Earth Day

Today is Earth Day. We have learned different ways we can do our part to help the Earth.

Today many of the lights were turned off at our school to save energy. Our hallways were pretty dark! Our room is very dark without the lights turned on. So....we spent the first part of our day downstairs in the big lunch room. It has sunlight coming in from the windows down there so we could do some activities- even with the lights turned out.

Today our visiting artist/potter, Mrs. Jenn McCurry - from mudandstonestudio.com brought back our clay birds nests, eggs, and bird. She had fired them in her kiln. Today we used a special paint called "glaze" to paint the fired clay. It was a bit confusing, because the colours didn't look exactly like they would once our art was fired once again. But we figured it out (we think!)

Today was our Library Day.  Mr. W.  read us a picture book - with no words - on the Smart Board.

  Sharing time....

Please check the note in your child's red communication folder regarding our field trip tomorrow.

Tennis

The students have been playing tennis in gym the past few days. Today they were using balloons to hit with their rackets.

                     

These whackers took turns with some other whackers to end up whacking 769 moles -- and all in numerical order !!!  WOW!!!

Sharing Time....

It's Monday!!

..... and where did the snow and cold weather come from???  Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately for the weather. We do go outside for recess 3 times per day. You may need to dig out those mitts and touques and warm jackets (if you already put them away after our +22 degrees days last week!!)

It was warm inside.....

........these 2 were reading a piggy and elephant book together!

.....started at number 1 mole.. and whacked 162 numbered moles --in numerical order -- to get up to this number!  WOW!!

...putting numbers on the track in order!

..checking out a new math app!

Buddies

WE met with our Grade 4/5 buddies today.

Sharing Time

All kinds of paper!

Thank you to all the families who sent in some paper samples! We had a wide variety to explore!

This afternoon we did an experiment to see how strong a construction paper bridge could be. First we used a flat paper. Our paper bridge collapsed after only 4 pennies were placed on it. The flat paper was not very strong at all.  But then....

.....we folded the same paper in an accordion fold or fan style.  Like this...

Then we started putting pennies on it and counted as we went. We were getting tired counting! .......... 

.........Finally, after 247 pennies, our bridge collapsed!  WOW!  IT sure held a lot of pennies! We were SO surprised how a folded paper could be that much stronger than a flat paper!!!! Then we checked out some cardboard, and noticed the little folded paper inside the flat sheets of paper. 

We also sorted some types of paper by different kinds of characteristics. Some of the vocabulary we used included.. thin, thick, hard, soft, smooth, rough, pliable, absorbent. 

Our Jets Fans cheering on the Winnipeg Jets Hockey team.... GO JETS!

Sharing TIME....

Pottery - Day 2

The potter, Mrs. Jenn McCurry returned today to help us create our clay robins, eggs, and bird nests. This is how they turned out.  She is going to fire them in her kiln. She told us a kiln is an oven that gets as hot as a volcano, and it will turn the clay into stone!! She will bring them back next week and we will get to glaze them!  Everyone had lots of fun with this activity.

This is us intently working on the project. 

  This morning we had an assembly... with the focus being on math apps. Then we went to our house groups to try out some of the new apps. During centre time, some of the kids in our class enjoyed playing some of these math apps. (Math Racing, Slide 100, Math Fight, Geoboard, Number Rack). Check them out at home. They are free!

  Sharing Time

Pottery

Today Jenn McCurry, a potter, came to visit us. She knows all about making pottery! Today was our first day to learn about clay and how to use it to make things. We practiced rolling, pinching, stretching, and creating with the clay. We even learned that we have to scratch and wet the pieces that we want to join together. That was a bit tricky. But everyone managed to use their newly acquired skills to make a bird, eggs, and nest. Today was our learn about and practice day. Tomorrow Mrs. McCurry will return and we will do it again. You can check out her website at mudandstonestudio.com   You will also find her on Instagram at mudandstonestudio

             

             

                          

Here's what a couple of the final products looked like....

             

Mrs. Johannson had a real bird's nest to show us....

Sharing Time