Thursday, 2 March 2017

Week in Review: February 27 - March 2

Though a quick week we still managed to pack a lot into it!  Between online division skills, creative story writing, vehicle testing, "sticky" art projects and the fun of Random Acts of Kindness...we definitely stayed busy!  

In reflecting upon the last couple weeks of Health instruction regarding bullying and respect towards others, this week's learning built nicely upon our base knowledge in that throughout this last week we focused on the topic of kindness. With the kids we talked about what it means to be a kind person, and how our actions are a direct reflection of how we are viewed by other people.  I tried to really emphasize that kindness is not only something which is shared with others but is also something which can make them also feel good about themselves. When talking with your children about the week remind them that far too often people forget that its the little things that people do for each that really do have a tremendous impact.

In terms of curriculum...

In Math we continued to build upon our comprehension with division concepts and have now transitioned in "long division".  For some the transition was easy as it blended seamlessly into their comprehension of multiplication facts.  For those still building their automaticity with their basic multiplication facts the process has undoubtedly been more challenging.  As I have told the class all along the way, everything we learn builds upon the previous concepts so it is important that they are practising and building their fluency at home as well as at school.  With both multiplication and division skills the students have access to several Google docs on their school Google Drive accounts chalk full of website links designed to make the recall and reinforcing of concepts more "entertaining", i.e. they'll be learning and practising while still having fun. These Google drive accounts can be accessed as follows:


  • Visit the Black Gold student ICT website: http://engagingstudents.blackgold.ca/
  • Click on the Google drive icon
  • Login with using their school email address:  firstnamelastinitial(four #s)@gshare.blackgold.ca
  • Password they should know
  • Once onto the site - click on the shared with me folder and the documents will be listed

In Language Arts this week we tackled some more creative writing - this week really focusing on the use of descriptive language within the context of an adventure story as a means of including specific details about size, colour, textures, moods, times, setting locations, perspectives, and problems/solutions.   In planning our stories we talked about how including these descriptive elements allows us, as authors, to paint a better picture and thereby hook our readers and keep them interested in reading our stories right through till the end.  With our compositions we are also using them work on editing for clarity and the use of writing conventions such as capitalization and punctuation.

In Science we wrapped up our first construction project, gravity powered vehicles.  It was great seeing the class working to apply their knowledge to first construct their vehicles and then take what they had learned from their first tests to retool and rebuild their vehicles to gain improved performance - ie. need more clearance to lessen friction with the ground
 or need to change my tires so they roll better.  Come next week the vehicles will be getting modified to become balloon and sail/wind powered.

With Social Studies this week we continued to discuss the fur trade and began looking at individual explorers who had an impact on the development of Alberta as a province.  Explorers such as Anthony Henday, Henry Kelsey, Alexander Mackenzie,  and David Thompson who worked with both the Hudson Bay Company and Northwest Trading Company to map and explore much of what is now Alberta.  Our study of traders, explorers, and trading forts will continue next week as well before we begin looking at the role of European immigration and how settlers new traditions and beliefs had a role in forming Alberta.



Upcoming Events and Activities

St. Patrick's Day Party - March 17th
As was communicated by our class's parent reps, we are having a class St. Patrick's Day party on Friday, March 17th.  With the party the following students are asked to supply the treats:
Korbin  - something sweet example: cupcakes, cookies...

Mackenzie  - meat tray
Zachary  - cheese tray
Damien  - cracker tray
Chance  - juice
Mohib  - veggie tray
Joshua  - fruit tray

Our class has 22 students and 2 teachers.


Student Led Conferences: March 14th
With our parent conferences this second term we will be holding student-led conferences versus the traditional 15 minutes sit-down interviews.  The use of student-led conferences allows for students to better physically demonstrate their understanding of concepts, thereby confirming what is often times contained in report cards.  

Our evening conferences will run from 4PM through until 8PM on Tuesday, March 14th.  With the evening's scheduled activities in Math, Science, Language Arts and Technology please allow at least 30 minutes to work through the various activities with your child.  With the conferences you may stay for as long or little time as needed as the evening's schedule is open house and people may attend as their personal schedule allows.


Calendar
Friday, March 3 - PD Day: No School
Sunday, March 5 - Deadline to register for March 8th Ski Club trip
Wednesday, March 8 - Alberta Recycling Corp. "Recyclers" presentation (no fee)
Wednesday, March 8 - Bake Sale - 50 cents per item
Wednesday, March 8th - Ski Club trip @ Rabbit Hill Ski Resort
Friday, March 10 - Term 2 Report Cards sent home
Friday/Saturday, March 10/11 - Girls Floor Hockey Tournament in Devon 
Tuesday, March 14 - Student-led Conferences 4-8PM (open house style, no set times)
Friday, March 17 - In-school Lego field trip (activity fee currently payable on Powerschool)
Friday, March 17 - School Spirit Day: Irish Day - Wear Green
Friday, March 17 - St. Patrick's Day Party 


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