Friday, October 31, 2014

Update from Ms. R

The homework for this week is for each student to visit the class blog with an adult and complete the survey questions. There is also a math worksheet of addition and subtraction questions (with regrouping) and some word problems. This homework is due on Friday, November 7th.

***Note:

On November 12th, Progress Reports will be sent home. On Friday, each child was given a pink interview form for parents to choose a time to meet with me on November 13th or 14th for Teacher/Parent interviews. Please indicate your 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices. I will send home a confirmation note with your child next week. If you wish to choose a different date/time or wish to arrange a telephone interview, please email me or write a note on the pink form.


Here are the children with the "building" lamps they created this week.

News for October 31








News for October 31

We had great Halloween celebration on Friday! The children looked amazing in their costumes! The students did some Halloween activities, learned the history of Halloween and made caramel apples. We had a great parade through the school and party at the end of the day. Check our Instagram account for a photo. Follow us @planet5news.

In writing, the students wrote book reviews for one of the Martha the dog books we read. They reflected on what was his/her favourite part of the book, how the illustrations helped to understand the story and what the author might do next time to make the book even better.

In cursive, the class learned the letters k and b. We also read about the history of handwriting in the encyclopedia. Did you know that the word cursive means "flowing" in Latin?

The children learned how folding makes paper stronger. They used this knowledge to create 3D buildings with window to create the framework for a holiday lamp by putting a small battery operated tea light inside.

The students worked hard to figure out who were the winners of the perimeter contest. First we had to actually measure the perimeter of the school. Using pieces of pre-measured 2 meter rope, the students worked in pairs to measure around the school. The answer is 336 meters! The children delivered the prizes to each of the four winners and Mila was the winner in our class with the closest estimate to the actual answer.

The children did an experiment to test how strong glass is. They learned the basic steps of a science experiment (purpose, materials, observations before, observations after, next steps). Glass marbles were heated up then put into ice water. The marbles cracked and showed that glass is not stable under extreme changes in temperature.

In math, the class reviewed subtraction strategies and looked at fact families to help with addition and subtraction. For example, if you know that 7+8=15, you then also know that 15-7=8 and 15-8=7. The children used place value blocks to help them understand two-digit addition and subtraction with regrouping.

The children learned how to orally tell a Halloween story using a piece of orange paper and a pair of scissors. Did your child tell this story to you?

During our computer time, the students explored thekidzpage.com .

The students also spent some time measuring the food our class collected for the school's Halloween Food Drive. After putting all the cans and packages end-to-end they measured the line with meter sticks and it was 4 meters and 49 centimeters long. They also weighed the food on a scale and together it all weighed 14 kilograms!

Books read aloud this week:

Bunnicula by Deborah and James Howe (chapter book - now finished)
The Lion and the Mouse by Aesop
Halloween Is...by Gail Gibbons


Sunday, October 26, 2014

Update from Ms. R


The homework for this week is for each student to complete a reading survey. There is also a math sheet reviewing two-digit addition and subtraction without regrouping and some practice word problems. This homework is due on Friday, October 31st.

Notes:

1. I apologize but I will not be able to attend our Multicultural Night on Wednesday. I've been invited by the Director of Education's office to attend a TDSB dinner that night. But I will bake brownies...

2. I will be sending out a sign up sheet for Parent/Teacher interviews by the end of this week.

3. The school's policy for Halloween states that costume masks and weapons are not allowed, for the safety of the children. We ask that students wait to dress up after lunch for our school's Halloween Parade.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please email me or write a note in your child's agenda.

Important Dates:

October 29 - Multicultural Night (6:00-7:30)
October 31 - Halloween - The parade is in the afternoon.
November 11 - Remembrance Day
November 12 - Progress Reports go home
November 13 (evening) and Nov. 14 (AM) - Parent/Teacher interviews
November 14 - P. A. Day - no classes
December 5 - P. A. Day - no classes
December 19 - Last day of classes for 2014
January 5 - First day of classes for 2015

News for October 24






News for October 24

Every morning this week, students from our class were on the school's morning announcements, talking about our contest, "How Big is the School's Perimeter?". Each child had a chance to do this and it was quite exciting to hear the voices of the students from our class on the announcements!

