Wednesday, June 8, 2017
OUTLINE
OUTLINE
- Collect paperwork/ identification for kayak trip
- Go through daily updates on this site to recap the year and create review sheet for social studies 9
- Colours day/ FADS fashion show
- BBQ and Surive-a-thon
- Tomorrow is the deadline to resubmit your science workbooks and any other outstanding course work you would like evaluated
- Science final exam is tomorrow - study study study ***Review guide here
- Social studies final exam will be taking place on our trip ***Review guide here
- Pack for the kayak trip - bring in as much of your gear as possible for tomorrow
Tuesday, June 6, 2017
OUTLINE
OUTLINE
- Sorry for the lack of updates on here lately
- Things we did today - collect kayak trip paperwork, climbing gear prep for tomorrow, social studies presentations, jeopardy review game creation and play, kayak trip prep
- Get kayak trip forms into me asap
- Prepare food and gear for kayak trip - bring in by Friday (except last details and some food)
- Study for science final exam; go over review guide, look at old tests, do practice tests online (see links below), review workbook
- Update science workbook if you want to improve your marks ***Deadline for re-submission is Friday
- Climbing @ Rock Gardens tomorrow ***Bring a backpack with water, lunch, and add your climbing gear in the morning
- Thursday is Colours Day/ Suvrive-a-thon ***We'll be at the school all day
- Friday is your science final exam in the morning and afternoon prep for our trip
Wednesday, May 31
LINKS FOR CHEMISTRY QUIZZES
LINKS FOR REPRODUCTION QUIZZES
LINKS FOR ELECTRICITY QUIZZES
LINKS FOR ASTRONOMY QUIZZES
LINKS FOR CHEMISTRY QUIZZES
LINKS FOR REPRODUCTION QUIZZES
LINKS FOR ELECTRICITY QUIZZES
LINKS FOR ASTRONOMY QUIZZES
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
OUTLINE
OUTLINE
- 7am meet @ PCSS and bike to McIntyre Marsh for bird banding session - great session with Ben and Anna
- Afternoon visit at the core library with Leyla Weston - interactive sandbox, core sample observation, rock samples from the Minto mine, sawing rocks to take home samples, Yukon geology maps and interpretation
- Trip briefing - what to bring tomorrow, support vehicle and food
- Bring gear for trip tomorrow as per equipment list in your trip journals (also emailed out to your parents)
- Bring food that you want to dehydrate for our trip
- Ride tomorrow - won't be full day as we need to be back for the triple A assembly in period 4; we'll be loading up our bikes tomorrow with gear so make sure to bring as much of your equipment as possible (***sleeping bag, sleeping mat, clothing, food, other bits)
- Trip next week - Monday to Friday cycling
Tuesday, May 9, 2017
OUTLINE
OUTLINE
- Cycle to Tanner's house on the Old Alaska Highway (~17km) - alpaca visit (...no live birth of the cria), atlatl throwing, fun play time with disc golf, mini golf, trampolines, pool, fuseball, basketball, a treehouse, a punching bag...just to name a few :)
- A big thank you to Sharon Ulrich for making the day possible for us.
- Start organizing food for your trips as per the planning you did today ***Bring meals/ meal components in this week to dehydrate in our machines; meals must be dehydrated by Thursday to be ready for Friday
- MEET AT 7am TOMORROW MORNING!!! We are going bird banding and visiting the core library to learn more about topography with an interactive sand box
- Thursday - all day ride
- Friday - school day
- Trip next week (Monday to Friday)
Monday, May 8, 2017
OUTLINE
OUTLINE
- Watch and take notes for Canada: The Story of Us "Episode 1 - Worlds Collide" - quiz upon finishing ***Great job everyone!
- Begin working on 5 reasons that the colony of New France fell to the British, leading into an essay on the topic highlighting your best 3 points
- Cycling trip - route overview, equipment, food planning, prepare tents, tune/ equip bikes with racks and panniers
- Climbing - short session on the PCSS wall
- Start organizing food for your trips as per the planning you did today ***Bring meals/ meal components in this week to dehydrate in our machines; meals must be dehydrated by Thursday to be ready for Friday
- All day ride tomorrow out to Tanner's house on the Old Alaska Highway for an alpaca farm tour...and maybe a cria birth!
