Fish B Prezi Presentations

Tina's Fish B students recently created some great Prezi presentations on topics ranging from Bullying to Inventions.  Check them out below!

Zhuoran
Carl
Jimmy
Bennie
Simon
Brian

Great job, everybody!

Deer and Rooster Presentation Slides

The students from our Deer and Rooster streams recently completed presentations on their chosen topics. Here are the Prezi slides that they worked on and presented. Great job, everyone!

Emma
Ray
Fiona
Jenny
Jason
Eric
Roy
Jessica
Shun

Writing ABCs

Writing an essay is just like the ABCs. If you learn the correct way, perhaps the next moment you’ll be getting your PhD for literature! The quality of your writing is equal to what grade you get. Most people are very pessimistic about writing. The more you think about it, the less you want to write. So be positive! That is an important key to writing a successful essay. Writing an essay is real easy, believe me!

To start an essay, you must include an introduction to show what the essay is about. Imagine you reading an essay without any introduction, you would barely know what the essay is about! The introduction introduces your thesis statement. A thesis statement is the statement you want to prove. A tip is to put your thesis statement as the last sentence in your introduction. Be sure to include a good hook. The hook is used to make the reader actually want to read you essay. Just explain your topic briefly.

The body of the essay must be detailed .Include facts and statements that can supports your topic well. Try not to include any wasted words or facts that are not useful. At least 3 paragraph for an essay is expected. Each paragraph is a supporting statement, and in each paragraph, try to include at least 3 details.

At the end of the essay, which is called the conclusion  and is your last paragraph, it is used to wrap up all your ideas and supporting statement. At the conclusion, use your best language and word choice as you can, cause it’s your last chance to impress your professor or anyone you are handing your work into! Be sure to include all the facts you have mentioned before!

In your essay, never ever include the words “I” or “I Think”, it will only weaken you writing. Remember to use only informal language. Also remember not to use weak transitions such as “First”, “Second”, “Then”, ETC. Never use contractiona because that is counted as informal language. Here’s a tip: always use you best language and word choice, and the more descriptive your writing is, the better your mark will be. Remember these tips and you will impress your teacher!

Writing an Essay is as Easy as a Lay Up

Writing an Essay is as Easy as a Lay Up

 

A lay up, is the easiest way to score a basket. Writing an essay is the easiest way to get an A in your english courses. Lay ups however, are considered very hard for people to do, but if we know it correctly,it is very easy. It is same as writing an essay. If we know it correctly, it will be as easy as doing a lay up. Writing an essay is very easy.

When you start to do something, you always need to do the first things first. When you want to learn how to do a layup, you need to start sprinting. It is exactly same with writing. When you start on an essay, you need start the intro first. You need to add the statement that you are using to  trying to persuade your readers. You also need to add a little bit of shocking sentence or a interesting sentence to start with so that it hooks up the readers and make them want to continue reading your work. Writing an introduction is very very easy as doing a layup.

You always need to focus on the main things when you do a lay up. The three body paragraphs are like the footwork in doing a layup. If you do not do the main things, there is no point of doing what you are doing. It is the same with writing. You need 3 juicy and very detailed body paragraphs that explains the whole thesis statement clearly so that your reader can truly understand your writing. You need to be as creative as possible to persuade your readers and make them understand your writing easier. Get as descriptive as possible and let the reader know what you are talking about. You will need the sub topics to support your actual thesis statement. The three body paragraphs are like the triple thread footwork sequence.

Even though you did all the steps in your layup, it would all be useless without actually making the basket. If you did everything perfectly and you did not try your best in your conclusion, it would make the whole paragraph weaker. It is often that people do bad on their conclusion because everybody is tired of writing the essay and they think it’s the end so they give up, but if they do not have a very strong conclusion, the reader would think this is no persuasive enough.They might even forget about what you wrote so your conclusion must reorganize everything back so that it is easy for the readers to understand all your texts. You need to have a strong conclusion so that you can ashow the readers all your clear points. Conclusions of the essay is the last part but very important and easy as doing a layup.

