Religion Mini-Unit (calendar before spring break)

World Religions Unit & what we are doing up to spring break:

Introduction:  (Last week)

Brainstorming on charts - what do we know, think we know and want to know (questions) about varied religions and religion in general.

We watched "What is religion?" DVD - you should have made notes in a T-chart on this with main ideas on the left and details on the right.  If you struggled with this, you may wish to watch again (this may be a sample of your note-making skills for your portfolio).

Wed / Thurs this week:

Building some common background knowledge:  forming a basic understanding of some of the main features of the world's main religions - Religions Booklet.  Having to use real BOOKs for research too!  Booklet will be collected on Tuesday but you will not have more class time after today and yesterday.

Friday and Tuesday:   Interims and starting mini-project

Mini - Project:    (in preparation to share with parents at student-led-conferences)

***See sidebar to the right for links to the project description***

Learning Intentions:  The "why's" behind the "what" we are studying and doing

• Research skills - including note-making (organized in a way that you were taught!)
• Visual Representation (communication skills) "old-school" and on paper! - Emphasis on representing your information with images, key words only and organized on a graphic organizer of your choice (choose one that best suits your topic
• Independent or Collaborative skill building - dependent partly on your performances in the last group project.  You get to choose to work alone or with a partner.
• Oral Presentation - formally presenting and using your graphic organizer as a visual aid to enhance what you say.  This may require you to write a speech! You will also be sharing these with your parents! (Student - led conferences next week on Wednesday)
• Reflections and self/peer assessment.  (Learning to give and receive constructive feedback).

Monday - Cleaning up portfolios (narrow focus for student-led conferences, opportunity to show improvement since report card (end of Jan).  

Tuesday - last day to work on Visual aid for your religion project 

Wed / Thurs, Friday - Genius Hour!!!  While you work on Genius Hour, I will call you up for sharing your religion projects with me :)  Unless you want to film your presentation to your parents and post on the class blog?  We can discuss in class.   

Spring Break!!!  Woo Hoo!  Enjoy, rest up and come back re-energized to work till the end of the year :)