We were excited to present our afternoon and evening performances of our Winter Concert called A Party in the Pear Tree. The students worked hard to learn their group songs, the two songs we performed with Ms Sokugawa’s class and all the actions. They did a beautiful job up on the stage for their performances and were all so enthusiastic! We hope you were all able to enjoy the show! Well done Div. 16!
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Thank you to all of the families and parents who helped at the Jingle Bell Walk. The students had fun delivering the flyers and then picking up the items that were left our neighbour’s doors. It was a beautiful day to head out on our route and the kids enjoyed themselves and helping those in need. They also enjoyed the hot chocolate and cookies after the walk!
As a Math/Science/holiday activity we made Italian Pizzelle cookies with Ms. Ballarin’s class. Ms Ballarin and I both have pizzelle makers at home, mine was given to me by my mom. While making the dough, we used Math concepts to measure using measuring cups and spoons. In Science, we also explored changes in matter through heating and cooling. It was very exciting for the students to make cookies in a new way. Each child ate one cookie at school and came home with two. We hope you were able to get a taste too!
Big Idea: Materials can be changed through physical and chemical processes
First Peoples Principles of Learning: Learning takes patience and time
Curriculum Competencies:
- Observe objects and events in familiar contexts
- Ask questions about familiar objects and events
- Make simple predictions about familiar objects and events
- Make observations
- Develop, demonstrate, and apply mathematical understanding through play, inquiry, and problem solving
Core Competency: Critical Thinking and Reflective Thinking
- I can ask questions and consider options. I can use my observations, experience, and imagination to draw conclusions and make judgments.
Our last day of school was our annual pancake breakfast and pj day! We were in the first group that went down and I didn’t think they expected us to eat so many pancakes! Many of the kids had three or four pancakes and they were a great hit. We were all so comfortable in our pj’s and this was an awesome way to end the school year. Thank you to the many parents who volunteered to help during the breakfast. We really appreciate you!
Dear Families of Division 16,
Thank you so much from both of us! We were so grateful and inspired by your kindness and generosity during the holiday season.
We hope you all had a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year and that your holiday season was filled with love, warmth, and cheerful celebration! We look forward to seeing you this week.
Thank you again for your thoughtfulness this holiday!
With Gratitude,
Kelly & Anita
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
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
In Math, we are learning to measure objects using non-standard and standard units of measurement. For this activity, students measured various objects around the classroom using a uniform non-standard unit of measurement: Counting Cubes. Students worked in pairs to measure a chosen object around the classroom and record their findings. In the process, we learned that learning is experiential as we explored to choose and measure objects around the classroom.
Big Idea: Objects have attributes that can be measured and compared.
First Peoples Principles of Learning:
- Learning is holistic, reflexive, reflective, experiential, and relational
Curricular Competencies:
- Develop, demonstrate, and apply mathematical understanding through play and problem solving
- Develop and use multiple strategies to engage in problem solving
- Communicate mathematical thinking in concrete, pictorial, and symbolic ways
Content:
- Direct measurement with uniform non-standard units
Core Competency: Communication – Collaborating
Profile 4: I can confidently interact and build relationships with other group members to further shared goals.
- I can identify and apply roles and strategies to facilitate group work.
- I can plan with others and adjust our plan according to the group’s purpose.
Learning Involved:
- Students experimented with the concept of measuring using uniform non-standard units
- Students learned the importance of accurately recording their findings on a data sheet
- Students learned to collaborate with a partner in identifying roles and applying strategies to reach a shared goal
In Math, we are learning to measure objects using standard units. For this activity, we started with a directed drawing of Frankenstein. The students followed my step by step instructions on how to create him. We then outlined him, decided on our colours and coloured him. Once that was complete, we measured the different parts of Frankenstein using a cm ruler. Students were very helpful in assisting others with their accurate measuring. Don’t they look awesome? Ask your child their favourite part of their drawing.
Big Idea:
- Inquiry through the arts creates opportunities for risk taking
- Objects have attributes that can be measured and compared
First Peoples Principles of Learning:
- Learning takes patience and time
- Learning is holistic, reflexive, reflective, experiential, and relational
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
- Represent mathematical ideas in concrete, pictorial, and symbolic forms
- Develop and use multiple strategies to engage in problem solving
Content:
- Elements of design: line, shape, texture, colour, form
- Principles of design: pattern, repetition, rhythm, contrast
- Direct measurement with standard metric units
Core Competencies:
Communication – Collaborating
- Profile 4: I can confidently interact and build relationships with other group members to further shared goals.
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
- Students experimented with the concept of accurately measuring using standard metric units
- Students learned the importance of accurately recording information found on their data sheets
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: