Dec. 2nd, 2010 – ‘Tis the season to make kites

YMCA Academy Experiential Learning, Science and Math, Student Spotlight

Just as most of us are finding mittens and making sure the shovel is handy, the grade 10 math class is dreaming of warmer times and are making kites.  They combined their knowledge of measurement (metric and imperial), angles, triangles and surface area as they made tetrahedron kites this week.

Let’s hope that winter comes late as we hope to head out next week to fly our creations.  Think warm thoughts for us or at least unpack the scarves and toques and send them to school as we brave the weather in the hopes to hold off winter for at least a little while.

Nov. 19th, 2010 – Health Care projects on display

YMCA Academy Experiential Learning, Healthy Living, Student Spotlight

The Grade 11 Health Care College/ University (TPJ3M) class has completed their body systems projects. If you are wondering:

  • How your diaphragm makes your lungs inflate.
  • How electrical impulses make your body move.
  • What atherosclerosis is.
  • OR
  • What a spinal column actually looks like….

…. Then come by our display outside the lab!

The circulatory system
The nervous system

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Nov. 19th, 2010 – Freeze dried frog dissection

YMCA Academy Experiential Learning, Science and Math

The Grade 11 Health Care College/ University (TPJ3M) class performed the Academy’s first non-virtual dissection yesterday. New technology has provided us with the option of specimens without formalin fixation. The Academy has avoided specimens in the past because formalin fixation is a known carcinogen and we didn’t want to have it in our lab or be responsible for sending it to a dump. A FREEZE-DRIED frog is our answer and yesterday we got very familiar with its internal organs!

YMCA Academy students dissecting a freeze dried frog
Dissecting a freeze dried frog after using a virtual dissection lesson

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Nov. 18th, 2010 – Swing Dancing at the Academy!

YMCA Academy English and Humanities, Experiential Learning

On Monday November 15th, the History class turned into a dance class!  As part of our Unit on the 1920’s and 1930’s, we were fortunate to have guests Dave Mott and Alexi Manis teach us the Charleston.  The students had a great time, as they danced to classic Charleston music, then tested the timelessness of the moves by busting out the same moves to Daft punk.  It was a fun class, and we’d all like to thank Dave and Alexi for teaching us a bit more about the culture and dance of the Roaring ‘20’s.

Academy students dancing to classic Charleston music
Dave Mott and Alexi Manis teaching the Charleston

Nov. 12th, 2010 – Exploring our local Geography

YMCA Academy English and Humanities, Experiential Learning

On November 10th, Grade 9 Geography students went on a walk to get to know our neighborhood.  We noticed many buildings, plaques, parks and monuments that we had just walked by in the past.  This is part of our unit on mapping and getting to know our local Geography and landforms.

YMCA Academy students exploring our local Geography
Students find some great buildings around the Yonge & Bloor Area