- Wednesday, May 10 - students need to be at school @ 7am; bird banding @ McIntyre Marsh @ 8am; interactive sandbox session at the Core Library @ 12:30pm ***Mode of transport is cycling
Friday, May 5, 2017
OUTLINE
OUTLINE
- Cycle with our small but mighty crew out to Sara's house - thank you to Sara and Judy for hosting us and providing us with such a great experience with your horses
- Clean bikes and start preparing them for loading with panniers next week
- Final projects for outdoor pursuits - get working on them
- Monday, May 8 - morning classroom session, bicycle repair/ prep in the afternoon, climbing session on the PCSS wall, trip planning
- Tuesday, May 9 - day ride out to Tanner's alpaca farm
- Wednesday, May 10 - students need to be at school @ 7am; bird banding @ McIntyre Marsh @ 8am; interactive sandbox session at the Core Library @ 12:30pm ***Mode of transport is cycling
- Thursday, May 11 - day ride
- Friday, May 12 - classroom academic session and trip prep
Thursday, May 4, 2017
OUTLINE
OUTLINE
- Mitosis/ meiosis review - human chromosomes round two
- Reproduction unit test
- Read pages 245-248 of your text book with the following task in mind: "Provide 5 reasons with detailed explanations for why New France fell to the British"
- Watch and take notes for Canada: The Story of Us "Episode 1 - Worlds Collide" - quiz upon finishing
- Cycle to FH Collins via Range Road, 2 Mile Hill and the Millenium trail - presentation by climber/ adventurer Tim Emmett (congrats to Mason on the swan dive hat win)
- Nothing explicit
- Full day ride tomorrow - come with a lunch, water and appropriate clothing for the weather (...including precipitation and wind - check Environment Canada in the morning) ***BRING EYE PROTECTION AS WE WILL MOSTLY BE ON THE HIGHWAY
- Next Wednesday we are leaving from PCSS for a bird banding session at McIntyre Marsh @ 7am. Start organizing rides, SASElings
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
OUTLINE
OUTLINE
- Cycle to Miles Canyon Road and back up to the highway
- Teaching points along the way - gearing (demo of why to avoid big-big and low-low gears),hand/ elbow positioning, rest/ stretch options for hands, calves, hip flexors, sedges vs. rushes vs. grasses mnemonic tool, sage identification and slope direction, genetic variation and crocus colour
- Correct Chapter 6 test
- Study for your reproduction unit test tomorrow
- We are cycling to FH for a presentation tomorrow and leaving PCSS at 11:30am; bring food, water and appropriate clothing
- Next Wednesday we are leaving from PCSS for a bird banding session at McIntyre Marsh @ 7am. Start organizing rides, SASElings
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
OUTLINE
OUTLINE
- Meiosis review - complete worksheets and take up as a class; text book diagrams to compare mitosis and meiosis
- Cheat sheet upgrade
- Chapter 6 test
- Afternoon cycling session - laps between Mountainview and Whistlebend roundabouts
- Reproduction unit test on Thursday - a few of you could use a lot of review on chapter 6 - meiosis, human development and assisted reproductive technologies
- Full day cycling session tomorrow - Miles Canyon road and as many other hills as we can manage :)
Friday, April 28, 2017
OUTLINE
OUTLINE
- Bike repair and cleaning (chains, rear derailleur) and maintenance/ repair lists
- Cycling reminders - how to move through intersections, hands on handlebars at all times, wheels on the ground at all times, single file line with space between each bike
- Route - Down Mountainview Drive to Range Road, climb up Hamilton Blvd. to Ecole Emilie Tremblay (Dorothy meets SASElings!), descend down Robert Service Way, join Millenium trail past Robert Service Campground, lunch @ Bert Law park, continue around Millenium trail, up Mountainview, right at lights up Range Road and into Whistlebend, return to PCSS via Whistlebend Way ***We rode just over 30km today. Great work everyone!
- Study for your Reproduction unit test on Tuesday; Study Guide is here
- Unit test question hint #1: list the advantages and disadvantages of both sexual and asexual reproduction
- Next week's activities: Monday afternoon climbing at the PCSS wall, Tuesday afternoon cycling, Wednesday full day cycling, Thursday afternoon cycling, Friday full day cycling
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
OUTLINE
OUTLINE
- Morning session - Jeanne in as a sub; textbook questions for social studies; Vanished in the Mists video; voyageur questions in the computer lab - see notes for today; open book quiz on video notes
- Afternoon session - hazard assessment for cycling; cycling basics notes and discussion; first ride of the season down and up the Mountainview hill
- Science homework checks and corrections tomorrow - workbooks 6.2 and 6.3, text book questions #1-20
- Cycling tomorrow afternoon - bring appropriate clothing (***NOTE THE RAIN, SNOW AND HIGH WINDS IN THE FORECAST!!!) including gloves, a thin hat/ buff/ headband to fit under your helmet, warm clothing, shell jacket and pants; bring water (2L recommended), snacks and a backpack (if your bike is outfitted with a rack, you can use panniers)
- Cycling Friday all day - you will need at least 2L of water, snacks, a lunch and appropriate clothing
Friday, April 21, 2017
COMPUTER LAB ASSIGNMENT
COMPUTER LAB ASSIGNMENT
Thursday, April 20, 2017
OUTLINE
OUTLINE
- Review for Chapter 4 quiz
- Chapter 4 quiz
- Mitosis review with simulation from yesterday
- Meiosis simulation and identification of key differences between mitosis and meiosis (two stages, DNA only replicates before meiosis 1, meiosis 1 involves homologous chromosomes lining up and crossing over of DNA, 4 daughter cells made at the end with half the amount of chromosomes, makes sex cells only (egg and sperm)
- Workbook completion - chapters 5 and 6
- Leftover social studies project presentations
- The mating game...activity outside to demonstrate some of the challenges of finding a mate
- 4th period fitness room session
- Videos of the day: mitosis with the amoeba sisters, meiosis vs. mitosis rap, meiosis explained, sex vs. no sex, types of asexual reproduction, mating among birds of paradise
- Complete sections 5.2 and 6.1 of your workbook for tomorrow
- Bring your bikes AND HELMETS! tomorrow
- We are at school tomorrow and doing some cycling near the school during 4th period
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
OUTLINE
OUTLINE
- Correct science workbooks sections 4.1 and 4.2
- Mitosis activities - using ourselves as chromosomes, modelling mitosis with yarn
- Complete section 5.1 of the workbook and correct
- Independently complete activity on page 152 re: cell division; discuss as a class
- Asexual reproduction - brief discussion about types; mouse cloning interactive site
- Computer lab - complete practice quizzes for sections 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 on the BC Science 9 website
- Interpretive walk connecting our units of study in science - Earth's axis tilt demonstration, discussion about seeds, examples of asexual and sexual reproduction among plants, crocus drawings, spring poem writing
- Science chapter 4 quiz tomorrow
- Bring your bikes for Friday
- Bring your brains again...onto meiosis tomorrow
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- Long weekend check-in
- Review from Thursday - DNA structure, dominant/ recessive inheritance, fraternal vs. identical twins
- Construct DNA with toothpicks and marshmallows
- Complete workbook section 4.1
- Protein formation - discussion and board example (transcription and translation, codons, amino acids, introduction to the effects of mutations) and video
- Class discussion - what are the implications of genetic modification?
