This week we had two special events. First we had a visit from Scientist Natasha and second, we had our trip to the Cadbury chocolate Factory.
On Tuesday, the Scientist in the School classroom presentation was about Habitats and Communities. Natasha brought models, games and preserved animals to help the students learn about how animals and plants live together and how animals adapt to different environments. Thanks to our two volunteers, Rodica and Gabi for helping out!
On Wednesday, all the grade 3 and grade 4 students went downtown to visit the 100 year old Cadbury chocolate factory. The children learned about the history of the company and all the products it has made over the years. They also learned about how chocolate is made from cacao beans and they got to taste chocolate of course! The students finally had a chance to go into the factory and see how chocolate mini eggs are made. Lucky for us, they gave us lots of chocolate bars as treats to take home. Thanks to Karen and Joe for volunteering for our class on this trip.
In math, the students learned the history of binary code and how it's used in all sorts of computer applications. Each child figured out his/her name in binary code and made a new name tag for each desk. We also began to write our first computer program to figure out the names of students in our class.
In writing, the students talked about the special feature of comics and how comics tell stories using a combination of drawings and limited words. They each planned out a story that could be told in 8 panels of a comic and most began their "good copy" using special comic book paper.
In computers, the students investigated all the games and stories found on the Toronto Public Library's Summer Reading Program site:
http://tdsummerreadingclub.ca/
On Friday, the students opened up the sealed "time capsule" that we made back in September 2011! In the box were little books that each student made with information like height and outlines of hands and feet. There was also a photo and a letter to themselves ...in the future...
Well, they waited all year and finally it was time this week. Time to start creating sock creatures!
This week, each student used the sewing machine to create the body from one sock, stuff the head, body and legs and handsew the opening shut.
The students created pop-up cards to go with their nature "heart" photos, for Father's Day gifts.
The class also had a chance to watch a performance of the musical play, The Music Man, performed by the grade 7 and 8 students of Spectrum Alternative School.
Books read aloud this week:
G is for Googol: A Math Alphabet Book by David M. Schwartz
Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren (chapter book)
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