Month: October 2014

Going Batty!

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Last week we began our science theme of bats.  We began by brainstorming things that we ‘know’ or ‘think that we know’ about bats. All answers were accepted.  We then made a chart of the things that we ‘wonder’ about or want to know.  Over the course of our study we will either prove or disprove the things that we thought we knew while we answer our ‘wonders’ or questions.

We read the story “Stellaluna” and leaned some differences between bats and birds.  We will be pursuing this further this week.

Stay tuned …

Directed Drawing – Bats

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Last Friday we had our first ‘directed drawing’ lesson.  We drew bats as we have just begun our study on them.

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Students followed my lead as I drew on the white board and they drew on their art paper.  We did a step-by-step process while discussing the anatomy of a bat.  Students learned that a bat’s wing is actually formed like our arms and hands – with a thumb and four fingers on each side. These wings are covered with a taut skin while the bat’s body is covered with fur.  Students showed this fur with the addition of lines.  We reviewed the art element of ‘texture’ – how something feels or how it looks like it feels.

We then repeated this drawing process onto light grey construction paper, also initially in pencil.  Once they had completed their pencil drawings they went over those drawing lines with oil pastels.  They then added a few ‘seasonal’ bits of extra scenery such as pumpkins, grass, stars, and a moon.

 

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If you are by the school, please drop in to see their work.  I think they are wonderful!

Every Artist is Unique

We began our art theory lessons last week with one of the main things that all artists should always be aware of – each artist is unique.  We can get ideas from others but we need to ‘do our own thing’ with that idea.

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I showed the students about 30 different prints from a wide variety of different artists (Cezanne, Monet, Pissarro, Van Gogh, Renoir, Picasso, and some students from British Columbia).  Each print was different from the other but all had one element the same – they all contained at least one tree.

Students were then directed to create their own pictures.  They could use any of the media on their desks (wax crayons, pencil crayons, skinny felt markers, fat markers).  They could have the paper in either position (landscape or portrait).  The only ‘rule’ was that the picture needed to contain at least one tree.

As you can see – every artist in Division 5 is UNIQUE!!!

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Terry Fox Run

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Even with our school year starting late this year, we still managed to get our learning in about Terry Fox.  In our class we discussed his life and what he accomplished in that short life.  We had a talk about cancer and how, because of the awareness that Terry brought to this serious disease, more and more people are surviving than did in the past.

As next Spring is the 35th anniversary of when Terry began his Marathon of Hope, we are focusing our major fundraising efforts for then.  We will also be doing our big run then, as well.  We had planned to do our regular run two weeks ago – and then a more involved one next Spring – but the weather was rather inclement that day.  We had a short assembly followed by our (indoor) corn roast instead.  With the students we talked about how Terry ran in all sorts of weather (fair or foul) but he was an adult and could make that choice for himself.  We didn’t think it was a good choice for our young students.

In our class we did write, on special sticker forms, for whom we were going to be running.  We will use these next Spring.  Today, as a part of one of our Fin’s Friends (Canucks’ character building programme) we discussed ‘perseverence’.  Naturally Terry was again discussed as I cannot think of anyone better suited as a role model for not giving up – no matter how difficult something is.  Students seemed to really understand what it means to persevere and will, hopefully, be able to incorporate that trait into their lives.

The Pumpkin Patch Field Trip

We had a great visit to the Laity Pumpkin Farm today!  Students enjoyed the petting zoo part of the trip.

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They then enjoyed playing on the wooden farm structures, ‘milking’ the cows, and making farm fresh ‘pizza’.

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We then had a tractor ride and saw some goats and the emus.  After washing our hands (from petting the animals) we enjoyed some juice with our snacks in the tent area.  Once we were finished we wandered through the forest exhibits.  Students really enjoyed checking out the different displays.

Students, and their parent helpers, then explored the corn maze – some of them even did it quickly enough to go through twice and still have time to go and ‘rescue’ some fellow students!

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Whilst we were awaiting some of our class to get through the maze a few of our boys were playing ‘follow the leader’ with one of the emus!  They had lots of fun doing that.

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Students then got to choose their very own pumpkin which they took home this afternoon.  I hope you all enjoy carving them with your child.

All in all, it was a great trip – no rain, lots of wonderful parent volunteers, and interesting things to do.

Thank you to all of our parents who came along to help us out today.

 

Welcome back!!!

It is very nice to be back to school after a very disruptive situation for all!

I have really enjoyed getting to know my new (and reconnect with my old) students!  Parent interviews this week were also great!  I love getting to know the most important people in my students’ lives.

It has been a very hectic two weeks but we are now getting into the swing of things.  The classroom is now fully set up again, school supplies are all in place, and students are getting used to the routines.

I am thrilled to have in my class this year some of my former grade ones as I am enrolling a grade one and two class for this school year.  This occurs at our school every 2 – 3 years, mainly due to numbers.  I always enjoy these years as I have the opportunity to help the grade twos develop their leadership skills and abilities as they take on the role of peer mediator / peer helper.  This is, of course, on top of their full grade two academic curriculum.  The grade ones also benefit from this arrangement.  One of the many things that I love about Rosser is that, because of our size, our older students (all the way up to grade seven) know our younger students (all the way down to kindergarten).  This has so many benefits they are impossible to list – the main one being, of course, the social and emotional benefits of a good, strong civilization.

I try to keep this blog updated with class happenings, current events, and things to look forward to in the school and classroom.  I will be sending home a letter on Monday with the guidelines for our digital responsibilities, along with a letter about ‘informed consent’ which is now required by the District for access to this blog.  Please complete this and return it as soon as possible.

I am looking forward to a great year working with your children.

Thank you,

Mrs. Shelagh Temple