- Human karyotypes and chromosomal mutations website
- DNA mutations discussion - 3 types - positive/ negative/ neutral with examples; 3 mechanisms - addition, deletion, substitution; complete activity on page 137; mutation video; mutagens - examples and their existence in the cosmetic industry
- Complete workbook section 4.2
- Cell cycle - animation, checkpoints, DNA replication video, connection to cancer
- Complete sections 4.1 and 4.2 of the workbook - due tomorrow; we'll be marking it together
- Final projects for outdoor pursuits...get crackin'
- We'll spend about an hour outside tomorrow on an interpretive walk - come dressed for the weather
- We will start our cycling session on Friday afternoon - bring your bikes in any day this week
- We are going to be working hard on social studies and science curriculum over the next few weeks...bring your brains and your best focused selves
- Chapter 4 quiz on Thursday in science
Thursday, April 13, 2017
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- Morning: making fish nets with Paddy and Wayne Jim ***McDade gone for last 45 minutes
- First nations project presentations
- Extracting DNA from strawberries lab
- No explicit homework for the weekend - enjoy time with family and friends
- Starting cycling unit next week
- We will start dehydrating food for our upcoming trips next week
- Final projects for outdoor pursuits - don't wait until the last minute because the next couple of months are going to fly by
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- Morning: making fish nets with Paddy and Wayne Jim
- Introduction to reproduction unit in science - framing activity outside looking for seeds (included a swan sighting!); review parts of a cell (animal vs. plants; review your text book and go to cellsalive.com if you need a refresher; video on the scale of the universe by powers of 10; DNA and its secret code!!!, exploring questions about twins (fraternal vs. identical) and heredity (dominant vs. recessive genes - chart showing probability of inheriting different phenotypes and genotypes); structure of DNA worksheet/ activity with paper cut-outs
- First Nations project presentations tomorrow - see your rubric for component requirements
- Third session with Paddy and Wayne tomorrow - we are shooting for 5/5 in engagement/ focus as well as mastery of skills learned for everyone...almost there!
- Our cycling unit starts next week - bring me pictures of your bicycle if you want to use your own ***professional tune-up is required if you would like to do so
Tuesday, April 11`, 2017
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- Morning: making fish nets with Paddy and Wayne Jim
- Computer lab session - first nations project
- Climbing wall session
- First Nations project (presentations on Thursday) - check your rubric for the multiple components (research, written report, bibliography, visual piece, presentation)
- Submit essays from yesterday if not handed in
- Second session with Paddy and Wayne tomorrow - we are shooting for 5/5 in engagement/ focus as well as mastery of skills learned
- Our cycling unit starts next week - bring me pictures of your bicycle if you want to use your own ***professional tune-up is required if you would like to do so
Monday, April 10, 2017
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- ***Fish net making session with Paddy and Wayne Jim has been postponed until tomorrow
- Trip and gear room clean-up
- Knotty knots - overhand, double overhand, figure of 8, fishermans, double fishermans, overhand on a bight, figure of 8 on a bight, double figure of 8 follow-through and using it to tie into a climbing harness
- Settlers of Catan game play (regular game, cooperative play - likened to Tecumseh's vision to unify First Nations of North America prior to the War of 1812)
- Essay question - compare and contrast our Settlers of Catan game play to the colonization of North America by Europeans; brainstorm ideas as a class using a similarities/ differences table
- Rock climbing with Mr. Mac's PE class
- Finish essay question from above
- First Nations project (report and visual piece/ presentation are due on Thursday) - we have the computer lab booked tomorrow to finish up details
- Bring in any SASE gear you still have from our Fish Lake trip last week
- We will have an elder visit with Paddy Jim and his son Wayne for the next three mornings and we will learn how to make fish nets
- Our bike trip is coming up in a month and we will start training next week. If you have a bike that you would like to use (mountain bike with/ without front suspension or sturdy road bike) and think is appropriate for the trip, bring it in or bring me pictures ***You require a professional inspection to use a personal bike on our trip
March 16, 2017
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- Embrace your inner mole day - dig out quinzhees ***Fantastic construction work over the past two days everyone!
- Work through lesson plans for grade 4/5 visits
- Afternoon sessions with the grade 4/5s from Jack Hulland - everyone present demonstrated EXCEPTIONAL leadership; an impressive end to the first month and a half of our SASE semester
- Interactive timelines for early Canadian history - due April 3 (the day after March break)
- First nations research project - finish your research (minimum 5 sources) over the break so you can start writing your report on April 3rd
- Prepare for our spring ski trip...more details below
- Happy March break everyone - wishing everyone a restful and safe couple of weeks
- ***TRIP UPDATE: we will be running a spring ski trip from April 4-6. Students need to prepare food (as per last trip's planning) and equipment and bring in most/ all gear for April 3rd (i.e. the Monday following March break). I will email a revised parent letter and equipment list shortly but the itinerary will be much the same as our trip planned for this week except that we will be ski touring - sleeping in tents and possibly breaking camp each morning. Sunglasses are mandatory.
- If you haven't already booked a parent/ student/ teacher interview and would like to meet, please contact me via email
March 15, 2017
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- Quinzhee building in the baseball field - snow piling, snow compacting, porcupining
- Develop a 1-2 minute lesson on some aspect of quinzhees, snow science or winter camping/ winter skills for a primary school class. Have your lesson written out as a script.
- We are around the school tomorrow - digging our out quinzhees, possibly hosting a primary school class and tying up some academic ends
- March break starts Friday
- I will be around for parent-teacher-student interviews in the SASE portable tomorrow after school/ evening, Friday all day and early next week if needed. Please send me a message if you want to book a time.
