Christmas gifts

The children have been really busy in Santa's workshop making presents for their families.  Please send a medium size gift bag for them to package their gifts. 

Classroom Door

Today we decorated are door for the door decorating contest. We decided to use 2D shapes since that's what we are learning about in math. The Christmas tree is made of triangles, the ornaments are made of circles and the presents are made of squares and rectangles.  Some friends attempted to make boxes.  They watched video to help them.  We worked very hard and we had fun!

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Some of our friends have posed a few entries on their blog.  Have a look at your child's blog and use it as a conversation started. Have them tell you about the post. Have Fun!

No Homework!  

December is a short and busy month.  The regular homework calendar will resume in January. Please continue reading at home with your child.
        Thank you for your support!

Check it Out!!!

We are continuing to learn through inquiry.  Last Friday, we spent a whole block learning about topics of our choice.  Wow! There was some amazing learning happening.  Some friends learned about patterns, dolphin, snakes, snow, taste buds and much more.   The children then showed there learning in a varieties of ways. Some decided to take pictures, some used plastercine, some drew pictures and some created little books with interesting facts.

For the last few weeks, the students have been inquiring about volcanoes.  Lots of interesting conversations about the different types of volcanoes and the lava. Some students decided to build their own volcanoes with paper plates, popsicle sticks, paper mache and lots of tape.  They turned out awesome! Some students were more interested in watching real life videos of volcanoes erupting, while others wanted to learn more about the lava and what it becomes.  They are enjoying every moment as they chat, laugh and learn.

As our inquiry learning continues, your child may ask to bring some books to school to share with others.  Together we have an abundance of resources, lets share and maximize our learning. 

Word Wall Words

We will not have new word wall words this week. Please continue to review the words from the previous weeks. Get creative and have fun with your child!

Today we decided to have an Election in our classroom.  We had three candidates, Spot the Dog, Scaredy Squirrel and Spike the Hedgehog.  The children loved hearing their political platform and discussed who would be best for our classroom.  The children voted and then even got to visit a real voting station in the school. The results are in, Scaredy Squirrel has won this years election!

Grade One Authors!

Here are a few samples of the work being created in class during "Learning Centres".  You will notice that some of the writing is hard to read because the students are just learning how to stretch-out their words and write down the letters that represent the sound.  Please look at each pieces as our starting place for writing.  I hope you see the efforts being made and the amazing ideas being put down on paper. I am "wowed" that the children are choosing to write.  I am very proud of them!

Is your lunch bag ready? It's waste-free lunch week. Are you up for the challenge? For more info http://www.wastefreelunch.com

Many of our students were curious about the human body. After a short discussion, I asked the children if they would be interested in having a "Human Body Inquiry".  With the help of the children we gathered books and collected varies items from around the school.   After a few days of exploration (students discussed their observations), students were encouraged to write down some of their wonders and their findings.                                                                                   

We are learning about the 5 senses and the human skeleton. We are learning about our brain.  We are learning about the ear. We got to touch what the brain feels like.  We are learning about our bodies. 

Thanksgiving Celebration

Our Thanksgiving Celebration

Creating our placemats.

We had fun celebrating with all our Grade One friends.  Here are the children's thought on the special celebration.  We sang song about being thankful. (Hayden)We had so much fun! (Leona ) My favourite part was being with the Grade Ones. (Abbey) I liked eating the fruit salad that we made. (Kaitie) We opened the wall to make one big classroom. (Avery)

We made our own placemats.

 

Eating our fruit salad.

Sitting with our friends.

Our fruit salad was yummy!!!

Yesterday your child received their first list of Word Wall Words.  Our words wall is a list of sight words that Grade One's frequently use in their writing.  These words are introduced at the rate of 5 per week.  (If it's a short week like this week, we have the same words for two weeks) 

Some Activities to Do At Home

• Use each word in a sentence
• Find rhyming words
• Create flashcards with the words
• cut out words using magazine letters
• Create a memory game by writing each word twice

Have Fun!

 Wonder, Explore and Discover 

Last Friday the students decided to take their inquiry outside.  We packed up our ipads and grabbed some bags to collect items and off we went to the park.  The children had so much fun taking pictures of insects, flowers and other living things.  They also collected some very interesting things to bring back to our science centre. The students were looking for signs of the season changing, however they took this opportunity to explore many other living things.  I was amazed to watch them work together to investigate their surrounding. 

Here are their thoughts on the inquiry walk

(We took a picture of a wasp- Katie & Avery, We found burs- Elliot & Christian, We found a sunflower- Abbey & Zoe, We watched a ladybug-Hayden, Nico & Chase, We saw a caterpillar in a tree eating a leaf (it was really cool!) - Isabella S. & Isabella B

Here are a few snapshots into their learning!

Today was our first gallery walk.  The children walked around the room reading each others interviews. They really enjoyed this process and we decided that we will have a gallery walk at the end of each month.

 Homework calendars went home yesterday.  Please keep them at home and send them back to school to be checked on October 30.  Have Fun!!!

 Our little friends need to practice the correct way to print their letters.  We will be working on our printing booklets in class.   Unfinished work will be sent home to finish.

Here are a few snapshots of some children at play and at work!

Yesterday the "Snuggle Up" reading bags went home for the first time.  Just a reminder that your child should be working on 10 minutes of homework each night.  Please make sure that they are doing a picture walk before reading and working on sounding and stretching unfamiliar words.  The "Snuggle Up" bags are due back to school by the next day.

The Learning Common was closed today.  We will get new library books next Thursday.

This week, we explored patterning.  After a few activities on the smartboard, I told the students I wanted them to make some patterns in a way of their choosing- they could go to the "Creation Station" or the "Building Station" or take anything off the shelves or around our room.  The great thing about this was that because it was so open the children made a variety of patterns using different attributes. 

Small Wonders, Discoveries and Explorations

Scholastic

Every month I will be sending Scholastic order forms home with your child.  If you decide to order books , please look at the column highlighted for Ontario prices.  All taxes are included.  Please send cheques.  Cheques should be made payable to "Scholastic Canada Ltd.".  If you are combining orders you can use one cheque for the total amount. If you have any questions regarding the procedure for ordering Scholastic books, please feel free to contact me.  If your order is a "surprise"  for your child (birthday gift, Christmas gift) and don't want him/her to see it, please send a note and you can pick it up at the office at your convenience. 

                                                  Order due September 17