Outdoor classroom and Target Number

 
Today we took advantage of the beautiful weather and went outside for some of our work. We did some follow up work for our Great Lesson earlier this week. Students looked at heiroglyphs and cunieform and then wrote their names in that type of script. We will be going outside for other parts of our learning so please ensure your child is dressed appropriately for the weather. Next week we'll be doing gym outside (first thing in the morning) so please ensure they have appropriate footwear and clothing to be outside.


Number talks are a big part of our math teaching and learning. A number talk is when we talk about numbers, their relationships and our mathematical thinking. Today we worked on a target number. This is when students are given a specific number and have to come up with all the possible questions that could equal that number (using addition, subtraction, or multiplication). It allows students to help explore the relationships between numbers and work at their specific math level.

Classification and Treaty 7 Presentation

Today we looked at classifying things in our world.   We started by looking at the book I am Josephine.  It helped us understand the tricky concept that we can be in many groups and that groups can have sub-groups.  Josephine was a living thing, an animal, a mammal and a human!  This relates to how we have been exploring 2-D shapes....for a example a square can be a square, a rectangle, parallelogram, a quadrilateral and a closed shape (to name a few!) 

We first categorized "things" in Discovery Gardens into:

Living (trees, bugs, animals, humans) . and Non-living (fences, dirt, rocks, air)

Then we realized that these groups could be further grouped.  For example, the non-living things could be divided into man-made and natural things  

We divided the living things into plants and animals.

We also looked at some branching flowcharts that scientists use to show classifications.  Using this chart and a picture of creatures the class was able to determine that our next area in science this year is a group of animals called invertebrates.  People often call them creepy crawlies, critters, bugs.  We will discover that these creatures can be grouped due to their characteristics.  For example, a spider and a fly are both invertebrates but a spider is an arachnid and a fly is an insect. Now that spring is here, we will start exploring these creatures and that even through they are not quite as cute as bunnies and puppies, they are fascinating, beautiful and very helpful animals!  

We also were very fortunate to have Quest Theatre, do an interesting performance on the history of Treaty 7.   We also participated in a circle dance and song with all of division one!   

Monthly Math Game

Fourth Great Lesson - How Writing Began

Today we learned about how writing began, based on the 4th Montessori Great Lesson.
Early humans created tools to make life easier, hunted and fished to meet their basic needs and now they began developing their own cultures and societies. Early humans started to communicate with one another. First with sounds, then with symbols, then pictures, and finally with talking, writing, and reading.
We talked today about the development of cave drawings, hieroglyphics, cuneiform (as some of the early forms of writing). We talked about the Phoenicians and the invention of paper and purple dye.
After our Great Lesson, students explored a variety of materials to create their own early forms of communication - charcoal, clay, sketching with rocks.
We then had a chance to dye some cloth Tyrian purple and create paper that is similar to the early forms of papyrus.


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Dismissal Today

Hand to hand dismissal it typically part of Kindergarten dismissal protocol.  We have extended this courtesy to all of our grade 1 and 2 families for a majority of this school year. After Spring Break grade 1 and 2 students will be dismissed at the end of the day from their classrooms by the teacher. Teachers will not be standing at the door to ensure you are there waiting for your child. This is a great next step for many students to build their sense of independence and responsibility.

We know that you always strive to be on time but it is important to help your child consider what to do if you are not there at the end of the day. Some topics you may want to discuss with your child:

·      What will they do if you are late?

·      Will they go with an arranged adult or to a spot?

·      How long should they wait before they go to the front of the school to get help from the office?

·      Where should they play while they wait?

We will continue to support our students with their independence and their sense of safety by:

·      Classroom discussions about safety

·      Coaching students about where to go if they find themselves outside the school building without their class, a staff member, or a parent

·      Identifying safe adults in the building and on the playground identified with CBE and CJP badges

If you have any questions or concerns please contact one of us.

Wear Purple or Blue on April 4th

Thursday April 4th is Wear Purple or Blue Day at CJP. Like Orange Shirt Day in September and Pink Shirt Day in February that is held to bring awareness to First Nation reconciliation and Anti-bullying, Wear Purple or Blue Day is to bring awareness to Epilepsy (purple) and Autism (blue). Families are encouraged to have a conversation with their child about epilepsy and/or autism, as both impact not only members of our Captain John Palliser community but people around the world. Traditionally Purple and Blue days occur separately but this year will be honoured jointly as Purple Day occurs while students are on Spring Break. 

Please consider joining us in raising awareness by wearing purple or blue (or both colours) clothes on Thursday April 4th. 

Here are some websites that you may be interested in visiting: 

http://www.purpleday.org/index.html

https://www.autismspeaks.org/world-autism-month

Soapstone carving - Inuit Art

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As we finish our unit studying the Inuit people and where they live, students were able to experience a traditional form of art, 'soapstone carving'. Today we had a chance to look at real soap stone and a real carving of an inukshuk. We talked about how this stone felt, and looked and what it would be like to carve the actual stone.

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Students were then able to use their soap and a popsicle stick to carve their own creation of a polar bear. It was a really fun experience!



Thank you for your donations of soap. Because many students brought extra (and Mrs. Halsall also brought extra), students will be able to have a second chance after the break to try and carve another polar bear. This will be a choice during our Montessori work period.

Thanks again for supporting the learning in our classroom!