April 26th

Hi Parents,

This week in writing we wrote about what we did over our Easter Break. It sounds like everyone had a lovely long weekend. We also continued to practice our writing during literacy centers, where students are allowed to write about whatever they would like. Some students are even starting to write stories! We also continued to work on our literacy skills through literacy centers.

In math this week we did a review of addition and subtraction. Students were given both addition and subtraction questions on one sheet. They had to choose a strategy that worked best for them and make sure they were looking closely at the sign so they knew when to add and when to subtract. We also learned about doubles when adding and practiced our double facts to 10 through two games called "Doubles aren't trouble" and "Doubles Dash".

Doubles:
0+0=0
1+1=2
2+2=4
3+3=6
4+4=8
5+5=10
6+6=12
7+7=14
8+8=16
9+9=18
10+10=20


Our words of the week this week were: other, their, were, would
Our words of the week next week are: our, than, were, which 


In Science this week we starting learning about living things. We started by discussing what makes something living? We discussed asking ourselves these questions to help us decide:

Does it move by itself?

Does it grow and change?

Does it breathe?

Does it need food and water to survive?

Does it reproduce?

Then as a class we sorted a variety of items into living and non living categories.  Then students were given their own sheet with items on it to sort. 

We also started to discuss plants. We learned about the different parts of a plant and how they help the plant. We then went and drew a plant diagram and labelled all the different parts. We also learned about what plants need to survive and how plants make their own food through photosynthesis. We finished this lesson by drawing a plant diagram and labeling the things it needs to survive( sun, air, water, soil) and watched "Magic School Bus: Gets Planted". 

Today was Club Friday. Everybody got a new club, this will be students' final club of the year. We have two more sessions of Club Friday before the end of the year. 

Reminders:

Wednesday May 1st- Hats off for Mental Health Day. Students are invited to wear a hat to school on Wednesday in support of mental health awareness. 

Monday May 6th is Music Monday. We will be celebrating Music Monday with the whole school 

Tuesday May 7th is our field trip to the zoo

Wednesday May 8th Alien in line skating begins in gym. Students are invited to bring their own helmet if they would like. All other equipment is supplied. 

Wednesday May 8th-Fun Lunch

April 17th

Hi Parents,

A short but busy week!

This week is writing we finished off the good copies of our dragon writing and did free write through literacy centers.  We also continued to work on our reading and writing skills through other literacy centers.

Our words of the week this week were: must, next, only, very
Our words of the week next week are: other, their, where, would

In math this week we continued to work on subtracting. We used cards to help us write subtraction number sentences and solve subtraction problems. We also practiced choosing the right strategy for us to solve subtraction questions.  Some of us like to use a number line, some of us like to use a 100's chart and some of us like to count back in our head. We also continued to play math games to help us practice our subtraction skills, including Subtraction Bingo, which we played with our grade 2 buddies.

This week in science we finished our building unit by building our very own house. This time we got to work independently. We again had to make a plan before we started and used recycled materials to make our houses.

In art this week we made our dragons into puppets to go along with our dragon writing.

We have really been enjoying our new read aloud "Zac Power: Thrill Ride".

Reminders:

Wednesday April 17th and Thursday April 18th- Student-led Conferences.  Wednesday: 4:00pm-7:00pm. Thursday: 8:00am-12:00pm. The time you book will be the time to meet with me. You can come before your time (unless you are booked in for your meeting in the first session) to have your child show you their work or you can have them show you their work after our meeting time( unless your meeting time is the last session). Other parents and students may be in the room during your time.

Thursday April 18th- PD Day. No School

Friday April 19th- Good Friday. No School

Monday April 22nd-PD Day. No School

April 12th

Hi Parents,

This week in writing we read the story "Tell me a Dragon" by Jackie Morris and started to create our very own dragons. We first brainstormed together different kind of dragons we could do, everyone had really creative ideas. Students then went and drew a picture of their dragon. Students were told they would be writing a character description about their dragon. The first day students used their pictures to help them brainstorm ideas for their writing, they also thought about where their dragon would live, what they like, etc.  Then we wrote a character desciption describing our dragons, we focused on adding details to our writing to help the reader visualize the dragon.  The last step of our writing was the final draft where students wrote our their description of their dragon as neat as they could on a fancy piece of paper. Their dragon writing will be on display during student-led conferences.
We also continued to work on our literacy skills through literacy centers.

