (which is also about the founding of Islam).

Students received a question set to work on, along with two textbook pages - These questions should be complete for tomorrow's class.

Reminders:

• You are going to need a large, white poster paper (can be bought for $1.25 in the library)
• Bring colours and poster paper to class for Monday!
  

 

Pause

 Students had a grade-wide assembly on financial literacy today. We will continue our work tomorrow.

Reminders:

• Documentary questions are due tomorrow
• You are going to need a large, white poster paper (can be bought for $2 in the library)
• Bring colours to class for Monday!
  

Lesson 71

We began the class by going over the "Christianity Review" from last class.

Students received a handout to accompany a documentary called 14 & Muslim. We are starting our exploration of the Islamic faith by hearing from some Muslim students in Ontario.

Anyone who missed today's class should watch the documentary up to the 33 minute mark, and can pick up the sheet during tutorial (or ask a friend to pick up an extra one to take home for them today).

Lesson 70

 

 Today involved a check-in, reading for Humanities B, and the completion of the "Christianity Review" package. 

Students should have completed 1/3 parts of the holidays/rituals/symbols section (each member of a trio is responsible for one of the pieces), and all of the remaining parts of the sheet before tomorrow's class. 

Make sure you bring a book!

Thoughts for today:

• A North African Roman emperor built the walls around London
• The Romans changed our calendar to make the year start January 1st, rather than when spring is sprung, for administrative reasons