March 10, 2017
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- Chemistry test
- Astronomy videos: space/ time, black holes
- Peoples of the Plateau (read pp. 202-205; answer questions 1 and 3) and Iroquois assignment (read pp. 193-197; answer questions #1-4)
- Introduce first nations unit project
- Computer lab for the afternoon to begin research project
- Chapters 10, 11 and 12 of the science workbook due Monday
- Iroquois and Plaueau questions due Monday; get other first nations unit worksheets in as well if you haven't already
- Open book (notes only) quiz on regional geography on Monday - make sure your worksheets and map are complete
- Ski/ quinzhee next Tuesday to Thursday; get parent permission forms in by Monday (***Parents see the documents tab if you need additional copies of forms); bring the majority of your gear in for Monday
March 9, 2017
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- Weather check-in and fish/ fishing introduction (reproduction, Yukon species, fishing regs, hooks)
- Ice fishing event at Scout Lake hosted by Yukon Conservation Officers - no fish were caught which was surprising given that everyone as so still and silent...
- Impromptu visit with Tanner's alpacas - thank you Tanner and Sharon
- Unit 1 (chemistry) test tomorrow - Chapter 1, 2 and 3 ***Study guide
- Chapters 10, 11 and 12 of your science workbook due Monday
- Get your 4 first nations worksheet packages in to me
- Planning/ prep for next week's trip (including purchasing/ preparing food) should be well underway
- Ski/ quinzhee trip next week - info and forms to go home tomorrow
- Parent/ student/ teacher interviews will be happening next week. I sent out an email - please respond with a couple of time slots that work for you.
March 8, 2017
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- Review Ch 3 quiz
- 10 question mark booster - chemical formulas and names
- Immunizations - work on science workbooks while waiting
- First nations presentations and videos - Northwest Coast and Plains
- Videos: Tsimshian Nation dancing, In the Land of the War Canoes, tipi construction; The Plains Poeople and the Sundance
- Finish Interstellar
- Science: Unit 1 test on Friday (review guide); chapters 10, 11 and 12 in your workbook due Monday
- Social studies: 4 first nations notes packages in to me ASAP (Inuit, Subarctic, NW Coast, Plains)
- ODPU: Food planning with your groups should be done and shopping/ prep should start for next week's trip; touch up your final project plans and hand them in; ice fishing day tomorrow @ Scout Lake
- Ice fishing day tomorrow @ Scout Lake (event put on by Environment Yukon conservation officers) ***Wear/ bring lots of warm layers, lunch, snacks, a hot drink, water, fishing gear if you have it/ want to bring it (not necessary) and a camp chair if you have it
- Ski trip next week (Tues-Thurs) - parent information will be going home tomorrow
March 7, 2017
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- Check-in re: yesterday
- Housekeeping - P/T/S interviews will be the week of our trip, compounds quiz mark booster tomorrow, chemistry unit test Friday, regional geography test Friday (open notes), Thursday ice fishing @ Scout Lake, outing today cancelled, course work to hand back
- BIRDS! Review what we have studied and quiz
- Astronomy introduction - communal brainstorm and questions
- Workbook assignment - Chapters 10, 11 and 12 due Monday
- Movie - Interstellar (cook group and academic check-ins during film)
- 10 question mark boosting quiz for Chapter 3 - naming compounds and writing formulas ***Re-do section 2.3 of your workbook for extra practice; text book questions are also good
- Work on completing chapters 10, 11 and 12 of your science workbook ***Due Monday
- Some people have outstanding or poorly done regional geography assignments ***Complete the booklet so you can use it during your test on Friday
- Classroom day tomorrow
- Thursday outing - ice fishing on Scout Lake hosted by the conservation officers
March 6, 2017
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- McDade away - Jeanne Burke is teaching
- Ski trip planning - overview, equipment, risk management, food planning, how to build a quinzhee note
- Legends of the Peoples of the Subarctic
- Computer lab period - Peoples of the Subarctic worksheet (geographic distribution of different groups, interesting facts about different groups, 2 language groups)
- Climbing session on the bouldering wall
- ***As per the note I left on the board, disruptive behaviour will result in detentions with me over lunch hours and after school this week
- First nations packages will be collected tomorrow for evalution after we make additions
- Final project planning sheets will be collected tomorrow
- Come prepared to be outside for all or part of tomorrow. It will be too cold to cross-country ski on the Chadburn trails and it may be too cold to go outside at all. Pack a lunch and a hot beverage in case things change.
- I should have dates set for parent-student-teacher interviews tomorrow and will send out an email to parents
March 3, 2017
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- Quizzes - upgrade your avi quiz from yesterday; Canada: A People's History - How the World Began
- Take up avi quiz together
- The Human factor of avalanches with Stephan Poirier - certificate distribution
- Outdoor Pursuits final project - explain and start planning on the planning guide
- First Nations of Canada note packages - map of first peoples of Canada, the Inuit, the People of the Plains, the Northwest Peoples
- Video: A Dozen More Turns
- Fill out First Nations of Canada note packages with information from the text book to the best of your abilities; we will add to them next week
- Complete your planning guide for your outdoor pursuits final project
- We have potential outings next Tuesday and Thursday - weather pending
- Parent-student-teacher interviews may need to take place the week of the 13th-17th due to some scheduling conflicts on my end. I will email everyone when I have dates confirmed.