In math, the students continued to learn about area, or measuring the flat space inside the perimeter of a shape. They learned how to count squares and parts of a square to get an accurate answer. The children even had a chance to measure the perimeter of one hand and the area. We figured out that if you put all the perimeters end-to-end, it would measure 482 cm. That's almost 5 metres!

At the end of the week, the class began the new math unit on multi-digit addition and subtraction. The students reviewed two-digit adding and subtracting without regrouping and reviewed the steps to give a complete answer to a word problem.

The children worked very hard to complete their pillows this week. They now use the pillows on their chairs at their desks and when they sit on the carpet to listen to our daily read aloud book.

In writing, the children finished editing their instructions on how to make a pillow (also called "procedural writing"). Their each wrote out a good copy and created a formal book with a front and back cover including a photo of each author! These are now on display on the bulletin board outside of our classroom.

In cursive writing, the class learned the letters, r, s, o and h.

On Tuesday, our class saw a presentation called "Be a Tree" in the library. It was presented by students at the veterinary program at Seneca College. This program reviews the strategies for children to safely interact with dogs.

The students visited their special friends in Kindergarten on Tuesday. The children helped their friends make paper bag puppets.

In science, the students took the challenge to take unconventional building materials and figure out how to make the tallest, stable structure that they could. The children remembered that one useful strategy is to make the base bigger than the top. The class also chorally read a story about how skyscrapers are made.

In computers, the class visited a site and played educational games based on the theme of Halloween.
Here is the link:

primarygames.com/halloween

Book read aloud this week:

Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale of Mystery by Deborah and James Howe (chapter book)

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Update from Ms. R

The homework for this week is to write a fiction story in the homework writing journal, with the title "The _____That Ran Away" (based on a read aloud book from this week). There is also a math worksheet reviewing the measurement concepts of area and perimeter. This homework is due on Friday, October 24th.

Important Dates:

October 29 - Multicultural Night (6:00-7:30) ***NEW DATE*** (Blue memo sent home Friday.)
October 31 - Halloween
November 11 - Remembrance Day
November 12 - Progress Reports go home
November 13 (evening) and Nov. 14 (AM) - Parent/Teacher interviews
November 14 - P. A. Day - no classes
December 5 - P. A. Day - no classes
December 19 - Last day of classes for 2014
January 5 - First day of classes for 2015


The students visit with author/illustrator Patricia Storms on our field trip to the Northern District Library on Monday. Thank you to Carlo (Lucas' Dad) and Maja (Marko's Mom) for volunteering to join us on this trip.


 The students created a "pumpkin bookstore" for the school's annual Pumpkinfest on Thursday. Inside the bookstore were 28 small books (written and illustrated by the students)!

News for October 17








News for October 17

The four-day week began with our visit to the Northern District Library for a workshop with author/illustrator Patricia Storms. Ms. Storms told the students about her job and the steps it takes to make a book. Then she challenged the children to illustrate a simple story. Later, we went upstairs to the art gallery to look at the original artwork that she made for some of her books and compared the originals to the illustrations in the actual books. We even had time to stop for a delicious, fresh from the oven, chocolate chip cookie from Rachel's Coffee Shop. Of course, the students also wrote thank you cards to Ms. Storms, Carlo (Lucas's Dad), Maja (Marko's Mom) and Maria (who baked the cookies)!

In math, the students used toothpicks to help them understand how to calculate the perimeter of irregular shapes. The class learned about the concept of area or how to measure the surface space inside the perimeter of a shape using pattern blocks and grid paper. We also had time to compare different shapes with the same perimeter and noticed that the area is not always the same, even if the perimeter is the same.

