Playground Builds!

We had architects, environmentalists, financial advisors, health and safety officers and project managers working together to create playgrounds.  The model builds were presented with the hope that Mrs. E. would sign a contract for an actual build of a playground for Clinton Elementary.  Super Teamwork was had by all.  The decision was very challenging.

What a better way to celebrate the playground builds than going out onto the playground and enjoying a cool summer treat provided by the PAC!  Freezie Time on the first full day of Summer!

Division 10 had the opportunity to contribute to the maintenance of our Clinton School Indigenous Garden.  The outdoor classroom stone blocks provide a quiet place for classes to reflect on time in nature and make connections with the plants and trees of BC’s natural habitat.  In the garden, Indigenous trees, plants and bushes have been planted.  Our class weeded and watered, volunteering their time to support the upkeep of this peaceful place.

We look forward to having this space recognized at the virtual assembly on Wednesday, June 16, as part of our ongoing learning and understanding of reconciliation.

It has been an exciting month and we are ending May with the traditional Math Super Hero Day!  Students have been super heroes with all of their May experiences from our Dogwood Daze to Imagine Van Gogh with Vintage Boards.  Students also completed their Animal Research Projects.  Second term had students working on an inquiry project together.  Third term gave the opportunity for students to take that learning and apply it to their own animal project of choice.  Through a process of questioning, fact finding and creating, Division 10 was pleased to present book reports, visual art pieces, game boards and dioramas.

Here’s looking toward June with more success along the Grade 2 learning journey.

Spirit Day at Clinton brought out twins and triplets.  It was fun to buddy up and enjoy an exciting day before the Victoria Day long weekend.

Here is a look at our twins!  Happy May long weekend from Division 10!

The official flower symbol for our province of British Columbia is the Pacific Dogwood.  It is our floral emblem.  The Dogwood tree flowers in April and May.  In the autumn, it is known for its cluster of bright red berries and colourful leaves.

Students in Division 10 have been observing Pacific Dogwood trees in the Clinton School neighbourhood.  We have learned that the wood was used for making knitting needles by the Cowichan people and the deep brown bark was used for dye by the Salish.  The wood has also been used for piano keys.  

The branches provide shelter for land and water animals.  The flowers provide nectar to pollinating insects.  The fruit becomes food for birds and mammals.  The buds, twigs and leaves are munched on by local wildlife.  Bears and beavers enjoy the leaves and the twigs are food for deers.

We have been observing the white flowered Pacific Dogwood.  We have also seen the Pink Dogwood tree which is used as an ornamental tree in gardens.

Division 10 was so very thrilled to be able to support our Burnaby Health Care Workers with pieces of art  appreciation.

They painted flower gardens in honour of those who have been on the front lines of care giving in our community.

The students shared that the flowers represent:  peace, happiness, joy, love, kindness, appreciation, growth and strength!  Kai said that the gardens gave “flower power” to our health care workers!

Take a look at the Flower Power Appreciation Art created by the students:

At Clinton, we are celebrating our planet by wearing Earth Colour Clothing this Friday, April 30.  Every day, not just Earth Day or Earth Month, should be a day of recognizing our role as global citizens.

Division 10 has been having many discussions and conversations about supporting our planet and finding ways to heal our home, Earth.  Attached is a link to a book that you may want to share.

We had many feelings, ideas and questions about Bad Future, Better Future.

We certainly concluded that we want to do what we can so we have a better future!

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/04/18/climate/climate-change-future-kids.html

Experiencing our new garden and outdoor classroom on Earth Day!  Let’s walk lightly on our Earth!

Please click on the link to access our Earth Day Poem recital.  April is Poetry Month!

Check below for our outdoor garden reading time.  We are reading Watch It Grow as we have bean and pea seeds planted in our classroom greenhouse.

https://sd41-my.sharepoint.com/:v:/g/personal/e13432_burnabyschools_ca/EWFI5PR19VJGhbj_m3fPM4cBwaCQ8jL5o4ag89Iui7XboQ?e=rtu51f

What a beautiful, spring day for flying a kite.  Division 10 enjoyed the great outdoors, getting some fresh air and sunshine while flying their kites!

We have had an exciting week before Spring Break.

We honoured amazing women of our world during International Women’s Day.  We looked at Malala and Jane Goodall who used their pens to write their thoughts and understandings, leading them to share their voice for those who were unable to speak for themselves.  Students then created their own wishes for their magic pencils.

We illustrated our Youniverse poems that shared creative animals from our imagination.  We used Stardines by Jack Prelutsky as our inspiration.

We had a competitive, team-spirited floor hockey finals with exertion levels at an all-time high.

Taking time to learn about rainbows thanks to Mystery Doug encouraged us to take a peek outside with some prisms. We also considered all the possibilities of what A Rock Can Be…

We then spent a moment with the Vancouver Art Gallery and participated in an online workshop about Shuvinia Ashoona, an artist from Nunavet.  Her creations got out minds thinking and students began to create their own picture murals using pencil crayons.  The books, The Tree Lady and If You Come To Earth helped us with our designs.

Our classroom big essential question has always been, “What Are The Possibilities Of Looking In A Book” and this week books have made us open our eyes, made us think more deeply and touched our hearts.

I hope your hearts will be happy and healthy over the Spring Break.  Enjoy time with family.  I’ll be enjoying time with this little guy.  He is my Leo.

Take care and we will see you all soon,

Mrs. E. and Division 10!