Multiplication, Art, and Ache Brasil performance

Notices:

Several notices went home today. Please ask your child about them.

Please return Friday Sports Day permission forms.

Please return Student Led Conference forms.

Mr. Wilson was away today and I taught the class.
Because tomorrow is a holiday, students wrote their Spelling test this morning, followed by 2 digit x 2 digit multiplication in Math. We went slowly, used colour coded felt pens for the steps I showed them on the board, and did several practise questions together. We also made up an acronym to help students remember the steps for each line of the process.

Students copied the questions into their notebooks as we did them and then checked our answers on a calculator to find out if our collaborative answers were correct.
As we went, step by step, we talked about why each step is necessary and what the 0 means on the 2nd line. Going through questions slowly, step by step, explaining why, and using different coloured felt pens for each step helped many students.

Even if they don't know all of their times tables, they can still answer questions by using their times table chart (up to 100) if they know the process of what to do. By the end of the lesson, many "got" the process. I didn't assign any homework because explaining, demonstrating, doing 5 questions together, and checking the answers took the entire math block. We will continue with this multiplication on Tuesday.

After recess students finished their Insect Shoe Art (on display on the bulletin board outside of our classroom), and decorated Easter egg templates with patterns and carefully shaded them with pencil crayons. In Science, we read and discussed an article on animal habitats and how different animals survive cold Canadian winters, then I read aloud from Spiderwick for the last 20 minutes before lunch, finishing book 1.

After lunch students Silent Read, went to Music for a short time, then went to the fantastic Ache Brasil performance. The Brazilian performers played traditional drums and instruments, danced in traditional costumes, did capoeira, had audience participation (including Elena and Ethan from our class), made us laugh at their comedy, and wowed the students with handsprings and double back flips. They were highly entertaining and the gym was vibrating from the beat of their drums, their gymnastics, and their dancing.
The performance didn't leave time for computers today. With the 15 minutes left in the day, we cleaned up the classroom, I read a story to them, and it was time to go home.
See you on Tuesday!
Mrs. Schneider

Multiplication, Alexander Mackenzie, Street Names, Greek lunch and How the world was formed...

We began the day working on two by three digit multiplication. We talked about how even the hardest tasks become simple when broken down into steps.  The journey of a 1 000 km begins with a single step.  The students worked along learning the steps, algorithm, for doing two and three digit multiplication.  About 60 % of the students managed to work through the steps even if they did not understand all the why's.  (even though I went through it 10 times).  Mrs. English was passing through the class and I had her explain it too.  We will continue working on more and more advanced multiplication and then division.  

After recess we talked about and did a report on the explorer Alexander Mackenzie.  Mackenzie is known for his overland crossing of what is now Canada to reach the Pacific Ocean in 1793. This was the first east to west crossing of North America north of Mexico and predated the Lewis and Clark expedition by 10 years.

We talked about Mackenzie street and how streets and towns are named after famous explorers, politicians and royalty.  The students then wrote about why a street should be named after a member of their family.

We then enjoyed an amazing lunch thanks to the Greek community, who have adopted our school over the last few years.  Members of the Greek community volunteer, cook and serve a meal to every person, child, assistant and teacher in the school.  They then give us a large check from profits they make during the Greek Days held in Victoria in the summer.  

After lunch we had a short assembly to thank the Greek community with a song from our choir and a cheer from the students.  The rest of the afternoon we looked at a book of maps showing early Canada, with weather, animal, First Nations distribution as well as many old  Canada maps.  Because of questions from the students, we watched two earth science videos about  how earth changes, how mountains rise and are knocked down by erosion and how science believes the world was originally formed and developed over a long period of years.

Take care ... Mr. W.

