Room 13 ICT

Term 4, Week 6

Today you are completing an 'Adaptations project' to show me what you have learned about adaptations.
You need to:

1. Choose an animal and print out the appropriate sheet 

2. Research your animal and draw at least 5 structural adaptations onto the picture. Label these and ensure you include a reason of why/how these adaptations help the animal.

3. Write at least 5 behavioural adaptations in the space provided, again ensure you write a reason why/how the adaptation helps the animal.

Remember to BE SPECIFIC and give as much detail as you can- This is your opportunity to astound myself, your parents, peers and everyone else with how much you know about adaptations. 

You may color in the image once you have finished all your work for the day.

Once you have completed your 'adaptations project' you need to use this time for your writing. We need to get this class newspaper finished within the next week, so make sure you are doing your part!

Term 4, Week 5

1. Today you need to get all your newspaper pieces finished (including proofreading and editing) and added to the correct docs.
News Articles go here
Editorials/Feature Articles go here
'Extras' go on the bottom here

2. Once you have completed that you need to finish your 'Life processes of a ........' animal poster (MRS C GREN).
You also need to choose one characteristic to research in more detail and add 1 diagram/image and explain how it works. E.g. lifecycle for growth, digestive system for nutrition or excretion, food chain for nutrition, skeletal/muscular image for movement,  diagram of the senses, respiratory system for respiration etc.
Print this out and glue it into your Who we are book, also add it to your e-portfolio.
The title is life processes of living things and the inquiry cycle is sorting out (Because you are sorting out and presenting your knowledge)

3. If you complete that then you can do your homework for the week. Go to the adaptations page here, on the blog and complete your reading.
Remember you need to take notes of the most important information for each heading. Do this in ONE page of your Who We Are Book or create a copy of this doc and print it out and glue it into your book.
The title is 'Adaptions Reading Notes' and the inquiry cycle is finding out/sorting out (As you are both finding out new information and sorting out/presenting your knowledge)

Term 4, Week 4

 Your homework over the last few nights was to decide on a 'topic' or 'focus' for a feature article (inform, explain, entertain) or editorial (persuade, provoke thought, entertain). Remember these are 'interest' or opinion pieces, and so should focus on something that can be entertaining, interesting, include your opinion and be relevant to a majority of your audience. These are NOT news stories.

To choose a good topic:
1. Think about topics you are interested in, that are relevant at the moment, or that you have researched during a UOI e.g. Space exploration, Ancient greece, riddles, bees, Halloween, Christmas, New years, Movies, Term 4, moving on to high school, animal cruelty, leaders, communities, music etc
2. Put a different spin on it. e.g. How much does Halloween cost us? What's the big deal about high school? What's the point of Christmas? Bees: Friends or enemies? The future is now. Abraham lincoln, Nelson Mandela and Mrs Foster; the great leaders of our time. etc

You can get ideas for headlines, topics or articles off the internet- Just make sure you put your own perspective on them!

Once you have decided on your topic add it to this doc. Example features and editorials are also there.

Once that is completed you need to complete some research and start planning your piece. Remember to use the same structure as last time (inverted pyramid), and include some factual information as well as your opinion. You may want to jot down all the important information you need to include, or create who, what, when, where, why, how titles and jot ideas under each.

If you think you are ready, look at your annotated models in your writing book and write your first draft. If you finish edit and craft it yourself and share it with your writing crew!
Remember to use first person plural pronouns (Us, we, our) to include the audience

These articles should be a lot of fun! Pick something of interest to you, put your own opinions and spin on the article and make it entertaining!

Feature articles:
Can be focused on a topic, from one or more 'alternative' angles, can look at an interesting or unique person or event.
 Some feature examples are here and a great middle school one is here
Editorials are persuasive pieces, to provoke thought or change the audience's mind.
Editorial examples: 1, 2, 3

Term 4, Week 3

Today your task is to write your Newspaper Article draft. Look through your writing books at your ideas, research and annotated models. You can also look at This example or at this basic model. Remember- you can use the structure or ideas from other models!!
If you finish. Edit/craft and proofread- use your checklists. Then share it with your writing crew they can comment on the doc, giving you feedback and feedforward 

Print your draft before we leave (with the comments) and glue it into your writing book. 

Term 4, Week 2

Today your task is to read the latest Blog Post. Create a google doc and start researching in preparation for writing your news article. 

Task 1: Read an article from the Scholastic Kids Press Corps or this article, and identify the following structures/features the author has used to write the article...

• Purpose
• Audience
• Lead sentence: The first sentence -Should grab and hook your reader right away!
• Introduction: Which facts and figures introduce the story?  Where and when this story is happening (also who, what, why, how).
• Opening quotation: The first quote which should give the reader a sense of the people involved and what they are thinking?
• Main body: Main part of your story
• Closing quotation: Last quote which should sum the article up in a few words.Conclusion: How the story is finished

Remember, not ALL of these elements may be represented in the story, or even in one place.

Task 2: On the same google doc, do some research for your own story/article. (You can find the korero link on the blog homepage which may have some school information).  
Create the headlines Who, What, When, Where, Why, How and put detailed information and research under each heading. Who can you ask if you are not sure? continue adding to this as you find information

Task 3: Identify 1-3 people you can interview. Brainstorm some questions to ask in an interview which will help meet the purpose of your article (to inform), add more information, backup the facts, and/or aid your research. Choose the best 10 + questions to ask. Write these in your writing book under the heading 'Interview Questions'.  
*When you are interviewing them or thinking of questions you may want to think about what other information you may need. e.g. names of students (use first names only), results, highlights, extra information, photos etc and ensure you ask them for this. You may also want to ask about their feelings, ideas to include some persona information and add some extra detail to your article.