Even though lay up is the easiest way to score in basketball, there still can be mistakes happening. In essay writing too. There are things called no nos. these no nos are things you should never use in essay writing because it makes your essays weaker.Things like mistaken vocabulary could change the whole essay. Words like I, think, in my opinion, etc should never be used because it makes your readers think, why should I care about the author’s opinions?. Words like maybe, perhaps, or any words that are not making the reader think this is true should not be used because all it does is that it makes the readers wonder if this is true or not. You have to persuade your readers that your point is actually true. Weak transitions or contraction would make the essay not serious. Strong and efficient words would really help to make your essay look really serious. Not making mistakes in your essay is very important. Essay writing is as easy as doing a lay up in basketball.

Writing an Essay is as Easy as Counting to 5

Writing an Essay is as Easy as Counting to 5

    Counting to five is easy, or possibly the easiest thing to do. These basic steps, like counting to 5 or learning alphabets, are usually taught to kids at a young time of age. These steps will help your way to a well- deserved A. Counting to five is easy. If you know your steps.

    The beginning part of your essay is your introduction that introduces your topic to the reader. Catch your reader’s attention by offering a hook on the first sentence. Your hook can be an example, quote, question, or an interesting or shocking fact. After you hook your reader’s attention, you will introduce the topic, and specify it so that it is easy to understand. Then, you will end your introduction with a thesis statement. A thesis statement is the point that you want to make. You have to make the introduction very strong because it starts the whole essay; it is counting to 1.

    Counting to 2 might be a little bit harder than counting to 1, but it still is very similar. The body paragraphs, which are usually 3 paragraphs, are the arguments that supports the thesis. Each paragraphs must have at least 3 examples, facts, or points that can prove that your argument is reasonable. Also, adding strong sentences helps your reader better understand your statements. Persuade your reader by using good, supportive arguments.

    A good ending is a perfect way to end an essay. A conclusion is the last paragraph that you will leave the reader with, so you will bring all points together and restate your thesis statement, but in a different form than the introduction’s. It is your last opportunity to leave the reader with something thought provoking, meaning that it makes you think about it. Get your reader thinking, and for your last sentence, request for change or action. Remember, it’s your last chance to impress your reader.

    An essay is very easy to write, but there always are some errors that you should look out for. For example, you must never use “I” , “I think”, or tell personal stories, because personal opinion does not make your essay sound interesting. Nor does passive language, such as maybe, perhaps, kind of, probably, or sort of make a good essay, as this makes your statements sound weak and unreal. Also, contractions makes your essay sound weak. Poor transitions, like firstly, secondly, or thirdly, makes it sound obvious that you are switching to another paragraph. Instead, use  smooth transitions when you are  starting another paragraph. Essay writing can be as easy as counting to five. Understanding these five steps will help your way to an “A” on your report card.

Radio Shows from Jacqui's Class

Here are some audio clips from a radio show that was recorded by one of Jacqui's classes.  The students did a fantastic job...check them out below!

Three Wishes

Three Wishes

Written by a wonderful Spring Break Intensive student.  

She has only studied with us for four days 

and is already a highly successful writer.

Congratulations LBJ!

Everyone dreams about being granted three wishes. What if this dream became a reality? Wishes need not be for unrealistic things. In fact, wishes should be similar to goals that we work hard to reach. If I had three wishes, I would wish for a time machine, a healthy family and to act more like my father.

    Many people might wish to have a time machine.  However, I do not want a time machine for wealth or world travel.  Rather, I want a time machine to travel back in time so that I can change my poor behaviour.  If I had a time machine, I could correct my errors that I was only able to notice after the fact or in the future.  Now that I am older, I am able to realize that in the past I was so immature and did not listen to my parents suggestions.

     

I want to have a healthy family, because I think health is the most important thing in everyone’s life. You can not do anything without health. Also, illnesses always bring pain and sadness.  Sadly, I have already seen a lot of sick people around me. My heart suffered when I saw them, so I really don’t want my family to have these kinds of experiences. I feel scared of death, but I never dream that everybody will live forever. Living with my family for as long as possible is the only thing that I desire.

