Taking Our Learning Outdoors!

We have been taking advantage of this beautiful 'fall' weather by taking our learning outdoors.  Last week, we paired up with students from Mrs. Martin's class and did a 'Nature Scavenger Hunt'.  Students worked hard to locate a variety of items by using their keen observation skills in our very own yard.  This week, students from Mrs. Martin's class introduced our class to the different types of trees that are in our school yard.  We learned a couple of facts about each tree and tried to draw the leaf shape to help us remember it! 

'Outdoor Education' will continue to be a part of our classroom program.  Sometimes, we will engage in activities that support our curriculum outside of the school but on school property.  Sometimes we may venture off site to Sparling Bush or Meadowridge pond.  Sometimes we will pair up with Mrs. Martin or Mrs. Douglas and sometimes we will head off on our own.  We will also visit Wildwood Conservation Area for programming specific to the Grade 2 Curriculum in October, February and May. 

The students enjoy these experiences and they really compliment the learning that we are doing inside the classroom.  Mrs. Martin, Mrs. Douglas and myself look forward to collaborating with each other to provide some similar activities for all students in Grade 2. 

Here's a peek at some pictures of us enjoying our outdoor learning.

Only One You! You Be You!

There's only one you in this great big world. Make it a better place. We read a story about a little fish named Adri.  Adri's mama and papa share some of the wisdom they have gained through the years with their eager son. Their words, simple and powerful, are meant to comfort and guide him as he goes about exploring the world. This exquisitely illustrated book explodes with color and honest insights. The painted "rockfish," set against vibrant blue seas, make an unforgettable and truly special impression and inspired us to create our own 'rockfish'.  

Our fish remind us that we are all unique and  that we each have something important to offer our classroom, our school and the world.  We will keep our fish in our classroom fishbowl to remind us of this!  

*students created a colourful rock fish

*students drew a picture and described their rock fish in writing so they would be able to claim it at the end of the year

*students made a promise of something they will do to make our class and school a better place and then placed their rock into our classroom fishbowl where it will stay for the entire year as a symbol of their promise and their participation in our classroom

*students wrote down their promises on paper so we could review these promises from time to time if needed

Lifecycle of the Monarch Butterfly

Since the first day of school, our class has had the opportunity to observe the life cycle of a Monarch Butterfly right in our own classroom. 
* We have watched our caterpillars (larva) eat milkweed, grow and shed their skin several times until they were big and fat.  
*We watched them make 'sticky, white stuff' that 'looked like a web' on the top of the tank and then hang upside down in a 'j'.  
*We then saw our caterpillars disappear into a pale green and gold chrysalis (pupa) and emerge as a beautiful, adult butterfly.  
*While watching the caterpillars that were in the tank, we suddenly noticed 1 more that hadn't been there before.  Where had it come from?  We think we had an egg on the leaves of our milkweed that hatched.  We gave the new little caterpillar (larva) to Mrs. Douglas's class so they can watch it grow big and fat and see it disappear into a chrysalis (pupa).
In the meantime:
*we have done some fantastic writing about each of the stages that we observed!
* we took our learning outdoors and acted out each stage of the butterfly lifecycle
*we observed and noticed changes at each stage of the lifecycle
*we shared this experience with students from the other grade 2 classes

Ask your child to tell you everything they remember about the lifecycle of a Monarch Butterfly and also about how butterflies are different from moths! 

Meet Our Class!

We are settling into our classroom and have been learning a lot of routines and expectations.  We have also been learning a lot about each other.  The students really enjoyed listening to each other share their "All About Me Bags" and discovered that they have lots in common.  We also spent some time writing about ourselves and drawing a 'self portrait'.  This was a fantastic way for me to learn more about each student and has resulted in a beautiful display outside of our classroom.  We can't wait for our families to see this work at 'Meet the Staff Night' on Thursday, September 21st.  See you then!

First Few Days of Fun!

Now that we have all of our consents back, we are able to post pictures of some of the great things that have been happening in our classroom.  We have been getting to know each other and exploring different materials and places in our classroom.  We are learning how to work together as a whole class, in small groups, with partners and also on our own.  The students are showing me what they already know about writing, reading, math and science.  We have been having a lot of fun along the way!  It's going to be a great year! 

Back to School!

Everything is ready and waiting for a great first day!  I have lots of fun 'getting to know you' games and activities planned!  I can't wait to meet my new group of students.  It's going to be a great year! See everyone tomorrow!  

Once all student photograph consents have been returned, I will begin posting pictures of our class in action!  Stay tuned!