December 12th, 2014

Special Note: I forgot to mention this in the agenda, but if student's could bring in a small piece of holiday themed wrapping paper (8x11) for a small project we're working on, that'd be great. If you can't, don't worry either! Thank you in advance.

Literacy

This week in literacy we've been looking at a traditional tale and some twists to it. We examined 3 books, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Goatilocks and the Three Bears and Santa Claus and the Three Bears. 

In each story, we examined the setting, characters, problems and solutions/endings. We compared and contrasted the stories using a Venn diagram.

Students then had the opportunity to practice retelling their version of the story through drama. Students will continue to work on this bit next week.

Numeracy

This week in math, students have been looking at how you can change how you group a number, but how that doesn't impact the total number in the end.

Science

In Science this week, we've been investigating the different types of materials that magnets are attracted to, and what they don't stick to. We also looked bigger concepts of magnetism and the earth.

Social Studies

This week in Social, we've been looking at what we can do to help our community and the importance of such organizations like Stephen's Backpacks. We looked at the work done by this organization to help others in our communities. Student's then reflected on what they want for their future and community. We capped the week with an assembly for Stephen's Backpacks. Rosemont families created more than 90 backpacks this year!! That's up from previous years!! Thank you kindly to all the families that participated!

Misc

This week, we met with Mr. Darren, the composer from the Calgary Opera to help us choose composition themes for each act of our opera.

December 4, 2014

Literacy

This week in literacy we've continued with our work around the book Wanted: The Perfect Pet. The main character in the book takes out an ad in the newspaper looking for the perfect pet. Students then created their own want ad's for their perfect pets. They included descriptions, things their pet should be like and shouldn't be like. Check out an example below.

In keeping with our theme of pets - students brought up pet's that they've had to put to sleep. This brought up some interesting discussions about pets passing away. Together we read the book The Tenth Good Thing About Barney by Judith Viorst in where a family celebrates the life of a pet who has passed.

Math

This week in math, we've been looking at the terms is more than, is few than, and is as many as. Students have been comparing sets of numbers, counters and tallies. Check out some of the work below. A sample of this has come home in their agenda, these can be kept at home.

Science

We've continued to examine the properties of magnets. We've looked at what materials it attracts as well as materials that it doesn't attract. Students have also had opportunities to share magnets they've brought from home.

Social Studies

We've been exploring groups that we belong to outside of school or family, and some of the expectations around those groups.

Opera

Darren from the Calgary Opera came in this week to expose us to different types of opera music as we brainstorm and prepare the composing aspect of the opera.