   The person I have the most respect for is my father and I really want to act more like him. In my heart, he is truly a good father, because he really cares about me, my sister and my brother’s growth. For example, my dad often talks to me about my school life and we share our thoughts to make sure that my thoughts are on the right track. He is also successful in my heart. Whenever he works, he always tries his best. When he is working, he never cares about the time and nothing can interrupt him.

     A time machine, a healthy family and to act more like my father are my wishes. Some people may think that I am too selfish, and don’t really care about the world. However, every change is started by some small acts that begin with yourself. These wishes are not too grand but they would enrich my life. What would you wish for?

How Volunteering Changed Me

I hope your Family Day weekend was as restful as mine was. This month Think Tank is really taking off, and the students are exploring their options for volunteering. Check out their blogs to watch their progress. In the meanwhile, we're talking about Volunteering here at Little Mountain.

Volunteering is frankly a strange thing. You're offering your time for free, hopefully for a cause you can care for. There's a certain pressure with the choice: it's your time, and the organization that benefits from you is a reflection of your values. For a long time I had no idea where to volunteer because I didn't know what causes I really cared about. On top of that, I wanted to enjoy myself. Thankfully, I found two organizations that have had a profound impact on me, years later.

The first success story with volunteering that I had was with Big Brothers and Big Sisters. To sign up, you need to give a years' commitment, and then you're matched with a child to spend time with once a week. I was matched with a boy named Meshach, and ours was such a success that we extended the commitment, meeting up regularly for more than two years. Even now, I go out for lunch with his family once or twice a year.

He is now significantly taller than I, and I am significantly more handsome than I used to be.

I gained so much more from that relationship than I had anticipated. It started as a desire to volunteer my time somewhere, anywhere, and what I gained was a long-term friendship, as well as some remarkable insight into the importance of role models. When we started, I tried to impress him by playing sports or going to cool events. After a few months, though, we both realized that we had two awesome things in common: we both loved making cookies and playing video games. So once a week we would do that. He would show me the newer games (Playstation 2), and I would show him the older games (N64), and between taking turns playing, we would check on the oven. It was simple and honest. We were enjoying each others' time, and the effect we had on each other has been subtle but lasting.

The second success story I had was when I was, ironically, pressured into joining a peer support network, named Speakeasy. Our job was to spend 3 hours a week at a very visible desk, and university students could come to vent to us whenever they wanted about whatever they wanted. We were there to listen, and give them resources for more help, if needed. If I hadn't agreed to join, it is not an exaggeration to say that my life would be dramatically different.

The organization taught me the difference between sympathy and empathy. If someone's having a rough time, and you sympathize with them, it is often counter-productive. It's like saying "I feel sorry for you." It doesn't help. Empathy, however, is learning to validate what the other person is feeling. It's like saying "What you're feeling makes sense, that's a totally justified reaction." Giving people your empathy rather than sympathy was a game-changer for me, and has greatly influenced the way I teach.

Of course, I would be remiss to mention the most important part of my volunteering there: I met my wife. We met during training. She didn't like me at all, and I found her charming. After a while, I tricked her into marrying me, and now I've got myself an awesome wife.

See? Much more handsome. She also looks pretty good.

Choosing a place to volunteer can be overwhelming. I've definitely started volunteering at places, and found that the culture did not suit me, so it was short lived. When it sticks, though, volunteering with a cause you love, whether you knew it or not, can have profound impacts on the rest of your life.

So give it a try. Who knows how it will change you.

Capital Punishment

Capital Punishment

by Harry Chae

As of January 1, 2013, 1320 murderers have been executed in the united states (http://www.clark.prosecutor.org). Capital punishment is the legally authorized killing of someone as punishment for a crime. Although capital punishment still exists, capital punishment should be banned because people make mistakes, two wrongs do not make a right, and the executions are very painful.

A lot of people kill by mistakes. It would not be wise to just execute murderers without hearing the details. Taking someone’s life is very serious. For example, long time ago people did a small mistakes and people killed them. Also, sometimes they killed just because of their looks. Even  because people fear the person. Just executing someone because they did something wrong is not a choice of wisdom.Capital punishment must be banned because people make mistakes.

