I am so proud of my hard-working students this week. It's not been easy as we juggle finishing off the grade curriculum and the grade 3 students prepare for the EQAO standardized test at the end of the month.
In math, the children reviewed the concept of symmetry and the line of symmetry that splits an object into congruent parts (same size, same shape). The students learned the different ways to move a shape across a surface: flip (reflection), turn (rotation) and slide (translation). The class also learned how to measure the space within a shape, or area, using equal units (size and shape). Area can be measured using any shape but the standard shape is square units.
We finished our read aloud chapter book, The Iron Man. The children have been practising the reading comprehension strategy of "make a picture in your mind" as the story was read by drawing the pictures in their mind as the story was read. It is quite a story...so much going on and the students were doing a great job keeping up with all the action in the story.
In science, our caterpillar/butterfly project continues! The students learned that there are over 20,000 different kinds (species) of butterflies. We discussed what the children think must be happening in the chrysalis for the caterpillar to change into a butterfly. The children learned that bascially, the caterpillar breaks down to "caterpillar soup" and rearranges itself to become a butterfly. All week, the caterpillars were quietly going through metamorphosis inside their chrysalids.
EQAO preparation continues for the grade 3 students as they continue to review concepts and learn the tips and tricks on how to write a standardized test. During these preparation times, the grade 2 students have begun to research an animal and create research posters to display what they have learned.
Our class has started to rehearse a new play! The same play is being done by the grade two students and also by the grade three students so that every student gets a chance to have a speaking part. We are working in class on this project and during the drama time once a week with Ms. Francesca.
In art, the students cut out the symmetrical, painted butterflies they made last week, taped them on large art paper and designed a background using oil pastels.
In social studies, the children continued to learn and discuss what it was like to live in Canada 200 years ago. The students worked in groups to list the things that we have now that did not exist 200 years ago. One of the things that people needed to do was to create their own clothing and household items. Each child this week made his/her own "corker" which pioneer children used to learn how to knit. Using the wool yarn they dyed several weeks ago, the students all began learning to knit using the corker so that they made. The students learned that when the pioneers were sick, they didn't go to the doctor or dentist....they went to the blacksmith to get a tooth pulled and sometimes the barber for "bloodletting" because they believed that sickness began with poison in the blood. FIrst Nations people taught the pioneers to preserve meet by drying it to make "jerky" and then to crush the jerky and mix it with fat, nuts and berries to make a nutritional food.
The class learned about the Canadian holiday, VIctoria Day. Canadians have been celebrating this holiday since 1845, before Canada officially became a country in 1867. Queen Victoria (1819-1901) was the Queen of England from 1837 to 1901, or 64 years! She was so loved and respected that the immigrants from England brought the celebration of her birthday (May 24) to their new home.
Books read aloud this week:
The Iron Man by Ted Hughes (chapter book)
The Butterfly House by Sarah L. Smith
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