Week in Review: May 26 - June 2

Wow...and just like that, there goes May! Hard to believe there are only a mere 18 days remaining in the school year - seems like we had only just started out.  

In what was a busy week we continued to tackle new concepts and build understanding with data analysis, plant life cycles, artist studies, Alberta facts, reading strategies, novel studies, and some internet research.


Curriculum wise this week...

In Math it was all about data analysis and the graphs and being able to gather and/or record information.  This week we covered tally charts, bar graphs and pictographs.  Everyone had an opportunity to survey their classmates a couple times this week about topics of their choosing and then construct the associated graphs to visually display their data.  Come next week we will be looking at line graphs, pie charts and school-wide surveys to gather data from a larger group to work with.

In Language Arts it was all about reading strategies and continuing to build fluency and comprehension skills.  With our activities we worked with phonetics and being able to break unknown words into syllables so that they could be sounded out.  Initial sounds, final sounds and blends were all targeted and tied into this week's online activities.  In addition we wrapped up our Fantastic Mr. Fox novel study and worked through the final reading guide questions. Over the course of the novel we have had the opportunity to work on plot development, predictions, character analysis, setting development, vocabulary, and reading for information as well as entertainment.

In Science it was all about plants, specifically their life cycles and how they develop.  This week we began looking at the basic needs of plants and how their basic needs are very similar to those of people.  We began studying the specific parts of plants and identifying their purpose in the life of the plant.  This week we looked at the role of the seed  and had the opportunity to plant our own bean pants.  Over the course of the next few weeks we will be observing our plants and charting their development.

In Art this week we began tackling the topic of "pop art" and looking at some of the style's most influential artists.  This week we began a study of Andy Warhol, an American artist, director and producer who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art. His artwork explored the relationship between artistic expression, celebrity culture, and advertising that flourished in the 1960s, and spanned a variety of media, including painting, silk-screening, photography, film, and sculpture.  One of his best known works includes the silkscreen painting Campbell's Soup Cans (1962).  As an activity this week we took our shot at recreating some of his famous artwork - I think they turned our great!


Classroom Calendar of Upcoming Events
Monday, June 5 - Peter Puffin Presentation @ MacLab Theatre
Tuesday, June 6 - District Track and Field in Devon
Wednesday, June 7 - Western Day (dress as your best cowboy or cowgirl)
Wednesday, June 7 - Early Dismissal @ 2:30pm
Thursday, June 8 - WHPS Summer Activity Day
Monday, June 12 - Math Unit Exam Data Analysis
Wednesday, June 14 -Bake Sale (50 cents/item)
Tuesday, June 27 - Fort Edmonton Park field trip (more info to follow next week)