Nice to See the Sun Shine

The sun is shining, and we get a short break from the cold weather before we dive back into the frigid temperatures.  Enjoy it while you can.

Today in language we worked on using the jot notes we took on an animal the other day to create a paragraph.  We worked on an example today, which I have sent to the Edmodo group.  If your child is in my Edmodo group, look for the example, and the jot notes/paragraph that they wrote today. 

In math, we were using the properties of symmetry to sort 2-D shapes into categories.  We also started talking about 3-D shapes, and the difference between prisms and pyramids.  Please see the quiz on symmetry and 2-D shapes, and the short lesson and quiz on pyramids and prisms.

Prisms and Pyramids

Sorting 2-D Shapes Quiz

Remember, tomorrow is Custodian Appreciation Day, so wear navy and grey, and get your dancing shoes ready for the Dance-a-Thon on Thursday.  Have a good night!

Monday already???

Yes, it came.  Monday is here, so on with the show.  Usually on Mondays we do, "Tell Me Something I Don't Know".  This is a chance for students to share a big event from their life that happened, or is coming up.  On weekends, try asking your child what they will be talking about on Monday. 

Today, we worked on symmetry in math class.  These sites will give students a quick review:
Symmetry and 2-D shapes
Symmetry
 
Try this QUIZ.

Here is a neat site from PBS kids to follow-up 
The Symmetrizer

Upcoming special days and events:

•  Wednesday is Custodian Appreciation Day, students are asked to wear navy and grey.
• Thursday is the school Dance-A-Thon.
• Friday is our Zumba class, as well as Red and White day.

And, some other dates to keep in mind are:

Feb 16 – Family Day

Feb 18 – Carnaval – Grade 3 – 8

Feb 20 – Report cards go home

Feb 20 – ZUMBA Day

Feb 20 – ZUMBA Family night @ 6:00 pm

Feb 26 – Character Education assembly

Feb 26 - CRAZY Socks Day

Feb 27 – ZUMBA

Have a good night!

Super Fun Friday!

Even though the temperature is going up, the snow keeps coming down.  Looks like another fresh blanket of the white stuff is coming our way.  Hopefully, you can get outside to make the real thing, but if not, you can build a snowman here.  Drive safe this weekend.

Here is a head start on Valentine's Day, with a crossword you can print out or do online. Valentines Day Crossword
  
Monday is the 100th day of school, but we got into the spirit today.  Here is a site to help you celebrate:
One Hundred Snowballs

The students started Zumba today, and do so every Friday for the month of February.

Have a good weekend!

Middle of the week!

Nice to see the sun shine today, a little vitamin D goes a long way.  

Today in math we used geoboards to make shapes from 3-8 sides.  Here is a site to practice at home:
Virtual Geoboard

Some students were using pattern blocks to make animals or objects, such as a lamp.  You can try this here:
Pattern Blocks

Some students are working on taking research notes on animals.  Here are some sites we visited to do our research:
 National Geographic

Science Kids 

Here are a few more fun shape games

Shape Construction

Shape Bingo

Shape Match


Remember, tomorrow is the first day of Zumba!  Students from K-8 will take part on each Friday in February.

Have a good night!

Speech competition today!

Today, the school held our annual speech competition for grades 4-8.  Congratulations to all the students who participated.  
 
We followed up Groundhog Day yesterday with an article from National Geographic.  You can check it out here:
National Geographic - Groundhogs
You can actually hear what a groundhog sounds like!

One of the students asked me to put this link on the blog.  It is a site we go to fairly often and has activities that correspond to many of the math strands we study:
Under the Sea!

We are hoping to participate in the Valentine's for Vets program.  For more info, please go to 
Valentine's For Vets

Here is a fun typing program that can help improve keyboarding skills.  Who wouldn't want to type with a goat?  
Dance Mat Typing
 
Have a good night!

Groundhog Day!

On this snowy, blowy day, it is hard to think about spring coming.  Turns out, our groundhog friends agree.  Check this out: CBC News - Groundhog Day  This activity is for the younger set, but it is fun: Groundhog Day

Curriculum Corner
In math, we have been working on shapes lately.  Here is a site some of the students have been using: BBC Shape Lab.

In Language, we are working on reports, and focusing on non-fiction texts.  This is a game to help with proofreading: Proofread! 

In the News!
Tomorrow (Tues. Feb. 3rd) at 9am the Speech competition takes place.
On Friday, Zumba starts for grades K-8, and takes place every Friday for the month of February..

Hope you found this first post useful, and that you'll check back later. 

Thank you

A big thanks to the students of grade 3/4.  It was a pleasure to be your teacher these past two weeks.  I thought we had an excellent start.  Best of luck with the rest of your year.  Mr. B.

Don't forget, tomorrow is picture day.

For those who ordered books this month, I gave the order slips to the librarian who will place the order.