This afternoon we had a fun Halloween celebration! The students performed very well at our Community Gathering; they sang “Nobody Likes Me, Everybody Hates Me, Think I’ll Go Eat Worms” and danced to “Elephants Have Wrinkles.” Then we had stations in the classroom. We decorated Jack o’Lanterns,
made dancing spiders,
and decorated cookies.
It was a fun and relaxing afternoon. I hope everyone has a safe and happy Halloween night!
This past week we went on a field trip as part of our community unit. We wrote about our field trip later in the week, using the skills we learned about telling steps in order. Rather than me telling you about it, I will let you read some of the students’ writing. I have typed them as the students wrote them, and all the students have been using their Kidwriting (writing the sounds they hear) to write words they don’t know how to spell. These are all Grade Two students, the Grade One Kidwriting is still a bit tricky for grownups to read 😉
We walkad to Bus. The Bus took us to the sky train. The skytrain took us to the seaBus. we Had Lunch when the seaBus stopt. We whent to a Market caLd Lonsdale key. We Bot candy with a tounaey. I bot a candy cane and four gumaey thay waer gooD. we got home by taking the seaBus and the Bus then we got back to SchooL. the End by V.C.
My favourite part is The play area. We walkd to the Bus. And then the sky train. It was fun. We had lunch. The candy was great. We took The seabus and bus back. by L.M.
on Tuesday our class went on a feld crip we learnt abut traspertashin. We walked to the bus it took us to the sketrain we tuck two of them it was fun. then We took the saebus I saw a segll and the woter we got off and at lonsdl quey we had lunch. We lookd in the markit I got candy. then I went to the play place I wus sweting. On the way home we took the seabus and the bus and walked. by V.W.
We walked to the bus to the skyTrain to the seabus. It was long. Next we had lunch. Then we went to the market. There was a candy store. we bouht some candy there. Then we went in the ball pit. It was fun. Then we went back in the sea bus and the bus. We walked too. My favorite part is going in the ballpit. by L.E.
First we walled to the Bus then the Bus tuc us to the skytran the skytran tuc us to the SeaBus. Next We ate Luch. then we went to the Markit then we went to the play area. Last the SeaBus tuc us to the Bus. then we walled to School the End! My favrit part was goging to the candy stor and playing with My frens i Love ms. collins thank you! by M.M.
This afternoon was our first dance performance of the year– and it was great to see so many parents in the audience. The students had been working with two Danzmode instructors over the past few weeks, learning about musical theatre. Division 7 & 8 performed a dance to Under the Sea. It was a tricky routine, but their enthusiasm was great! Here is a photo from our morning rehearsal:
I thoroughly enjoyed all the performances; it’s so interesting to see the progression of skills as students move up through the grades. I also love musicals, so I thought the music was fantastic! I am going to be singing “Hard Knock Life” for days!
On Friday we read Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes. In the story, the main character Chrysanthemum is made fun of at school because of her name. We talked about what was happening to her, and I was impressed that several students remembered the term “verbal bullying” from the Power of One presentation we saw a few weeks ago.
After reading the story we wrote down the hurtful words on a paper heart. Then I read the words, and for each word folded the heart until it was all crumpled up. We brainstormed kind words that could make someone feel better, and wrote them on another heart. We opened up the crumpled heart, and smoothed it out, but it didn’t look quite the same. I reminded all the students that our words are powerful, when we say hurtful things it hurts someone’s heart, and even when we say kind things to fix it, those wrinkles are still there. I think the students understood how important it is to think about what you are saying before you speak.
Today we had a lesson about writing directions, using three giant apples, some Cheez Whiz, and raisins. First we talked about why it is important to tell things in order, how it doesn’t make sense if you don’t start with the first step. Then the class helped me determine what we would need to do to make our snack:
After a few students helped to wash the apples, I cut them into slices. Each student got to spread their own Cheez Whiz and put on raisins. They were very patient waiting for their turns with the spreading knife and most enjoyed the snack!
In the afternoon we reviewed what we had done in the morning and then wrote our own directions. Students had the writing frame: First, Next, Then, Last. Grade 1 students had the option to write the directions or cut apart sentences I had typed and arrange them in the correct order. Grade 2 students were expected to do their own writing. They did a great job, and had fun giving their recipe a title. Some of my favourites: Ms. Collins Apples, Apple Cheez Whiz Raisin Slices, Super Snack, and The Never-Ending Apple. Look for their recipes coming home tomorrow!