The Learners of Division 16

Ms K Shellard and Ms A Clouston - Grade 1/2 Class

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Halloween Directed Drawing and Measurement

November 5, 2023 / / 1 Comment

In Math, we are learning to measure objects using standard units. For this activity, we started with a directed drawing of Frankenstein. The students followed my step by step instructions on how to create him. We then outlined him, decided on our colours and coloured him. Once that was complete, we measured the different parts of Frankenstein using a cm ruler. Students were very helpful in assisting others with their accurate measuring. Don’t they look awesome? Ask your child their favourite part of their drawing.

Big Idea:

  • Inquiry through the arts creates opportunities for risk taking
  • Objects have attributes that can be measured and compared

First Peoples Principles of Learning:

  • Learning takes patience and time
  • Learning is holistic, reflexive, reflective, experiential, and relational

Curricular Competencies:

  • Explore elements, processes, materials, technologies, tools, and techniques of the arts
  • Develop processes and technical skills in a variety of art forms to refine artistic abilities
  • Represent mathematical ideas in concrete, pictorial, and symbolic forms
  • Develop and use multiple strategies to engage in problem solving

Content:

  • Elements of design: line, shape, texture, colour, form
  • Principles of design: pattern, repetition, rhythm, contrast
  • Direct measurement with standard metric units

Core Competencies:

Communication – Collaborating

  • Profile 4: I can confidently interact and build relationships with other group members to further shared goals.

Creative Thinking

  • Creative growth requires patience, readiness to take risks, and willingness to try new approaches

Learning involved:

  • Students learned the significance of following step-by-step instructions
  • Students demonstrated increasingly sophisticated application and/or engagement of curricular content
  • Students experimented with the concept of accurately measuring using standard metric units
  • Students learned the importance of accurately recording information found on their data sheets

The Best Part of Me

November 1, 2023 / / 1 Comment

This cross-curricular activity (art and writing) was inspired by the book “The Best Part of Me” by Wendy Ewald. In this book, an award-winning photographer asked several children “What is the best part of you?”, and presents their answers in sometimes funny, sometimes moving ways. The author takes striking black-and-white photographs of each child.

In a similar manner, students chose and then sketched their “best” body part, using only a pencil and then a sharpie. In addition to the art activity, students then wrote about their best body part and why they like it so much.  I took photos of the part of them they like the best. Those black-and-white photos were printed and mounted with their pictures and writing.

Big Ideas: Creative expression develops our unique identity and voice.

First Peoples Principles of Learning: Learning ultimately supports the well-being of the self, the family, the community, the land, the spirits, and the ancestors.

Curricular Competencies:

  • Explore personal experience, community, and culture through arts activities
  • Demonstrate awareness of the role that story  plays in personal, family, and community identity
  • Engage actively as listeners, viewers, and readers, as appropriate, to develop understanding of self, identity, and community
  • Plan and create a variety of communication forms for different purposes and audiences

Content: Elements of design – line, shape, texture, colour

Please share The Best Part of Me again with your child and discuss their thinking:

Nature Walk

October 14, 2023 / / 0 Comments

On Wednesday, we took our learning outside for a nature walk with Ms Ballarin’s class. We look forward to many opportunities this year to provide students with outside learning lessons. We asked your child to discuss with you what they discovered on our walk down to the park and to share why they picked their three different items. The students in their groups were encouraged to guess which area of the park or walk that their items came from. Stay tuned for more outdoor learning and for more information about our upcoming tree study.

