May 23 - 26

This week we enjoyed a visit from The Little Red Reading Van.  We were able to enjoy a couple of stories and then check out the van.  We were also a gifted a box of box and each student was able to choose one and bring it home.  

I Can Talk About the Interdependencies of Plants and Animals

This week we took our learning out on the land to look for urban wildlife to see how they live in the city.  We were lucky enough to see gophers, squirrels, a hare, magpies, robins, sparrows, osprey, Canadian goose (and their goslings), and merganser ducks.  We also took an extra special recess at a different park!

This week we were also lucky to receive the gift of some Painted Lady Caterpillars.  After reviewing what we learned about butterflies at the Calgary Zoo we had a chance to feed them and make some observations.

Literacy:

This week's high frequency words: after, water, number, over, see

 

Math:

This week in math set the foundation for understanding the concept of area by using pattern blocks.  We had a large hexagon and students had to cover the shape and talk about how big the shape was in terms of the pattern blocks (i.e. 28 triangles).  We also began our learning about shapes through exploration centres.  This work will continue into the next couple of weeks.

Reminders:

Monday, May 29 - Non-Instructional Day, No School for Students

Wednesday, May 31 - Library Book Exchange

Thursday, June 1 - Community Walk

Monday, June 5 - Weaslehead Field Trip.  We are still looking for Volunteers!

Thursday, June 8 - Fun Lunch

Friday, June 9 - Non-Instructional Day, No School for Students

May 15 - 19

 What a strange week!  We started off with some beautiful weather and the chance to move our classroom learning outside to being stuck inside for three days due to the smoke.  

I Can Compare the Length or Capacity of Two Objects By Directly Using a Third Object:

This week we took our measuring outside.  We used the measuring tapes of "hands" that we created after reading a story about non-standard units of measure and looked for things that were ten hands or smaller.

We also went to the top of the hill with Ms. Rowlands class to explore and learn more about capacity.  Students were split up into small groups, given three different cups, and tasked with figuring out and proving which cup had the biggest capacity.   After lots of group conversation and experimenting, some groups came up with the idea of using smaller cups to fill up each cup and compare to determine which was biggest.

 

Literacy:

This week we learned about some of the rule breakers for  VCe words.  First we learned that in English, written words can't end in V and that's why an E is added at the end.  The Es at the end don't make the vowel say it's own name (long vowel sound).  We also learned about the 'scribble o' .  A long time ago people had to copy books by hand and sometimes they made mistakes and instead of writing a 'u' they scribbled an 'o'.  Words like 'love', 'some', and 'done' have Os that sound more like U.

We also learned about words that end in -es instead of -s when there is more than one.  

Our High Frequency Words for the Week are:  them, then, these, so, some, her

Several weeks ago we started reading the novel, "Bear in the Family" by Eric Walters.  The story is centred around a family whose community has been affected by a wild fire and so with our smokey days, we have made some connections to feelings and emotions that the family in the story and that families in Alberta might have.  We have had very honest conversations around the fact that there are people in Alberta right now who have had to leave their homes and may not have a home to go back to and what impact the fires might have on wild life and other animals.  This may end up being a conversation that they might want to talk to parents in more detail.

Reminders:

Monday, May 22 - Victoria Day, No School 

Tuesday, May 23 - Little Red Reading Van

Wednesday, May 24 - 

• Library Book Exchange
• 
  Ramsay School Dance

Monday, May 29 - Non-Instructional Day, No School for Students

Monday, June 5 - Weaslehead Field Trip

May 8 to 12

Goodbye little chicks!  On Saturday, Ms. Rowland took our took little chicks back to the farm near Didsbury so they can continue growing in an environment and space that will let them thrive.  It was quite amazing to see how quickly they grow!  Our little black chick already had full on wing feathers at one week old.  We'll certainly miss our chance to cuddle with you both!

Literacy

This week we focused on two letter/sounds.  First was when _ ce makes a /s/ sound and when _ge makes a /j/ sound.  For example, place, race, stage, cage, etc.

Everyone also brought home at least one reading passage that they were supposed to share with an adult at home as homework.  These passages are a great chance for students to practice and show off the skills they have been gaining at school.

Here is some other work that you can do at home:

Math:

We have been continuing to explore measurement and the concepts of shorter and longer.  One of our centres this week challenged students to think about how tall they were in relation to others (are they longer or shorter than their friend?).  Here's a group that came up with a plan to line up on a straight surface to figure out shortest to tallest.

Reminders:

Wednesday, May 17 - Library Book Exchange Day

Monday, May 22 - Victoria Day, No School 

Tuesday, May 23 - Little Red Reading Van

Wednesday, May 24 - Ramsay School Dance

Monday, May 29 - Non-Instructional Day, No School for Students

Monday, June 5 - Weaslehead Field Trip

Egg Watch 2

 I went into the school this morning and moved this sweet little chick to it's enclosure (after a cuddle of course!).

Just before I left I gave the eggs one more look and noticed another one getting started.

 I had to leave but Ms. Rowland is at the school keeping watch and she just sent me an update picture!

Stay tuned for updates . . .

Egg Watch

 Friday, May 5 - 

This morning I came into the classroom and could hear sweet little chirps.

After looking really closely I could see a small crack at the top.  I went to join the other teachers for a meeting and came back during a break and could see some pieces of shell on the cloth.

When all my meetings were finished I came back and saw the chick had been hard at work.

The little chick worked and worked at getting out.

 

The chick was hard at work breaking the shell in a line around the egg.

Soon we could see body parts coming out - feet, wings, a beak.  

Finally, the little chick made it's way out!

Here are some videos that show the hatching - turn up the volume to hear the sweet peeps.

 https://drive.google.com/file/d/12N8aKWY1jslMcVLncg1Ps5uILxXbRu1R/view?usp=sharing

 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CI8BSFB1Et-pBJJ7F3X-SpL0QP0E30_Z/view?usp=sharing

 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fyIoG-KhUrRXtFdnbyicx6gIjeoNK7JP/view?usp=sharing

The chick will stay nice and warm in the incubator until tomorrow when I will come back to the school and move him into his enclosure.  Hopefully, we will have some new babies from the other eggs soon!

 If there are any changes I will post an update tomorrow.