It's 2016 and we're happy to be back! We're having a wonderful first week. The students have remembered our routines and we are loving the snow! We've had some wet feet so please send in an extra pair of socks to keep in your child's backpack.
We talked about Epiphany and how the wise men traveled to bring special gifts to baby Jesus. The Turtles celebrated by adding the wise men to our nativity we created and making crowns!
On Wednesday, Turtles and Whales went to church for the first time with the school. The Grade 6 classes walked us down to church and sat with us. All the students did such a good job - very respectful (and no one lost any mitts or hats in the process!)
On Wednesday, Turtles and Whales went to church for the first time with the school. The Grade 6 classes walked us down to church and sat with us. All the students did such a good job - very respectful (and no one lost any mitts or hats in the process!)
We talked about the New Year and how many people make goals or resolutions for themselves. We challenged the children to come up with a goal for 2016. Many students chose to write down their goal so they could remember it.
The Turtles read the book "100 Snowmen" after lots of talk about the snow outside. In it, we noticed math "sentences" or equations. We came up with different equations and even noted that you can write the same equation in a different way: 3+3=6 or 6=3+3. Turtles, do you remember what the + and = symbol are?
Our mathematicians were then finding math everywhere during Thinking and Learning Time! We love cards and math games.
Our mathematicians were then finding math everywhere during Thinking and Learning Time! We love cards and math games.
The Whales read the book "Krong" - all about trying to figure out what language and alien is speaking. We are now so interested in different languages! Some of us even made up our own during Thinking and Learning time.
We got an email from a classmate who moved to Yellowknife. Some students were wondering what language people speak there. We decided to use the postcards we got from our Museum trip to write to our friend and ask the questions we had about the Northwest Territories. First, we found Ottawa and Yellowknife on a map. Many friends shared their stories about being on a plane and flying over land. We discussed what we know about the Arctic and decided our friend is very lucky because now she lives even closer to Santa Claus!
The Whales have also really enjoyed our "letter boxes" and figuring out what items belong in each. We have to listen very closely to the beginning sound in a word. We are getting great at this!
In other news, the Whales have almost filled their bucket from doing kind acts! Once full, we get a special treat. The Whales brainstormed some suggestions about what the surprise should be and we will vote on it soon.
We're so happy to be back!