Two wrongs do not make aright. Even though they execute murderers that does not make the victim come to life again. Gandhi said an eye to an eye just leaves the whole world blind. Just because someone killed a person does not mean we must kill him back. If we execute them, then we are as bad as the killer. Capital punishment must be banned because two wrongs never make a right.

The methods are very painful and violent. In olden days, they used to all kinds of tools to execute including animals. Almost all of them tortured these convicted to the suffered a short and very painful death.If we execute painfully, that makes us the worse ones because the killer might not have killed as painfully as we did. Capital punishment must be banned because the methods of executions are very painful.

Capital punishment is stopping the development of the world and everybody and also bad for people who consider human rights very important. Capital punishment must be banned because people make mistakes, two wrong never make a right, and the methods of execution is very painful.

Plastic Surgery

Plastic Surgery

by Olivia Kim

One in five women in South Korea have had plastic surgery. That’s a lot of people in a world with the population of 7 billion. Around you, you’ll see many people who have improved their body parts by plastic surgery. Plastic surgery is a special surgery that improves or corrects body parts  by going under the knife. The word “plastic” comes from Greek, plastikos, meaning “mold or shape”. Although plastic surgery is believed to boost confidence and make one more attractive, plastic surgery should be limited to correcting natural defects, because it is elitist, addictive, and causes physical damage.

Many have troubles affording to do plastic surgery, because it is very expensive. It is elitist, meaning meaning “only for the rich”. The average cost of abdomen liposuction (surgical procedure that suctions fat from specific areas of body) ranges from approximately  $3000 to $7500. You will have to pay this unreasonable amount of money just to fix your appearance. Also, the surgeons do not give as good quality as you think. The result may not be what you were willing for, and might cause physical damage as well. Plastic surgery is a wasteful and a bad thing to spend your money on.

Not only the cost, but addiction is just as serious. When you see positive results from plastic surgery, you want to fix all and every part of your body, and when you do, you just won’t be you. You should be proud within. For example, Jocelyn Wildenstein was addicted to getting plastic surgery because her husband didn’t think she was attractive anymore, so she spent US$ 4 million on plastic surgery, and at the end, her appearance turned disgusting.

Also, plastic surgery can cause physical damage, which is one of the worst things that could happen during a plastic surgery. Since plastic surgeries are basically cutting, suctioning, or sewing, this can obviously cause blood loss, infection, and swelling. There are possibilities of death in these surgeries also. There are sensitive nerves all over your body, especially your face, so during the surgery, your organs, such as your nose or eyes, might lose it’s function, too. You will be taking a risk.

Plastic surgery is a wasteful, addictive and elitist practice. Those who are able to afford to get plastic surgery will become beautiful; on the outside. Beauty should be recognized in all its forms. Plastic surgery will remove our identity as everyone will look the same. Stop plastic surgery now before we live in a plastic world.

More People Should Be Vegetarian

More People Should be Vegetarian
by Nick Li

Imagine if people looked at you and said you are so strong and healthy! Well a vegetarian can make you like that! Although people believe that vegetarianism is unhealthy, and it is a difficult lifestyle, it actually benefits you because it is healthier, it can save the planet, and it is inexpensive.

Being a vegetarian is always healthy if you eat the right things. It is lower on the trans and the saturated, cholesterol, and BMI. Most vegetarians can live longer since they minimize their risk of their heart diseases, diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure. Another reason is that vegetables, fruits, and dairy contains vitamins such as vitamin D and B-12, proteins, calcium, and iron.
       
       The most important thing that is being a vegetarian can actually save the planet. Why is it important ? Well, because you are part of this planet. We need 78 calories of fossil to make only 1 calorie of beef, but only 1 calorie equals 1 calorie of soybean. As for our water, it takes 3-15 times the amount of water to produce animal proteins more than plants. The topsoil of Earth is really precious to us. When legumes are used more, the topsoil will become more efficient.

