2. Chris Searles, the student-teacher from Seneca College who did his practicum with us in February 2012, has kindly indicated his availability for private English lessons. Please contact him by email at 2012chrislsearles@gmail.com (delete "2012").
After the war of 1812--everything seems to begin with that war!--the British decided to build a shortcut from Lake Huron to the St. Lawrence River. Instead of going around from Lake Huron to Lake Erie, and then via Niagara Falls to Lake Ontario, before finally arriving at St. Lawrence River for the journey to the Atlantic Ocean, a scenic waterway, the Trent-Severn Waterway was built to connect Lake Huron to the St. Lawrence directly via all the little lakes to the northeast of Toronto.
Of course, because of the great difference in vertical distance between the start and finish, they had to build a series of locks and canals to allow a safe way for little boats to travel.
Some of these locks, operated by human power, can still be seen today. Enjoy the following clip:
If you arrive by boat (what a great idea for a field trip!), you can moor your craft by one of these locks and set up your tent for a small fee.
Our field trip with the school is on Friday, August 24, our last day of school before it reopens on September 10. Please meet at 9:55 a.m. at Sheppard Yonge on the Southbound platform (those who want to leave earlier from Don Mills Station with other classes can meet at that station at 9 a.m.). As you will need to take a ferry to Centre Island, don't forget to bring $7 for the fare. You might wish to bring a camera, sunblock, sunglasses, sports/recreational equipment, and water and snacks. At noon, we'll be meeting with everybody near the Harbour Tours Kiosk (no. 13 on some maps, but look out for your MicroSkills friends!) for a group photo and picnic lunch.
Issues of rental, involving landlords and tenants, are often difficult to deal with. Today, you will learn some of the language that may help you work your way through some of those issues.
Research & Bloggging: Using Google and Google Images, create a preview of Centre Island with text and pictures. How long does it take to get from your home to our meeting place at the Harbour Tours Kiosk on the island (No. 13 on the map)?
After a wonderful field trip, the first thing to do is to update your blogs with a report on the field trip to Woodbine Beach (some of you had a tour of the Beach and the Danforth). See if you could work in some conditional sentences of regret or relief. If you haven't completed your editing/corrections, please do so right away.
When you have finished, enjoy this listening comprehension activity: Sightseeing in Town
If you'd like to join some fun activities with Grant in the Level 3 classroom, you may do so at 1:30 p.m.
Have fun!
BONUS: When you finish, click on the "Read More" link below to watch a video!
Arriving from different directions and via different modes of travel, LINC 4 - 5 participants headquartered themselves on the western end of Woodbine Beach before fanning out to the rest of the park. Some went on long boardwalk walks while others played in the sand or sat in the shade. One was studying for college.
Michael, Ying Xuan, Ying Zhang, Iris, Wajdi, Jessica, Alice, Amy, Ding, Lei, and Anna were among those who wiggled their toes in the beach volleyball courts where we picnicked.
At noon, Lei broke out his mala spicy noodles, and others shared their fruits, chocolate wafers, and other goodies. Check out the pictures below and your classmates' writeups on the right.
We're going on a class picnic on Thursday; so please leave your stilettos and business suits at home. Bring your recreational gear, and be prepared to enjoy one of Toronto's best-loved beaches. Here's how to get here on public transit.
Hopefully, we'll have lovely weather and lots of fun on the sand, lawn, boardwalk, and--possibly--a kayak. Don't forget your sunblock, snacks, and other fun stuff.
