Life Of A Chimpanzee

During this year’s collaborative class reading Mrs. D picked a book that most of us hadn’t expected, a type of book that most of us hadn’t even thought about. At the start of the book Half Brother it didn’t turn out very exciting but after making connections to the characters, I changed my opinion fast. After reading the book Half Brother we started to get more in depth on the whole animal cruelty and chimpanzees topics, leading us towards the award winning documentary “Project Nim” which is a very compelling documentary.

There were many similarities between the book “Half Brother” and the documentary “Project Nim” For example, both Zan and Nim had a dominant side towards their male role models, which were Mr. Richard Tomlin and Wer. Something else they share was the sense of emotion they had towards their owners. Like in the story “Half Brother,” Zan could sense whether or not Ben had been hurt making Zan feel guilty. In  “Project Nim” Nim could sense the emotion between him and Stephanie, Herb and Bob. Both Zan and Nim had bitten people leading to why scientists consider them animals.

There are also some disturbing parts about both “Half Brother” and “Project Nim”. In the documentary Nim killed a dog  and had bitten multiple people leaving scars on previous owners to this day. In “Half Brother” Zan had bitten the students helping Mr. Tomlin, As a consequence for Zans actions, they added a learning chair where Zan would be strapped in if he misbehaved. At Doctor Hellsons farm, if Zan misbehaved he would be electrocuted with an electric cattle prod.

There are also differences between the two stories. In “Project Nim”, Nim had been tested for medication purposes at a biomedical research center called LEMSIP (Laboratory for Experimental Medicine & Surgery in Primates), and in Half Brother Zan was about to be sent to a bioresearch center called the Thurston foundation but wasn’t because of Ben and the public.

There is lots of new data I have learned while reading and watching “Project Nim” and “Half Brother”  For example, chimpanzees have a great memory span. In the documentary Nim remembered Stephanie after 13 years and hadn’t been too fond of her for leaving him. Also the similarities we humans share with chimps like having fun, drinking alcoholic beverages and smoking marijuana. I’ve learnt a lot from the book and the documentary and understand a lot more about the life of a chimpanzee.  

The War Of 1812 Rewritten

During a reenactment in Tillsonburg, Ontario of the war of 1812,  Mrs. D commander of the British led her grade ⅞ class  throughout the battles of 1812 with the brilliance and bravery assisted by General Ross.

I personally have learned a lot of the basics of the war of 1812, on Mr Robin Barker- James’ farm were the reenactment had been held. I’ll always remember the memories I had there. For example, my best memory  was getting to meet and interact with our enemies and how hard it must of been killing their family and friends that might only live on opposite sides of the border.

Another great memory was how accurate and how realistic Mr. Barker-James made it, with bayonet battles, training, and seizing  fort Niagara, trench warfare and so much more. I believe we showed those Americans who won the War Of 1812 and how we Canadians can fight for what we think is right.


I learned many new technique and facts about frontline warfare. For example how to bayonet battle, and how honorable those soldiers were by letting the opposite side shot them without retreating which would be most people’s first option.

I’d really like to thank Mr. Robin Barker-James for teaching us that war is no fun and games and if you’re willing to go to war it better be for a good reason. I believe the set up at his farm is really compelling, accurate and  personally  I would recommend this trip to anyone that seeks action and a chance in the frontline warfare. And of course it sure beats  sitting in a classroom all day reading from a text book.

The Game Winning Goal

Ten seconds left on the scoreboard, the adrenaline rushing through my body as I sprint up the field, I dash towards the ball as I outrun the defencemen. I take a desperate shot at the net as I collide with the soft wet soil. I look around noticing the loud cheering and hollering of my name. “I had hit the net and won the game!” How awesome.

Game Winning Goal

Christmas Story

It was the night before Christmas and all though the house my family was snoring louder then a mouse. That very morning I stormed down the stair expecting all the presents were to be there. I ran to my parents room depressed and confused yelling  “Santa forgot you too”. My parents awoke with a confession or two admitting they forgot to retrieve the gifts they had bought for you. I questioned there answer with a “what about that big jolly dude?” they replied with an answer I wish I hadn’t heard.

Epic Win Polar Bears

The major problem I am studying is the fact of global warming. Global warming is when the earths atmosphere becomes warmer and warmer causing lots of problems like ice melting in the Arctic which effects animals like polar bears, arctic fox  and birds. This problem has been caused by a natural gases called methane gas, and human gases like fossil fuels(CO2) water vapors etc. This problem also effects the polar bears in norther Canada, Alaska and Russia. In time it effects the polar bears because the ice is melting making winters shorter which means less time to hunt causing animals to starve to death.

I created a Glogster to summarize my research.