Spelling Test tomorrow as Friday is Good Friday

Goal Setting, X Practise, and Humpty Dumpty

Reading and discussing a poem

We started the morning with the 2nd half of our Goodybe Winter, Hello Spring assignment. Yesterday students wrote and drew about something they are proud of accomplishing so far this school year. Today they wrote and drew about a goal for the last school term. Some students wrote about being more organized in the morning to get to school on time, while others wrote about learning their times tables or getting better at reading. Hello spring and new beginnings!
In Math, we marked yesterday's multiplication practise and reviewed 2 digit x 1 digit multiplication.
At 9:50 we had a planned fire drill and our class lined up and walked outside quietly and respectfully. Mrs. Dagg and Ms. Burley commented on the model behaviour our class showed. Very well done everyone!

After recess we started a poetry unit by having small groups rotate through stations, or literature circles, for 45 minutes where students read, analyzed, and discussed nursery rhymes. A few students laughed at the topic but everyone quickly became interested when they learned that nursery rhymes are short poems from hundreds of years ago that made fun of or commented on the Kings and Queens of England, and things that happened in England. Many of the poems are like a secret code that passed on information without the enemy or the Kings and Queens from knowing the true meaning of the poem. They are short and have rhythm so that they were easy to remember and tell to other people because at that time most common people could not read or write.

For example: Humpty Dumpty was the code name for a cannon used in war from 1642-1649. The cannon sat on a wall. The wall was destroyed by the enemy during war and the cannon fell. The horses and King's men (in the army) could not lift the cannon back onto the wall again and the rhyme we know was used to pass on this message.

Now the students were really interested :-)

These were the stations:

1- read traditional nursery rhymes, and match verses with their titles and a picture about the poem

2- guess the origin/meaning behind the nursery rhymes (matching/reading activity)

3- read poetry books (Shel Silverstein, Jack Prelutsky, etc) with a partner

4- group collaborates to write a 2 speaker poem

5- group reads The Book that Jack Wrote and they identify the nursery rhymes refered to in it - make a list

6- read poetry books with a partner (picture book format)

By the time we regathered, went over answers, and discussed what they'd learned, there was 20 min left before lunch to finish work, then read or draw.
We had a fun morning! Mr. Wilson taught the class this afternoon.

Mrs. Schneider  

X Practise, Goal Setting, and Beavers

Notices:

Please return signed report card envelopes

 

FSA results were sent home in sealed envelopes today

Welcome back!

This morning we got back into routine with the Monday Spelling Pre-Test, followed by a math multiplication game with a ball (similar to Silent Ball but including counting by 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s, 6s, and 10s) and a page of basic fact (8x6; 4x2; etc) practise.

After recess students wrote and drew about what they are proud of learning so far this year and tomorrow they will set goals for this last term. After writing and drawing, I read aloud from Spiderwick while students worked on the Shoe Art they started before Spring Break. They traced their shoe and drew in the sole's details, then transformed it into an insect, adding wings, eyes, antenae, etc. They are very creative and colourful so far! Great job!

Before lunch, students who wanted to share did, with each sharer getting 3 questions or compliments from the class. If students didn't share today, they will have an opportunity tomorrow too.

After lunch was Library book exchange, Silent Reading, the start of our animal unit in Science (What do you think you know about Beavers? - brainstorming as a class and writing down our thoughts in point form), and then games in Gym.

My camera battery died over the break and I forgot to charge it before work today. I apologize for the lack of pictures!
Congratulations E. and L. for having your artwork published in the Times Colonist over Spring Break.

See you tomorrow,

Mrs. S

E.'s Weather Picture in the Newspaper

Congratulations E. for having your picture printed in the Times Colonist this week!

I'll bring a copy for you after Spring Break.

Mrs. S

A day in the life of a penny, Projects and an Assembly

Thanks T for the Timbits... and Happy Birthday

We began the day with a theme write.  They were to imagine themselves spending a day as a penny.  Writing in the first person is a way to see things from the view of the character.   It is a fun way to write and helps the students practice putting themselves into the story.
The students then went through their Socials and Language arts books with small yellow sticky notes to pick their favorite 10 Socials and 10 favorite Writing assignments as report cards go home tomorrow.

