News for November 9

News for November 9

This week the class wrote about peace in our world, Canadian Remembrance Day, how to measure and calculate perimeter and even how to fold an origami paper crane!

In math, the children learned ways to measure two-dimensional and three-dimensional objects that are an irregular shape. One can use a measuring tape, since it can "bend" around objects or curvy lines and has standard units printed directly on it. One can also use a piece of string to measure and then measure the piece of string. The class also learned about perimeter, or the distance around an object and how to measure and calculate perimeter using standard and non-standard units. For example, the students worked in pairs to determine the perimeter of a book using wooden toothpicks (non-standard unit) and using measuring tape in centimeters (standard unit). For example, a square with each of its four sides measuring 3 cm would have a perimeter of 3+3+3+3=12 cm.

In science, the children learned the science behind two sets of teeth in mammals. Did you know that mammals have different shapes of teeth for eating? The front teeth or incisors are thin at the bottom to cut food like a knife. The back teeth or molars have a flat surface on top for grinding the food and prepare it for digestion. Our teeth are also needed for pronouncing words correctly. Baby teeth are also called milk teeth and as children grow, they fall out because the adult or permanent tooth pushes up on the baby tooth and pushes it out of the gums. The children counted their teeth and completed a diagram of the parts of a tooth (crown, root, nerve and gums and enamel).

In guided reading, the children talked about the use of text features in writing. Text features include the use of bold letters and underlined words and how words are positioned on the page. These features are used by a writer to show the reader that these words are important to the story and should be read with more energy. This week, the small reading groups were guided through the Robert Munsch book, Give Me Back My Dad!

In social studies, the class talked about loosing their baby teeth. They learned about tooth traditions around the world and discussed and wrote about their personal family traditions when they lose their teeth. Their tooth tradition writing will become part of a class book, that students can read during independent reading time.

The children also learned about the reasons behind the observation of Remembrance Day in Canada. They learned about the different symbols of peace. They talked about what peace looks like in the world and what they can do to help make a peaceful world. The children learned a Remembrance Day song using American Sign Language. They painted beautiful posters of poppies to use for decoration at the school's Remembrance Day assemblies. They learned about the tradition of wearing a poppy at this time of year. Did you know that it is customary to wear a poppy on the left side of your body, closer to your heart?

The students each wrote 33 words about what peace means to them. We used the number 33 because the Remembrance Day minute of silence is observed at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month (11+11+11=33). Our class made a Remembrance Day video of the children reading aloud their heart-felt messages. Here is the video:

For our ongoing pillow project, the students learned how to use an iron to iron fabric. Each child ironed the two pieces of fabric he/she designed in preparation for sewing the fabric next week.

Origami paper cranes are also a symbol of peace. The class learned the true story of a Japanese girl named Sadako, who died from radiation sickness at the end of World War II. Her story of how she and her friends and family tried to fold 1,000 paper cranes to try to help her get better caught the attention of the world and every year paper cranes are folded and sent to the Peace Monument in Hiroshima, Japan. The children learned how to fold paper cranes (and reviewed a bit of geometry along the way...) If you or your child would like to fold paper cranes, there are lots of instructions on the internet, but here is a video I made several years ago:



On Friday, the children attended the primary Remembrance Day assembly in the auditorium. There were poems and songs performed. Nine of the students in our class are in the primary choir and we watched them perform. Well done!

Books read aloud this week:

Throw Your Tooth on the Roof - Tooth Traditions From Around the World by Selby B. Beeler
Lyle and the Birthday Party by Bernard Waber
Give Me Back My Dad! by Robert Munsch
Sadako's Cranes by Judith Loske