We visited our local public library where Librarian Emily showed us what the library had to offer. In addition to a scavenger hunt, we were able to take refuge from the heavy rain and play board games inside.
To conclude our history learning for our recently completed Social Studies units (“Political and Physical Regions of Canada” (Gr. 4) and “The Role of Government and Responsible Citizenship” (Gr. 5)), we visited two seats of government! We had the privilege of participating in an educational program at Ontario’s Provincial Parliament in which we toured the Legislative Chamber and Building; learned about the provincial government, legislative process and key parliamentary figures and their roles; and took part in various activities. We then walked down University Avenue to Osgoode Hall to learn about our judicial system and then across Queen Street to Toronto City Hall to learn more about Toronto’s municipal government by touring City Hall and observing a City Council meeting from the public gallery. In the public gallery, we met Josh Matlow, a city councillor and mayoral candidate, and were also recognized by Paula Fletcher, the councillor for our school riding.
For our current Social Studies units (“Early Societies to 1500 CE” (Gr. 4) and “Interactions of Indigenous Peoples and Europeans Prior to 1713” (Gr. 5)). we had another day of history learning! We first participated in a self-guided tour of the ROM’s current galleries and exhibits, in particular ones related to Indigenous and other Early Societies. After, we took part in the “Early Societies of the Ancient Americas” program at the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art in which we participated in a gallery tour of ceramic pieces made by civilizations from the Ancient Americas and then had the opportunity to create an Ancient Americas inspired artwork in a hands-on clay class.
For the recent Social Studies units we completed ("Political and Physical Regions of Canada” (Gr. 4) and “The Role of Government and Responsible Citizenship” (Gr. 5)), we went to two places to learn about history! We first went to Spadina House to take part in the “Meet the Austins” tour which uncovered the life of Albert Edison Austin (1868-1913), a resident of Spadina House, and the lives of his household, including his family and servants, through archival documents, historical photographs, and physical objects. We then walked a block away to the City of Toronto Archives to participate in the “Toronto Civic Engagement Program” in which we explored the municipal government, elections, the role of councillors, and services provided by the City; learned how leadership, public service, and civic engagement influence decision-making at City Hall; and brainstormed ways to be engaged citizens at home and school.
As part of our Structures and Mechanisms unit, we went on a field trip to the Ontario Science Centre! We first viewed the IMAX film, Dream Big: Engineering Our World , which presented how engineers are designing structures and mechanisms to create better lives for people around the world. Then, we participated in the “Machines and Mechanisms” hands-on workshop where we explored how different mechanisms transmit motion and transform forces. We also had some free time to explore the Exhibit Hall and meet an old friend...
We visited Roy Thomson Hall to listen to the “VOCA Chorus of Toronto: Shining Night” concert. This choral ensemble featured an eclectic array of selections celebrating stars and the night sky, including a work recently premiered by VOCA, "Anang (A Star)" by the renowned Cree composer, Andrew Balfour.
"Frozen River" Synopsis: In our visit to our neighbourhood Toronto Public Library branch, the S. Walter Stewart Library, children's librarian, Hailey, introduced students to the library system through several fun activities, including building a stable structure with library books and finding library items on a scavenger hunt! Library Safari!We went on another musical adventure to Roy Thomson Hall to attend the Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s concert, “The Composer Is Dead”, a hilarious whodunit with music by Nathaniel Stookey and text by Lemony Snicket. In this story told through music, students joined a police inspector as he investigated the “murder” of a composer in which each instrument in the orchestra was a suspect and “interrogated” for this “crime”!
We had the exciting opportunity to visit the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts to view the Canadian Opera Company’s performance of Engelbert Humperdinck’s opera “Hansel and Gretel”. This opera was adapted for young audiences to be shorter in length and sung in English. Prior to the opera, we participated in a scavenger hunt and a dance performance in the lobby areas. Students then joined Hansel and Gretel on a musical adventure! The classic fairytale had an urban twist when two curious siblings set off to explore their surroundings in their apartment complex – and encountered some quirky neighbours along the way... COC Pre-performance...As a culminating activity for our Earth and Space Systems unit, our student teacher, Mr. Smith, organized a field trip to the Ontario Science Centre! After exploring the Exhibit Hall, we participated in the "Rocks and Minerals" workshop to unearth the science of rocks and minerals and use techniques practiced by geologists to identify samples and discover the physical properties of various rocks and minerals. Scientist Orlana, who conducted the workshop, even had a real meteorite from space for the students to examine! We concluded our trip with a viewing of the IMAX film, A Beautiful Planet, which portrayed a breathtaking portrait of Earth from space, providing a unique perspective and increased understanding of our planet and galaxy as never seen before! Rock(s and Minerals) Around the Clock!On our second last day of school, we went nearby to Todmorden Mills Heritage Site to participate in their newly launched program on Indigenous peoples. We looked at various maps of Canada from different time periods and by different groups of people (i.e., Indigenous peoples, European settlers) and concluded that it is important to consider perspective when looking at a map. Students then created a map of Todmorden Mills, which were then compared to reinforce the point that maps of the same area can look different, depending on the focus and perspective. As we were a pilot group for this module, we had an opportunity to vote on the experience.
