Greetings from grade 9! April promises to be another busy month with lots going on in the classrooms. In social studies, the students are continuing to learn about empire building and the lasting effects of coloniza- tion. The students have been making connections between our society and the colonial era in North America. In particular, we have been closely examining the colonial activities of the Spanish. A highlight from this unit so far has been our Christopher Columbus debate. In the art classes, the students are working on murals to express a thought provoking message or a symbol of their interests. The murals look great so far! The health students have been evaluating public health food policies, while the career ed. students are researching post- secondary schooling options. In math, the students are studying scale factor.
Category Archives: Grade 9
Grade 9 News
Lots of learning this month in grade 9. Our grade nine social studies class is in the midst of an inquiry study on Empire building. The art classes are working on a multimedia project by combining different art forms into one composition. The health section has been investigating the different dimensions of wellness and the pillars of healthy decision making. Mrs. Bain’s ELA class is beginning a study of the novel “Theories of Relativity”. Mr. Kirk’s ELA class is learning about human rights. In math, the students have started solving equations.
Grade 9 News
The busyness of grade 9 continues into November. In Social Studies, we just wrapped up our study of the ancient world, and now the students are learning about the societies of the middle ages. The Career class is starting to learn about budgeting, by playing the online game “The Real Game”. Our Health section is wrapping up a unit on addictions by making a drug-free lifestyle brochure. The Phys. Ed. classes are starting basketball and a winter game unit. The art classes are doing a student generated project to address an issue of con- cern. Science 9 has put a wrap on their study of atoms and elements. In the ELA classes, the students are starting a unit exploring the themes of love, loyalty, and relationships.
Grade 9 News
What a great start to the year! The students have been busy and the year is going by so fast. The grade 9 students are busy studying interesting topics and learning lots. In social studies the students continue to learn about the ancient world and the rise of societies. Our art classes to continue to learn about the influence visual art has on raising awareness on issues that affect our world. We are working our way toward a visual art composition to showcase what we have learned about art. In ELA the students are working on a novel study of Theories of Relativity. The Home Ec. students are working on a giving back project for all the staff at the school.
Grade 9 News
May. It’s May. We can hardly believe how fast this year has gone. They say time flies when you’re learning and having fun. We believe. In ELA, we are finally reading Romeo and Juliet. It’s a classic. It’s got so many themes and life lessons. Friar Lawrence believes that inside each of us lies the potential to do great evil or great good. What we become is determined by the little choices we make every day.
With that in mind, in Social Studies, we’ve been looking at some of history’s most evil people and history’s heroes. Fascinating. Math class has us learning and drawing fractals. What is a fractal? Ask us. Ms. Prakash is showing us the excitement of electricity, static and otherwise. Pretty interesting. In Health/ Careers we’ve been looking at the new Young Workers Readiness Certificate Course. Any young person who wants a job in Saskatchewan, now has to pass the test and receive the certificate before they can start a job. As the students pass, their certificate will be printed off and they can take it home and add it to their portfolio. In art class we are creating personal flags for our camping trip.
Speaking of the camping trip, it is only weeks away. Needless to say, there is a buzz about the room as this event grows ever closer. Please keep bringing the forms and money in as quickly as you can. Thanks.
Grade 9 News
Grade Nine continues to roll on and we continue learning, living and loving. We’ll give you a quick rundown of what we’ve been up to this month. In ELA, we are doing independent book talks. Basically, we read a book of our choice and present it to our classmates. Luckily there are so many good books out there. In Social Studies, we are exploring World Religions and their role in our world’s past, present and future. It’s fascinating. We’ve looked at First Nations Art and Artists and now we are simply replicating examples of some of our favorites. Of course, it goes without saying that our Hat Festival preparations are about to get underway. Health class continues to challenge us as we are having honest and candid discussions about what it’s like to be a teenager in 2014. It’s not easy, but apparently it never has been. The Reproduction system is the name of the game in Science class and Math class lives up to its name by serving us with the latest in math and math related ideas like polynomial equations. Various Games in Phys Ed, cooking in Home Ec, and small engines in IA is filling in the rest. All good stuff.
The annual Grade 9 camping trip is scheduled for June 4,5 and 6, 2014. We’ll be starting our in-class preparations next month and sending information home. Parents, we need lots of parent help, so please see what you can do about coming on the trip with us. The more the merrier.
