That's a Wrap!

This week we read the final book in our Global Read Aloud series. . . .  The Dot by Peter Reynolds. The is a wonderful story about a little girl named Vashti who doesn't believe she is an artist.  She is encouraged by her teacher to "just make a mark on the paper."  So Vashti does and much to her surprise her dot is framed and hanging above her teacher's desk the next day.  This inspires Vashti to experiment as an artist and encourage others to make their mark too! 

After reading the dot we decided to experiment with making our own "dot" pictures.  First we did it on paper with oil pastels.  Here is a sampling of our work. 

The next day we looked at the colour wheel.  We learned about monochramatic colours.  These are colours in the same tones.  We also learned about complimentaty colours, which  are colours opposite each other on the colour wheel, and analogous colours which are colours that are side by side on the colour wheel.   We talked about using thick and thin lines to create an image.  When we were satisfied with our creations we posted them on our own blogs! Please check our individual blogs to see our masterpieces.  We loved doing this!  Have you created any art work based on a book or artist?

Number Fun!

For the past few weeks we have been learning all about numbers!  We've been using 10 frames to represent numbers, and to  build numbers up to one hundred.

Next we learned how to describe numbers using words ~ seventeen is one ten and  seven ones.  We used our hundred charts to find what happens when you add 10 more to a number.  We played a game called 10 more/10less.  We practiced making equations to equal various numbers (for example 74=70+4).  This week we played several games to build our number sense.  One game involved making a number, and then we had to describe our number to a partner who tried to build the same number.  It helped us to describe numbers as groups of tens and ones.

 We also played a dice game to help us learn which number is ten more than a given number.  Sometimes we had to use our hundreds chart to check our thinking, which also helps us to see patterns in the hundreds chart.  Do you know how to count by tens from any number?

Friend to Friend

We are exploring the qualities that we look for in friends.   Last Friday, we read the book Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend by Melanie Watts.

In this book, Scaredy Squirrel decides to become friends with a goldfish, because he thought the goldfish was 100% safe.  On the way to play with the goldfish, Scaredy Squirrel meets an energetic puppy, and after some initial misgivings, he decides that the puppy would make a good friend.

  After reading the story we brainstormed the qualities that we look for in a friend.  Because we each have our own perspective, we notice different qualities in others, and are attracted to various people because of their individual qualities.  We often choose people who like to do the same things as we do.  The important thing is that we take time to get to know others,  since our perspective may change once we get to know them better!  Here are some qualities that we look for in our friends:

What qualities do you look for in a friend?

Going Places!

Before reading the last book called Going Places from the Global Read Aloud we were given a challenge.  We were handed a paper bag with a variety of items in it.  We had some string, some Popsicle sticks, some q-tips, a piece of paper, a piece of cardboard and a toilet paper roll and of course the paper bag. We could use scissors, glue and tape.  Our challenge was to make something that moves!  Many of us had ideas right away . .  some sat and thought about it (just like Maya in Going Places) and some changed their minds as the building began!

We spent the morning building, tinkering, making and altering our creations!

The end result . . .

rocketships

ladybugs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  After recess we met to read the book of our Global Read Aloud session called,  Going Places by Paul Reynolds (yep, that's right . .  Paul Reynolds who is Peter Reynolds'  twin brother!) 

This book is about a girl named Maya who thinks outside the box! After being given the supplies and instructions on how to make a go cart for the  annual race the children in the class immediately set to work building their carts.


 Maya, however becomes distracted by a bird outside.  This gives her the idea to build an airplane instead of using the instructions and building the same thing that everyone else is building.  

After reading the book we had a short discussion on who would have preferred directions and who loved the idea of building whatever they wanted.  More people liked the fact that they weren't told what to do and how to do it!  Makers in the making!

Reading Buddies!

Have you ever had a  'Mystery Reader' date?  We have a wall in our class that opens up to the Wolves' room.  After lunch, we lined up with our book bags, poetry binders and books of our own choice on one side of the wall while the Wolves lined up on the other side.  When everyone was in line we opened the wall and one by one we met the person on the other side of the wall, and that was the person who we read!  Some pairs decided to take turns reading books to each other, while others read poems together from their poetry binders.  There was lots of engagement as new books were introduced and enjoyed. It was so exciting to find out who your partner would be and to see what type of books they like to read!

How to Spot a Bird

Today we learned all about birds.  We learned that all birds lay eggs and have beaks but not all birds are colourful.  Penguins are birds but they can not fly.  Did you know that some birds can not fly? You can tell what a bird eats by the shape of its beak. All birds have feathers.  The feathers help keep the bird warm.  Some birds eat mice and flies, some eat worms, some eat seeds and some eat fish. Some birds have wings.  Birds build nests for their babies.

We spent the morning gathering this information from books and pictures and then in the afternoon we explored "popplet."  This is an app that lets you web your ideas to show what you know.  Here are a few pictures of us working on our popplets and of our finished popplets.

Mrs. Betts was very proud of our perseverance and willingness to help each other problem solve as we learned how to use this app!

Math Fun!

We learned a new game in math last week.  We are learning about patterns in the 100 chart and we looked at what happens to numbers when you add 10 to them. We discovered that when 10 is added to a number the number in the 10s place gets bigger but the number in the ones place stays the same.

We played a game called Add 10.  Here's how you play. You need a white board or piece of paper, a pencil or marker, a spinner with more or less on it and two dice.   The first person rolls the dice and makes a two digit number.  Then they write an equation adding 10 to the number.  The second person does the same thing. Then you spin the spinner and if it lands on more the person with the biggest answer wins a point.  If it lands on less the person with the smaller number wins a point!  We had lots of fun making equations and playing the game!

 

Do you plan math games in your class?

It's a Wonderful Life

Our focus this week was on peace.  To honour all the people who fought in many battles so that we could live a life of peace we looked at what makes us feel peaceful and calm.  We started by watching a video by Louis Armstrong called "What a Wonderful World."  The video showed many images from nature while the words were being sung. Next we read the book " What a Wonderful World" written by George David Weiss and Bob Thiele and illustrated by Ashley Bryan.  We talked about the colours and images in both the book and video that were used to create a peaceful mood.







We brainstormed and listed our ideas on the board.

Then we were given a sheet to create our own images of what makes the world a beautiful place to live in.  We worked with our Buddies and hung our decorations in the gym for our Remembrance Day Assembly. 

 

On Friday we made a wreath of poppies to hang in our front foyer.

Then it was off to the gym to listen to a special ceremony honouring everyone who has made it possible for us to live in a world of peace and beauty.

What makes you feel peaceful and calm?