Wednesday Afternoon: Computers, Music and more Computers

Wednesday afternoon computer period was so successful and the students worked so hard I gave them the opportunity to have a second computer period after music. We are working with Power Point to bring in art from other graphic programs to tell a simple short story. I am trying to show them how to use programs like Power Point in not traditional Power Point ways so they will develop creative ways of using programs beyond what they are intended for. Their story is not as important as learning the skills to move images from one format to another. That said, the stories were entertaining and delightful.

Those students who finished their stories went to the website www.freerice.com where they answered questions in Math, Socials and English grammar and usage. Every time the students answered a question right 10 grains of rice are donated to a third world country.


The mini books are making the students into very perceptive authors. I am enjoying watch them expand their skills into the new media available on the computers. Next week the windows will be replaced in our class so we will move our class to the library for the installation. It will be great to have the computers and smart board available all day long.

Take care all see you Friday. Study your spelling.

Probability, poetry and timelines with Mrs O'Connor

After taking attendance and silent reading we started a poetry unit in Language Arts. The bell rang and the students ran for the playground. After having time outside they were ready to work again.

Today in Social Studies we began to compare the exploration of North America from a European and Aboriginal perspective. The students learned how to create a timeline, a skill that we will use often in this unit.

In the picture above H holds up the penny she used to learn about probability and statistics in Math.

It was a great morning everyone, see you tomorrow. We will start reading "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" by Roald Dahl.

Tuesday Nov 15th: Legends, Scholastic, Lacrosse, Pe and Art.

We began the day finishing off the one page report retelling the Haida legend of the killer Whale. Followed by them writing a one page report on what sport should be Canada's Official National sport. On the books lacrosse is the national sport, however most Canadians think it should be Hockey. The students have to make up their mind between the two sports or choose another. This is a carry over from a discussion and worksheet they were given by Mrs. O'Connor yesterday. They were then given time to work on their new mini - book "It's Not Easy Being....."

The Vortex of Smart

After recess the students had reading for 30 min. As you can see from the pictures their own mini-books and those of their peers are still very popular choices for reading time. Many choose to read library books, books from home, and some read their new Scholastic book orders that had just arrived today.

'C' with her new scholastic book order

After Reading we talked about famous Canadian James Naismith who invented basket ball and did a one page report on him and his accomplishments. I chose this famous Canadian as we have been looking at Canada's National Sports. Many students think hockey should be our National game as it is our most popular sport. An equal number of students thought Lacrosse should be the national game as it was a popular First Nations sport and was our National sport. I introduced the idea of our National sport being basketball as it was invented by a Canadian.

In math we worked on three digit by three digit subtraction and addition. It was a review for my math group and harder for the other two math groups.


After lunch we had cooperative games in P.E. We were joined by Mr. Edwards class for the last 20 minutes of the period. This was followed by an art period where the students used three different sized popsicle sticks and a variety of colored paper to create a ' Long house' relief picture. That took us up to the end of the day. Have a great evening and see you all tomorrow afternoon.

Remembrance Day moments

Notices:
Photo retake day is on the 15th

Two students from each class are selected to take the wreaths to the front of the gymnasium. Good job 'E' and 'F'.

Today the class was totally focused, and quietly engaged in the Remembrance Day Assembly. Many of the students sang in the choir and took part in the color march in with the bagpiper. After the assembly many of the students remained behind to help put away chairs, deliver the amazing variety of wreaths back to the classes, put away the props and stage items used in the assembly and finally clean up the gym. I was proud of them all. Great job everyone. Have a great Remembrance day and see you all next week.

Wednesday morning with Mrs O 'Connor

D had on the perfect shirt for today! We started the day talking about the rights and freedoms we have in Canada and what Remembrance Day means to us. After a class discussion we wrote in our journals.

J and S making silly faces and still working hard on Social Studies.

D and I and S brainstorming and working together. I gave each group a situation where they would need survival resources. Some of the resources included water a compass a rope etc. The task was to write a pro and con list for each resource and then pick the six that they would find most helpful and explain why. This was a fun activity to watch them do. The ideas they came up with and the problem solving skills they used were really impresive. Ask them about what they chose and why.

We started learning about how to conduct a survey and record the results in math. The lunch bell rang and after lunch Mr Wilson will appear. See you tomorrow.

Tuesday Nov 8th: Research, group work, Poppies and P.E.

Our class wreath for the Remembrance Day, artistic and respectful.

We started the day in the computer lab looking up information on the polar bear. A Canadian senator suggested that we replace the Beaver as Canada's symbol with the Polar bear. The students worked in groups to decide the information they needed to look up. The goal was to take information and facts from the Internet and put them into a one page Word document. The students were given about 45 minutes after which we returned to class and the groups worked to do a common report together. I really like group activities and working as each student brings different skills to the group as well as social and emotional issues as they learn how to work together.

The class in groups to work on project.

Each group gave a presentation to the class.

After recess we had silent reading then the students continued with their group report which took most of the rest of the morning. As a final activity the groups had to present their projects to the rest of the class.

The projects are displayed on the class bulletin board

After lunch we had P.E. where we started with the students practicing ball dribbling techniques individually and with a partner. We followed this with group relay activities and ended with a game of bench ball. Our class assistant mentioned they were all out of breath and quiet in the hall when returning from the gym so it looks like they got their exercise for the day.

A the end of the day the students made poppies for the Remembrance day wreath and worked on finishing their Posters and other work that needed completion.

It was the second of two hard working days, well done class. See you tomorrow afternoon.

Mr. W and Daughter Aja at Flanders Field

Two years ago I took a year off and traveled completely around the world with my then twelve year old daughter. I made sure we stopped in Belgium to see Flanders field and many of the locations associated with the First and Second World wars which she had studied in school.

The Hospital near Flanders field where the Canadian Dr. John McCrae worked and wrote the world's most read poem.

My daughter and I at a very powerful and simple monument to Canadian Soldiers.

My daughter in some of the actual trenches from the first World War.

Seeing the graves and the horrible conditions our soldiers fought in was a very moving and unforgettable experience for me and my daughter.