What a month! The kids are rolling along and have been very busy. Please have a look at some of the highlights. This is such a nice group of kids to work with.

Language Arts

We are continuing to practice our reading strategies (Using text features, selecting key information, making connections, visualizing and predicting) using the Heroes resource. We recently read about some fictional superheroes and discussed story elements (problem, setting, solution). The students then created their very own comic strip! Check out a few samples below.

We also worked on selecting the main idea of a piece of nonfiction reading. The students read four mini biographies on famous Canadians. They did very well during the lessons.

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Writing

We have transitioned to the trait of organization. Students are learning how to write an effective lead, use an organizational pattern and how to write a conclusion. They have already began hooking readers with some excellent introductions! Each sample is assessed and feedback given on a mini-rubric that is stapled to the page in their journal.

Math

This month we concluded our unit on Number Sense and have started to work on addition. The students showed a good understanding of place value, rounding and patterns. Students are now learning how to add up to four-digit numbers with regrouping. We have also spent a couple days practicing mental math strategies. This was tricky at first, but many students have found the strategy that works for them and can add two-digit numbers in their head. Some students have begun to share their work and reflections on myBlueprint. We also incorporated card games to help each of us practice our mental math skills and some partner teaching to help with communicating our understanding.

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Social Studies – The Resourcefulness of the Inuit.

We have completed the first lesson of the unit. This was called The Inuit’s Mainstay. We are learning about how they used the caribou and seal to meet all of their needs. The students have been impressed with how skillful and resourceful the Inuit were. Each lesson is presented as a critical thinking challenge. They are learning factual information, but also being taught and encouraged to think critically by analyzing and comparing information. We have had some amazing discussions so far!

Fine Arts

We have been working on a guided drawing series this month. With Halloween being a big theme, the students are drawing monsters. Each lesson involved a step by step process. Check out some of the creatures below! We also created a Halloween themed painting. We used oil pastel to sketch the haunted house and foreground and a water colour paint technique to complete the sky and background. The students were amazingly focused and calm during the process.

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Applied Design Skills and Technology (ADST)

This month the kids have been given their first creative challenge. They were tasked with making a simple catapult using only popsicle sticks and rubber bands. They had two weeks to plan, design, build, test and then redesign. The class was amazing! They were very focused and on task. Here are some highlights of the process.

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Science

We have continued to learn about the “human machine”. The lessons focused on the muscles and skeleton, light, eyes and vision and the brain and nervous system. The students explored four inquiry questions:

1. Why do your biceps bulge?
2. What do people who are blind see?
3. How can some animals see in the dark?
4. How does your brain control your body?

After learning about the skeleton we decided to create xrays of our hands and a cranium mask! They turned out great! They were the perfect Halloween themed Science activities too 😃

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