In writing, the students finished the stories they wrote about their cardboard structures. As part of the pumpkin carving challenge, the students created a Pumpkin Bookstore for the parent council sponsored event, Pumpkinfest. The children learned how to fold an 8-page book from a single piece of paper. Then they each wrote and illustrated these little books to be included inside the pumpkin bookstore.

In cursive writing, the students learned the letters, j, p, t and w.

The students have shown an interest in the history of the names of the week, so this week they learned a little about the complex history of these everyday words. Many English words for the days of the week are from the German words for gods from Norse (or northern European) Mythology. For example, did you know that Woden, the chief Norse god was worshipped on Wednesday or "Woden's Day"?

In science, the students reflected on what they did to make their cardboard structures strong and stable. We compiled a list to help us with the next structure project. For example,the students noticed that if the base is wider than the top, it is more likely to be stable.

The children learned how to safely use a steam iron. They ironed their two pieces of tie dyed fabric flat, in preparation for sewing their pillows next week.

Finally, the students made the preparations for our How Big is the School's Perimeter? contest. The children worked in groups to write the words for the morning announcements, to make signs, to make posters and to set up the table and box in which people can put their perimeter estimates. The contest will run from October 20-24. The children will take turns talking about the contest each day next week on the morning announcements. There are prizes for grades 1-3, grades 4-6, grades 7-8 and staff. The winners will be announced on October 28th.

Books read aloud this week:

Roberto the Insect Architect by Nina Laden
The Table that Ran Away To The Woods by Stefan Themerson
The Days of the Week (excerpt from The World Book Encyclopedia)





Monday, October 13, 2014

Update from Ms. R

The homework for this week is for each student to interview a parent. A sheet of questions was sent home and the student is to ask the questions and to write down the parent's answers. There is also a math worksheet reviewing concepts in our measurement unit. (This week the focus was on measuring and calculating perimeter or the distance around objects.) This homework is due on Friday, October 17th.

On Friday, we celebrated Thanksgiving in Room 5! We made vegetable soup, baked bread and made our own butter. Every students helped to make the food for our feast. It was delicious and a wonderful way to share a special time together.

Happy Thanksgiving to all the families of Room 5!

Remember to follow us on Instagram @planet5news! (or www.instagram.com/planet5news)


News for October 10





News for October 10

On Monday, our class had the first visit to Mr. Grundy's JK/SK class. These children are our "special friends" for the school year. We will get together every two weeks. This week, the children presented the play they created for the kindergarten audience based on the book Pete the Cat - I Love My White Shoes. The kindergarten children loved it! After, the special friends got together to talk about the story and draw pictures.

This week the students began to work on planning our school-wide contest, "What is the perimeter of our school?" To help us get started, the class actually walked all around the school and wrote down their estimates. Next week, the students will take turns talking about the contest on the morning announcements.

Of course, our contest is an extension of our current math unit on measurement. The class learned how to calculate the perimeter or distance around a shape or object in centimetres and metres.

The children tried a different dyeing technique to create a design on the second piece of fabric for our pillow project. The class learned a type of Japanese tie dye called "shibori", where the fabric is folded into geometric shapes, secured with wood pieces and elastics and then the edges are dipped into dye. The result is a very cool geometric pattern.

In cursive writing instruction this week, the students learned the letters, q, i, u and y.

The students finished making their cardboard structures for the Cardboard Challenge 2014. At this point in our science unit the children were discovering different techniques on how to make their structures strong and stable.

In writing, the students continued to write fiction stories, using the cardboard structures that they made as the setting for his/her story.

On Friday, while the children were shaking the cream into butter, cutting up vegetables for the soup and waiting for the bread to rise and bake, they wrote letters to their families. In the letters, the students wrote about what they were thankful for, in the spirit of our Thanksgiving celebration.

