Monday

Some students have asked to see an example of "Level 4" work. Below is a completed research assignment for a "recent" Canadian. It includes a short introductory paragraph, three paragraphs covering key accomplishments, a paragraph focusing on additional interesting facts, and a concluding statement. Hope this helps! If not, please come see me. Looking forward to all your great assignments and posters (and hopefully lots of level 3's and 4's)!

David Suzuki

David Suzuki is a well-known Scientist, Environmental Rights Activist and Television and Radio Broadcaster. He was born in Vancouver, British Colombia in 1936 and is still alive today.

            One of Suzuki’s first great accomplishments was completing University with a Science degree in Genetics. He studied how cells divide, and even won an award called the Steacie Memorial Fellowship in 1969 for being considered the best young Scientist in Canada.

            While working for the CBC, Suzuki was involved in both television and radio shows. His best-known television projects include the shows Nature of Things, Suzuki on Science, and the special Planet for the Taking. Planet for the Taking won an Environmental Program Medal from the United Nations. He also worked on a radio show called Quirks and Quarks.

            Another accomplishment of Suzuki’s is the amazing work he has done to promote awareness of Environmental issues. In 1990, he started a non-profit organization called the David Suzuki foundation, to raise funds to solve Environmental problems in Canada. He has also toured the world stressing the importance of a healthy Environment.

            It is also interesting to note that Suzuki has written over 50 books, mostly Science-related. He has won many awards for his work, including the prestigious Order of Canada. Overall, he can certainly be considered a great Canadian, and an inspiration to us all!

Research Sources:

http://www.davidsuzuki.org

http://www.macleans.ca/society/life/the-nature-of-david-suzuki/

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/david-suzuki/

Thursday

History

-The Canada's 150th research project is OFFICIALLY due next Wednesday for 8B and Thursday for 8A. Please have all THREE mini-research essays completed in good copy form.

***The JSB barbecue and curriculum night is tonight! Please encourage your parents or guardians to stop by, even if just for a few minutes. I'll be in room 212!****

Canada's 150th Anniversary Poster and Research Project

Canada's 150th Project!

*I apologize for some technical difficulties. The project outline is posted below, as well as the rubric, project checklist and research organizer. Please note that each student will be given a PAPER COPY of the rubric, research organizer and project checklist in class. There is no need to print these at home. I have posted these just to give a sense of the overall project. Have fun! Can't wait to see the finished posters!!

Canada’s 150^th Anniversary Project Outline

 As we have discussed in class, 2017 will be the 150^th anniversary of the formation of Canada (or as it was called on July 1, 1867, the Dominion of Canada). The Dominion of Canada first included Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. In honour of this historic event, we will be collaborating with the Grade 8 Art teacher, Ms. Enns, to create informative posters celebrating the incredible achievements of Canadians, both past and present. The guidelines and format for the poster will be explained in more detail by Ms. Enns.

Learning Goals (From the Grade 8 History Curriculum):

-To identify the achievements and contributions of significant people in Canada’s history

-To use a variety of resources to gather, process, and communicate information

-To communicate the results of inquiries for specific purposes and audiences using written notes and drawings

-To prepare a biographical sketch of a historical person from the period 1850-1914

-To use appropriate vocabulary

Assessments

There will be two separate assessments for this project. One will be for your poster. This will be an Art mark given by Ms. Enns. The second assessment will be for History, from Mr. Mak, for your three mini-reports. The expectations and rubric for History are posted below.

Mini-Report Expectations

For this project you will be expected to create three “mini-reports” to go along with the poster you and your group create in Art class. The first report will focus on an incredible Canadian whose accomplishments are more recent. The second will focus on the accomplishments of an individual whose achievements were important to Canadian history from 1600-1850. The third report will expand on an incredible Canadian invention or significant event in Canadian history.

