Important Reminders

Hello, families! Some important reminders for this week (we have also written these in our planners):

  • Please return your Student Information sheets as soon as possible
  • Please review and return the yellow Student Emergency Release form as soon as you can
  • Sign up for Welcoming Conversations online. To make sure everyone is able to set a meeting, please only sign up for one ten minute time slot (per parent/guardian). Please contact Ms. Ward if you are not available during any of the remaining time slots!
  • Please fill in the online survey if you have not done so already
  • Early dismissal on Thursday
  • Don’t forget to dress for the weather (rain or shine) and that photo day is this upcoming week!

Thanks everyone! I look forward to meeting with everyone (virtually) this week.

-Ms. Ward

Body Percussion: Rhythm + Self-Regulation at Lochdale!

This week, we have been practicing our rhythm, beat, and timing with our percussion coach, Daniel! He is a musician who specializes in drum styles and rhymical beats from across the world. So far, we have learned about a rhythm called a “Hambone” (a song often drummed and sung by African Americans across the Southern USA). We also talked about how we can use stomping, clapping, and jumping to help regulate our emotions and reduce stress.

Below is a video of a drumming prodigy. A “prodigy” means that someone is very talented at something at a very young age. Have you ever played  the drums?

Happy Pizza Day!

Did you know today is National Pizza Day? We celebrated by learning about different pizzas around the world, and by designing our own bizarre, delightful, or gross pizza toppings!

We’ll be creating a piece of writing and an art project based around our unique pizza creations. Check out the video below and consider the following questions:

-What is your favourite pizza topping? What flavours do you like?

-Would you try a banana pizza? Why or why not?

-Do you think every country and culture has their own ‘kind’ of pizzza?

Segregated Schools: Separate is Never Equal

Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family's Fight for Desegregation (Jane Addams Award Book (Awards)) eBook : Tonatiuh, Duncan: Amazon.ca: Kindle Store

As we learn about schools in the past and present, it is important to acknowledge the racist history of segregated schools. We learned about Sylvia Mendez and her family’s fight to integrate schools in Orange County (USA). Through their bravery and perseverance, the Mendez family were able to unite with other Mexican-American families to overturn the law that allowed students to be separated into schools based on their skin color and cultural heritage. Here is an interview with Sylvia Mendez about her experiences:

We also want to affirm that September 15th-October 15th is Latinx Heritage Month (though it is importance to celebrate influential Lantinx people throughout the past and present every month of the year)! Our class will continue exploring examples of Latinx artists, politicians, advocates, and authors.

 

-Ms. Ward

Our First Read Aloud Novel!

Ban This Book - Alan Gratz

This week, we began our novel study/read aloud for Alan Gratz’s Ban This Book. The novel follows a student named Amy Anne, who must find her voice in order to speak up against censorship. When Amy Anne’s favourite book is taken off her school library’s shelves, she takes matters into her own hands by creating a secret banned book library.

As we read this novel, we will discuss censorship and representation in children’s literature. Did you know that the Captain Underpants series is one of the most banned books across North America?

If you want to learn more about the importance of reading, you can watch this persuasive Ted-Talk speech from a 9-year-old student. Do you agree or disagree with their ideas?

All Around the World: Exploring Global Perspectives with Picture Books!

Hello, travelers! Over the next few weeks, we will be learning about different countries, continents, and cultures from through picture books written by a diverse group of authours (#ownvoices).

Today, we learned about the importance of educating people of all genders when we read The Library Bus by Bahram Rahman.

The Library Bus: Rahman, Bahram, Grimard, Gabrielle: 9781772781014: Books -  Amazon.ca

The authour grew up in Afghanistan, where the book is set, and was inspired by the resilience of teachers and students. He is using the story to raise awareness about girls education, and to celebrate the beauty and landscape of his home country.

As we learn more about the world around us, it is important for us to consider:

-What do we know about this country already? How do we know/what are our sources?

-Is it possible to learn everything there is to know about a country or culture in one day? What should we do if we want to learn more?

-Can we make any connections to the characters in the book? How are our lives similar?

Check out the song we will be using to learn more about the vast world around us below:

Welcome to Room 22!

Welcome to all of our new students, families members, and returning folks from last year! Our Division 5 learning community is already hard at work investigating these questions:

  • What is a school? What does a school ‘need’ to have?
  • How can we make our classroom a safe and caring space for everyone?
  • Why do we come to school? What is the purpose of school?

We also read Grandmother School by Rina Singh, the true story of the Aajibaichi Shala (a school for grandmothers and elderly women) in India. This school was created to provide an opportunity for the grandmothers to learn literacy and numeracy skills. Many of these women were not able to attend school as children. and now take pride in learning alongside their grandchildren.

Check out the video below for more information on the amazing students of the Aajibaichi Shala!

We will continue to explore schools around the world, both in the past and in the present, and what our ‘perfect’ school would look like, feel like, etc.

Wishing everyone well,

Ms. Ward

Carnival Science: Cotton Candy Investigation

This week, we’ve been taking virtual ‘trips’ to amusement parks and carnivals by investigating the Science behind some of our favourite treats!

We learned about the process of making cotton candy, and investigated the appearance, scent, taste, ductile (stretchy), malleability (easily shaped), and dissolvability of cotton candy! Did you know that cotton candy is mostly made of air, sugar, and colour/flavour? Check out the video above to learn about the strange invention of cotton candy!

Influential People in LGBTQ+ History: Billie Jean King

Today, we discussed renowned athlete and activist Billie Jean King. King was a very successful tennis player who proved gender stereotypes about women in sports wrong. She spoke out about inequality in regards to women being paid less than men in sports. She founded many clubs that supported women in pursuing sports as a career. She was also an ally for women of colour who wanted to play tennis, including a young Black athlete named Althea who became a very influential tennis star.

King was outed in the 1980s. This meant that a journalist found out that she was a lesbian and spread the news across the world. When someone is outed, it means they did not agree to share this part of their identity about themselves. Because King was outed, many people targeted her and she faced lots of homophobia and even threats against her. King then became an activist for LGBTQ+ rights as well, and has participated in many Pride parades.

Some possible discussion questions:

  1. Why do you think Billie Jean King had to fight harder to be respected and accepted as an athlete?
  2. How can we be allies to people who experience racism, sexism, or homophobia?
  3. Would you consider yourself to be an athlete? Why or why not?