Storytelling and Patterns

Math- Patterns

Our selection of Loose parts for sorting and patterning
Our chart of sorting rules
This week we started by practicing sorting assorted objects in the class. We then brainstormed all the ways to sort objects. We discovered that we can sort by colour, length, weight, by shape, by using our 5 senses and by how many. We recorded our ideas on a chart in the class. We will explore these ideas further as we begin to get more creative making patterns. 


Our ideas for "What makes a pattern?"
The next step was to figure out "What is a pattern?". At first as an answer to this question, the students just listed a lot of different patterns. We wrote them down, talked about them and made corrections to a few. But the patterns that we had up on the chart paper did not answer the question. After lots of partner talking and building on everyone's ideas, we came to the conclusion that all patterns include a core part that repeats. In French we call this part le coeur (the heart).

We are going to continue to explore with patterns. We will continue to talk about the elements of a pattern (the parts that make up le coeur) and we will explore making patterns with 3 or more elements and making patterns where the elements repeat. 

Storytelling- Building Oral French

We have been learning about the elements of a story this week. We are learning that stories have characters, a problem and a solution. We have been practicing telling stories in many ways. Early in the week the students used the loose parts in the class to retell the book "Trouvé" that I read to them. It is a story about  a bear who finds a stuffed rabbit in the woods and tries to find the rabbit's owner. 
Although we did not expressly talk about the setting, the children had to create the various places in the book with loose parts to be able to retell the story. 

We have also been using story dice to roll random characters, problems and solutions. After the dice are rolled, the children turn to a partner and tell a story.

Skating

Skating has honestly been the highlight of this week. Several of the children have been looking forward to it since Monday. We had a great time and I am really looking forward to next time. Thanks again to all the parents who were able to help tie skates and who supported the kids on the ice. We would not have been able to do it without you!

Home Practice

Next week, I will be sending home the first weekly practice sheet. The children will have the sheet in their agenda on the first day of the week. The object of the weekly practice is to support the children in practicing sounds and words for reading and writing. Please keep the weekly practice at home until the last school day of the week and initial the sheet, each time the child practices the work.

If you have any questions about the sheet, just write a quick note in the agenda. 

Things that you can do at home:

  • Sit down with your child and work through the home practice sheet daily. 
  • Have your child make up stories. This is especially a good activity for passing the time in the car! 
  • Look for patterns in the house such as: on blankets, clothes, rugs, towels and upholstery. What is le coeur of the pattern? How many elements in le coeur?
  • Continue to practice counting things in French (up to 30 or more)
  • Look for the letter lL in words when reading and notice what words you say have the letter lL (apple, llama, leap, bowl) Try to find word that have the sound at the beginning, middle and end. 

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