This beautiful weekend reminded me that summer is fast approaching. If you have not yet made plans for the kiddos for the summer, do consider something French, so that they can stay sharp for next year! On the left side-bar of this blog, you will find a short list of summer camps that I've heard about or found online. If you know of others, please let me know and I'll add them. Of course most of them are offered in French, but there are a couple music ones... couldn't help myself! Durham Music Camp is outside of the city, but if you have any friends out that way who take music lessons, please send them the link and tell them to sign up for my music & stories course! It's gonna be great!
Last week, grade 1s finished up their community research projects by doing their final write-up, incorporating their homework and their own thoughts about our community. Look how great our map is with all our storefronts!
To finish up, each student presented something from their project to the class. Throughout this project, students have always been aware of what they would need to do to achieve a level 3 or 4, as we read the rubric together before attacking each part of the project. We will probably keep this project in our portfolios, but when I take them down I'll try to make a copy of each rubric so that you can see it sooner than June. Many researchers worked extra hard in the hopes of earning a specific mark. It's amazing to see such young children setting goals and working towards them!
Now, on to a science unit about Energy, led by Mr. G!
Did I show you our finished prints? We did these a while ago, and they happen to (happen to? there may have been some planning there) accompany our grade 1 community unit very well, since we made a little city. I've had some great feedback on these from our neighbouring teachers, so I'll make sure they are presented at our Arts Evening in May. Thanks to Mme Meg for helping us with this!
We had a good first week of geometry with Mr. G. The students seem to be enjoying this unit so far, and with good reason - there are a lot of objects to look at, touch and investigate, and we get to do some of our own building. We've already learned the French names for most 3D shapes, and we've investigated the differences between prisms and pyramids. Ask your mathematician if they can explain two differences! On Friday, each student had a chance to build their own solid by planning the sides they would need, cutting them out and taping them up. Ask your builder which 3D shape they made!
Thanks to those who sent in some boxes right away. Don't forget to send in all your recycling until this Wednesday (our building day). On that day, everyone will need a large flat-ish box for a base, and then we need a variety of smaller things. Small boxes, paper towel rolls, tea canisters... you get it. We are not desperate for egg cartons or styrofoam trays - just items that have a recognizable geometrical shape. Thanks in advance!
Friday's dance-a-thon was super fun! Thanks, parents, for putting that on!