        If you lack money, being a vegetarian will save a lot of your money. Even though it is easy to prepare and there aren't many ingredients to add, you can do all sorts of fancy tricks if you learn about cooking  vegetarian meals. If you get a cookbook, watch TV shows, or even ask a real vegetarian what to eat, you will find yourself with high energies ar a cheap rate. Normally, a meat eater eats $14.65 a day, but a vegetarian eat $12.45 a day. It would be cheap when you buy food at a farm or grocery store.

        Being a vegetarian benefits you and the other living and non-living things around you. Although people believe vegetarianism damages your body and that one must eat plain things, but it actually helps you because it is more nutritious, it is good for the Earth and it is cheap and easy to prepare. Have you decided to be a vegetarian now?

More About Space Exploration!

This great video was sent to me via my NASA page on Google+. It's called Risk Is Our Business. Basically, it states that in order to explore, to learn, and to grow we need to take risks. Sometimes bad things happen (like the space shuttle Challenger exploding), but the knowledge and experience gained is very much worth taking a risk to explore.

Besides, Captain Kirk speaks in the video. Awesome!

Take a look!

Exploration in Space: Chris Hadfield

It was October 4, 1957, at 7:28 pm. A small metal ball with numerous protruding antennae made its way around the Earth in a path in space. The Soviet Union (now mostly known as Russia) had gotten into space first, caused the United States of America to panic, and thus commenced the Space Race. You see, at this time these two countries had been busy trying to outdo each other to be top dog on Earth. Both the U.S.A. and the Soviet Union had tried to have the biggest army, the coolest airplanes, and the most nuclear bombs. This eventually led to each country trying to outdo each other in reaching the last frontier: outer space.

Soon enough dogs and chimpanzees were rocketing into space. Then on April 12, 1961, the Soviet Union was the first again with the first man in space. Yuri Gagarin, in his Vostok spaceship, made a complete orbit of Earth. 

The Americans were not far behind, when they sent Alan Shepard into space in the same year. Suffice to say, a competition between the two rival countries sparked a big rush into the vast unknown areas beyond our own planet. 

Over the next two decades, many new space challenges were successful and we learned huge amount about universe beyond our own planet. Most notably when NASA, the American space program, sent the first men to the moon on July 20, 1969. 

Since, then both the United States and the Soviet Union have sent many astronauts and cosmonauts (Russian astronauts) into space. Numerous space probes (travelling robots) have been sent to almost all of the planets in our solar system.

All these great moments in exploration of space were happening, but only two countries were getting to have all the fun. When were some of the other countries going to get a chance to get out into space? Well, that started to happen with arrival of the space shuttles.

When I was a boy, I remember watching the American space shuttles blast off into space. I was absolutely fascinated with those spaceships and I knew all of their names by heart: Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour (there was also the practice shuttle Enterprise). For the first time in space exploration, there were spaceships big enough to sent several astronauts into space at the same time! That meant that there was room for scientists, pilots, and space experts from other countries. That meant that Canada finally had a chance to play a part in space exploration!

In 1984, Marc Garneau became the first Canadian in space! Soon after that several other Canadians got the chance to fly aboard the space shuttles. The Canadians all got to do many experiments in space, some went outside on spacewalks, and a few of them got to play with the Canadarms! What were the Canadarms? They were the mechanical arms in each of the space shuttles. Most importantly, they were designed and built in Canada!

The space shuttles flew into space for about thirty years and then they were retired in 2011. However, they did manage to assist many countries with building the first long term space station: the International Space Station (ISS). This is where this guy comes in (that dude below in the spacesuit with Canadian flag on it).

His name is Chris Hadfield and he is a Canadian astronaut. Right now as I type this blog, Chris Hadfield is orbiting the Earth in the ISS. He will be spending a lot of time up in space in the ISS doing experiments and controlling the Canadarm2 (the bigger and more awesome version of the Canadarm).

If you would like to see what Chris Hadfield is doing up there in the International Space Station, you can follow his updates on his Facebook profile, or on his Google+ profile. Chris has even posted sounds from the International Space Station! You can leave him a message if you want. Ask him about exploring space!

