Upcoming Field Trips

We have two upcoming in school field trips. One of them will be Teacher's Pet in which the students will be carving an arctic animal out of soapstone like the Inuit do. We will require 3 volunteers for this activity. The forms can be downloaded here. Teacher's Pet Field Trip Forms

We are also lucky to have Marie Bryce coming in to work with the Grade 2's on story writing. This in school field trip does not require any volunteers.  The information for this field trip can be accessed here. Story Teller Marie Bryce 

The final two field trips for the year will be to Telus Spark to support our understanding of our science unit on Boats and Buoyancy. This will take place on April 9th and we will require 4 volunteers. The last field trip will be to the Zoo on June 11th to participate in the Gossamer Wings program that ties into our science unit on Bugs.  We are giving you this information so you have time to book it off in case you would like to join us for one of these fun activities. Our room parent will reach out with an email with all details. Forms for these last two field trips will be sent home closer to the dates of the trips.

Staying Warm and Upcoming Dates

My goodness! These mornings actually feel like Winter! We have been so fortunate recently to have had milder temperatures- last week's cold snap was a shock and Wednesday looks like snow. Students are reminded to come to school prepared to head outside even when it is colder out, unless its a Blue Day. In class, we discussed appropriate dress to help us keep nice and warm when we head outside to play: winter jacket, winter boots, snow pants, mittens/gloves, scarf, winter hat. Relating appropriate clothing to differences in weather just so happens to also be a part of our Hot and Cold Temperatures science unit!

We began a new activity this morning; each morning this week, students will be rotating through Arctic/Inuit stations. Ask your child what they have been learning and which ones are their favourites.

Upcoming Dates
January 31 Report Cards go home 
February 1 Non Instructional Day, No school for students 
February 6 Alberta Winter Walk Day 
February 6 Chinese New Year Assembly at 2:30pm; wear red 
February 7 Math Night for K-4, 6-7pm
February 13 Grade 1-4 Early Dismissal @11:55am
February 14 No School for students, Teachers Convention 
February 15 No School for students, Teachers Convention 
February 18 No School for students, Family Day 

Room 175 on Wheels!

What an action-packed week we've had.
We had an absolute blast with Alien Inline Skating. Students learned to safely fall, to skate forwards, backwards, stop, do a lemon drop, a go-kart, and dance to disco!

In science we did a number of challenges with hot and cold temperature. For the ice melt challenge, we had to melt an ice cube as quickly as possible. Ask your child what strategy they used. Then we did a design challenge and built an insulator that would keep an ice cube frozen the longest. Ask your child what their team built and what they learned about insulation. 

In math we have been learning about data and graphs. Today the students looked at the playground renderings and came up with a question to ask about what pieces of equipment are important to have on our playground. Students came up with a question, some categories such as climbing wall, bridge, swing, slide, glider etc. They then asked various people in the school about their choices. Students then used the data to create a pictograph and tell what their data and research showed them.

Tomorrow morning we have our first session of our week with Alien Inline Skating- it should be a lot of fun! Students should bring their own helmet if possible; if not, shared helmets with liners are supplied. 

Last week we opened up a few new areas of study. In math, we've been working with data and how it can be collected and represented in various types of graphs. Students collected and graphed their own survey research questions. We have begun a new morning journal activity for literacy, ask your child what their favourite topic has been so far. In science, we continue to explore hot and cold temperature and even made our own paper thermometers, requiring an understanding of degrees celsius, calibrating the markings on the thermometer, and recognizing whether a temperature would be above or below zero degrees. In social studies we are beginning an inquiry into The Arctic, eventually zooming in to Canada's Arctic, the territory of Nunavut, and the Inuit people. We will study the animals, people, culture and customs, climate and resources of Nunavut, and compare these to the Prairies. 

Happy New Year and Welcome Back!

Hello families!

Hoping that everyone had a wonderful holiday and the kiddos are looking forward to returning on Tuesday, January 8th. 

A reminder that Alien Inline skating will begin Monday January 14th.

The schedule is:

Monday January 14th @ 8:30-9:20am

Tuesday January 15th @ 8:30-9:20am

Wednesday January 16th @ 8:30-9:20am

Thursday January 17th @ 8:30-9:20am

If your child has a helmet please send it to school with your child on the days they skate, if not they will be provided with one. They will also need to wear socks on the days they skate. We would love to have volunteers on those days to help students with putting on and taking off the skates and equipment. Please contact me or our room parent if you'd be able to give us a hand.