After our mapping exploration, we look a long bus ride to...Laser Quest! We took part in their “Quest for Knowledge: STEM Program on Light and Sound” to discover how light and sound interact with various objects at Laser Quest and what materials are used to transmit, reflect, and absorb light and sound. We had a blast playing two fun-filled missions of Laser Quest! We travelled by TTC downtown on a field trip to the Gardiner Museum to take part in the “Early Societies of the Ancient Americas” program. This program started with a gallery tour of ceramic pieces made by civilizations from the Ancient Americas. After viewing the exhibits, we had the opportunity to create an Ancient Americas figure in a hands-on clay class in the studio.
After creating our masterpieces, we went across the street to the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) to go on the “Conservation of Energy & Resources” gallery tour. This program allowed students to discover the sources of different varieties of energy and resources, investigate how energy can be transformed from one form into another, and discuss the importance of conservation in plotting a sustainable future in the Dinosaur, Schad, and Teck Suite of galleries. On our trip to the Ontario Centre, we participated in the "Pulleys and Gears" workshop to investigate how these simple machines make life easier by changing force, speed and direction to give users the mechanical advantage. After having lunch, we viewed the IMAX film, Journey to Space. which presented some of the greatest technological leaps in space exploration, including creating structures and developing self-sustaining travel needed to send humans to Mars within a generation. Then, it was time to let our curious minds wander free while exploring the many interactive exhibits! Field Trip to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario (a.k.a. "Queen's Park") and Toronto City Hall4/4/2019
We visited the Legislative Assembly of Ontario ("Queen's Park") today to participate in the Question Period program. We had the opportunity to observe an Ontario provincial parliamentary session during Question Period and participated in an interactive discussion afterward. After our visit to Queen's Park, we walked along University Avenue (with a small detour to Osgoode Hall) to Toronto City Hall to learn more about Toronto’s municipal government structure, the City budget, key services provided by the City, and how people can get involved in the decision-making process. Question Period at the Legislative Assembly of OntarioLook for us in the Gallery from 6:46 - 7:13! We walked to St. Patrick to view their professionally staged and well-acted production of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic adventure story, "Treasure Island", starring Jayden and Gadion (former Holy Cross students)! Afterwards, we had a taste of the high school life...
We went to the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) to view their current exhibit “Anthropocene”, a dramatic illustration of how we, individually and collectively, are leaving a human signature on our world. World-renowned photographer Edward Burtynsky and multiple award-winning filmmakers, Jennifer Baichwal and Nicholas de Pencier, created a powerful series of new images, including large-scale murals, film sequences and augmented reality (AR) apps. The artists reveal evidence of human impact on the planet, from climate change and species extinction to extraction and the terraforming of the Earth’s surface. By using innovative augmented reality technologies, students were able to connect with people, places and moments they would not otherwise experience. After selecting the image that affected them the most, students wrote a short reflection about the piece.
"Instant" Synopsis: After viewing the play "Instant" at Young People's Theatre, we had our post-show workshop at YPT with Mark again. We first discussed the characters and themes in this affecting play. Mark then facilitated a variety of activities, based on the play, which allowed students' to better understand the characters' perspectives and behaviours in an online environment. To break tension, Mark ended on a lighter note, starting with"silly walks"!
For our Systems in Action unit for Science, we visited the Ontario Science Centre to participate in the "Fun with Physics" workshop and view the IMAX film "Dream Big: Engineering Our World". We also had time to tour the Exhibit Hall and visit new and old hands-on interactive exhibits. We were fortunate to have the opportunity to visit the office of Julie Dabrusin, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Toronto-Danforth riding. As the House of Commons will not be in session during our trip to Ottawa this week, Ms. Dabrusin graciously allowed our class to visit her constituency office. We had the privilege of watching, at Young People's Theatre, the heart-wrenching "Hana's Suitcase", the true story of an Auschwitz Holocaust victim Hana Brady (1931-1944), and the Japanese educator, Fumiko Ishioka, who obtained Hana's suitcase and sought to uncover and tell Hana's story at the urging of her students. Learn more about Hana's story: http://www.hanassuitcase.ca/ To conclude our History unit on the post-Confederation era to the beginning of World War I, we went on a field trip to Spadina Museum: Historic House & Gardens |
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