Intrepid in Indonesia

What's the best way to have a good Christmas in this cold Vancouver winter? Escape the country and head for Indonesia! On December 15, I did just that. I flew to Bali to meet up with Tim Fijal, the co-owner of Little Mountain, and take the first steps in planning LMLA's summer development project.

As soon as I arrived in Bali, I knew I was going to be in good hands. I was greeted with a friendly face and a sign reading 'Ms. Su -Little Mountain Canadian delegate.'

My first stop in Bali was Green School. Guided by Tim and his two kids, JJ and Ben, who are both students there, I explored all the grounds and the classrooms. I fell in love with the two pigs they keep on the grounds and spent ten minutes trying to feed them. I did not fall in love with the insects that spent the afternoon feasting on me whilst I was distracted by cute pigs.

Green School is beautiful. The tall bamboo structures really are breath-taking and there is something truly wonderful about being out in the open every second of the day. Even though it was hot and sticky and extremely humid, it felt great to run around barefoot chasing baby chicks around. It was a joy to see kids learning in an environment so rich in discovery and adventure. I really look forward to hosting our Think Tank students there in August as they begin their orientation to the project.

Next, the Fijal clan and I hopped on a plane to Sulawesi, an island about an hour's flight away from Bali. After landing in Makassar, we embarked on a bumpy car ride. Five hours, one gorgeous sunset and many Indonesian rap songs later, we finally arrived at the home of Noan Fesnoux in Ara. 

Over the next few days, Noan and his wife, Kiky, took me on adventures unlike any I have previously experienced. I went snorkeling every day and even saw a sea turtle! I was too chicken to do any diving and got shown up every day by 10-year-old Ben, who looked like he was born in the ocean. 

The most amazing thing I saw in Ara was a fresh water cave just ten minutes away from Noan's beautiful beach house. To get to it, we climbed down heaps of rocks crawling with millipedes, snakes and other exciting friends. Just when we were starting to ask ourselves what we had let Noan get us into, we got to the bottom of the cave. There, surrounded by stalactites and a ledge lit by candles we had brought with us, was a small pool of cool fresh water. It didn't look like much at first, but as soon as I put on my snorkeling mask, the underwater view took my breath away. What looked like a small puddle from the top was revealed to be a giant, everlasting pool at the bottom of an enormous cave. I could see only giant stalagmites way down deep under the surface, in a darkness that seemed to carry on forever. Every time I came out of the water, I thought to myself, 'Holy moly, I'm in a middle of a CAVE!' It was awe-inspiring and majestic and something I hope all our kids get to experience in the summer.

On my last day in Sulawesi, I had the privilege of meeting with local leaders and village elders to talk about what our kids might do with the community in August. With the help of Kiky and Noan, we were able to really talk with and listen to the local community as they shared their excitement over our development project. We learned from them that technology and waste management are two big concerns that they hope our students can help us with. As the hours passed, we all got more and more excited as we realized how much we could all accomplish. I think we all left feeling like we could change the world together -I know I did! 

It was such an honour to listen to the group talk about how excited they were to receive me and our students as guests. In Think Tank, one of the most important things we teach our students is that social justice is about listening to people and working with people to solve problems. After my big meeting, I knew without a doubt that we are teaching the right thing. Just seeing the excitement on all our faces told me everything I need to know.

I can't wait to talk to our Think Tank students about my trip, my meeting and all the amazing things we are going to accomplish. I hope they will be as excited as I am. It is a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity -both for the community of Ara and for us.

Exploration: Pushing Boundaries

Exploration: Pushing Boundaries

Welcome to 2013! We are just at the start of this new year, but it is exciting to think of all the things that will happen in the next twelve months!  So far this new year is a big unknown, so we must explore it! New events and new challenges are waiting to be discovered.


Hence, the theme for this month: exploration. What is exploration? The word 'exploration' comes from the verb 'explore' which means, "to search into or travel in for the purpose of discovery¹." It's all about discovery! That means that when you explore you are searching for new ideas, new places, and new experiences!

With exploration in mind, for this month we are going to seek out people who gone where "no one has gone before² "!


¹ From the website The Free Dictionary (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/explore)
² From the opening monologue of Star Trek: the Next Generation (® Paramount Studios)