This week our class is being introduced to food webs, shortly we will be looking at food webs specifically in relation to Antarctica (our current unit of work).
Bill Nye - The Science Guy has a good introduction to foodwebs here (sorry, it wont let me embed) I'd definitely watch this first, it's lots of fun and very well made - first part runs for 8 minutes.
The second part has a good explanation of food webs and pyramids at about 7:50.
In part three there is a good summary that begins at around 2:20.
What is a food web
The Gould League has a simple online Antarctica food web activity here and another one here.
Some other cool food web games can be found here - this one is a little more difficult!
A food-web game not requiring a computer can be found here.
A fun music video about the food web - I dare you to try and sing along!
The Lyrics may look a little mis-spelled here but if you hit the 'view in full screen' button it all comes up perfectly:
Food Web - Lyrics
And a very funny clip about how we are all connected:
For Teachers: Here's a lesson plan about Antarctic Food Webs. There also appears to be alot of science-related Antarctica content on this website!
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Poetry: The Ballad
Ballad - For Students
Undoubtedly the most famous Australian ballad it 'The Man from Snowy River' by Banjo Paterson.
From: http://www.underdown.org/poetry-formats.htm
The ballad stanza is also one of the most popular forms of poetry for children. A ballad stanza is a group of four lines. That group is called a stanza. The ballad stanza has a rhyme at the end of line number two and line number four.
The Bee Poem
A poem is a busy bee
Buzzing in your head.
His hive is full of hidden thoughts
Waiting to be said.
His honey comes from your ideas
That he makes into rhyme.
He flies around looking for
What goes on in your mind.
When it's time to let him out
To make some poetry,
He gathers up your secret thoughts
And then he sets them free.
Some good examples of ballads can be located here, and a creative 'how to' can be found here.
An example of a 7 Year old Poet Olivia Binfield reciting her poem is here.
Undoubtedly the most famous Australian ballad it 'The Man from Snowy River' by Banjo Paterson.
From: http://www.underdown.org/poetry-formats.htm
The ballad stanza is also one of the most popular forms of poetry for children. A ballad stanza is a group of four lines. That group is called a stanza. The ballad stanza has a rhyme at the end of line number two and line number four.
The Bee Poem
A poem is a busy bee
Buzzing in your head.
His hive is full of hidden thoughts
Waiting to be said.
His honey comes from your ideas
That he makes into rhyme.
He flies around looking for
What goes on in your mind.
When it's time to let him out
To make some poetry,
He gathers up your secret thoughts
And then he sets them free.
Some good examples of ballads can be located here, and a creative 'how to' can be found here.
An example of a 7 Year old Poet Olivia Binfield reciting her poem is here.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Transport in China
This week's class reading focuses on transport in China. This clip compliments the content of our reading. Very clearly presented and relevant!
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Poetry: Week One
I'm starting a 5 week poetry unit tomorrow and I'm busy resourcing my lessons.
Mrs Smoke has a wonderful 'Making Teachers Nerdy' blog with a great page on all sorts of poetry links.
This week we will be focusing on writing an ode here are the steps!
- Select a subject to write about: person, place, or thing.
- Write phrases describing how your subject makes you feel and why you feel this way.
- Write many phrases telling unique qualities of your subject.
- Explain why your subject is important to you
Revise your lines following these steps:
- take away any lines that are too similar
- add more feeling to any meaningless lines
- pick a good opening line or sentence
- order the remaining lines into their best sequence
- select a good closing line that clearly expresses your feelings about the subject
- Rewrite your ode in a final draft and maybe even add an illustration.
This video may be a little difficult for year 5&6 students but is a good guide for the teacher.
How to Write an Ode -- powered by ehow
A fun story that is told using emoticons:
Mrs Smoke has a wonderful 'Making Teachers Nerdy' blog with a great page on all sorts of poetry links.
This week we will be focusing on writing an ode here are the steps!
- Select a subject to write about: person, place, or thing.
- Write phrases describing how your subject makes you feel and why you feel this way.
- Write many phrases telling unique qualities of your subject.
- Explain why your subject is important to you
Revise your lines following these steps:
- take away any lines that are too similar
- add more feeling to any meaningless lines
- pick a good opening line or sentence
- order the remaining lines into their best sequence
- select a good closing line that clearly expresses your feelings about the subject
- Rewrite your ode in a final draft and maybe even add an illustration.
This video may be a little difficult for year 5&6 students but is a good guide for the teacher.
How to Write an Ode -- powered by ehow
A fun story that is told using emoticons:
Friday, August 19, 2011
Scott's Antarctica
Shortly we will be moving on from 'Symbol Systems' and on to 'Antarctica.'
Today we briefly learned the story of Robert Falcon Scott's 2 expeditions to Antarctica.
Here is some extra information to support this lesson.
Listen to the story of Scott at NPR. On the same website is an excellent collection of images.
A dog called Chris listening to Scott's gramophone!
Some original newsreel footage of Scott's ships can be found here.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Primary Science: Micro-organisms
Today we undertook an experiment about yeast.
This website helps to support a student's understanding of micro-organisms.
Fun and interactive, it includes a game and quiz to test understanding.
This website helps to support a student's understanding of micro-organisms.
Fun and interactive, it includes a game and quiz to test understanding.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Introduction to Poetry
In Week 6 we wil be moving on from the discussion text type and into poetry.
Here are some clips recommended for discussion by 'the 'White ribbon' Poetry competition.
Domestic violence (unable to embed): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcodyFKKdVM&feature=related
Here are some clips recommended for discussion by 'the 'White ribbon' Poetry competition.
Domestic violence (unable to embed): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcodyFKKdVM&feature=related
Friday, August 12, 2011
Week 4: Comparing culture, customs and etiquette
This week we our reading task focuses upon the similarities and differences between China and Australia.
A good online resource to support the reading task can be found here.
In addition to this we have begun decorating our classroom with some Chinese paper Products from Sydney's China Town.
One of these items is the 'red envelope' that is used to give money at Weddings or on Chinese New year.
Here is some interesting information about Chinese weddings and traditions.
Here is some footage of a Chinese tea ceremony:
A good online resource to support the reading task can be found here.
In addition to this we have begun decorating our classroom with some Chinese paper Products from Sydney's China Town.
One of these items is the 'red envelope' that is used to give money at Weddings or on Chinese New year.
Here is some interesting information about Chinese weddings and traditions.
Here is some footage of a Chinese tea ceremony:
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Westfield Re-Branding
A few weeks back the signage on top of Sydney's Centrepoint Tower was replaced. Here is some great footage of the project in action!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)