Well, that week went by so fast that I am a bit late with this newsletter. It’s been a jam packed week of Science, Social Studies, and Art! We painted with sponges over stencils. We made our own stencils in the shape of animals that are important to Indigenous people of Canada including Bear, Salmon, Raven. The older students tried their hand at cutting more intricate stencils and using oil pastels as well.
During Black History month we have shared literature by Black Canadian authors and learned some uncomfortable facts about certain aspects of Canadian history. In age-appropriate ways we explored some hard truths. We learned that we all need to play a part in ensuring that all people feel respected and safe in our community. The older group went deeper with a discussion about micro aggression, how to recognize it, and how to address thoughtless or unkind words. You would be proud of their maturity and openness.
We decided that trustworthiness and truthfulness can help us determine the difference between someone who is a good friend and someone who is an acquaintance. The older group also spent some time coming up with problem-solving strategies for when someone doesn’t treat us with respect.
For Science we had some fun messing around with things that Sink or Float and building boats from tinfoil to see how much weight they could carry. One boat managed to hold 92 marbles! We played with the ideas of Chance and Probability and learned how to graft our predictions and the actual outcomes. The older students built several cityscapes which were then subjected ‘earthquake’ forces. We noticed that lower wider structures withstood more force than tall thin structures.
In anticipation of Family Day, next weekend is a long weekend! No instructional time on Monday February 20th. On Tuesday Feb 14 and Thursday Feb. 16, please a contribution of chopped fruit to be combined into a Friendship Fruit Salad. Feel free to send along other treats as well for Valentine’s Day if you wish. On the afternoon of Tuesday the 14, the younger group will briefly join other classes for a dance in the gym. Then we will return to the classroom for games and puzzles and ‘stations’ activities. Please remember that Friday Feb 17 is a professional day.
Portfolio Time and Spring Break are almost upon us. There are no in person classes during this time. But I will be sending home an activity for family’s consideration over those days. Additionally, look for a activity outline coming home with the Intermediate Thursday/Friday cohort. This History project is to be worked on over the next 5-6 weeks. It will culminate in a “Tea party” on April 6th in which we all pretend to be the Influential Canadian we studied.