For the coming few weeks in French class, Grade 7 and 8 students will be researching World Oceans Day. Each student is responsible for creating something that:

• raises awareness of World Oceans Day
• links back to why we need to protect our oceans
• is in correct French
• is neat, tidy, and shows proof that they have planned their time and project well.
• if the final product has anything to do with vocabulary, a minimum of 20 words is required

Students have the choice of what to create. Some ideas are (students are not limited to this list):

• awareness campaign (announcements, posters, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Blog)
• book (children’s book, comic book, vocabulary book, information)
• visual art that connects to the message behind World Ocean Day and includes an explanation
• science project
• ideas or solutions to problems relating to the conservation of our oceans and habitats
• letters to government or to industries that are polluting our oceans
• song writing

http://www.worldoceansday.ca

The theme for this year’s celebration is “On écrit sur les murs”, which comes from a song of the same name. It is a song that expresses hope for the future.

All Grade 8 students are currently learning the song and will be singing it during the celebration.

Here is a preview:

Mr. Parks’ Grade 7’s, Ms. McPhail’s and Ms. Hansma’s Grade 8’s will be doing Passion Projects beginning today.  View the video below for an explanation of “Genius Hour”:

A Passion Project is the same thing, but instead of spending 1 hour a week on it, we’re spending 40 minutes everyday on it.

Today, students brainstormed their ideas, and tomorrow they will be coming up with precise questions and plans of attack. They must keep in mind that, as stated in the video “every project must have a driving question that will take time, deep thought, and research to answer.”

There is no due date yet, and the dates may vary depending on what each student chooses to create as a finished product.

*Please note that the students in Ms. McPhail’s class are taking a different approach – some have decided to rehearse and learn short plays which will be presented BEFORE they undertake their passion project, while others have decided to do the reverse.*

Ms. Hansma’s and Ms. McPhail’s classes are working on producing how-to videos, and the subjects range from How to Tie Your Skate Laces, to How to Train Your Dragon!

Students may film a video, do a live demonstration, or narrate a slide show. Before filming begins, students will be busy finding key vocabulary in French, as well as writing scripts making sure that their verbs are in the imperative form. A focus will be placed on correct pronunciation and fluency in French.

***Due date for Ms. McPhail’s students, Friday, March 3rd.***

***Due date for Ms. Hansma’s students, Tuesday, March 6th***

The students in Mr. Parks’ class have begun writing biographies that they will present to the class March 3rd. They have to choose a Francophone or Francophile who was born in or lives in North, Central, or South America. The person may be alive or deceased.  The following information as well as at least one picture must be included in the presentation (en français): name, where they live(d), age, date of birth, if they are famous, why?, what have they contributed to their profession and/or community?, interesting facts, if they are a Francophile, why do they speak French?

Presentations can take any form: blog post, poster, power point, Aurasma animation, etc.

Kat and Zhoe came to class today with their Mardi Gras project – a float bearing cupcakes.  See it roll around the classroom in the video below:

Some of Ms. Hansma’s Grade 8’s have begun a second art piece that is to show either strong emotion, or make a statement about something that they feel strongly about. Once this is done, they will be posting a self-evaluation and an explanation of their piece on their blog.

Today the Grade 8s in Ms. Hansma’s and Ms. McPhail’s classes began a new assignment. They are composing new blog posts about a topic that they feel passionate about. Their work is to be posted by February 21st. Here is a list of success criteria:

• I have chosen a topic that I feel strongly about
• I have written a minimum of 2 paragraphs in French
• My work is in my own words
• I have a minimum of one picture
• My work was corrected by Mme. O’Rourke
• I have posted my work to my blog

Once all of the blogs are posted, students will read each other’s posts and leave comments (en français, bien sur!).  Please feel free to do the same – the more comments they have to respond to, the better.

Merci!

Ms. Hansma’s Grade 8s have been working over the past 2 weeks on projects that show a sense of movement. Several students have completed their work. Gracie even made an animation!

Here is a different example by Lilly:

Merci, Jordan L., pour un gâteau délicieux!

Jordan came to class today with a cake for his Mardi Gras project. This isn’t a King cake, but a cake decorated in the purple, gold and green of Mardi Gras. You can read about it soon on Jordan’s own blog.