March 2, 2017
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- Quiz on Avalanche theory session from yesterday
- Avalanche training session field day @ Fish Lake (Skyline Trail) with Stephan Poirier
- Group searches with transceivers, probes and shovels
- Hike along Skyline Trail
- Snow pit/ compression test demonstration and partner snow pit/ compression tests/ journalling of snow crystals
- Bring your notes for your open book quiz tomorrow on the Canada: A People's History video that we watched
- Classroom day tomorrow
March 1, 2017
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- Birds! Kestrel, Merlin, Gyrfalcon and Peregrine Falcon added to our list of calls
- Canada: A People's History Video - How the World Began; take notes as you watch that can be used for the accompanying quiz
- Organize ski gear for tomorrow (skis, boots, poles, skins)
- Risk template for avalanche training session tomorrow - complete independently and discuss
- Afternoon avalanche theory session with Stephan Poirier
- Preprare for White Pass field day tomorrow (backpack with gear for the day and a backpack/ duffel for emergency overnight gear)
- For the couple of folks who haven't given me their forms for tomorrow, make sure you bring them with you
- Parent/ student/ teacher interviews will take place next week as we are away on a ski trip the week they are scheduled for the rest of the school. I'll email out a link for signing up.
February 28, 2017
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- McDade away for the morning
- Avalanche awareness DVD (Throttle Decisions) - "When Real Life Incidents Hit Close to Home," "Mountain Snowpack" and "Companion Rescue"
- Chapter 6 from "Backcountry Avalanche Awareness" book worksheet
- Greenwich Meridian note
- Yukon Tectonics worksheet in the computer lab
- Afternoon housekeeping - insurance/ Thursday trip form/ gear reminder
- Mitten check
- Tell them from me survey
- Climbing session - unpack new shoes, put up more holds, tag game, try new routes from last week's climbing competition
- TRIP FORM, INSURANCE INFORMATION AND GEAR IN FOR THURSDAY'S WHITE PASS OUTING
- Finish your pualuks if they aren't done
- Avalanche training session tomorrow afternoon with Stephan Poirier - come prepared to be outside for part of the session
- Pack for Thursday's outing in the White Pass - reference the equipment list
February 23, 2017
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- Science lab demonstrations - sodium and lithium in water; complete predict, explain, observe, explain charts
- Chapter 3 review
- Chapter 3 test (sew, read up on avalanches if finished early)
- GPS basics - playing with the devices to explore features, making waypoints, navigating to waypoints using maps, trip computer and compass
- GPS scavenger hunt - search for the 11 clues marked at waypoints in the forest around PCSS
- Take up scavenger hunt
- Input a waypoint (Laughton Glacier cabin) and determine distance to it from the SASE portable
- Hand in any outstanding assignments for the DEADline
- Finish your pualuks this weekend
- Review the White Pass avalanche training information package with your parents and have them sign the permission form/ fill out extended insurance information (provider, phone number and policy number)
- Friday and Monday are holidays for you
- McDade away Tuesday morning; bouldering session Tuesday afternoon
- Wednesday afternoon classroom session for avalanche skills training
- Thursday all-day session in the White Pass for avalanche skills training (return time estimated to be 6:30pm)
- Next overnight trip is scheduled for March 14th-16th
- Check the SASE 9 Documents tab for an updated SASE calendar and electronic copies of trip forms
February 22, 2017
OUTLINE
OUTLINE
- Climbing in North America assignment in the computer lab
- Chemistry cheat sheets - copy the compound naming and formula naming steps/ examples and fill in the back side with anything you want to use for your reference during quizzes/ tests (with the exception of the final exam)
- Intermountain region - Badwater ultramarathon video; discussion of landscape features and the rainshadow effect
- Visual/ text collage of a first nations group in Canada - computer lab activity
- Bouldering
- DEADline for course work is tomorrow
- Chapter 3 chemistry quiz tomorrow - practice compound naming/ formula writing and study!
- Dress to be outside tomorrow afternoon for our GPS eco cache
- Friday and Monday are holidays for you
February 21, 2017
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- Mount McIntyre ski day - great conditions, 13km/ 15km on Copper, Lower Valley, Jeff Link, Selwyn's and Coyote trails; interpretive/ rest stops @ Harvey's "hut," the Logan burn, lunch @ Molloy's Meadow; growth mindset vs. fixed mindset in the sunshine before leaving the open meadow; view of Goldenhorn/ Grey Mountain and discussion of origins/ composition - igneous and volcanic island arc (Goldenhorn) vs. sedimentary and ocean crust
- DEADline for course work submission is Thursday
- Made up science test tomorrow (Chapter 1/2) - STUDY!
