The Ontario Curriculum Exemplars are intended to provide a model for planning, assessing, and improving student work across Ontario. The exemplars give Ontario teachers the opportunity to view graded student work that is based on tasks that were designed with the curriculum expectations in mind and assessed according to the four levels of achievement outlined in the curriculum. The specific goals behind publishing the exemplars are: to show examples of student work at each of the four levels of achievement; to work toward consistency in assessment across the province; to demonstrate an approach to student learning that is based on clear criteria; and to highlight the links between the curriculum expectations and assessment.
The Ontario Curriculum Exemplars Grade 1-8 Writing (1999)
Read, Write, Think
Read, Write, Think is a joint venture between the International Reading Association and the National Council of Teachers of English. The site provides tools for quality reading and writing instruction, web links, literacy-based activities, and lesson plans. There are also online reading and writing activities for students.
Boys’ Literacy Links
The Ministry of Education has developed a variety of resources to support boys’ literacy in the province. At this link you can find access to videos, reports, and booklets.
Acrostic Poems
In five 50-minute lessons students work on writing acrostic poems using the theme ’All About Me and My Favourite Things’.
Action Alphabet Book
In four 30-45 minute lessons students create an Action Alphabet Book. The lesson plans also contain a link to an online tool called the Alphabet Organizer which allows students to create an alphabet book or chart.
Lesson Plan: K-2 Writing
In this lesson, entitled Authentic Writing Experiences and Math Problem-Solving Using Shopping Lists, students engage in a meaningful writing exercise. Although the lesson suggests using food for the shopping part of the lesson small items or images of “products” can be substituted. There is also a cross-curricular connection to math since the students have a budget when they make their list. The approximate time to complete the lessons is three 50-minute periods.
National Geographic For Kids
The National Geographic for students site contain a great deal of information that students would find useful. This award winning site is highly interactive and entertaining.
Ontario Music Educators Association
This is the collection of resources for elementary educators developed by the Ontario Music Educators Association.
Science Museum
A great site from the UK with plenty of activities for students as well as helpful resources for teachers.
Ontario Physical Education Safety Guidelines Curricular, Interschool and Intramural Activities
The Ontario Physical Education Safety Guidelines represent the minimum standards for risk management practice for school boards. They focus the attention of teachers, intramural supervisors and coaches on safe practices, in every activity, in order to minimize the element of risk.
The Safety Guidelines are divided into Elementary and Secondary levels, each containing three separate modules:
- Curricular – physical education program
- Interschool – competitive programs (practices and competitions)
- Intramurals – physical activity/recreation activities
The Safety Guidelines apply to physical activities that occur on the school site or as part of a school sponsored trip (i.e., day trip, overnight, out of province, or out of country).
Ontario Physical Education Safety Guidelines Curricular, Interschool and Intramural Activities