The Learners of Division 16

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

Category: Language Arts (Page 2 of 2)

The Grinch

December 1, 2023 / / 0 Comments

December is here! The Grinch Art Activity:

For this art lesson we did a step by step directed drawing of the Grinch. We learned how to draw all of the parts together. The students particularly loved his huge grin! The next day, we coloured our Grinch using a new medium, oil pastels, as they have such an intense hue. We talked about the colours to use for the Grinch and how to fully fill in all of the sections (we had to take breaks, as our hands got tired – students had to press hard with the pastels.) The students were all proud of their own Grinch and they look awesome together. It’s amazing how one lesson can produce 18 different Grinches! We will read the story next week.

Big Idea: Inquiry through the arts creates opportunities for risk taking

First Peoples Principles of Learning:

  • Learning takes time and patience

Curricular Competencies:

  • Explore elements, processes, materials, movements, 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

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, including learning to draw each section of the Grinch
  • Students learned how to outline their Grinch with a sharpie
  • Students chose their shade of green and coloured the Grinch carefully by fully filling in each section
  • Students will respond in writing to what they would do to make the Grinch grin

Peace Is…

November 9, 2023 / / 1 Comment

This week, students participated in a “Peace Is” art project. As a class community, we engaged in a meaningful discussion about what peace means to us and when we feel peaceful. We also read a story called Why We Remember, which was written by some students in Manitoba. Colour by colour, I taught the students how to do the background of the art using chalk pastel. Using the side of a piece of chalk, we pushed the colours up onto our paper in sections. We then blended them together in an upwards motion using our fingers. The goal was to make the earth and the sky. This was the messy part of the art project and the kids loved it! We then put what brings us peace on our doves, and drew poppies to put onto our art. In the process, we learned that art takes time and patience. Isn’t their art stunning?

Big Idea: People connect to the hearts and minds of others in a variety of places and times through the arts 

First Peoples Principles of Learning:

  • Learning involves time and patience

Curricular Competencies:

  • Explore elements, processes, materials, movements, technologies, tools, and techniques of the arts
  • Create artistic works collaboratively using ideas inspired by imagination, inquiry, experimentation, and purposeful play

Core Competencies:

Positive Personal and Cultural Identity:

  • I am aware of different aspects of myself. I can identity people, places, and things that are important to me.

Creative Thinking:

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

Content:

  • processes, materials, technologies, tools, and techniques to support arts activities

Learning involved:

  • Students learned that in a peaceful classroom, they can all create something beautiful 
  • Students learned the significance of following step-by-step instructions with careful considerations when engaging in art activities using mixed media

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:

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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