This week, we celebrate and acknowledge the important role that Martin Luther King Jr. had (and continues to have) on our journey towards racial equality. We learned that Martin Luther King Jr. felt the sting of racism as a child, growing up during a time when Jim Crow laws segregated (separated) people by race. Dr. King used speeches, letters, and protests to help inspire people to make changes and was a key part of the Civil Rights Movement.

Our class discussed Martin Luther King Jr.’s dreams. He hoped that one day, people would be judged not by their race, but by their character. We then thought about our own dreams and aspirations. What do we want to accomplish in our lifetime? What positive changes do we hope to see?

Our Scientists are hard at work exploring how skis and snowboards work! Using just tin foil, popsicle sticks, cardboard, and tape, our class is working towards creating a model athlete that will be able to ski or snowboard down an inclined hill. We are looking for speed and stability (our models should slide down on their feet, not their faces!).

Watch the video below to learn more about a very interesting type of skiing known as ‘Ski ballet’!

 

Today our class discussed the idea of perseverance. We talked about what obstacles and challenges we are currently facing in our lives, and how they might impact our passions and goals. We learned about a few examples of artists and athletes that persevered through challenging times. For example, tap dancer Evan Ruggiero thought his passion for dance would end after his leg was amputated due to bone cancer. However, he pushed through and continued pursuing his dream of performing as a tap dancer. Watch the video below to find out more:

Our class has been hard at work creating our winter gnomes! I love examining how different and unique each design is. Can you find the gnome wearing a toque? Can you find the gnome with striped socks?

If you want to learn to draw them at home, follow the tutorial below:

 

When the land is covered in snow, how do animals find food? In the video above, a fox uses their senses (smell, hearing) to hunt for prey below the snow.

Feel free to read the article below to learn more about animals that survive (and thrive) in the cold:

Animals in Winter_ How to Survive in Cold Climates

 

 

 

 

Today, our class had a discussion around the topic of fear. What are some things that we are afraid of? Many of us expressed that we feel anxious, nervous, and afraid of many different things (including spiders, heights, failure, and COVID-19). According to a recent survey in the USA, the most common fears/phobias are:

1. Arachnophobia (Fear of spiders)
2. Ophidiophobia (Fear of snakes)
3. Acrophobia (Fear of heights)
4. Aerophobia (Fear of flying)
5. Cynophobia (Fear of dogs)
6. Astraphobia (Fear of thunder and lightning)
7. Trypanophobia (Fear of needles)
8. Social phobias (Fear of being embarrassed, fear of not having friends, etc.)
9. Agoraphobia (Fear of large groups of people/public spaces)
10. Mysophobia (Fear of germs/getting sick)
11. Claustrophobia (Fear of small spaces)
12. Glossophobia (Fear of public speaking)

Fear is an important emotion that can help keep us safe. But sometimes, our fears might make our lives harder or keep us from having new experiences. Our fears might control our lives and how we interact with others.

In Disney’s new short film, “Far From the Tree”, two racoons learn how to deal with fear and trauma in order to help connect with their children. Check out the trailer below:

Some discussion questions for conversations at home:

1. What are some of your fears? Why do you think you have those fears?
2. Do you tend to ‘fight, flight, or freeze’ when you are afraid?
3. How does fear ‘feel’ in your brain and body?

Best,

Ms. Ward

 

 

Hello parents and guardians of Div. 5!

This time of year is so busy! Here are a few important dates and events coming up (we will also write these in our planners tomorrow).

-If you would like your child to participate in the pancake breakfast please order online (through Lochdale’s website via MunchaLunch) for $3. Please reach out if the cost isn’t doable for your family at this time and we will figure something out!

-Our Leadership Club has been hard at work with their Winter initiatives! They are accepting canned food donations, new unwrapped toy donations, and cash donations. Please check your e-mails for dates/information.

-Finally, we will be filming our performance on Friday! Please have your child wear a white, red, or green shirt for Friday. Please encourage your child to practice this song at home: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8hskDzY3KM

 

Hello families of Division 5!

This week has flown by! Hopefully everyone has received an e-mail from me in their inbox. This e-mail has a PDF attachment, which you can open to access a copy of your child’s personalized Term 1 Share-Out! These informal reports are meant to serve as a check-in about the many strengths and areas of growth we have seen during our learning journey together! There are also some goals set by your child and by myself/Ms. Ramen.

Your child has worked hard on reflecting upon their favourite activities, most influential learning moments, and areas they want to continue developing in. Please take some time to review the PDF and answer the reflection questions included in the e-mail.

If you do not see the e-mail or cannot access the PDF, please e-mail me to let me know!

Thank you so much for all of your support and insights; we are so lucky to have such an amazing parent/guardian community here at Lochdale!

With gratitude,

Ms. Ward

This week, we ‘travelled’ to our next stop in our exploration around the world… the continent of Africa! Africa is a large, diverse, continent made up of over 50 countries and with 1500 different languages/dialects spoken!

Check out this brief video below for a very quick introduction to continent:

For our first picturebook, we read about the country of Kenya. We learned about Wangari, an eco-activist who helped encourage the women of Kenya to plant thousands of trees. We discussed why trees are so important to people across the world.