Monday March 4, 2019

Marvelous Monday!

Our day started with a PJ Day House Game. Students participated in a pillow case race. Well done to Zeta, Kappa and Theta for taking first, second and third place respectively! 

Next we moved onto Math. Today we learned about estimating percents. 

Learning Goals: use mental math and estimation to determine percents.

We learned how to find various percents when given a specific number and then how to estimate and use friendly numbers when estimating percents.

Students will complete questions 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 on page 299.

Success Criteria:

-I can use friendly numbers to estimate percents 

-I know that a quick way to find 10 percent of a number is to move the decimal point to the left. -I can double the number find 20 percent 

-I can halve the number to find 5 percent 

-I can use the above strategies to estimate the percent of a given number 

Then we had French.

After first recess and lunch we learned about NGOs during UOI. 

Learning Goal: students are introduced to the idea that individuals can make a positive difference in the world as social change agents. Students will reflect on the positive impact that an NGO can make on the world and how an individual can make a difference.

To introduce students to the concept of NGOs, we listened to Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi”.We then discussed what the song is saying and how it relates to global issues. 

They paved paradise and put up a parking lot. (trees being cut down for buildings, houses and cities)

Hey, farmer, farmer, put away that D.D.T., now!(pesticides are used)

Give me spots on my apples(she would rather have worms in her apples)

But leave me the birds and the bees, please!(So that we don’t hurt the animals who eat the flowers, vegetables, fruits and vegetables that have been sprayed with pesticides)

Don't it always seem to go 

That you don't know what you've got till it's gone? 

We concluded that this song is targeting environmental issues. Students then learned that there are NGO’s  “out there” trying to make the world a better place. We learned that there are agencies in our world who are trying to solve these global issues. These groups are called NGOs.

Non-Governmental Organizations 

What Is An NGO? 

A non-governmental organization (NGO) is an organization which is not part of a government. An NGO can include for-profit corporations; usually the label is given to social, environmental, legal and cultural groups, who are not for profit groups. 

Some people believe that anything that is not government must be an "NGO”. While NGOs are usually not-for-profit organizations, many gain some of their money from private sources while others rely on fund raising and selling of merchandise. There is well over 29,000 international NGOs world wide.* 

Why Have NGOs? 

NGOs exist for a variety of different reasons, but usually they exist to improve situations in any number of areas including the natural environment, promoting human rights for all, improving the situation of the poor. There are many organizations and their goals cover a number of specific problems and issues. 

How Do They Operate? 

NGOs also vary in what they do. Some work to raise awareness and to convince governments to change a law in favour of their issue we call these people - lobbyists Other NGOs run programs and campaigns to assist people in need. (For example an NGO concerned with human rights may right letters of protest to specific government leaders to demand action.) 

How Are NGOs Connected? 

NGOs, governments, police or military and even businesses do not always get along. Many times the problems identified by an NGO are caused or supported by those groups listed. Often NGOs have to work around these groups just to make a difference. The most successful NGOs however find ways to connect and to work with partners. 

Where Would I Find An NGO? 

NGOs are local, regional, national, and international in other words you can find them anywhere and everywhere people are in need. Examples of local NGOs include your women’s shelter, food bank, Aids Hospice, cultural library or learning center may act and function as NGOs without ever calling themselves that. Examples of international NGOs include the Red Cross, Foster Parents’ Plan and OXFAM, which both have offices in Canada, but focus on doing work outside of Canada. 

How Do I Get Into NGO Action? 

Choose an issue that you care about. Find an NGO that also cares about this issue and works to improve it. Conduct research about the NGO to determine if you want to work with them on this issue. Include in your research, the NGO’s work on the specific problem in the area you want to take action in – i.e. local, regional, national, international. 

We then learned about Craig Kielburger, a twelve-year-old boy who began has own NGO called Free the Children to help protect children all around the world. We watched a video about how Free the children helps to build schools in developing countries; we watched a video about Free the Children in Kenya: volunteering video. Students can also watch more videos using this link about how Free the Children/Me to We is helping children around the world! 

Ms. Jaskolka then asked us:

 “What do you think is work that is too dangerous for children?”

“What is the youngest age that a person should work full time?”

“Is going to work better than going to school, if you could only do one or the other?”

“How long should the ‘right to play’ be protected?”

After some discussion, we were informed that many children in the world between the ages of 5-17, are forced into child labour (no school or play). Students then ‘guessed’ at the number of children in the world who are forced into child labour. We were informed that in 2000, the International Labour Organization estimated that:

1. 246 million child workers aged 5 and 17 were involved in child labor, of which 171 million were involved in work that by its nature is hazardous to their safety, physical or mental health, and moral development.

2. 8.4 million of these children were engaged in so-called 'unconditional' worst forms of child labor, which include forced labor, the use of children in armed conflict

We then read an article which discussed why Craig Craig Kielburger, a twelve-year-old boy decided to start his own NGO. We learned that it was because he learned about children in developing countries who work for long hours in factories making products for us to buy in

Canada. He decided to start up an NGO to help these children.

Next, we continued talking about exhibition which begins after March Break. Today we examined the theme that exhibition falls under: 

Who we are

An inquiry into the nature of the self; beliefs and values; personal, physical, mental, social and spiritual health; human relationships including families, friends, communities, and cultures; rights and responsibilities; what it means to be human.

Students considered issues that we face locally (but possibly globally too) that are related to this theme or aspects of this theme. They brainstormed possible issues as a group and then shared these ideas with the class. Students are asked to further generate ideas by researching issues in the news and by talking to their parents. The issues should be worth learning about in depth and should be actionable. We will discuss further ideas in class tomorrow.

After second recess and lunch we had physical education with Mr. Orr.

Homework:

1.     Read Daily

2.     Princess/Super Hero/Tie-Dye dress up tomorrow

3.     Math page 299 

4.     Sign Speech rubric, UOI province/city rubric, UOI PEPS rubric