After recess the students had a work period to finish off their self choice projects.  Many are working in pairs and many are working by themselves.

After lunch the students read or worked on finishing off any final work from their Socials and Writing books before heading off the the assembly.

At the assembly the choir presented the two songs they sang at the Concert at UVic the night before.  It was excellent and a tribute to the Students talent, dedication and enthusiasm as well as the skill and work of Mrs. Awalt and Mrs. Carlton.  Five of our students received awards.  J for Math.  S for Coloring and Art.  S, M and E were all given awards for Creative Story Writing.

Great Job everyone... see you tomorrow.

Math Games and Poetry

Evens and Odds game

This morning 3/4 of our class went to a choir rehearsal at UVIC. Students not in choir from Mrs. Carlton's and ours spent the morning together in our classroom. We played math games like Multiplication Bingo, (where students filled out their own cards first with x3, x5, and x10 questions and answers before we played), and Evens and Odds card games.

Bingo Winner #1

From recess until lunch, we did poetry activities. We read poetry with parts and then students wrote their own poem modeled after "It's Raining Pigs and Noodles" by Jack Prelutsky. They had had fun reading their creations.

Mr. Wilson is teaching the class this afternoon.

Have a fun and safe Spring Break. Remember to do Home Reading every day!

See you after the break!

Mrs. S

Lummi Sticks, a Rainstorm, and Yoshi

Notices:

Choir members going to UVIC need to meet in Mrs. Awalt's room by 8:30 am tomorrow morning.

 

Purdy's Chocolate Orders are due by March 6.

Please return February Home Reading Forms.

Sharing

This morning students wrote their Spelling Pre-Test. Everyone had the same list this week, with spring-themed words. After Spelling we finished our Sound unit in Science with 2 fun activities: a soundscape and rhythm patterns made with lummi sticks.

Lummi Sticks Rhythm Game

 A soundscape is a series of sounds that mimics something in real life (ex. the course of a thunderstorm from start to finish), using common items found at home or in the classroom. Today 1/2 of the class closed their eyes and listened while the other half made a thunder and lightning storm with a piece of paper (waving it, tapping lightly on it, tapping heavily on it, scrunching it up, flicking the lights off and on, flattening out the paper, tapping heavily on it, tapping lightly on it, and waving it in the air). Then the class switched roles. Try it at home :-) It does sound like a rainstorm with thunder and lightning.

Tap, Clack, Pass, Pick Up!





Tap, Flip 180 degrees, Pass, Pick Up!

Next, students sat in a giant circle and we learned rhythm patterns with lummi sticks, starting simply until the students got the hang of it and then increased the difficulty. Soon the class was passing sticks and flipping one stick 180 degrees, end to end, without missing a beat. We used 4/4 time and used words to help us remember the patterns.



Partners created their own patterns



After creating the rhythms as a group (which sounded awesome!), students worked with a partner or a group of 3 to create their own rhythm patterns and then presented them to the class. Everyone had a lot of fun making music and experimenting with their own patterns. It was great way to finish our Sound unit.

Rhythms they created







A rhythm pattern these students created and presented to the class

After recess was a Book Talk on Chester, followed by reading it aloud with the class. Thanks H. for reading Chester's part. I read a chapter from Spiderwick Chronicles aloud, and then students completed a writing and drawing activity about the chapter. Students then finished Artist of the Month title pages, did 2 pages of Handwriting, and worked on Wonderful Word, finding as many little words as they could in photosynthesis.

After lunch was Library for a book exchange, the start of a spring art project, and Gym. During Gym, the class taught me a new game called Yoshi that they learned with a TOC on Friday. It was really fun, like a combination of Slimers Island, tag, and running races. Everyone worked up a sweat and had rosy cheeks when they left.

See you tomorrow!

Mrs. S