Books read aloud this week:

Thanksgiving in Canada (DVD)
Martha Calling by Susan Meddaugh
Martha Blah Blah by Susan Meddaugh
Martha Walks the Dog by Susan Meddaugh
Martha and Skits by Susan Meddaugh
Stone Soup by Jon Muth

Finally, we had a special visitor this week to our classroom. Eric Wood from The Town Crier newspaper came to talk to the children and learn more about the amazing work that the students do.


Saturday, October 4, 2014

Update from Ms. R

The homework for this week is to write a story about the mystery ticket stapled into the homework writing journal. Some of the ideas suggested by the class were: What if the ticket got lost? What if the ticket was a magic ticket?  What if it was a ticket to see a movie? There is also a math sheet on linear measurement concepts (ex. centimetres). This homework is due on Friday, October 10th.

On Friday, some Scholastic Canada flyers were sent home with the students. Purchasing books through this program benefits the students and the classroom. Scholastic gives coupons to be used to buy books for our classroom library based on the total value of the orders. The orders are due on Friday, October 10th. (Please remember to send cheques or money orders only, as Scholastic does not accept cash payments.)

***Field Trip***

I've just received the last minute confirmation of a workshop with book illustrator Patricia Storms. It will be on Tuesday, October 14th from 1:00-2:30 at the Northern District Library, near Yonge and Eglinton. A field trip form is not necessary since we will be walking to and from there, and permission is covered by the walking excursion forms signed at the beginning of the year.

We require two parent volunteers to join us on this trip. If you would like to join us please email me or write a note in your child's agenda. Thanks!

News for October 3





News for October 3

The big news for this week was our planning and rehearsing a play for our special friends in kindergarten, based on the book, Pete the Cat - I Love My White Shoes. After listening to the book read aloud, the children wrote their opinions of the story and wrote down their ideas about how to make this story come alive for their JK/SK friends. They will perform their play for Mr. Grundy's JK/SK class next Monday.

In math, the students finished the unit on Number Sense by practicing rounding numbers to the nearest 10 or 100. The class reviewed the concepts of the unit and had a test on this information on Thursday. On Friday, we started our new math unit on linear measurement.

Throughout the week, all the children have been doing their part to help out on our class project to count the number of beads in the bag that Ms. R has been storing for years. Each child counts out 100 beads and then strings them onto plastic cord. So far, we have counted over 2,000 beads!

In writing, the students learned about adjectives and how, if they are removed, the sentence still makes sense. However, adding adjectives adds so much detail to the sentences in a story and makes it much more interesting to read.

We finished reading aloud the chapter book, My Father's Dragon and the students wrote about the part he/she liked the best, what they predicted happened when the characters got home and suggested an alternate title. Of course, they also had to explain why...

The class began to learn how to write lower case letters in cursive writing. We reviewed why learning this is important. One needs to be able to read cursive writing, writing in cursive is faster and cursive is used for writing one's signature. This week, the children learned the letters, a, d, g and c.

In science, the students formally started the unit on structures. The class listed the types of structures that are found in nature (ex. caves), made by animals (ex. snail shells) and made by humans (ex. buildings). The children read aloud a non-fiction story that listed the types of materials that humans use to make structures strong and stable.

The children each created a large portfolio, displaying his/her names and designs. These portfolios will be used to store the finished work of the students and looked at several times during the year so that the students can each track their progress in the various subjects.

At the end of the week, the students began a project making pillows. So far, the students learned how to tie dye fabric by folding, twisting and wrapping the white fabric with clothespins and elastics then soaking the "ball" in orange dye. Doing this to the fabric created wonderful patterns of white and orange.

Books read aloud this week:

My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett (finished)
Give Me Back My Dad by Robert Munsch
Pete the Cat - I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin
The Cobbler's Holiday or Why Ants Don't Wear Shoes by Musharraf Ali Farooqi
Martha Speaks by Susan Meddaugh