Catch Up Blog Post
First, I would like to apologize... I am sorry that I have dropped our 'blog' ball two weeks in a row. I hope everyone enjoyed their Easter Weekend with family and friends. Please enjoy this catch up blog.
April 11 - 14
We have had a short, but busy week. Here are some of the things that we have been working on:
In Language Arts we have been practicing reading non-fiction text and taking notes. Students are learning to just write down the important words to help them remember new information. They have been working in groups to help find information in a variety of books and are learning how to collaborate in order to effectively find and share important facts. Everyone has learned how to use a table of contents and an index to help them find the information they were looking for.
As our work on the prairies in the past continues, students have been examining artifacts of prairie life. They have been learning to look at artifacts from a scientific perspective. They are drawing, measuring, and recording the observable characteristics of the artifacts they have in the classroom. Using their senses they are recording what they notice and are formulating theories of what the objects are and how they were used. It is fascinating work.
In Phys. Ed. we began out unit on curling. We have special mats and equipment that helps us turn our gym into a curling rink. This week we practiced how to throw our rocks and aim for the house. We also learned the basics of how to score in curling. The students have done a great job developing the feel for how hard to throw their rocks in order to reach the house.
Wednesday April 20 - Library
Thursday April 21 - Home Reading
Friday April 22 - Earth Day - Wear Green and Blue
April 4 - 8
Snow, rain, and plus 20 weather all in one week. It must be spring in Calgary! Here are some of the things we have been working on:
We have begun our research about animals that are native to our prairie habitat. Students are working in small groups to collect information about their animal from non-fiction books. Students also watched videos showing how to draw their animal and practiced several times before creating their own art piece. They drew the picture, outlined it, and then added colour using watercolour pencils. The results are quite striking.
Of course, the biggest highlight of the week was our field trip to Heritage Park. The students all did an amazing job of listening, exploring, and making connections to the artifacts and things that they saw at the park. The staff told the teachers how impressed they were with the students thinking and how they shared their ideas. Here are a few pictures that you can look at with your child. They should be able to tell you about the buildings they visited, some of the jobs that people did in 1912, and about pretending to be the Webster family who moved from Toronto to build a new life in early Calgary.
In Math this week, we began working on subtraction. Students in Mrs. Hamm’s and Mrs. Batchelor’s grade one came together to work in Mrs. Batchelor’s class to explore subtraction of numbers under 20. Students in grade two worked with Mrs. Hamm and her grade twos to learn about two digit subtraction using the number line as a strategy.
In gym this week, we wrapped up our Circus unit. Students did an amazing job developing their coordination and dexterity with a wide variety of equipment and unique tasks. Next week we will begin curling.
