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We've been quite busy over the last few weeks and haven't had much time to update our blog, but I couldn't let our Wear Pink Anti-Bullying Day go without a mention.
Last week, students were entertained at an assembly completely put together by another class. The theme of the assembly was anti-bullying, and their message was to be kind to others. Students all over the school wore pink and messages of kindness were displayed throughout the school gym.
Some students from Division 5 with the collaborative kindness poster we created.
While I don't claim to have all the answers to stopping bullying, I do believe that acknowledging that it happens and talking about it can help. Division 5 watched a reading of Bullies Never Win by Margery Cuyler and talked about what the protagonist went through. I've posted it here in case anyone wants to re-watch it.
This week at school division 5 is completing a brochure on BC. Included in it is information on BC weather, activities and plants and animals. The brochures also include an explanation why we have seasons on Earth.
Our school also had visiting lacrosse coaches teach us some fun lacrosse skills and activities.
As you know, our class has been studying space this term. A really neat space site to explore is NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day. You can click on any date since June 1995 and see the picture NASA posted for that day. I like asking students to check out the picture from their last birthday.
In our space unit, students need to learn what causes day and night and what causes the seasons. We have been working with a Wikispaces site that I set up: Space Wiki. If you go to the pages entitled Night and Day or Seasons, you will see some videos on these subjects. Your child has seen each video, but I'm sure he or she would love to watch them again with you.
While we were at the Planetarium, some of the parent volunteers noticed a display dedicated to Astronaunt Bob Thirsk. Thirsk was born here in New Westminster! To read about his life, visit his biography page using this link: Bob Thirsk.
How Many People are in Space Right Now? is a site that lists the astronauts currently in the International Space Station (ISS). If you click on the astronauts name, it will take you his or her biography page.
Even though he isn't in space anymore, Chris Hadfield's Website contains some interesting information about life on the ISS.
Below is a video of Hadfield and musician Ed Robertson playing a song together while Hadfield is in space and Robertson is on Earth.
I hope you enjoy these space links and please let me know if you come across any other space related games or sites that the students might enjoy. I love teaching this unit as there is so much information out there!
Last week we went to the Vancouver planetarium. We
learned things about the solar system like how the moon was created. We also
learned about how astronauts live in the International Space Station. There was
a demonstration on how astronauts eat and go to the washroom. While in the
Cosmic Courtyard, we touched one of only 5 pieces of moon rock on the Earth.
By Evan and Faisal
Outside of the planetarium in front of the crab statue.
Touching the moon rock.
This Week
This week we had a visit from
a parent. She told us about rats. We learned that rats are very clean and only
go to the bathroom in one part of their cage, so owners only have to clean the
cage once a week or so. The rats were being fostered by a family because the
New Westminster Animal Shelter has too many rats for adoption right now.
In school we created First
Nations moons and in the library we learned about the different genres of
stories.
Christmas is almost here! If you are interested in tracking Santa on his trip around the world, here's a link to the official NORAD Santa Tracking site: NORAD tracks Santa
I hope everyone has a great holiday! See you in the New Year!
It's been quite the busy couple of weeks for our class. Last Friday we attended The Nutcracker performed by the Royal City Youth Ballet.
We've been working on our Christmas art. Check out the intricate snowflakes created by Division Five students hanging above the Santas.
Tomorrow students will preform our holiday play which they've been working on for the last several weeks. It's always amazing to see it all come together.
Next week we should be finishing up our Science projects. Check back to see some projects posted to our blog.
