Making Words

Each week we work on creating words based on specific spelling patterns.  On Mondays we use the app "Magnetic Letters" to make words based on some spelling patterns we are working on for the week.   This is what our boards look like.

On Wednesday we use the app "Screen Chomp" to practice more words based on the patterns we are learning.  We also practice writing sentences, focusing on capitals, punctuation and our sight words.

 We talk a lot about how a word looks, always asking, " does that look right?"  (Mrs. Betts says that a lot of spelling is recognizing how a word looks). 

On Tuesday we take home a spelling sheet that looks like this.

We then have two days to make as many words with the letters we are given.  All the letters together make a "mystery" word.  Many families do this work together!  It is almost like a word puzzle.  Here are some  completed spelling homework sheets. 

 You can tell by the message that this is a popular activity with many of us!  When we bring our sheets back we often talk about some of the words that we created and what they mean . . . a great way to develop vocabulary!


This is a great spelling activity as it is very open ended!   How do you practice word work in your class?

Awesome Authors!

We are LOVING writing time!  This week we were given the choice to either write in our Journals or start writing books.  Some of us chose Journal writing - we just had to write about our badminton tournament or soccer game or weekend adventures.  Many of us chose to write books!  Mrs. Betts told us she had been doing some reading about inspiring authors and wanted to let us try writing our own books.  We reviewed the types of books authors create . . . story books (fantasy, mystery) nonfiction books (how to books, animal books) poetry books etc.  and then we went to work.  Everyone was very excited and very focused!  

Page one of "What is a Friend?"

A book on being healthy and one on How to Draw!

Someone knows a lot about the Titanic! 

Each day we start our writing time with a mini lesson based on something Mrs. Betts has noticed we might want to try in our writing.  On Tuesday we looked at the way "How to Books" are set out.  We noticed how many of them use numbers to show the steps you take and then put some writing and an illustration beside that.  Some of us tried doing that today! 

We will try and post some of our finished books on our blogs after spring break.  Check back after the break to see some of our finished products!

Oobleck. . . A Solid or a Liquid?

Today in Science we made Oobleck!  It was SO much fun!  We loved it.  We started out with cornstarch in a bowl.  Then we added some water and the FUN began.  We squished, squeezed pushed  and played with it. 

Sometimes it acted like a liquid and you could pour it or have it run through your fingers.

Sometimes it acted like a solid and you could roll it into a ball!

We could make it into a ball but if we let it sit in our hands it started to "melt!"  It was so incredible to play with it and see all its properties.

After we played for a long time it was finally time to clean up and talk about our findings. We decided that oobleck acted like both a solid and a liquid. 

After we had recorded our findings we read Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Suess.
















Have you ever made oobleck?  If not, you should try it.  You'll love it!

Mix It Up!

This week in Art class we explored colour!  First, we read the book Mix It Up to get our ideas flowing.  Then we were given four colours - red, blue, green and yellow and challenged to make as many new colours as we could.  We had a sheet with 100 small squares on it.  It was quite hard!  Our buddies were there to help.  We discovered many things!

The next day we revisited our paintings and discussed what we learned from our experience.  We found out the green was quite a strong colour and seemed to "take over" the other colours.  We repeated the same lesson but this time we had much bigger squares and less of them (only 16 compared to 100!)   It was easier to get many shades of one colour by mixing small amounts of paints. 

Look at the shades we can make!

How many colours can you make with red, blue, green and yellow?  What is your favourite colour?

Do you like to paint?  Have you ever tried mixing colours to see what you can create? 

Future Architects? City Planners?

We have been studying communities and what they all have in common.  We discovered that they provide us with many things.  The have services, shelters, transportation, recreation, and ways to keep us safe.  During the last few weeks, we have been working in various groups to plan and build a community.  Each of us has chosen a specific part of the community and we are working with cardboard boxes, paper towel rolls, paper scraps, and other treasures from our recycling bins to create our own community.  Today was a big building day, and our teachers were excited by all the details we are adding to each specific building or vehicle.




















It takes a lot of cooperation, thinking, tinkering, and planning to build a community!  

What is your favourite place to visit in your community?  Have you ever used any of the safety systems in your community for help when you needed it?

Bullying Stops NOW!!!!!

What does Pink Shirt Day mean?  What does bullying look like? Here are our thoughts. . . .

• others being mean to you  
• calling you names
• laughing at you in an unkind way
• making fun of you
• threatening you
• making fun of what you are wearing
• tripping you on purpose
• leaving you out
• ignoring you
• not letting you join their group

Pink Shirt day started about 7 years ago when a grade 9 boy wore a pink shirt to school and was made fun of by other boys.  Two grade 12 boys took 50 pink shirts to school the next day and handed them out.  The message they sent was that it is not nice to be mean to others just because of what they are wearing.  Now many schools and organizations wear pink on this day to bring awareness to the issues surrounding bullying. 

What are some kind things we can do for others to make sure bullying doesn't happen?

• don't  laugh at others
• treat others the way you want to be treated
• if someone is hurt help them
• if someone needs help stop and make sure they are OK
• if someone is playing by themselves ask if they want to join your group
• if you see someone who is shy and looks like they have no friends invite them to play with you
• help even if you didn't make the mess
• make fair teams when you are playing team games
• step in and stand up for people who are being bullied

Every day is a NO BULLYING DAY in our classroom and school!!!!