Step #1 – Selection: Choose your topics

                 -There are several links on the History website to help give you ideas

                 -There are also a wide variety of History texts from the JSB library in the classroom to use

                -You may also use the Grade 7 History textbook

Step #2  -Research: Use a variety of resources (at least three books or websites) to compile information about this individual’s accomplishments. Please try to use both books and websites (and choose your websites wisely!). For the inventions, focus on what they do and why they are important. For Historical events, focus on what happened, why it happened and why it was important to Canada.

Step#3 – Rough draft: Write out a rough draft of your mini-reports and have several people proofread (friends, teachers, family)

Step #4 – Good Copy – Type out a good copy of the report, including any corrections or suggestions made by your proof readers

Self-

Rubric

Self-Assessment:
 1)   One or two things I did well on this project:
  2)   One or two things I could do better next time:
Teacher Suggestions and comments:

Incredible Canadians - Research Organizer – Grade 8

Incredible RECENT Canadian  

–Name:  _______________Date of Birth/Death: __________________

Major Accomplishment(s) – What did this person do that was important?

1)

2)

3)

Other Interesting Information (2 facts)

1)

2)

Resources Used (books,websites):_____________________________________________________

Incredible Historic Person (1850-1914)

–Name:  _______________Date of Birth/Death:______________

Major Accomplishment(s) – What did this person do that was important?

1)

2)

3)

Other Interesting Information (2 facts)

1)

2)

Resources Used (books, websites):____________________________________________________

Incredible Invention OR Event In Canadian History

Event - When and where it took place: __________________________________________________

Event - What happened?

Event - Why it is an important event in Canadian History?

Invention - When and where it was created: _____________________________________________

Invention – Who created it?

What does it do? Why is it useful or interesting?

Resources Used (books, websites):____________________________________________________

Weekly Update

Great work over the first few classes!

Just a reminder that our little quiz on Important Events in Canadian History will take place on Friday September 16, 2016. The format will be similar to the practice activities we have been doing in class - match the event to the corresponding date. Although you should all have these sheets, I have attached them just in case....

You can also re-watch the short video link posted below for a bit more detail on some events:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=early+canadian+history&&view=detail&mid=D10FB78FBD52553F59F2D10FB78FBD52553F59F2&FORM=VRDGAR

  



Last week we talked about why we study History at school. Students came up with some great ideas. I 've included a few below:



Why Study History?

1) To improve our reading, writing and vocabulary
2) To improve our mapping skills
3) To understand how Canada became a country
4) To understand why we speak English and learn French
5) To learn about the mistakes others made in the past so that e don't repeat them
6) To improve our researching skills
7) To learn how people were treated in the past, and think about how to treat them fairly in the future (i.e. First Nations)
8) To learn how technologies changed over the years
9) To challenge your thinking from different perspectives on an issues
10) To learn more about our ancestors
11) To learn the stories behind different landmarks
12) To learn how people made a difference in society
13) To learn about other cultures, customs and traditions
14) To understand the sacrifices others made for us
15) To understand how some of the laws in our country came to be
16) Those who don't know their history are doomed to repeat themselves
17) So we can learn about people we look up to i.e. Terry Fox)
18) Because history is interesting!
19) Because if you want to make history you have to know history!
20) Many important people from the past teach us positive characteristics (eg. perseverance, courage)

And some other more light-hearted ones:

-To have something to talk about on a date
-Knowledge is power; the more you learn, the more you earn!


The assignment guidelines, expectations and rubric for our our cross-curricular Art/History/English task celebrating Canada's 150th anniversary will be posted very shortly. Below are websites to help you choose your amazing Canadians, inventions and historic events:

http://www.canadashistory.ca/Magazine/Online-Extension/Articles/Timeline-Outstanding-Women

http://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/the-macleans-power-list-the-50-most-important-people-in-canada/

http://www.jjmccullough.com/greatest%20Canadians.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Canadians

http://www.thecanadaguide.com/famous-canadians