Independent Work

Title Page:

What do you think of the services provided by your local library?
Compare the services to those of another country or to Singapore many years ago - talk to your grandparents or parents!
How effective is the NLB (National Library Board) in promoting reading amongst Singaporeans?

2nd Page:

Write an e-mail to your friend to invite him to join you in taking part in the Nationwide campaign 'Read! Singapore 2009. (150 words)


Friday, 17 April 2009

Q1)How did this debate affect my perceptions of myself?
A1)This debate taught me everybody can speak up and out with just a little bit of courage. I also felt happy when I answered a question for my group.

Q2)In what ways did the debate fit my learning style?
A2)The debate has fit my learning style that learning, getting more knowledge or prior knowledge and playing can be fun all at the same time.

Q3)Has it influenced the way I perceive English and Literature?
A3)Yes it has. I started not liking English in P5 where Mr Khoo was my teacher, beacause he doesn't teach as well and just gives us worksheets and lots of homework. After this debate, I realise English and Literature is fun!

Q4)What did the debate show us about the 'tricks' authors use to captivate the heart
and mind of the reader?
A4)The authors use very strong vocabulary and shows lots of comparisons which makes use confuse sometimes why do they use them.
Abraham
I was sure that the questions in the debate were very hard and that I will not be able to answer them. I do not usually speak up in class but now I find it much easier to speak up in class and express what I am going to say. It took some courage but it was worth it as the debate was really fun and I really enjoyed it. I hope that there will be more debating going on and I will be happy to answer the questions.

I learnt that I can learn a lot of things in a debate if I really listened to all my classmates and I will know where I went wrong if the wrong answer is given. I also learnt to depend on myself if I want to speak up and have to guts to make mistakes so I can learn from them.

The debate did not really influenced the way I perceive English and Literature as I had always had fun in both of the languages. I had always wanted to take up Literature when I go to secondary school but I did not know that it could be so fun, especially in debating. I am going to work hard so I can take up Literature and achieve my target.

They use words that are very carefully chosen and combined them with the simple sentences to allow readers to visualize the scene very clearly. The authors also use simple yet 'complicated' sentences to describe their feelings, adventures, etc. Show not tell was very well used and made the ordinary extraordinary with sentences or phrases that leave the reader with a very deep impression.

Si Jia
i don't really have much self-confidence before this debate.but now i know i can speak up for myself.at the start of the debate,i wasn't sure if i wanted to do it.but after awhile,i found it quite fun and interesting.

i learned that sometimes when you speak up for yourself,you can actually learn more than when others speak out for you.and you can even find out more about yourself.so now,i will speak up and ask more questions whenever i'm in doubt.

yes.i had thought that most things that have anything to do with english and literature were boring.but now i know its not true at all.it is actually quite interesting and fun.

the author taught me alot of show not tell...and... he used quite alot of words to discribe his feelings.and he used alot of senses when trying to help us picture how it was really like in the wild.

siqi

Thursday, 16 April 2009

The debating was fun!!
I hope we can do the dabating again..
At first I was quite confused,,
but after I saw my friends doing it,
I knew how to do it,,
I want to do better next time!!
Yun Na>_<

Tuesday, 14 April 2009

In the hit movie Finding Nemo an overprotective clownfish named Marlin searches for his son Nemo.
The true protectors of clownfish in the ocean, however, are not parents but rather prickly, stinging sea anemones that live on reefs.
Clownfish, also called anemone fish, are small - largest (13cm) and are usally devoured by larger fish such as grouper.
For protection, clownfish seek refuge amongst the tentacles of sea anemones which contain harpoon-like stinging capsules used to capture prey and ward off predators.
Clownfish have mucus on their skin that somehow protects them against the sting of their host anemone. As a result, the clownfish are able to stick near their host which is avoided by most other fish in the sea. If you remove the clownfish, large butterfly fishes will eat the anemone.
Butterfly fish are predators of the sea anemone. Clownfish scare off butterflyfish from the anemone. So, the protection of the anemone is part of the mutual relationship.

In addition to scaring off predators, some scientists speculate that clownfish waste may serve as a nutrient for the anemones.

Sunday, 12 April 2009

What is the difference between lobster and crayfish?

Lobster
Qualitative
-scavengers
-sometimes eat its exoskeleton for nutrients
-mostly posses unequal size of claw
-quite big in size
-carapace exoskeleton
- antenaee
-blue blood due to the presence of haemocyanin


Quantitative
-10 legs
-two antenaee
-two specialised claws
-two eyes which have multivision
-hard exoskeleton
-have 19 body segments

Adaptations
-live on rocky, sandy, or muddy bottoms from the shoreline to beyond the edge of the continental shelf
-generally live singly in crevices or in burrows under rocks.
-eat fishes ,krills ect
-they moult
Crayfish
-Qualitative
- freshwater crustaceans
-resemble small lobsters
-breathe through feather-like gills found in bodies of water that do not freeze to the bottom
-they strengthen their claws by lifting rocks and other underwater debris
-called spiny lobster

-Quantitative
-10 legs
-two multivision eye
-mostly have identical claws
-have 19 body segment

-Adaptations
-live estimately 3 meters under water level
- mostly found in brooks and streams where there is fresh water running, and which have shelter against predators.
-generally eat krills,small fishes
-they moult

Thursday, 9 April 2009

Chapter 9, page 84

"I must make a home for the sparks, he thought. A perfect home or they won't stay, they won't make fire."

1. Why does Brian think that the sparks need a home?
2. What does the comment above tell us about the way Brian thinks of the sparks?
Chapter 9, page 83

"He dug into his pockets and found twenty-dollar bill in his wallet. Worthless paper out here."

1. Why did Brian think of his money as 'worthless'?
2. What does this comment show about what he thought the future held for him?
Chapter 8, page 76/77

"Sitting alone in the dark, his leg aching, some mosquitoes finding him again, he started crying. It was all too much, just too much, and he couldn't take it. "

1. What do these sentences tell us about how Brian is feeling?
2. Explain clearly why the situation was 'too much'?
Chapter 8, page 74

"But the smell was alive, alive and full and in the shelter."

1. Explain what made Brian describe the smell as 'alive'?

2.Why did he choose the word the adjective 'full' to tell us about the smell?

How I See Brian in Hatchet

How I See Brian in Hatchet

Sloshing Oil

Sloshing Oil

Maths Anyone??

Reflection on Hatchet Debate

Within 1 hour, 39 pupils spoke out and shared some of their thoughts on a given topic and in so doing allowed others to have insight of their own beliefs and values - think of the 'Perfect Home' discussion.

I would like to applaud the 39 individuals for bringing such a professional quality to the debate - all contributed to its success and the 'energy' that resulted from this concerted effort will be converted into greater motivation for 6 Grace.

Please take time to reflect and share your thoughts on the following:

How did this debate affect my perceptions of myself?
In what ways did the debate fit my learning style?
Has it influenced the way I perceive English and Literature?
What did the debate show us about the 'tricks' authors use to captivate the heart and mind of the reader?

I had such pleasure hosting the debate and I felt the true magic of 6 Grace.

Please post your thoughts. Thank you.

Snapshots of Term 1