Spring is blooming!
We have had a busy few weeks since the return from March break. Before the break we spent time with the story "The little Red Hen". Since our return we have picked up the theme of planting and seeds.
Planting and seeds
Jack and the Beanstalk- Story writing, Art and Engineering
As a connection to spring and "The Little Read Hen" we read several versions of Jack and the beanstalk. We compared the characters that we included in the various versions. We made note of the common elements. We played the game telephone and talked about how oral messages change over time and how this happened to Fairy Tales and other stories that come from an oral tradition.
We talked about who were the characters in the stories, where the events took place and what were the key events. The children brainstormed what they would do if they found a large beanstalk outside their bedroom window. The then took the ideas they had drawn and wrote a story. I hope you enjoyed the stories that they brought home.
We took the opportunity in art to draw giants and talk about perspective. We then used our art to practice using interesting words to describe the giants. Instead of writing "The giant is wearing a t-shirt", the student practiced adding adjectives to their writing, "The giant is wearing an orange t-shirt with purple stripes."
As part of our explorations about Jack and the Beanstalk, we built beanstalks. The students worked in groups of 3. They were given 1 large piece of yellow paper, part of an egg carton, 6 pipe cleaners and a measured length of tape. They were challenged to make a beanstalk that could support 3 climbing monkeys. I always enjoy these challenges. I walk in with an idea in my head and it always astonishes me the variety of ways the kids find to accomplish the challenge.
Plants and seeds
As there are seed and beans in both stories, we have been talking about the needs of plants. We have a planting station in class where the children are challenged to match the seeds with pictures of the plants. They are also invited to plant a seed if they choose.
We have taken a walking tour of the blooming plants outside. We have noted the flowers in the garden and planters. We have noticed that there seem to be some bulbs on the hill beside our class. We looked carefully at the trees outside. We spent time examining the buds on the trees. We have a fallen branch in the class and we have noticed that 1 bud yields many leaves. The students drew their observations on their April calendar.
Subtraction
We are learning to subtract. Over the last several days we have talked about how subtraction is separating a large number of things into 2 groups. I use this language instead of saying that subtraction is "take away" as that stops being a meaningful definition with negative numbers. We have a number of centres that are supporting subtraction. We are using dominos, lego and a board game to practice subtraction. We will keep using the morning centre time (8:30- 9:00) for subtraction into May. As you will read below, Lisa will be using the Math block to work with shapes.
Lisa returns to the class for the next 5 weeks
2D and 3d shapes, Unit on sound and pen pals
As Lisa returns this week she will begin teaching 50% of the day and work up to teaching 70% or more. She has planned many engaging units for the kids. I am looking forward to seeing what the kids think of her activities. She will pick up where she left off before the break with lessons about shapes. Then she is going to add a unit about French in the world and how it relates to the kids. She is hoping to contact a teaching friend in France and set up some pen pals for our class. What a wonderful, meaningful experience for our class! Finally as we move towards the concert she has prepared a unit on sound.
We will keep you updated!
What you can do at home:
- Practice subtraction at home for example if you are using eggs, you could say "There are 12 eggs in the carton, I need 3, how many are left?" Any opportunity to add or subtract reinforces our school work.
- Listen to your child read their writing in French before you ask what it means. It gives them a chance to show off a little and it reinforces to your child that their learning French is important to you
- Please try to be on time. Students that arrive more than 10 minutes late are missing the main literacy (reading and writing) lesson as well as 30 minutes of math practice!
- Support Lisa as she learns in the class. She is for all intents and purposes, a teacher in the class and while I support her as she learns, she is responsible for the learning activities and supporting the children for the next few weeks.
