Halloween Note

October 25th Update

Vivian Outdoor Resource Centre Tomorrow for Grade Twos!

The Grade Two students will travel to VORC tomorrow. Here are some important reminders:

-Grade Two students must bring a big healthy lunch tomorrow! Pizza will be delivered to those that order it when we get back to school

-Dress for the weather! It looks like it is going to be a nice fall day. Dress warmly- an extra pair of socks  is a good idea! *In the VORC package that was sent home a few weeks ago there was a section about what to wear.

Pictures!

Picture orders are due tomorrow. Whether you order online, or hand in the form tomorrow is the due date.

Math Test

On Friday we will have a math test about data management. A study review package was sent home yesterday. This will replace the math homework this week. The study package is due this Friday. 

Art

Today in art class we created leaf art with some leaves that we collected last week! Here are some pictures that capture the artists at work. The artists were really excited to bring their work home so instead of keeping it here it will come home tonight. 

Science

Students have been working hard on their design challenge this week. Grade Two students have been challenged to design and create a car with a working wheel and axle. Grade Three students have been challenged to work together to create a marble run that shows all of the forces that they learned about working. Friday will be the final building day and we are hoping that Monday will be the day for presenting our creations. Here are some pictures that capture some of the great design work happening in our classroom during science this week.

Spelling Test #1

Just a quick reminder that our first spelling test will be tomorrow. The test will consist of twenty words selected from the past spelling lists. The Grade Two test will be focused on the long vowel and short vowel sounds. The Grade Three test will be focused on the long vowel and short vowel sounds as well as adding ing. Students should be well aware of this as we have discussed it in class over the past week. If you have any questions or concerns please contact me. Thank you for your support!

October 13th Update

Thank you for sending in cardboard! We have a giant pile now that will support us for a special science project next week. Also, thank you to those families that have sent in non- perishable food items for our We Scare Hunger Food Drive. The food drive continues all month and we appreciate all donations! The Scholastic Order went in today so if your family has ordered I anticipate that the
purchases should come soon! Here is a quick update of  our learning:

Science

We are continuing to learn about forces and simple machines. Below are some pictures that capture this learning through experimentation. Next week we will be applying our knowledge to complete a 'design challenge' (more to come on this!)

Grade Threes experimenting with buoyancy

Grade Twos exploring the screw as a simple machine

Math

This week we learned how to represent our data on a pictograph. This type of graph is a review for most students from previous years. We are learning to interpret data after we represent it on a graph. Below are some sentence starters for students to use when they are explaining what they have interpreted (learned) from the data. 

Today, some students worked on a word problem involving data on a pictograph. This is the word  problem for any students wishing to try at home!

Reading

This week we learned about making text- to -text connections. This is when a part in a story, a theme or Author's Message, or a character's feeling reminds the reader of another story. I have been encouraging students to make connections whenever they are reading...at home too!

Writing

In writing, we are learning how to write personal narratives or "small moment stories". Students are learning how to zoom in on a tiny seed idea that captures a meaningful time in their life. Today we discussed big "watermelon" ideas that are difficult to tell in small steps. "My trip to Egypt" is considered a big watermelon idea. "The time we rode camels in Egypt" is a perfect tiny seed idea that can be turned into a small moment story. Students will benefit from discussing small moment story ideas with their families at home as many of these special times have been experienced with family! 

Art's Package

The form and payment for the Art's Package is due. Some students in our class have not submitted this year- they know who they are. If you have questions or concerns about this please let me know as soon as possible!

October 6th Update

Science

In science, we have been exploring simple machines (Grade 2) and forces causing movement (Grade 3). This week we conducted experiments to learn more about friction (Grade 3), and the inclined plane (Grade 2). 

We later consolidated our new learning by adding more information to our science learning wall:

Math

In math this week we have been learning about data management. We have been learning how to conduct surveys, record results, and interpret our data (tell what we have learned.) Here are the learning goals for each grade:

Grade 2: I can create a simple survey question with a limited number of responses. (e.g., which restaurant do you like best?)

                I can use tally marks to record results.                

                I can describe my data using mathematical language (e.g., 3 more people like Mandarin than Pizza Nova)

Grade 3: I can create a simple survey about myself, the environment, or issues in our school                         and community with a limited number of responses. (e.g., how do you get to school?)

                I can describe my data using comparative math language (e.g., 5 more people walk to school than arrive in a car.)

Next week we will learn how to represent our data in graphs and charts.

Art

We are continuing with our theme of art inspired by the environment. Earlier this week we spent time outside sketching objects found in the community garden. 

Reading

This week in reading we have practised the reading strategy of making connections. Making connections while reading helps us to understand, or "comprehend" the text in a deeper, more meaningful way. This week we made many text-to-self connections together in class. This is a strategy that can easily be practised at home. We used this framework to help us share our connections in a clear way. Next week we will be exploring different text-text connections. 

We Scare Hunger Food Drive

Throughout the month we will be collecting non-perishable food items, as well as household items to donate to our local food bank. Thank you for your support!

CARDBOARD!

We are collecting cardboard (boxes, toilet paper or paper towel rolls, yogurt containers, etc.) to help us with some special projects in science! Please send these items in with your child if possible ASAP!

.......AND FINALLY!

Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy the long weekend with family and friends. We have so much to be thankful for!

October Calendar

A hard copy of this will be sent home today, as well as information and order forms for our big school fundraiser QSP. The scholastic flyer will come home later this week.