In Math this week we continued to work on subtraction, we learned how to use a number line and hundreds chart to help us subtract. We also played the game "Number Crash" to help us practice our subtraction skills.

Our words of the week this week were: because, could, much, when
Our words of the week next week are: must, next, only, very

We continued our building unit in Science this week. We worked in groups to build a variety of structures using recycled materials such as cardboard, toilet paper roles, cereal boxes, yarn, milk caps, straws, and Popsicle sticks. Students had to work together to make a plan before they started making their structure. Once they started building they tested throughout and changed their plan if it wasn't working. On Monday the students created old fashioned toys, like we saw at Fort Calgary. On Tuesday they built a car and tested it on a ramp to see if it would move. One Wednesday they built builds, which they had to test if a toy train would be able to cross it. On Thursday they made a boat, which they had to test to see if it would float and if it would move with wind.  Each day students took apart their structures so we could reuse the materials. The last day of our building unit will be students building their very own house, which they will get to show off at student-led conferences before they take them home. We will be finishing our building unit on Monday.

Reminders:

Monday April 15th -Spring Picture Day/Class Photo Day

Wednesday April 17th and Thursday April 18th- Student-led Conferences.  Wednesday: 4:00pm-7:00pm. Thursday: 8:00am-12:00pm. The time you book will be the time to meet with me. You can come before your time (unless you are booked in for your meeting in the first session) to have your child show you their work or you can have them show you their work after our meeting time( unless your meeting time is the last session). Other parents and students may be in the room during your time.

Thursday April 18th- PD Day. No School

Friday April 19th- Good Friday. No School

Monday April 22nd-PD Day. No School

April 5th

Hi Parents,

This week in writing we wrote about what we did on our Spring Break. It sounds like everyone had a wonderful break filled with lots of fun!  We also continued to work on our writing and reading skills through Literacy centers.

In Math this week we reviewed addition and started subtraction. We discussed how subtraction is also called taking away and when we subtract two numbers the numbers get smaller. We also discussed that with subtraction, instead of part, part whole like addition, its whole, part, part. We used cubes to help us practice our subtraction skills.

Our words of the week this week were: more, take, two, well
Our words of the week next week are: because, could, much, when

In science this week we reviewed our 5 senses and brainstormed what our five senses would see, hear,  smell, taste and touch in the season of Spring. We then drew and wrote about these things in our visual journals.
We also started our building unit this week. We read the stories "Rosie Revere Engineer" and 'The Magnificent Thing" which taught us to never give up, even if we fail and our structures don't work out.. we keep trying because "The only true failure can come if you quit".  We also read the story "Iggy Peck Architect".
To begin this week we discussed how engineers and architects need to have a plan before they begin. Students were told they could use between 20-30 unifix cubes to make a structure or design. They then went and drew out their plan before they came to show it to me. Once it had been checked they went and got their materials to start building their unifix creation. We also did this the next day but this time students had to use pattern blocks. They could use 15-35 pattern blocks and had to use at least 3 different shapes. Yesterday we finished our intro to building by building creations using both unifix cubes and pattern blocks and this time they had to work with a partner. We discussed that next week students will be working in a group and what it means to work together. We said that working together is when everyone is involved and sharing their ideas. We need to compromise and work with our partner, which may mean we don't always get our way but that's okay. The class did really well working together with their partner and adding their ideas together to make beautiful creations.
Next week we will be continuing our building unit.


Reminders: 

Wednesday April 10th is Fun Lunch

Monday April 15th is Spring and Class Picture Day

Wednesday April 17th and Thursday April 18th is Student-Led Conferences. Wednesday from 4:00-7:00, Thursday from 8:00-12:00

Thursday April 18th is a PD. Day, No school

Friday April 19th is Good Friday, No School

Monday April 22nd is a PD. Day, No School