- Finish your pualuks (mittens) for Tuesday
- Bouldering tomorrow afternoon
- Eco-cache activity Thursday afternoon in the forest around the school
- Friday and Monday are no school days for SASE students
- Next Thursday we are going to the White Pass as part of our avalanche training session - parent letters and equipments lists will be sent home soon ***Parent pick-up is required; anticipated arrival time @ PCSS is 6:30pm
February 20, 2017
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- BIRDS! - fill out the first few pages on life and taxonomy together; update family and call charts with 9 birds we have learned about to date; introduce 6 new birds - listen to calls and update charts (boreal chickadee, black-billed magpie, spruce grouse, ruffed grouse, hoary redpoll; bohemian waxwing); 5 question quiz on calls
- ***Review bird calls at your leisure by downloading them under "SASE 9 documents"
- Course selection for next year
- Review Chapter 1/2 chemistry quiz ***Mark boosting opportunity Wednesday @ lunch
- Chapter 3.3 on chemical reactions (key terms - chemical change, physical change, exothermic, endothermic, reactants, products); complete workbook section and mark as a class
- Pualuks - last class session ***Due Tuesday, February 28
- DEADline for homework submissions is changed to Thursday - no submissions on outstanding material past this point
- Work on pualuks
- Prepare a day pack for tomorrow's cross-country ski day @ Mount McIntyre
- Tues. Feb. 21: cross-country ski @ Mount Mac (full day)
- Wed. Feb. 22: afternoon bouldering session @ PCSS
- Thurs. Feb. 23: afternoon GPS eco cache/ scavenger hunt
- Fri. Feb. 24: Heritage Day - no school PCSS
- Mon. Feb. 25: Comp Day - no school SASE 9
- Tues. Mar. 14- Thurs. Mar. 16 - new winter ski trip dates (postponed from Mar. 1-3)
February 17, 2017
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- First aid session with the LEAD class - lessons on hypothermia, frostbite, and drowning; scenarios on hypothermia and spine/ femur immobilization
- Debrief yesterday's behaviour issues - some of you owe Jeanne apology letters...some of these letters need to be signed by your parents
- Correct first aid quizzes - certificates will be handed out on Monday
- Compounds - practice, practice, practice
- Pualuks - continue work on our mittens
- DEADline for submitting any course work is Wednesday - I will not accept overdue items past that point
- Our next trip has been rescheduled to the week before March break - more details and a revised schedule to follow
- Next week's outings - Tuesday all day and Thursday/ Friday afternoon
February 16, 2017
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- McDade away
- First aid session with the LEAD class in the morning
- Computer lab period for plate tectonics research project
- Science test - chapter 1/2
- Are the continents drifting map due tomorrow
- Get in outstanding assignments
- First aid again tomorrow morning - be prepared to spend the majority of your time outside
February 15, 2017
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- Correct chapter 3.2 together in the science workbook
- Formative quiz on naming compounds
- 8 geographic regions of North America - communal notes and gallery
- Climbing areas of North America across the 8 regions (rockclimbing.com - Yukon areas, Red Rock Canyon near Las Vegas) - research project will follow
- Discussion on basic types of climbing - bouldering (Ashima Shiraishi video), sport climbing, traditional climbing, ice climbing, alpine climbing...free soloing (Alex Honnold video)
- Pualuks - attaching the 3 pieces at 3 points and sew them together
- Bouldering session on the school wall - shoe fitting, overview of wall areas, routes, spotting, downclimbing, traversing, footwork (crossovers, edging, smearing, switching feet), dynos
- Work period during period 4 department meeting - mittens, study for science quiz tomorrow using the study guide provided, finish outstanding social studies assignments, correct and resubmit science workbooks for evaluation
- Study for chapter 1/2 quiz tomorrow in science
- Outstanding work in ASAP
- First aid session tomorrow with the LEAD class. Come prepared to be outside for the majority of the morning tomorrow and Friday.
February 14, 2017
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- Grade 8 assembly - thank you to the speakers who volunteered to say a few words about SASE!
- Grade 9 assembly - experiential options for next year (ACES, CHAOS, MAD, LEAD) and course selection overview/ requirements for grade 10
- Science lesson - naming and writing compounds with polyatomic ions; practice problems on page 91; finish section 3.2 of the workbook
- Social studies lesson - The Arctic region and the people in it; Inuktitut lesson (ulaakut, uluukut, unusakut, qujanamiik, illali...excuse my spelling); Google Maps view of Qikiqtarjuaq; Inuit artifacts from Ms. McDade's time in Qikiqtarjuaq - seal skin kammiks, ulu, sun shields, pualuks; sewing our own pualuks - cut out patterns, cut out fleece mitten pieces
- Finish Section 3.2 of the workbook - we will mark it tomorrow
- Regional geography worksheets due tomorrow
- Climate graphs due tomorrow (see yesterday's post for details)
- Bouldering session tomorrow afternoon - wear comfortable clothing
- First aid sessions on Thursday and Friday mornings with the LEAD class
February 13, 2017
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- Weekend check-in and week ahead overview
- Bird sounds - create table with call descriptions for 5 birds from last (black capped chickadee, great horned owl, gray jay, downy woodpecker, bald eagle) week and 4 new ones (junco, northern flicker, pine grosbeak, raven)
- Climate graphs - do example together for Whitehorse, do two graphs by hand with data provided
- Naming compounds and formulas part 2 (multivalent metals) - review by completing #4 on page 95; complete practice problems on pages 89 and 90
- Skate skiing session @ Mount McIntyre - wax removal from skis, double poling demonstration, one skate on both feet using the tracks, weight transfer without poles, weight transfer with poles, diagonal skate with glide to go uphill
- Regional geography worksheets due Wednesday
- Climate graphs due Wednesday
- Chapter 1/2 quiz Wednesday in science
- Many of your have outstanding bits - trip journals, science workbooks, regional geography maps...get them in ASAP
- Mini-assemblies and course selection introduction tomorrow
- Wednesday bouldering session
- Thursday/ Friday morning first aid sessions
- We willl be wrapping up our chemistry and regional geography units this week - unit tests next week
February 12, 2017 update!!!
- Skate skiing session tomorrow afternoon - come dressed for the weather (sun + wind + snow + maybe rain = layers including a shell) ***We'll leave the school for Mount Mac after lunch
Friday, February 10
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- The moon - formation, phases (waxing, waning, gibbous, crescent, quarter, full, new), tide connection, eclipse
- Sense maps - weeks 2 and 3 (incorporate all of your classmates' names, include 5 visual depictions, provide SPECIFIC details, 5 sections - sight, tough, sound, smell, taste
- Trip summaries - complete and add to your trip journals for the survival trip
- Words of the wise sheet
- Hand in science workbooks and trip journals
- Mount Sima round 2 - bunny hill check-in, small group sessions with Jeanne and Ms. McDade for more specific instruction, last bunny hill run to strut your tele stuff for a skill improvement evaluation
- Clean up poles and skis
- Lunar eclipse diagram - draw what's happening with the Earth, moon and sun tonight during the full moon on a sheet of paper for a homework check on Monday
- Regional geography worksheets due Tuesday - you will have some time on Monday to work on this
- Hand in sense maps on Monday
- If you forgot your journals and science workbooks at home, please hand them in on Monday so I can update your marks
- Potential cross-country ski day at Chadburn on Monday if the weather forecast improves (i.e. temperatures decrease) ***Check back on this page Sunday evening for an update
- Mini-assembly for Grade 9's about course selections next year next Tuesday during period 2 in the cafeteria
- First aid session with the LEAD students next Thursday and Friday morning
Thursday, February 9
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- Comp day
Tuesday, February 7 and Wednesday, February 8
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- Survival trip!
