Can’t say enough about the amazing experience Division 10, along with Division 9, had yesterday at Byrne Creek.  We were able to release smolt Coho into the ravine with the Burnaby Stream Keepers.  Fisheries and Oceans provided us with 375o hatchery salmon that will eventually make their way to the Pacific Ocean.

Thank you to Joan and Paul for guiding us through the forest and sharing with us information about invasive and native plants while supporting our observation of a Mother Owl and her baby.

We are happy to have learned so much about the salmon cycle and the Byrne Creek Watershed.  Our new Word Collector word is anadromous which represents fish that move from fresh to salt water and back during their life cycle migration.

It was a wonderful experience that was validated by Hope’s words from her reflection writing, “The feeling I had was fun, joy, happiness.”

Here is a video montage of our first field experience in a few years.

https://sd41-my.sharepoint.com/:v:/g/personal/e13432_burnabyschools_ca/ESf3xGcpJ9hOuHdzqVwEOgwBqxRsDND0oH82X3zBprAdCw?e=FXi6DO

We have also created a bulletin board mural in the hallway for others to enjoy.  Team Salmon, Team Predator and Team Habitat worked together to add all the pieces of the puzzle of the salmon and forest ecosystem.

  Everything is connected so please try to be kind to our natural habitats.

We role played during out math experience and pretended to be taking measurements for new playground equipment, new fencing while also comparing and contrasting tree diameters.  Students enjoyed working as a team.

Try some outdoor measurement at home.  Measuring tape anyone?

Welcome to Mid-Week Wednesday!

Over the past few days we have been exploring our inquiry in math with What Are The Possibilities?  We decided to change up number sentences to the date to look at what are the possibilities of the number 9 when exploring on paper with partners.  We then moved on to what are the possibilities of the number 11 when using manipulatives with partners.  Here’s what we came up with:

We also have maintained our reading stamina and have been able to independently read for 30 minutes.  Students are eager to bring books from home and the library to compliment books they have in their book bags.  They enjoy having choice and they enjoy sharing their love of reading with one another and me.

Happy Mother’s Day weekend to all our wonderful Moms, Grandmas, Aunts and women who have shaped us into who we are today!

Yesterday, we honoured Sadako Sasaki with the making of peace cranes with our buddy class.  Sadako was a strong, young girl who enlightened the world with her hopes of peace and the making of 1000 paper cranes.  She was challenged by leukemia due to the radiation she experienced during the atomic bombing of Japan.

A monument stands in her honour in Hiroshima, Japan and Division 10 and Division 6 were pleased to continue her legacy by making cranes of peace.  Thank you, Ms. Benson, for this opportunity.  As a school community, we are hoping to make 1000 paper cranes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wRabZXQ-hQ

We also shared our thoughts about what Peace means and listened to Susan Verde’s book, I Am Peace!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnR5HDfR3JI

We hope that you all have a peaceful, Mother’s Day weekend.

We have been working in literature circle groups with books written by Mary Pope Osbourne.  The title selections were chosen by the students and groups were made from those choices.  A contract of respectful, responsible goals was created and signed by all members of each group.

Students have been independently reading and working through their booklets, then joining up in reading groups to read, discuss, share and collaborate.

It’s been a magical time and the Tree House theme helps students escape into our classroom inquiry of “What stories do the trees tell us?” 

Have a great weekend in nature!

We have been sharing Earth messages over the P.A., with the library book, Dear Earth by Erin Dealy as our guide.  We have  begun to weed the garden planters in the courtyard as we get ready to plant some lettuce.

We have continued to monitor the progress of the Cherry Trees while they have been going through the transformation from bud to blossom.  Thursday, April 20 was quite the day of excitement as the trees were in full bloom.

We look forward to continuing to be Earth Heroes as the days and weeks move forward this Spring.  We will celebrate Earth Day on Friday, April 22, but as we know, EVERY DAY IS AN EARTH DAY!

HAPPY EARTH DAY CLINTON COMMUNITY FROM DIVISION 10 AND PLANET EARTH!

We got together with our buddy class on a blustery spring day.  Hail, rain and wind didn’t stop us from making rangoli and mandala chalk drawings in the undercover area.  Our hands were cold but our creative spirit was warm with wishes for the spring harvest.  The Mandala is a round form that holds a story.  Each shape, colour, form and pattern is significant in the journey.  Here are some photos of our journey:

Mrs. Wilson treated Division 10 to a buddy ice cream party.  Summer feelings crept in as we ate ice cream cones and popsicles outside in the outdoor classroom.  Students then got to have playtime and reminisce of Kindergarten days at Center Time.  Thanks Dorothy for being a great detective and leading us into this awesome opportunity.

Mrs. Hossack read a beautiful story about cherry blossom time in Japan.  “When The Sakura Bloom” by Narisa Togo encouraged us to observe our own Clinton community cherry blossom trees.  Division 10 has been doing some data collection through sketches as we see the transformation from bud to bloom with our Clinton School cherry blossom trees at the front of the building.  Students also went on an amazing blossom walk and felt the umbrella of blossoms cascade over them.

We are looking forward to all that Spring has to offer now that we have moved into April!

We have made it to Spring Break and we are springing ahead 1 hour this evening.  Division 10 continued to work hard and share love and light in the first few weeks of March.

Best Duo work from February led to comparing and contrasting through Venn Diagrams.  Students compared and contrasted characters from stories which led to comparing and contrasting one another as a buddy activity. This same/different approach will continue into third term.

Unrest in Ukraine and the need for sharing positive energy came shining through with the Room 15 bulletin board of blue and yellow and the sunflower power window.  The individual and creative flower designs, with intentions of sharing a message of peace, has lit up our classroom window.  The message has also been shared on the Clinton Website.  Check it out!

Spring Poems have also been added to the window display in anticipation of the spring equinox, March 21.  Students are looking forward to equal hours of day light and night darkness, moving toward longer days and the summer solstice (longest day of daylight).

International Women’s Day also reminded students to reflect on the amazing women in their lives as well as those that have paved the way for Women’s Rights.  “Girl Power” was stamped into our doorway sign we created.  It was great to see the strength and passion released as the girls pressed their energy and bright colour onto the paper. The trestle tree left the building but Division 10 persevered and created their own physical challenges and experiences.  The students were able to responsibly and independently set up and take down their own apparatus circuit quickly and efficiently.  Taking ownership of their learning gave them more interest in reaching their fullest potential.  The gym space was full of joy and accomplishments.

Thanks to the PAC for ending the term off with a Spirit Day and Pancake Breakfast.  Mmm Mmm Good was the feeling that morning!

Joy also was shared with the daily riddles/jokes.  It became such a popular experience that students began to bring in jokes to share.  That led to a week of Open Mic in Room 15.  Students came up to the front of the room and shared their jokes using a classroom microphone system.

I will leave you now with a joke that speaks to me. Thanks for this one, Hope!

“Why did the teacher wear sunglasses over Spring Break?”…

“None of her bright students were around!”

So true!!!!

Have a bright and rejuvenating Spring Break!