Humanities with Ms. Abma

Mental Health Week is May 4-10 Information provided by the Canadian Mental Health Association The  Canadian Mental Health Association  recognizes May 4-10 as Mental Health Week: a yearly tradition with communities, schools and workplaces rallying to celebrate, protect and promote mental health. This year, the theme is ‘social connection’ and its importance for mental health. Each year, one in five Canadians will experience a mental illness or mental health issue, but five in five Canadians has mental health. We all need social connection, more now than ever before. This year’s campaign is based on the insight that people in Canada commonly ask one another how we are but that it is also common not to provide – or expect – a truthful answer. Many of us say we’re fine, even when we don’t mean it. ‘Fine’ keeps us at arm’s length from real social connections with others. Every time we just go through the motions, we miss a chance to connect with others in a mea...

What is going on in this picture? What do you see that makes you say that? What more can you find? Join the discussion here:  WGOITP?  or make your guesses in the classroom comments. This week: we'll have our Tuesday meet at 3. Thursday's meet at 3 is an optional check-in. Our work continues with part 2 of the Covid-19 Socratic Creative assignment. It is due Tuesday, however, if you need more time to complete the work, just let me know. I am aware this may take more time.

Check the classroom to answer whether this song is a Jam or Not a Jam! If you like the song/video it is a Jam, if you don’t it is Not a Jam. It is totally your opinion. I would like to hear why you think the song is a jam or not a jam in the private comment section. Also, if you have a song you would like to put forward, please add that to the comments as well. This song was requested by me, Ms. Abma. This week’s video is: Like Sugar by Chaka Kahn Results from Video Killed the Radio Star: It's a Jam! The answer to the trivia question was that Video Killed the Radio star was the first music video to be played on MTV when it launched August 1, 1981. Also, everyone is invited to the Willow Park 9 Dance party today at 1:30. Check your classroom for the nickname!

For those of you who did the New York Times  "What's Going On In This Picture?" challenge, here is the reveal of the caption attached to this picture. This week’s image comes from the Dec. 19, 2019 article “ Welcome to the Falcon Hospital. Please Take a Number. ”  The story is about a state-of-the-art falcon hospital in Doha, Qatar, which offers scans, surgeries and a link to a centuries-old pastime; falconry. The original caption read: The waiting room has perches for birds and for humans. The photographer is  Olva Morvan .

Dear Readers, Today's writing challenge is brought to us by   Letters Live   and actor Benedict Cumberbatch. Since 2013, Letters Live have been inviting performers to bring letters to life in memorable venues around the world. With our ‘Read A Letter’ campaign, we’re opening the stage extremely wide and would love for the world (you!) to share letters to the heroes on the frontline; letters to relatives in need; letters to strangers who have stepped up and made a difference; letters to neighbouring families, streets, towns and countries; letters from teachers to their isolated pupils or to the parents who now find themselves home-schooling; letters to those in power; letters to a population crying out for words of comfort. So, all you need to do is this: Write a letter of encourage, of love, of support to someone you know needs one. Film yourself reading a letter. Use your phone, like Benedict. If you're camera shy, point your phone at something else w...

Here is Dr. Robertson and Ms. Coles message on the Power of Music, so throw on some favorite tunes and take a dance break.  Don’t forget to answer the Jam or No Jam from last Friday’s blog and comment on why you chose Jam or No Jam. Here’s a video for wellness, made by various Canadian artists, to end a TV special called Stronger Together. Be well dear students, and reach out if you need it. There is an opportunity to join the GSA online community. They are inviting you to a virtual meet on Thursday, April 30. The information is on the invite below. If you have any questions about it please email Ms. Fabrig: Amanda Fabrig: apfabrig@cbe.ab.ca for more information. 

What's going on in this picture? Go to the  New York Times  page to discuss what in the world you think is going on here. We'll reveal the answer at the end of the week.