- What a trip!!! It was a huge success. Be proud of your accomplishments, everyone. Not many people have the mental strength to survive a night in the winter in -20 conditions but the whole class did it in calm, "cool" and collected style
- Sleep, sleep, sleep, eat, hydrate, sleep, sleep some more
- Come prepared for a day at Mount Sima on Friday
- Survival trip journals due on Friday
- Science workbooks handed in on Friday (all assigned sections plus page 46 of section 3.2)
- Regional geography assignments will be due early next week
- We are having a comp day tomorrow - no school for SASE students. Enjoy your well deserved rest.
- Sima on Friday, weather pending
Monday, February 6
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- Weekend check-in
- Chemistry workbook correction (sections 2.2, 2.3 and 3.1)
- Ionic compound demo and lesson (naming negative ions, writing names from formulas and formulas from names)
- Text book practice problems on pgs 86 and 87
- Workbook section 3.2 - page 46 only
- Bird calls - black capped chickadee, grey jay, eagle, great horned owl, downy woodpecker
- Regional geography workbook - introduce regions, work through sections Appalachian region together, interpreting climate graphs, calculating the range for precipitation and temperature from climate graph data
- Individual check-ins for survival trip
- Survival trip tomorrow!!! ***Come prepared with all of your last-minute preparations (food, headlamps, snowpants...)
- We will finish learning about compounds on Thursday and I will assign the remainder of section 3.2 then
- Regional geography workbook will be due early next week
- PCSS day on Thursday - gear clean-up, journals, science lab session, chemistry cont'd, regional geography cont'd
- Sima day on Friday
Friday, February 3
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- McDade away this morning - Jeanne in as a sub
- Topographic maps - general features, scale, distance, contour lines
- Work session - science workbook and text book assignment, social studies map
- Scientist research interviews
- Survival trip prep - parent letters distributed; gear demos (pulks, poles, carabiners, bungie cords, saws, shovels), sleeping bag checks, partner assignment; sled/ snowshoe test drive in the forest behind the school
- Science work from Wednesday (see below for details) ***Due Monday
- North America map from yesterday (see below for details) ***Due Monday
- Bring any outstanding gear for your trip by Monday and email me with any concerns
- Contact your partner and sort out your supper situation
- We are around the classroom on Monday sorting out last minute trip details, learning more about survival and exploring some topics in social studies.
- I have scheduled a first aid course with the LEAD program and a few activities are being shuffled around as a result. I will update the calendar this weekend. Check the "SASE 9 Documents" tab for the updated document.
Thursday, February 2
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- McDade away this morning - Jeanne in as a sub
- Why I want to be in SASE paragraph
- Computer lab research - work with a partner and select a scientist; prepare an interview to present to the class that highlights your scientist's contributions to our understanding of the atom ***Presentations tomorrow
- North America physical geography mapping activity ***Due Monday (map outlines distributed in class)
- Afternoon snowshoe session on the East ridge of Fish Lake - engaged our cardiovascular systems, saw some spectacular views, learned about temperature inversions, animal tracks (snowshoe hare, lynx, red backed vole), treeline, alpine terrain, elevation, using the sun to gauge direction...and much more! Another day in paradise.
- Due Monday - science homework from yesterday, map of North America
- Review this equipment list and pack a duffel bag with your gear to bring to school tomorrow. We will be going through gear, loading sleds and going on a "test drive" tomorrow in the afternoon with snowshoes in the forest surrounding PCSS
- Overnight survival trip planned for next week (Tuesday/ Wednesday) - PD day has been cancelled for next Friday so we will have regular classes on Thursday and Friday next week
Wednesday, February 1
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- Recap yesterday with a communal mind map (things we learned, things we sensed, highlights, low lights)
- Schedule update - Thursday afternoon Fish Lake snowshoe, Friday gear test from PCSS, Tuesday/ Wednesday trip, Thursday/ Friday classes
- Hand back labs (general feedback - improve titles & axis labels, complete all questions and lab sections fully, conclusion refers to hypothesis, chemical vs. physical change) and sense maps (more detail in the future) ***Hand in any course work for reassessment if you want to improve your marks
- Collectively mark science work (text book questions, workbooks)
- Chemical party video
- Chemical compound lecture - covalent and ionic
- Assignment: Read pp 79-80; answer Q's #1-5 on pg 80; read pg 82; answer Q's #1-3 on pg 82; complete workbook sections 2.2, 2.2, 3.1 ***Due Monday
- Complete page 34 of the workbook together
- Trip prep - Q&A period and risk assessment worksheet
- Outdoor lean-to challenge XY vs. XX chromosome holders
- Introduction to outdoor food planning
- Science assignment: Read pp 79-80 (text book); answer Q's #1-5 on pg 80 (text book); read pg 82 (text book); answer Q's #1-3 on pg 82 (text book); complete workbook sections 2.2, 2.2, 3.1 ***Due Monday
- Bring appropriate clothing/ gear in a backpack to hike for the afternoon on snowshoes (pack lunch, snacks, water, hot drink, toque, neck tube/ face warmer, mitts/ gloves, snow pants, winter jacket, layers, SASE kit)
- Thursday afternoon activity - snowshoeing @ Fish Lake ***See note above
- Bring the gear that you plan to take on the overnight trip next week for Friday's practice session (we will be loading sleds and doing a snowshoe tour from PCSS) ***Gear lists will be available tomorrow
- Overnight survival trip planned for next week (Tuesday/ Wednesday) - PD day has been cancelled for next Friday so we will have regular classes on Thursday and Friday next week
Tuesday, January 31
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- Ski wax review; remove warm wax from skis using scrapers/ chemical remover and re-wax with colder wax
- Gear review and check-in
- Mount Lorne ski day - 7.5km ski tour along the Lorne Mountain Community Centre trails; one fire re-warming stop @ km 2; individual survival fire making sessions @ km 4.5 (3 fire requirements - fuel, oxygen, ignition; importance of tinder); wildlife tracks - snowshoe hare, Southern Lakes caribou, moose; winter wise tips - eat, drink, pee, move; biology connection - sexual reproduction of pinus contortis
- Complete the following questions from page 71 of your science text book on lined paper: #2, 3, 11-16 ***Due Wednesday
- We will explore lean-to shelters tomorrow in the afternoon. Come prepared to be outside for a bit.
