Mid-term Update from Sophie, the Verdun Captain

Reading Week is now over, and we get to head back to our Homework Zone schools this week. Let’s be real: the HZ schools are the only ones we actually want to go back to!

Before the break, the Verdun grade sixers got a good start on the Movie Project that we’re working on this semester.  Not only were the kids really excited about the project, but they also took it and made it their own.  One of my favourite moment was when one of the interviewers decided to go off-script from the standard “What do you like about Homework Zone” questions and ask someone who his cartoon crush was.  Somehow, this ridiculous question took off, and is now a standard for anyone interviewed at Verdun.

In my opinion, there is something about this that is the perfect reflection of what Homework Zone is meant to be.  HZ is a place where the kids are allowed to go off-script and be their quirky selves with the mentors who are almost guaranteed to get quirky with the kids.

We’re also now at that point in the semester when the mentors and mentees know each other quite well.  It’s always fun to see the relationships grow throughout the semester, and it’s hard to believe that those timid kids we met on the first day are now so open and outgoing with us.  It’s also crazy to think that we only have 4 or 5 weeks left with these awesome kids.  This part of the semester has always made me a bit sad because it seems like we have such a short time left to take advantage of getting to know the kids even more.

So, now that we’re starting the second half of Homework Zone, here’s to another 5 weeks of building relationships with the kids, quirkiness… and I guess some homework too!

Mentor: Michael Dougan, U2 Arts

This is Michael’s third semester as a mentor with HZ. When asked why he decided to join HZ back in January ’13, Michael talked about his dream of becoming a teacher. HZ had started off as an experiment–about testing out the waters, but for Michael, it quickly became so much more than that. Not only did HZ reaffirm Michael’s passion for teaching, it also helped him to become a better mentor. Michael’s advice to new mentors?

“It’s going to be pretty awkward at first. That’s when you and your mentee are getting to know each other, but don’t worry, they’ll quickly become your friends.”

Your  mentor-in-residence, 

Tina Ta

Duct Tape Projects

If you grew up as an all-Canadian kid, then you know the power of duct tape!

And as mature, creative mentors we need to pass down this knowledge to the next generation. With great power comes great responsibility, some would say (“Some” in this case being Spider-man).

 

For your mentoring pleasure, here are 25 useful and fun things you can make with just duct tape

 

Graph Characters

Though not many students are starting to work with graphs by Grade 6, this Mathematical Art activity is a great intro into how to look at ordered pairs. It’s almost like a mathematical word search, but you get to colour afterwards! The searching also helps student to work with their understanding of ordering and magnitude.

Simple follow THIS LINK to a page with a handful of free printables. Some pictures require over 100 ordered pairs to be found! That means group is definitely involved.

How to Make Playdough

So Science is cool, that is fact, but wouldn’t it be cooler if we could use those science experiments for something else? Something like…art?

Enter Home-made playdough: a great activity to engage students in measurement, mixtures and science before letting their creative sculpting go wild! Here are two easy-to-make recipes.

 

True Playdough

Ingredients:

• 1-2 packets Kool-Aid
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup salt
• 2 tablespoons cream of tartar
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 cup boiling water

 

In a large bowl add all dry ingredients and mix well (salt, flour, cream of tartar, Kool-Aid). Add the oil and boiling water to the mixture and mix this with a large spoon until it becomes very firm. It should be cool enough to handle after a few minutes of stirring. Lay out some wax paper and flour for the last step. Use your hands and roll it in some more flour if it feels too sticky.

 

Salt Dough

Ingredients:

• 1 cup salt
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup luke warm water

In a large bowl mix salt and flour, gradually stirring in water until it forms a dough-like consistency. Form a ball with your dough and knead it for at least 5 minutes with your hands, adding flour as needed to create a smooth texture. The longer you knead your dough, the smoother it will be. Much the same way that playdough is edible but not delicious, salt dough is as salty as its name suggests. This dough is best kept away from pets, as the high salt content may make them sick if they ingest enough.

You can let your salt dough creations air dry, however salt dough can also be dried in the oven. Bake at 200 F until your creation is dry. The amount of time needed to bake your creations depends on size and thickness; thin flat ornaments may only take 45-60 minutes

 

Source 1 and Source 2

Model Lung

If one thing is true about working with kids, it’s that simple questions can lead to BIG inquiries. That is the case with this quirky and educational science project that explores how exactly we BREATHE. I mean, we do it all day every day and yet we don’t stop to think about that whole ‘LUNG’ situation going on beneath those ribs.

So let’s start thinking and creating!

Materials: 

1. 2L Bottle
2. Rubberbands
3. Balloon
4. Sheet of Plastic (ie from a shopping bag)
5. Tape
6. Scissors

Procedure:

1. Using scissors, carefully cut off the bottom of the plastic bottle starting at the precut slit.

2. Push the end of the balloon through the mouth of the bottle. Stretch the mouth of the balloon over the mouth of the bottle.

3. Fold the 30-cm-diameter circle in half twice. Twist about 2.5 cm of the folded corner around and secure it with a short piece of masking tape to make a handle.

4. Cover the open bottom of the bottle with the plastic circle so the handle is on the outside of the bottle.Secure the plastic tightly to the bottle with a rubber band. There should be some slack in the plastic. The rubber band may need to be doubled if using the smaller plastic bottle. See diagram below.

5. Gently push and pull on the handle to move the plastic in and out. What do you observe?

6. Hold the bottle so the mouth is near your cheek and move the surface of the plastic in and out. What do you feel?

7. Describe what happens to the balloon as the plastic moves in and out. Explain your observations.

Information for this experiment comes from HERE and HERE

Make a Mask

CREATE

Using cardboard, colouring paper and anything appropriate in the Homework Zone Bin, create a mask that reflects who you are!

DRAW

On the front, draw a face. Think of the options: your face, what you want to be when you’re older, a silly character, anything!

 

WRITE

On the back, write some words that describe you! (or describes your character!)

Choose from the vocab list.

Character Traits Vocabulary

accepting adventurous aggressive ambitious anxious bold bossy bright brave busy calm carefree caring caustic cautious clever cheerful committed competitive conceited considerate cooperative courageous courteous creative curious daring deceitful demanding dependable determined dignified diplomatic disagreeable discreet dramatic dreamer

eager efficient eloquent energetic enthusiastic facetious faithful fanciful fighter fractious friendly fun-loving funny generous glum gentle gracious grouchy gullible handsome happy hard-working helpful honorable honest hopeful humble humorous industrious imaginative impartial impolite impulsive independent

impartial impulsive innocent insolent intelligent intolerant inventive irascible jovial joyful lackadaisical lazy leader logical lovable loving loyal lucky malicious mannerly mature mean messy miser mischievous moody naive naughty neat negligent nervous obedient obnoxious observant organized optimistic ornery

patriotic pessimist peevish proud quiet rebellious reckless resolute resourceful respectful responsible rude sad scary secretive self-confident selfish serious shy silly stubborn studious sympathetic supportive thoughtful timid unselfish valiant warrior welcoming wise witty worrier