I'm sorry, I've been slow posting updates the last few weeks. Such a busy time of year!
We have been busy with lots of things at school, but currently we are focused on being ready to display our work next Tuesday at the Kindergarten Art Hour. I think this event will be really fun for all, so do plan to stop by. You received the following flyer with all the info last week:
Yesterday morning, registered students went to the hearing/vision clinic. I have sent the results home in pochettes today. Yesterday afternoon, we walked to the Public Library and listened to lots of stories. The books all shared a common theme of things not being as they appear. For instance, "This is a Ball", "Duck! Rabbit!" and "The book with no pictures". The kids had a great time correcting the librarian!
Monday morning, we had a great science workshop with Scientist Tamara (there's another one!!). We became physicists and learned about how machines make jobs easier. We had 5 centres on the go, and students got to try them all.
Mlle Sofia ran a centre about wedges. "If it has an edge, it's a wedge!" We tried to scoop corn with different tools and found that all the tools that were effective had some kind of edge. We also had a zippering/buttoning race and found that zippers are much faster, and they use wedges both on the way up, and on the way down!
At Michelle's centre, we got to explore gears. We did an experiment stirring up bubbles with a spoon, and then with old-fashioned egg beaters with visible gears. The egg-beaters made more bubbles WAY faster.
At Mlle Sharma's centre, we experimented with inclined planes. We made predictions about how different objects would travel down the ramp, and we observed that most objects either rolled or slid. Objects that rolled always went faster and farther. The height of the ramp and weight of the object going down also made a difference. After doing several tests, students got to select their own objects to test on the ramps.
At Amanda's centre, we investigated pivots and levers through some teeter-totter problems.
Finally, at Scientist Tamara's centre, we learned about the wheel and axle, and did some experiments that got us thinking about weight distribution. Ask your scientist what they remember or what their favourite centre was. Are there any simple machines they can remember, or that you have in your home to make daily jobs faster?
We have been continuing on with our kindness calendar this week.
Recently, we have picked up garbage from our school yard,
made coupons for a free hug to give to our friends or family
and written a class letter to le Père Noël. Everyone helped!
Some were inspired to write their own personal letters to Santa...
One of our kind acts, which we are still trying to do, is to ask teachers how we can help. The other day, several students really helped me by leading some poems on the carpet while they waited for me to help others. What a great use of time, and display of leadership!
We have learned a few new poems recently. Ask about "Patapi, Patapiège", "En haut de la chandelle" and "Sur mon pied il y a une mouche". Last week, I taught the class part of a cute Christmas song. We learned it in record time and sang it for Mr. Greene, who loved it! Click here to see a YouTube video of the full song that you can sing along to!
We have been learning how to ask many of our frequently-asked questions in French. Most begin with "est-ce que". Maybe students could ask these questions in French at home too!
Est-ce que…?
- je peux avoir du papier?
- tu peux m'aider?
- tu peux l’ouvrir?
- je peux ranger mon déjeuner?
- tu peux jouer avec moi?
As we continue our intro to geometry, students are doing some independent writing where they draw a shape, colour it, and then write, for example, Voici un cercle violet. Our writers don't need my help with the shape or colour words, as we have posted those words in our classroom and we know where to look. Some have also continued to make shape designs during our centre time.
You may have seen the "Peace Tree" in the entry to Dewson. It is being decorated by all classes with symbols of peace from across many cultures. Mlle Sofia has been working with interested students (almost everyone), to read about and craft different peace symbols. It is lovely to see students show an interest in and want to make symbols that don't necessarily represent their own background. Check out all the beautiful decorations on this tree when you visit Dewson next Tuesday.
At this time of year, I know that many students like to get their teacher a holiday gift. I want to say, first of all, that this is not at all necessary. Please don't feel you need to get me anything. However, if you would like to get something, my suggestion is to get a gift for our classroom. We have a great selection of toys, but we can always use more crayons, markers and French books. Moon sand, play dough or old costume accessories are also great donations that won't cost you much money. I would also like to remind you that Mlle Sofia has been with us EVERY morning since September and has been right in there supporting our students and leading activities the way an ECE would, though she is not getting paid! Please consider her as well if you are making cards or offering gifts. Again, your support is really the best gift!
Please return your green bags Monday morning. We will begin our next set of (all new!) activity bags in January.