Big Ideas:

  • Living things have life cycles adapted to their environment
  • Objects and shapes have attributes that can be described, measured, and compared
  • Effective collaboration relies on clear, respectful communication
  • Designs grow out of natural curiosity

Curricular Competencies:

  • Explain how participation in outdoor activities supports connections with the community and environment
  • Use Social Studies inquiry processes and skills to ask questions; gather, interpret and analyze ideas; and communicate findings and decisions
  • Engage in problem-solving experiences that are connected to place, story, cultural practices, and perspectives relevant to local First Peoples communities, the local community, and other cultures
  • Demonstrate curiosity and a sense of wonder about the world
  • Experience and interpret the local environment
  • Compare observations with those of others
  • Generate and introduce new or refined ideas when problem solving

Learning Involved:

  • Experience and interpret the local environment
  • Exchange ideas and perspectives to build shared understanding
  • Develop and use multiple strategies to engage in problem solving
  • Recognize the relationships between people and the environment in different communities
  • Compare observations with predictions through discussion

First Peoples Principles of Learning:

Learning ultimately supports the well-being of the self, the family, the community, the land, the spirits, and the ancestors

  • Learning is holistic, reflexive, reflective, experiential, and relational

Core Competencies:

Critical Thinking

  • I can ask questions and consider options. I can use my observations, experience, and imagination to draw conclusions and make judgments

Creative Thinking

  • I get new ideas when I play and explore

Communication

  • I can share my ideas and questions
  • I can listen to others

Social Responsibility

  • I am kind to others and our environment

We are thankful for…

October 6, 2023 / / 0 Comments

This week, the students completed a directed drawing of a turkey, following my instructions on the white board.  We brainstormed as a class all of the things we are thankful for. The students then chose the things they are most thankful for in their lives and put those words onto their turkey feathers. The students chose how to colour their turkeys and use a fine liner to make their words “pop”. We wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and an enjoyable (sunny) long weekend.

Big Idea: 

  • Inquiry through the arts creates opportunities for risk taking

First Peoples Principles of Learning:

  • Learning takes patience and time

Curricular Competencies:

  • Explore elements, processes, materials, technologies, tools, and techniques of the arts
  • Develop processes and technical skills in a variety of art forms to refine artistic abilities

Content:

  • elements of design: line, shape, texture, colour, form
  • principles of design: pattern, repetition, rhythm, contrast
  • exchange ideas and perspectives to build shared understanding
  • through listening and speaking, we connect with others and share our world

Core Competency: Creative Thinking

  • Creative growth requires patience, readiness to take risks, and willingness to try new approaches

Learning involved:

  • Students learned the significance of following step-by-step instructions
  • Students demonstrated increasingly sophisticated application and/or engagement of curricular content

Orange Shirt Day – Day of Truth and Reconciliation

October 4, 2023 / / 1 Comment

Dear Families,

This is Division 16 in our sea of orange to recognize Orange Shirt Day. I’m also including some pictures of our bulletin board that show some of the work we have done on Truth and Reconciliation this week. We have read books about Orange Shirt Day and stories that focus on Indigenous teachings. I have attached videos of When We Were Alone by David  Robertson (whom we met on a Zoom presentation), and Phyllis’s Orange Shirt by Phyllis Webstad that you can read and discuss with your child at home.  I’ve also included a link to look up Phyllis’s new book called Every Child Matters. We had some very thoughtful and engaging discussions about these stories in: the Library, with Ms Papapanagiotou, Ms Ballarin’s Div. 15’s class and in our own classroom. We drew and wrote about what we learned and what we were wondering about. Please speak to your child about their thinking. We hope that you found some time on Saturday to reflect and remember that every child matters in our country.

Curricular Competencies:

Social Studies:

  • Use Social Studies inquiry processes and skills to ask questions; gather, interpret and analyze ideas; and communicate findings and decisions
  • Recognize the causes and consequences of events, decisions, or developments
  • Make value judgments about events, decisions, or actions and suggest lessons that can be learned

Language Arts:

  • Exchange ideas and perspectives to build shared understanding
  • Plan and create a variety of communication forms for different purposes and audiences

First Peoples Principles of Learning:

Learning ultimately supports the well-being of the self, the family, the community, the land, the spirits, and the ancestors

  • Learning is holistic, reflexive, reflective, experiential, and relational

When We Were Alone Read aloud:

Phyllis’s Orange Shirt Read Aloud:

 

Information about Phyllis Webstad’s new book: Every Child Matters

https://www.cbc.ca/books/new-picture-book-by-orange-shirt-day-creator-phyllis-webstad-to-explore-meaning-of-every-child-matters-1.6882158

 

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