End O' November

Hi team!

Here's a link to today's prezi "Looking for a Place to Happen":  "Discovery" Really?

And below the last part of that questionnaire on "teaching controversial issues". And a note from the researcher: 

So I figured I would like to have some of your students do the second part of the survey.
I'm sending you the whole one again, but perhaps encourage them to do the 'Likert scale' section.

Thanks,
Justin Potestio

Please answer the following questions using the Likert-type scale (a brief reason why is optional)

Scale:

Strongly Disagree         Disagree          Neutral          Agree          Strongly Agree

1)    No issue should be automatically excluded from the social studies classroom

2)    Students need to study controversial issues

3)    Middle grades and high school social studies textbooks deal adequately with controversial issues

4)    Students really don’t want to deal with conflict and controversy

5)    The stability of our nation depends on consensus among citizens about its most important issues

6)    It is important to teach students how to deal with conflict and controversy

7)    It is only by examining all sides of an issue that a person can develop rational and deeply held convictions

8)    Dealing with controversial issues confuses and frustrates students

9)    I feel competent as a teacher to teach about controversial issues

10) Teachers should develop a systematic method for teaching about controversial issues

11) Teachers should protect themselves and not teach about an issue that is controversial

12) School systems should have a formal policy supporting the teaching of controversial issues

Friday, November 27th, 2015

Learning Commons time!  This is the last day for your genetic research. See Monday's blog post for the assignment descriptions again.  Project is due on Wednesday.

Thursday, November 26th, 2015

We are so appreciative to Judith for giving us some insight into the connections between plants and people (ethnobotany) and for teaching us a few words in W̱SÁNEĆ, the language of the SENĆOŦEN people.  And as always, a huge thank you to Kristen for organizing all our our learnings at Haliburton Farms (http://haliburtonfarm.org/) and for making us organic tea today!  HÍSW̱ḴE 

In speaking about the using the W̱SÁNEĆ language, Judith reiterates "It is not important whether we get it right, it is just important to try."  HÍSW̱ḴE



IGS 9 PEEPS!  Do not forget to submit your Journal 2.0 to Mr. Neufeld tomorrow AND complete the hoodie form (LINK HERE).

November 25th - Mr. Neville on Fish Stewardship

Hi Team - 
Just want to say thanks for being such a great audience for Mr. Neville today. Great questions. 

I've asked him for his powerpoint so I can share it and will do so as soon as I can. Please make sure that you follow up with your journal 2.0 write up. Sorry for those who tried to post to Folioz. We've contacted Prof. Hopper to see what can be done. 

SUNNY but cold (1 degree) tomorrow for our journey to the Haliburton Restoration Project. Wear boots as it will be mucky still from the last big storm and DRESS WARMLY. Short block as well, so let's be ready to go. 

N

Mr. Neville came in to discuss his experience and knowledge about fish hatcheries.

Please reflect in your Journal 2.0 about THREE things that you learned from Mr. Neville.  Please submit (either by paper or electronically on your (e)co-valuation project) FIVE reflections from your Journal 2.0 to Mr. Neufeld on Friday.

Tuesday, November 24th

Want an IGS 9 hoodie?  

Ok.  We get it.  You all will look way better in them.  Get your parents to complete this formhttp://goo.gl/forms/RMTwxxNo8D.  Please make pay by exact cash or cheque made out to SD 63.

Today in the Learning Commons, Mrs. Wadsworth will lead us on test writing skills using our take home Biology Midway tests.  We will be working in pre-arranged groups (find group lists here).

If we finish early, please continue with your genetics research projects.

Monday, Nov 23, 2015

Today we will be in the Learning Commons researching our genetic disorders assignment.  I have taken the parameters already given to you in the assignment description and put it into a table so you can see what will be used to assess you (see assessment table here).  Additionally, here is the sign up sheet again to view what disorders are still available to research.  Partners need to sign up with me today by verbally telling me or sending me an email (mpaas@sd63.bc.ca).

If you need help with developing a resources list, Mrs. Wadsworth can guide us to some LC resources to use.

You will post your research project to your (e)co-valuation site by Wednesday, December 2nd.

WAIT!!!  We can't forget about our latest Claremont Do-Right project.... Toys for Teens (link here for more information).

Friday, November 20th

Friday's Journal 2.0 Question: What does it mean to be a citizen of Canada? 

After a quick follow up on the above question (thanks for your recording Abby), we began a "Twitter-journey" of the Rails to Relevance trip. This included a Chek 6 interview conducted from an Amtrak train as it wound its way through the Adirondack Mountains. It was great to be able to share the trip with you all. 

Ms. Paas is back Monday and we're meeting in the LC to begin project work. 

Thursday, Nov 19th, 2015

Info about genetic research project:

When you and your partner have decided what disease you want to research, please let me know so that I may record it on this document.  The purple disorders with student names have already been claimed by that student(s).

Since we have already chatted about mating and fertilization yesterday, today we will talk about the last stage of sexual reproduction, development (link to notes here).  Additionally, you will be discussing one type of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) in small groups with the purpose of sharing out to an even smaller group later on.  

