CLASSROOM RESOURCESMIDDLE YEARS 7-9

MATHS:

● Map the five Catholic Dioceses of Queensland.● Calculate the area of each Diocese, order them from smallest to largest.● Give directions for moving between the different dioceses. ● Research the number of students in Catholic Schools in Queensland. ● Work out the percentage of students who attend Catholic Schools.● Create graphs depicting …

Research and learn the local indigenous counting system, names for the seasons.

Basically, whatever you are working on in maths during Catholic Education Week, use the figures from Catholic Schools in your problem solving and investigations.

MultiplicationFor every correct answer you choose, 10 grains of rice are raised to help end world hunger through the World Food Programme. http://freerice.com/#/multiplication-table/17479

Counting on Frank by Rod Clements Activities (numeracy activity)Read the book to the class as a prompt and get them to work out the number or lollies in a jar you have organised in the class.

Measure the height of every student in the class and get them to calculate the number of your classes it would take to go around the world if you put the students head to toe.

Geometry – turn shapes into pictures.

Bouncing SumsCover a beach ball with numbers (use a permanent marker or sticky labels). Toss the ball to one student and have her call out the number that her right thumb touches. She tosses it to the next student, who does the same and then adds his number to the first. Continue for five minutes and record the sum. Each time you play the game, add the sum to a graph. On which day did you reach the highest sum? The lowest?

Twister MathStick labels with numbers, shapes, or images of coins onto the circles of a Twister mat. Give each student in turn an equation, a description of a shape, or an amount of money, then have the student place his or her hand or foot on the answer.Challenge: Label the mat with numbers ending in zero, then call out numbers and tell kids they must round up or down to the nearest answer.

ENGLISH:

Catholic Mission – Song Competition: Catholic Mission are currently running a song competition based on the theme of the Extraordinary Month of Mission. The purpose of the competition is to engage children and young people of every Diocese in composing and ‘singing for mission’.

All school aged students, school music groups and choirs, parish choirs, youth groups, youth music groups/bands/choirs and individual music students up to the age of 19 years, are invited to compose a song and submit it to Catholic Mission. Competition closes 26/7/19.

This is a beautiful song that could be used for a range of purposes – ‘Many Voices, One Spirit’ Kevin Wood https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsvRwyJz08I. Would be certainly beautiful for meditation.

Flash FictionThe theme of togetherness is covered by the idea that you do this in groups.The theme can also be covered by the words you give them.

● Level 1 – Give groups five words to generate a short story of 50 words● Level 2 – the group has to edit their story down to 40 words● Level 3 – the group has to edit down to 30 words.

This activity fosters teamwork and creativity. ExampleScary

It took three game systems, a 60-inch HDTV, junk food, and surround sound to get their son to be unafraid of the basement.

They snuck upstairs. She said, “You know what would be funny? Go down there like monsters.”

“I’ll find the ski masks,” he said.

“I’ll get the knives.” Word Lists (Middle Primary to Yr12 levels) changewaitneedunitylaughingtraditiontogetherlaughmemorybelongingcompassion

Class Trivia CompetitionTwenty questions, four rounds with five questions based on the works studied. For example:

● Years 7 to 9: Holes, Surviving Hitler, Pavana, Harry Potter series, Wonder, Peter Pan, BFG.

● Years 10 to 12: Lord of the Flies, To Kill A Mockingbird, The Crucible, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, The Great Gatsby, BladeRunner (film), Ladies In Black (film).

Google search ‘literary trivia questions and answers for middle school pdf’.

Class Writing CompetitionGenre is a group chat (like on Messenger or Instagram)Theme is ‘Learn a Lesson’

Black Out PoemsSelect a page of text that is subject-specific. For example, a news story about animal herds and black out all bar 5 to 10 words. In groups, students write a poem using those words.

Author VisitsArrange for an author to visit and talk about their work.

Book Shop VisitThis is best done with a small group of avid readers. Arrange for a rep from a local bookshop to visit and bring their books with them. Students can either buy the books or recommend that their library buy them.

Literacy ParadeHave students form groups and dress up in the theme of book/film/character/number/letter/math concept for the day. They choose a song to which they perform a short, mimed skit. Teachers judge the best group. This activity helps build enthusiasm for the subjects students are learning while working together.

Domino championships – run a domino competition in your class.