April 10-13

Hello everyone,

I hope you all enjoyed the long weekend with family and friends!I am glad to be back and am eager to begin our week...

LAST WEEK...

Although I was away, the children continued to investigate transportation and how things move. The week before, we performed some experiments with wheels and ramps. The children figured out that the steeper the ramp, the farther their cars travelled...bravo! The students also learned about 'wheels' and 'axles', sang the song "My Little Red Wagon" ("..one wheel's off and the axle's broken..", etc.) and then they made cucumber and pretzel wheels and axles (and ate them, of course!). Delicious engineering!

The children are also continuing their study of living things, specifically plants. Last week, children worked in groups to add a white flower to a vase of water along with some food colouring. They then drew what they saw (a white flower in coloured water). A few days later, students observed that their flowers had changed from white to the colour of their water! We read a non-fiction text called 'Roots' that confirmed what we discovered about how plants eat. Children then recorded their observations in their science books.

The SK's are also busy tending to their crocus flowers that they planted 6 weeks ago. Despite many curious hands and the temptation to touch, our crocuses ARE growing! We are using non-standard measuring devices (plastic links) to chart the growth.

THIS WEEK.. as we move into our study of 'spring', we'll experiment to learn how plants help create clouds and rain.

This week your child will bring home the booklet "Goodbye Winter" to read to you. We will be using a larger version of this book all week during our Shared Reading time. Children continue to focus on tracking the print left to right, identifying punctuation (periods), finding sight words and using different strategies to read independently (looking at the beginning sounds, using picture clues, finding small words inside bigger words, etc.).

We will also continue to listen for and create rhymes. I will be using different spring riddles to help children develop this important skill.

Children will be reading a variety of fiction and non-fiction books focusing on spring and birds. Children will help me categorize each book as either fiction, or non-fiction. Please reinforce this concept at home as you read with your child.

In math, children will be working with partners to play our new 'more or less' game.

SHOW AND SHARE

Rather than our usual format for Show and Share, we'll be doing an 'at home' math activity that reinforces our understanding of 'more and less'. Please watch for the sheet and enjoy the activity with your child. It does not need to be returned to school.

PUBLIC HEALTH

Last week, all primry children were fortunate to have dental screening done at the school. Please check your child's Note Tote in case you received a notice for dental follow-up.

BOOK ORDERS

Please find April's book order forms in your child's Note Tote today. Orders are due on Friday, April 20th.

TREE JOURNAL

The children have been busy observing and documenting the changes they see in our maple tree out front. This month, the children have noticed that buds have appeared. The students are now doing a majority of the writing in our Tree Journal. Bravo!

MARCH AND APRIL BIRTHDAYS

Happy birthday to :

Khanya (March 7)
Jack K (March 22)
Danny (March 31)
Maahira (April 8)
Miriam (April 11)

Goodbye to Jack K. We are sad to see our good friend Jack K. moving away, but we know that he will love his new home and school. Be sure to send us a letter telling us about your new home, Jack! We will miss you!

Have a wonderful week and, as always,please stop by or call if you have any questions or concerns.

Warmly,
Ms. Cox