Welcome to your first day back!

Today is going to feel quite different than our usual first day back from spring break. It is okay to feel happy, sad, worried, or any other feeling you might be having. You might even be feeling a mix of different emotions throughout the day. 

Families, here is a great resource for you to take a look at: https://www.openschool.bc.ca/keeplearning/

Students, as I meet (virtually) with other educators in Burnaby today, here are a few things to get started for your first day back. 

Talk with your family about your school day schedule:

• What time will you wake up each school day? 
• Can you choose a special “work space”?
• Which activities will you do today? 
• Will you have access to technology (ipad or laptop) at a certain time during the day for school work?

Activities 

Here are some activities you can choose to do today! These are just suggestions, not requirements. There are many ways we can learn at home!

• Science
  • Here is a mystery science activity for you: How is a Rainbow Made? First watch the video, then there is also an extension activity that you can try, if you’d like. 
• Math
  • Play some math games to practice your fluency of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts 
  • Grade 4’s can work on their multiplication/division booklets if they are not finished
• Reading 
  • Read a book! Or two! (I will be sending some online reading programs later this week as well).
  • Listen to a story from Audible (free collection available)
  • Check out our new blog posts from before spring break (below)
    
• Writing
  • Create a visual journal about spring break – pictures and words about what you did
  • Write and draw about your favourite things about school! You can also include some things you would like to do during our distance learning!
• Daily Physical Activity
  • Ideas: walking, hiking, yoga, dancing!
  • Remember to take lots of physical activity breaks throughout the day
• Art 
  • Spring is here! If you can, find your spring bud from the last week of school! See if you can find the exact one and draw it! How do you noticed it has changed?
  • Or, find something to draw outside your window that shows spring is here!
• Extensions
  • You could work on your extensions from AIP – body systems of your animal and humans: digestive, musculo-skeletal, respiratory, circulatory

Dear Students and Families of Division 4, 

I look forward to connecting with you over the next few days to share more about what school will look like during the coming weeks. At this time, we know we will not be gathering together in classrooms, and learning will look very different than we are all used to. Here is the most recent update from our district: Update to Families – March 27 2020

Wishing your families all the best during this challenging time.

Missing our lovely class community,

Ms. Carley 

Over the past few weeks, Div. 4 & 5 have been finding our voices when it comes to climate change and sustainability. 

After reading A Stone Sat Still, we wove our voices together to create metissage poems.

With a visit from the Burnaby School District Sustainability team, we gave a garden tour and discussed what a Climate Utopia would be for us. Then, we had representatives from our green team take part in the Burnaby School District Sustainability Expo to share our ideas.

This week, we were able to extend our voices even further, taking part in the Thought Exchange about what we value in sustainability around the district. Please feel encouraged to add your voice to the conversation and share your ideas for sustainability initiatives in the district.

During the week before spring break, Div. 4 was busy with STEAM Challenges (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math). How can you create a hut to withstand a windstorm? How can you create a sturdy bridge to withstand weight and save you from crocodiles? 

What other STEAM challenges would you like to explore?

In Term 2, Div. 4 created forest landscapes inspired by the works and style of Emily Carr. We explored these questions throughout our inquiry: How do forests make you feel? What similarities do we see between Emily Carr and the Group of Seven? How can we examine art as primary sources? How can we understand the past through the lens of a historian? 

How can you extend your learning in the forests? 

On Burnaby mountain, we are connected to the top of the watershed. Earlier this week, we got to see the salmon eggs hatching in Div. 8. On Friday, Div. 4 explored the challenges of salmon as they move through their life cycle, moving through different water sources. What happened as different elements are introduced to their lives? How does a dam influence the salmon’s journey? How does climate change affect the water systems they need? How do we influence the environment around us? What do we need to remember? It is fascinating to see how our understanding of animals and ecosystems connecting to stewardship and climate change. 

On Thursday, Feb. 13th, Div. 4 travelled to the Fraser River Discovery Centre and New Westminster Quayside to explore the role of the river in trading. Who traditionally gathered along the Fraser River? Who gathers here now? Who lives in and around the river banks? How does this area differ from the river’s path in other areas? How did trading change once contact was made between First Peoples and Europeans? Be sure to share our learning and wonders with your family!

We are so thankful for our families! It is wonderful getting to know you all this year. Wishing you a restful weekend. 

We have been exploring how water, climate, and place influence culture, language, and story. On Friday, Feb. 7th, Emma gave an interactive presentation about the Fraser and Thompson rivers, biomes, and early Canadian explorers! Through games, images, and stories, she shared ideas and got us even more excited for our learning about the place we now call Canada. Div. 4 is excited to visit the Fraser River Discovery Centre this upcoming Thursday, Feb. 13th.

This week, Div. 4 joined their little buddies in weaving friendship hearts. Our new little buddies painted us heart looms and we weaved and chatted the afternoon away. 

With Valentine’s Day coming up, if you would like to bring a Valentine’s day treat, please bring enough for the whole class. A class list can be found here: http://sd41blogs.ca/carleyk/blogfolios/