                                                             amckiel

This year my class and I participated in a fundraiser that helps the polar bears in norther Canada. There were many steps we had taken to reach are goal.The first step we had taken was  we had to pick what fundraiser we wanted to take part in, are class picked Polar Bears International  . Next  we had to pick how much money we needed to reach are goal, are classes goal was whopping $250 with in a 12 day time line. Then we started are fund raiser on November 18 and by November 30 we had reached are goal.

I liked participating in this project. It taught are class how to work as a team and succeed  are goals. My whole experience was heart warming because it doesn’t matter how big or how little changes can impact the world positively. In the end are class had over seceded with a goal of $250 we made $293. It taught us well thanks to Mrs Durnin who had been there to support us though out this fundraiser.

My TMTT blog post

The book Ten marks and a train ticket is based on the childhood of a 9 year old boy named Benno and a 13 year old boy named Heinz. In the book these two Jewish boys are trying as hard as they can to escape the horror of Berlin Germany in WWII.

During this I made a Time Line of the events that happened in the story.

The most memorable image in my opinion in the book Ten Marks And A Train Ticket is when Benno and Heinz climb aboard the train to Holland, knowing German soldiers were aboard this train. This is a memorable image because I would be so terrified knowing if they got caught they would be sent back. Hiding under the cold train seats in the dark gives me chills in the first place but knowing German soldiers were on the train this would be horrifying.

“Be brave don’t let them turn you back”
The reason why I picked this quotation is because it is important to the story setting and characters. One reason why its important to the setting is because these words were the last words they heard from their  father on the day they left. Its important to the characters because that was the last Benno ever heard of his father. If Benno’s father hadn’t said this they might of not been so determined to try to cross the boarder the second time.

Some thoughts I had after reading the book Ten Marks and a Train ticket are. One in which what year did Heinz die in? And what did Benno think of his children publishing the book he wrote when he was a child of 16? This was a very exiting book after each reading all I wanted to do was keep reading. I recommend this book to people who like stories on adventure and or the history of World War II.

My cross-country data

This year my class and I participate in a run we did during are gym class. We did this run every day for a amount of 3 weeks. The purpose of this run was to see how much of an improvement our class will in their pace.

During these runs I made improvement. There is improvement I have made this fall. I learned how to keep a steady pace in which makes I don’t get as tired. When we started this running my pace was a lot slower (3:41 min/km) as the time went on my pace slowly started to get faster(3:30 min/km).

As we did these runs I made goals to help me achieve a faster time. This year I have made a goal in which I should try to at least run 4 times a week. In these runs I try to at least run 3km. During my runs i hope to improve my pace.

Idea hive post

This year is not like any other, my class and another class is taking part of a website called idea hive. This website connects two schools over 2700km away. One school is the small town of Snow Lake Manitoba and the other also a small town Wingham Ontario.

Some thing we all have in common is we all at least brush are teeth at least once a day. Something most of has have in common is most like the video game Call of Duty some of the people who like this are Joan, Wesley , Jordan and Riley. Two unique things about me are I’m the only one between the two class that’s favorite show is Jersey Shores also I’m the only one who’s favorite sports team is the Toronto Rock. Some one unique in my opinion is Erin from the other class the reason is she she has no particular favorite move or T.V show. She also is unique because she is the only one in are class that would like to go to Egypt. My question to Snow Lake Manitoba is what is Dirtbiker77’s real name. Few of the people pets this included Sully, Angle, Emily, Dirtbiker77, Erin.

Epic Win Summer

This summer my family and I packed the car ready for what we knew might be the best week of the summer. After a long 7 hour drive with two crying little siblings both under the age of five,a sigh of relief came when we got to the site. “Thank goodness” I said as I climbed out of the cluttered car. After unpacking all of our stuff we headed straight for the water. After a long 3 day canoe trip down the Temagami river we packed up the car once again for the long ride home. This was my favorite part of my summer.

The worst thing about my summer was the food i ate on my trip to the Toronto FC game. After the game my dad and I stopped by a little buffet (Kings Buffet). I tried some of the food and most of it was pretty good, until I tried the the sushi. “Yuck” I said as I spit it on the plate. I’ve got to say that is the grossest meal I have ever eaten

The person I was with most of my summer was my friend named Bree. My Mom and her Mom were best friends before we were born. I don’t get to see her very often, only when she comes up to Port Elgin to visit which is only like 3 times a year.

The best meal I ate this summer was the great pizza we all made on our canoe trip in Temagami. The good thing about it was the roasting on the fire. What a great meal I had that.

I wonder what Mrs D’s favorite app is on her i pad?
I wonder what Mrs D’s favorite meal is as well?

Yodio – The Forest Race