Grade 9 News
Well, according to research, February is everyone’s least favorite month. By everyone, I mean Marshall, and by research I mean asking Marshall, a few minutes ago, what his least favorite month is. I don’t think Marshall is alone, however. It’s cold and dark and the snow piles are only outmatched by the homework piles. Thankfully we have our class and our daily adventures to keep us going until the lionly lambs of March arrive. School is certainly keeping us busy. In ELA, we have started a SELF-REFLECTION ESSAY about events that changed our lives. In Social Studies we are designing, manufacturing and marketing a new chocolate bar. Our plan has to involve importing our goods from other countries, comparing raw material, transportation and labour costs and conditions all over the world. We than have to determine how best to market this new product to the North American candy consumer. In Health class, we are looking at some of the issues that are affecting teenagers in 2014 and comparing them to the issues of teenagers in decades gone by. Fascinating. We’re also closely following the Winter Olympics as often as we can. Everyone is welcome to swing by and check out our pixel art Mario World bulletin board. It’s a work in progress, but what a work! The mighty, majestic meitosis process is the topic of our science classes of late and we’re solving polynomials in Math class. Got a problem? We can help. Well, stay warm, stay safe and feel free to ask us how we are doing.
Grade 9 News
The New Year is upon us and we can hardly imagine a more exciting start. Frigid temperatures, wind storms and icy roads all make our daily commute to school an adventure. When we get here though, it’s always worth it. Where else can a kid learn about polynomials, human reproduction and child soldiers all in one day? The Human Development Index (HDI) is the standard by which countries are considered developed or developing. We’re learning about this in Social Studies and we’re also learning that Canada is a pretty terrific place to live. It’s not perfect, but by golly, it’s
the best out there. In Careers/Health we’ve started playing the stock market. Wild fun. One hundred thousand dollars (pretend money) is what we start with and we’ll see where it goes. If you have any hot stock tips, please pass them on.
Grade 9 News
My Grandmother used to say, “Life is pretty sweet when all of your dreams are coming true. Not the scary dreams though”. I was never really sure what she meant by that, but I think, right now, I’m beginning to understand. This Grade 9 bunch is an amazing group and together we are learning and experiencing some big things. For instance, in Math we continue to divide fractions, while Chemistry has been the order of the day in Science class. If that isn’t enough, Miss Fransoo and Mr. Kirk have us exploring Norse mythology in ELA. Mr. Woods has us making screen printing on T-shirts. It’s very fun.
Mr. Graham has started a home business selling his own brand of canned soup. He calls it Big Joe’s Soup Fantastico. Great name, but sales have been very slow to say the least. So, in Health class we’re helping him understand how to market a product to teenagers. We’re putting together some targeted advertising to help him move some product and make a little money. (Just pretending though)
In Social Studies, we somehow got onto the topic of Holodomor. If you don’t know what that is, you’re not alone. Most people have no idea about it. That is a shame. We plan to get the word out by the end of the month. Everybody needs to know. Please ask any of us about it. We will be conducting an Holodomor awareness project at the end of the month. Pay attention.
205 days until the canoe trip. The Grade 9’s
Grade 9 News
Someone once said that grade nine was the greatest year of all the school years, and we are beginning to understand what they meant. We love it. We love every minute of it. We get to do so many amazing things and learn so much interesting stuff. We were honored to have Charlotte and Grant bring us all an amazing meal on Monday the 7th. Thank you so much.
On Thursday, October 10th, we had the privilege of attending Student Forum. We heard an inspirational talk from Spencer West and were motivated to get involved in making our world a better place for all. We had an opportunity to talk about ways that we can enhance our classroom experience and take full advantage of the educational opportunities that are available to us as Canadians.
For instance, every day we get to go to Mr. Herman’s math class and learn about numbers. RATIOS!! We thought the Exponents unit was terrific and it looks this whole ratios unit is going to blow it away. In ELA, we are reading a book called The Sunflower. Ask us about it. It’s an incredible story with a really challenging message.
On November 6th, we get to experience a Grade 9 rite of passage, as we participate in the Canada wide “Take Your Kid to Work Day” We will be going to work with our parents, or with somebody else getting a taste of what our teachers refer to as “the real world”. Stay tuned for permission forms.
In Social we have delved deep into our personal histories and learned a great deal about our country, our families and ourselves. We’ve learned about the history of humans, Neanderthal, cro-magnon and other amazing discoveries. There is no shortage of questions and discussion items. This is learning at its best.
There is so much more we could tell you, but we’re out of time. If you want to know more, please track us down and ask us. Oh yes, one more thing….235 days until the canoe trip!