Quiz Time - Food Myths!

We have been looking at various food myths this past week and your job is to use "Google Forms" and create a simple true/false quiz for your fellow students. 

Your quiz must have:

- a variety of question types (e.g. your quiz can't just be on eggplants) and the first question must be "What is your name?" That way you will be able to tell what classmate has taken your quiz. Or you can make it so that they must sign in with their google credentials. Feel free to add pictures or video as well.
- 10 well-researched questions. Don't forget to keep a copy of your answers! :-) You will be marking these. I will show you how to mark them really easily in a future class.
- all questions set as a "required" question. 
- been shared with me to get approval before you embed it into your blog. 

Once your quiz has been shared and approved by me, write a brief paragraph introducing your quiz, followed by the embedded quiz. Be positive and encourage people to fill it in. 

As always, if you are stuck on something, feel free to ask me or better yet, look it up! :-) There are a tonne of great tutorials out there just waiting to be found. 

Good luck and I can't wait to see what you come up with! Happy writing/researching!

Mr. Boettger :-)

Image courtesy of http://goo.gl/vbz0ji

Urban Legends

An urban legend, popular legend, urban myth, urban tale or contemporary legend is a form of modern folklore consisting of fictional stories, often with macabre elements deeply rooted in local popular culture. These legends can be used for entertainment purposes, as well as for semi-serious explanations for random events such as disappearances and strange objects (Thank-you Wikipedia).

Your job this week is to find an appropriate (for school) urban legend and post it on your blog (don't forget to give credit as to where you got it from) and then tell your readers why it isn't true backed up with evidence (either your own or others - again, don't forget to give credit).

Once this has been completed and posted on your blog, read and respond to at least 3 other people’s posts.

Good luck!

Mr. Boettger  :-)

100 Word Story

Your task this week is to finish last week's task and then create a short story using the following picture and only 100 words.  Not 99. Not 101.  One hundred exactly!

What is happening/happened in this picture?

Make sure you study the picture closely and let your imagination run wild!  Be as creative as you can and don't forget to include the picture in your post! I look forward to reading what you come up with and make sure you check your spelling and grammar before you publish it!

Once this has been completed and posted on your blog, read and respond to at least 3 other people’s posts.

Good luck!

Mr. Boettger  :-)

Your First Blog Post

The first entry you will be making to your blog this year is an "All About Me" post. You will need to write a paragraph (make sure you check your spelling and grammar before you post please) that introduces yourself to the world. Please remember to follow our blogging rules. Refresh your memory HERE.

Once you have completed your paragraph, you will need to take a picture of this week's art (your goal sheet portrait and your "I am" picture) and post them with your paragraph. Make sure you ask someone (or better yet, look it up yourself) if you don't know how to do something with your blog. 

Once this has been completed and posted on your blog, read and respond to at least 3 other people’s posts.

Good luck!

Mr. Boettger  :-)

Internet Safety

Hello my trusty Grade 6/7's and welcome to your very first "blog" lesson!

Establishing Expectations for Behaviour: The Dos and Don'ts for Online Student Communication

Please read the "Dos and Don'ts for Online Student Communication" below:

- Use each other's names.  Using a person's name when you respond to his/her posting creates a friendly online tone.  However, do not use the person's full name.  Instead, please use the username the school board has given to you (the first four initials of your first name and a random 4 digit number).

- Read questions and conversational postings carefully to avoid unnecessary confusion.

- Compliment your peers when they post strong responses or contribute original ideas.

- Ask questions.  If anything is unclear or you want further information or insight on a topic, just ask.  If you have a question, there are probably other members of the group who are confused and need further clarification as well.

- Be considerate. Remember that your peers cannot see your body language or hear your tone of voice, so you need to keep your language direct and respectful.

- Avoid slang, jargon and sarcasm.

- Listen to all ideas presented.  Remember there is no right or wrong in a discussion.  A variety of perspectives add depth and I love depth!  :-)

- Stay open minded.

- Respond instead of reacting.  Do not write a response if you are angry or upset.  Instead, wait until you have had time to calm down and collect your thoughts.

- Really read your peers responses.  Avoid skimming.  Respect the time your peers have spent articulating their thoughts by reading carefully and thoughtfully.

- Reread your messages before sending them to ensure that your ideas are clearly communicated and supported.

- Critique the content, not the person.

- Do not present your personal opinions as fact.  Back up your ideas with information to strengthen your statements.

- Courteously answer all questions addressed directly to you.

- Make "I" statements when respectfully disagreeing.  Sharing an opposing opinion or idea is an important part of discussion, but it needs to be presented in a constructive manner that encourages further discussion.

- Do not use all caps when writing.  It is interpreted as yelling.

- Avoid emotional punctuation, like exclamation points, unless you are complimenting an idea shared.

Have I missed anything?  Is there anything that you would like to add to the list?  Please let me know in the comments section.

Thank-you for your feedback and let's have a great year blogging!  :-)

Mr. Boettger

Please remember this about the internet and privacy:  Photo courtesy of Dave Hoffman

As well as this:  This picture pretty much sums everything up!  I can't remember where I found it.  So, apologies to the person that made it.  When I find it again, I will give the proper credit!

Be safe everyone!

Mr. Boettger's Class Chat

Are you interested in what is happening in our classroom? In addition to the class social media updates, when you sign up for the class mailing list you will also receive a monthly dose of awesome — a short e-mail dubbed "Mr. Boettger's Class Chat”.  For the most part, this e-mail will be student written and will cover various highlights that have happened in our class. Things the students have discovered, learned, enjoyed or found helpful — all designed to help keep you in the loop.

There will be no spam...ever.

If this sounds like something you would be interested in, please sign up here or fill in the form below.