Wednesday, Nov 18th, 2015

Welcome back Mr. Neufeld!  We can't wait to here about your #Rails2Relevance adventures.

Today we will again be meeting with UVic Teacher Candidates to set up or add to our (e)co-valuation sites.

If you finish early, you can start your genetic disorder research project (information can be found here)

Tuesday, Nov 17th, 2015

By examining the male and female reproductive structures of a lily (via dissection), we were able to correctly arrive at the conclusion that most flowering plants go through internal fertilization.

We then finished our sexual reproduction notes (see notes here) and then briefly chatted about our genetic research assignment.  More info to come tomorrow.

Monday, Nov 15th, 2015

Sorry for the late posts!  Just before students handed in their meiosis flipbooks, I asked everyone to find these structures on any page of their flipbook and label them ONCE:

• nuclear membrane
• nucleolus
• centrioles
• spindle fibers
• centromere
• diploid (2n)
• haploid (n)
• cross over
• independent assortment
• homologous chromosomes
• sister chromatids
• sperm or egg cells

We then began completing our sexual reproduction notes (find notes here)

November 10th/11th - Talking 'bout New York

Sunset overwhelms the Statue of Liberty ... from the Brooklyn Bridge

It's hard to describe the energy that seems palpable in this town. There is something about it that I haven't felt anywhere else. We arrived after dinner time to our hotel and walked straight to Times Square which was a block away. So many lights. It was almost culture shock. 

The next day we honoured remembrance day by attending the American "Veteran's Day" parade. From there we walked down to the 9/11 Memorial, also very powerful with folks visiting from around the world. 

Wall Street was our next stop which had been closed down to traffic for the holiday and in their place: street vendors, artisans and a band playing James Brown Tunes (see "Get up offa that Thing"). 

The next morning, the big moment arrived. I can honestly say it was one of the most powerful moments in the history of the Institute for Global Solutions. There I was, walking through the General Assembly will IGS 11 students, it was almost surreal. (I'm sorry I have no pictures as there was actually a meeting going on. Photos were banned.) SUCH an amazing visit. 

"How can you possibly follow that up?" you ask. Rockefeller Centre, down 5th Avenue, some New York city deep dish square pizza and, just for fun, how about skating in Central Park: 

November 9th ... R2RIII Winnipeg.

Trying to catch everyone up on everything that has happened is a herculean task. SO adventures. So many amazing experiences, places and people but I want you to have the chance to learn with us. Here are some highlights: 

The "microphone" 

Mr Sparanese's cousin got a PhD in the Winnipeg Legislature because, as it turns out, no one knew that the building had been built by "Masons" (look it up) based on King Solomon's Tomb from ancient times. It is based on the "Hermetic Code" involving a complicated and ancient set of mathematical principles. The stairs where our 11's are sitting are perfect sets of 13, 13 and 13 and the entire room is a prefect square 66'6" ... designed to keep evil from entering the inner sanctum. There are sphinx's, an art of the covenant and even a sounding board that takes changes your voice and takes you thoughts straight to those who hold power. (See below.) Creepy but amazing. 

Dr. Frank Albo

That afternoon we walked to a place called the "Forks" on our way to The Canadian Human Rights museum where our specially trained Anishinaabe guides took us on a tour of this remarkable building. 

November 7th (from Rails 2 Relevance)

Hey team - Just wanted to share a couple of the shots from our big trip so far. 

Picture 1/ Selfie after just getting on the train in Vancouver

Picture 2/ A beautiful moving shot as morning arrives in the Rockie Mountains. 

and Picture 3/ is one of our students, Lauren Montgomery-Stinson, peers pensively out of the window across a beautiful lake outside of Jasper, Alberta. 

Can't wait until you can all join us on this trip yourselves.  

Thursday, Nov 5th

Farm Time and again, we had beautiful weather!  Purnima showed us different methods on how to scientifically survey land to look for different species.  Although we didn't get too far into our surveys before we were awestruck by the Western Redback Salamanders, Plethodon vehiculum,

Reference: https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnclare/8966847276

and the Wandering Salamander, Aneides vagrans, 

Reference: https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_horned_jew_lizard/4415286111

students had found!  

Half of the group was also with Elmarie farming, but since I wasn't with that group, I am not sure what they did :)  I will update this after a debrief tomorrow.  Thanks for the rad day!

Wednesday, Nov 4th

Hope you all have a great day at a job site!  Please remember that your Biology Midway Check-in is due tomorrow.

Tuesday, November 3rd

Here come the French!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByJL-qfK56MmSnBFVTc2cGpnaVU/view?usp=sharing

Ms. Paas also handed out the Biology Midway Check-ins (like a test) to be completed at home and returned on Thursday.

Monday, November 2nd

After a quick discussion on asexual reproduction (from the homework), we continued on with our meiosis notes (see notes here) in order to understand how haploid cells are produced.  We then completed a sort to organize our thoughts around the steps in meiosis.  Here is a video to help you understand further.

For a sneak peek of our week, please see the calendar on the right.

Reminder: for those who did pick up the take home tests today, they will be handed out tomorrow and are due on Thursday.