We have a lot of "character" in grade 6!!
A Recent Literary Hit
Imagine...............as an infant baby, he was taken away from his mother by scientists who taught him to talk, read and write. Now, after many years, these same scientists want to send the now grown "baby" to school. Even though he is stronger than most humans, he is scared. Raised only in a laboratory, he has never had the opportunity to experience how others his age interact and socialize. His sole purpose was to be observed for scientific research. The story of ORTEGA! I introduced this wonderful and engaging book to my students by leaving out a crucial word...gorilla! After introducing the idea of a baby being taken away from their mother for scientific research, students immediately responded, this provided for a perfect opportunity to WRITE!!? I found students, particularly those who believe "they can't write" and typically hesitate wrote nonstop and filled the page without any challenge at all! This was a beautiful "teachable moment"! After this writing frenzy displayed by all students, they were eager to share their views and a wonderful class discussion unfolded easily. It was truly inspiring to observe their perspectives and watch how "light bulbs" lit up all throughout the classroom. My next step then was to re-introduce the exact same introduction as I had initially, only this time I included the crucial word....gorilla! I then asked students if their response to the idea of taking a baby away from its' mother for the purpose of scientific research changed things for them or remained the same? Once again they wrote endlessly! This wonderful story brought an entire classroom together through "sit-on-the-edge-of-your-seat" suspense, tears and laugh-out-loud humour; that were brilliantly written for all ages. I found every student, regardless of their current abilities, could discover success in their own way through their own views on the many extensions this book provides to a classroom. A class could discuss issues on ethics, the environment and how we, as humans, fit into and interact with one another and our world, toleration and judgement and being able to see beyond differences. Students learned to ask questions more and to initiate the idea to challenge decisions; to ponder how it might feel to live that kind of unnatural life and whether or not animals respond to this at all. This book is definitely a favourite in my classroom! Enjoy!
About the Author
Maureen Fergus has written Exploits of a Reluctant (But Extremely Goodlooking) Hero and Recipe for Disaster. Ortega is her third novel. She lives in Winnipeg, Canada.
http://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dca-books-english-tree&field-keywords=ortega
http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Ortega-Maureen-Fergus/9781554534746-item.html?cookieCheck=1
About the Author
Maureen Fergus has written Exploits of a Reluctant (But Extremely Goodlooking) Hero and Recipe for Disaster. Ortega is her third novel. She lives in Winnipeg, Canada.
http://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dca-books-english-tree&field-keywords=ortega
http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Ortega-Maureen-Fergus/9781554534746-item.html?cookieCheck=1
Captured Memories of 2010 - 2011
Take Time To Kick Up Your Heels and PLAY!!!
A fabulous reminder by nature itself that life should also be about enjoying the moments around us! So, remember to take time to kick up your own heels...life really is GRAND!!
Learning in the 21st Century
Knowledge is Power!
Education provides Opportunity! An opportunity to escape poverty. An opportunity to live healthily. An opportunity to hope. Education is a life line. ~Rania Al Absullah Queen of Jordan
We have a lot of "character" in grade 6!! Check out the new Art Page!