- Thursday afternoon activity - snowshoeing @ Fish Lake ***To be confirmed tomorrow following weather check
- Overnight survival trip planned for next week (Tuesday/ Wednesday) - preparation starts tomorrow in class; PD day has been cancelled for next Friday so we will have regular classes on Thursday and Friday next week
Monday, January 30
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- Housekeeping - skin/ gear clean up from Friday
- Weekly summative activity - 5 senses map for last week
- Chemistry next steps - Bohr diagrams, periodic table patterns, valence shells/ electrons, ions
- Computer lab - bar graphs for the Trangia lab and ethnicity research/ discussion about human immigration to North America (see student notes for links to lab data)
- Survival kit creation (SASE kit)
- Discuss tomorrow's plan (weather, gear)
- Knot tying - overhand on a bight, double figure of 8 on a bight, alpine butterfly
- Complete the following questions from page 71 of your science text book on lined paper: #2, 3, 11-16 ***Due Wednesday
- Add any elements to your SASE kit from home for tomorrow's outing ***Kit assessment will take place on Monday
- Tomorrow's plan: cross-country ski day at Mount Lorne (10km); bring a backpack, water, a hot drink in a thermos, lunch/ snacks, appropriate layered clothing, extra warm layer(s), 2x mittens/ gloves, face protection (neck tube, scarf), toque, SASE kit
- We have transportation booked for Thursday, not Wednesday; activity will depend on weather
Friday, January 27
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- Weather check-in using weather.gc.ca and mountsima.com/mountain/weather
- Telemark ski video
- Organize equipment and clothing for Mount Sima day trip
- Ski session at Mount Sima - side stepping up and down a slope, snowplow stop, snowplow turns, telemark turns, ski tour with skins, chairlift run to practice skills ***Many students demonstrated great leadership throughout the day...loading/ unloading the bus, helping children get their skis on, helping classmates get their skis on, lending gear to peers, doing a sweep at the end of the day and so much more!
- None! It probably wont happen again so enjoy :)
- We are making survival kits Monday afternoon so no outdoor gear is necessary
- Outings next week - Tuesday (all day - Mount Lorne ski), Wednesday (half day - TBD) and Friday (half day - gear testing for Survival Trip on the 7th/8th)
Thursday, January 26
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- Check-in/ review from yesterday
- Telemark ski fitting
- Winter-wise skits
- Individual presentations (share a story or aspects of your life that make you unique)
- Afternoon ski session @ Mt. McIntyre (waxing for warmer temperatures, sidestepping up hills, descending hills safely, snowplow stops, snowplow turns, herringbone up hills, one foot snowplow stops in tracks, one foot scooter balance drills, diagonal stride practice and tour)
- None if science work from yesterday is complete
- Telemark ski day @ Mt. Sima ***Bring a backpack with extra layers, mittens and/ or gloves, a toque, neck warmer, water, warm drink in a thermos, snacks/ lunch
Wednesday, January 25
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- Hand in permission forms
- Review from yesterday
- Complete analysis and conclusion sections of science lab; create a bar graph for data collected
- Atomic theory lesson (atom diagram, subatomic table chart, periodic table introduction)
- Work session - pp. 17-19, 22-25 of the science workbook
- Cross-country ski session with Jeannie in the afternoon (waxing, gear intro, maintenance, basic skills)
- Winter wise skits
- Science lab questions and workbook pages 17-19, 22-25 due tomorrow
- Prepare a 1-minute presentation about yourself to share with the class (props/ pictures encouraged)
- Morning - telemark ski fitting, chemistry continued
- Afternoon - skiing @ Mount McIntyre ***Bring a pack lunch as we are leaving at 11:30am
Tuesday, January 24
OUTLINE:
OUTLINE:
- Icebreakers and intros - Ms. McDade, Montana Prysnuk (morning EA), students
- Expectations and housekeeping (attendance and punctuality, respect, maturity, leadership, safety, cel phones, lockers)
- Risk = consequence x probability calculations
- Snowshoe games in the school area (...and a bit of tree ecology)
- Text book sign-out
- Chemistry introduction (WHMIS, MSDS of Methyl Hydrate, states of matter, the Kinetic Molecular Theory)
- Trangia stove lab ***Up to and including observations
- Workbook assignment (pp 6-13)
- Complete workbook pp 6-13
- Return signed consent/ disclosure forms
- Morning - chemistry in the classroom (complete lab from yesterday, review homework, atomic theory; winter skill skits
- Afternoon - cross-country skiing @ PCSS