Thank-you.

Mr. Boettger

Subscribe to Mr. Boettger's Class Chat

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It's Almost Time!

Hello my future grade 6/7s!  I can't wait to get the year started!  See you on September 6th!

Mr. Boettger :-)

Create A Quiz

Your job this week is to use "Google Forms" and create a quiz for your fellow students. If you are a student in grade 6, your topic must involve "Space" and if you are in grade 7, your topic must involve "Pure Substances and Mixtures". 

Your quiz must have:

- a variety of question types (short answer, multiple choice etc) and the first question must be "What is your name?" That way you will be able to tell what classmate has taken your quiz. Or you can make it so that they must sign in with their google credentials. Feel free to add in pictures or video as well.
- 10 well researched questions. Don't forget to keep a copy of your answers! :-) You will be marking these. I will show you how to mark them really easily in a future class.
- all questions set as a "required" question. 
- been shared with me to get approval before you embed it into your blog. 

Once your quiz has been shared and approved by me, embed it into your blog and encourage people to fill it in. 

As always, if you are stuck on something feel free to ask me or better yet, look it up! :-) There are a tonne of great tutorials out there just waiting to be found. 

Good luck and I can't wait to see what you come up with! Happy writing/researching!

Mr. Boettger :-)

Image courtesy of http://goo.gl/vbz0ji

 
 
 

Weekly E-Paper - March 11th Edition (Desert Island Dilemma)

Click here to see this week's student e-paper!

Weekly E-Paper - March 4th Edition (Wonder Word Clouds)

Little or Unknown Facts

The internet and different encyclopedias (do you even remember what those are?) are full of facts, some of them really random. For example “Did you know that there are more lifeforms living on your skin than there are people in the world?”

With this week's blog post you need to gather some of those cool/interesting facts and create a blog post around it. Don't forget to give credit to where you found the information and include pictures and videos to make your post more effective.

As always, I look forward to reading (and learning) about what you have found.

Mr. Boettger :-)

Picture courtesy of http://goo.gl/virLcQ 

History Quiz - British North America

Same routine as usual.  Feel free to use any resource you would like.  Read the questions carefully and good luck!

Click here for the full-screen version.

History Quiz - Conflict and Change

Welcome to your next online assignment Grade 7's!

Feel free to use any resource you would like to find the answer.  Take your time and read the questions carefully.  I want to try and eliminate all silly mistakes. :-)

I've tried to make things a little easier by embedded the quiz right into the blog.  However, if you would like to see a full-screen version, just click this link.

Good luck!

Mr. Boettger  :-) 

Advice/Favourite Meal

Photo courtesy of http://goo.gl/GehvdD

Your first task this week is to take last week's written work (the advice you would give a friend who doesn't appreciate the way he or she looks) and turn it into a good copy blog post. Watch your spelling/grammar and I would highly recommend getting someone to proofread it before you post it online.

Your second assignment this week is to create a blog post describing your perfect meal. This must include an entree, main course and dessert. Once you have described this, you need to find the recipes on how to make each selection. You could also include a video of how it is made and don't forget to include some tasty looking pictures (your own would be even better!).

As always, I look forward to reading your entries.

Mr. Boettger :-)

You've Won!

Hello my trusty Grade 6/7s!

I thought I would do something a little different this week:

Pretend you are winning an award for doing outstanding work at school (congratulations by the way!).  Write an acceptance speech thanking everyone who helped you be a good student.  Don't forget to add in some advice for future students on what it takes to be successful.  Your acceptance speech should be approximately one paragraph long.

To get an idea of what an acceptance speech could look like - view the video below.




Remember the rules for posting information to the web:

- NEVER post any personal information and use only first names please. 
-  Put the question in your answer and always write using full sentences.
- Proofread your work (watch your spelling and grammar) before you post it.
- Keep it appropriate for school.
- Have fun and be creative!

I'm looking forward to reading your answers!

Mr. Boettger  :-)

Surface Area

Here is a quick review of how to find the surface area of a box (Remember: You have a quiz tomorrow).  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mr. Boettger  :-)

Genius Hour Assignment

Your job this week is a simple one. Complete your "Genius Hour" assignment (see our Google Classroom) during your blogging time as well as, get caught up on anything that you have not completed. Don't forget to "turn in" your assignment please. 

Photo courtesy of https://goo.gl/SGN6Oe

What is Genius Hour?

Something exciting is happening in our Grade 6/7 class! Today I introduced the students to Genius Hour! For more information, visit the newsletter page to see the letter that was sent home.

What is Genius Hour?

Genius Hour is the research-based idea that people excel in learning about that which they are intrinsically motivated. In other words, if you want to learn about it, you will succeed in learning about it. If it is a topic or concept you are passionate about - especially if it is something you deeply care about - then your internal motivation will drive you to succeed in learning about it.

Daniel Pink, author of New York Time’s Bestseller Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, says that motivation is driven by three things:

1.  Autonomy (the desire to direct our own life)
2.  Mastery (the desire to get better and better at something that matters)
3.  Purpose (the desire to do things in service of something larger than ourselves)

If you are still curious about Genius Hour, feel free to watch some of the videos below.



It's imperative that we use our time wisely!



What is going to be your awesome?!

Desert Island Dilemma

If you knew you would be stranded on a desert island for 1 year, which 5 objects would you bring with you? Keep in mind that there is NO electricity on the island! Choose you objects carefully and then explain your choices in a brief paragraph. Don't forget to include a video/picture/link etc.

Once you have completed your selections and posted your explanation, read and respond to at least 5 peers.

When the above is completed, make sure you have posted your writing piece on whether or not the Guinness World Records are a waste of time. 

As always, I look forward to reading your responses!

Mr. Boettger  :-)