Hi there! Welcome to my SLC.   Ms Willemse, this is my mom Alana.  No photographs please during the course of this presentation thank you.

My Blue Sky

The first thing I will talk about is my Blue Sky project.  I tackled an important problem based on something I was interested in (which is mountain biking) and came up with a solution that has been well-received.

The Blue Sky Problem was how to provide more current and useful information to people who use trails. This would improve knowledge, enjoyment and safety. My solution was to add a QR code to  trailhead signs and when the person uses their smartphone on it, the website shows up on their screen.  It would explain how to stay safe as well as interesting points about the trail.   It could be updated by trail users and park management staff and rescue services with new hazards and points of interest like seasonal vegetation.

I did some research, got some excellent content from my subject matter expert, Kevin Woodhouse at Sea to Sky Park Services and designed a prototype website.  The name of the website is Trailinfo. During the exhibition, I was part of the safety group and I could show people the prototype website and how it worked.

From doing the project I learned more about how to be safe on the mountain, how to set up a blog website and I gained more experience on how to set up an exhibit.  It was interesting to combine technology with nature.  Feedback overall has been very positive.  My subject matter expert said it was a “well thought-out project that can make a difference.”  Other people said things like it was a brilliant idea that should be rolled out further and it could save lives.

How The Raven Brought The Light.

The goal of this project was to construct a visual representation of Geometry, Symmetry and Light. The theme was “How the raven brings the light”. Since it is a Haida legend, I decided to build a longhouse out of Lego as the centre piece.  Adding things like flashlights, a CD sun, triangular prism tree, tissue paper, artwork, cylinder and mirror, I was able to represent opacity, translucency, transparency, colour, reflection, refraction, symmetry and geometry.  I explained the stories behind the Haida legend and the scientist Ibn al-Hatham and defined the terms I was showing in the display for the exhibition.

I liked the Haida story and it took me a while to figure out how to show all these geometry, symmetry and light terms.   I learned some new things like Raven brings the Light legend, Ibn al-Hatham, refraction and why a CD displays so many colours of light.  I also learned how to combine many different topics in one project like an ancient Haida legend and a scientist from Iraq with math and science terms and modern parts like Lego and CDs. I liked how the CD sun, raven on the lit smokehole and shadow reflection turned out as you can see below.

 

Field trip – The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round

At school my class learned about world religions. I didn’t know about these religions before and that so many people belonged to them.  We did research for the test and had a test but after that we got to go and learn about the religions in person.  We went on field trips to visit different places of worship in Vancouver.  I learned that even if a lot of those religions started in different countries there are many people practising them right here. We learned about religions like Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Islam and Judaism.   We even got to taste some food at the Sikh temple.  I had a lot of fun going to visit the churches and temples. My group had to cover Christanity. We went to St Andrews United church for that. The minister there was very nice about answering our questions and telling us how it was built and more about the religion. The field trips were a great way to enhance what we learned in the class.

There were other highlights this term too but time is limited.  I liked learning about Robert Hooke from the Renaissance, also known as England’s Leonardo.  The exploration unit was interesting.  It was an eye opener to see how hard it was to get through the Northwest Passage. I won’t complain about getting through slow traffic now I see how hard it is to get through ice flows.

Year in Review:

Looking back over this school year I can see that we’ve learned many things.  I’ve read more than ever before, my writing and project skills have improved and I know more about technology.  I think I am a better listener and see that working hard pays off.  I understand the importance of a growth mindset so you are open to new ideas and have a better knowledge of things.  Thanks for giving us so many opportunities to learn.