Week of April 25-29

Dear families,

Last week we completed our big inquiry and learning about Earth week and the children proudly brought their folders home to show you. Throughout the year we talk about nature and science and in April we focus on the Earth. The children wrote letters to the Earth and drew an accompanying picture. We continued talking about the meanings of REUSE, RECYCLE and REDUCE and the children had a lot of terrific ideas about how to do this. They completed a sorting activity with pictures of paper, metal and plastic, and played with memory cards (a set of which they made themselves to play at home). The whole school also did a yard clean up on Earth Day. All the children did lovely paintings of the Earth surrounded by stars. The children also did "puffy paint" earth art which is drying over the weekend.

This week they also planted grass seeds in the half egg shells (to make "egg heads!"), planted sunflower seeds, and found "mystery seeds" in the Kindergarten yard that we planted in a pot too. We will be observing and learning about the germination/growth of all these seeds as well as beans.

There was a terrific presentation by the ROM about trees that the children watched, and the children completed drawings of themselves as Earth Rangers.

We are continuing our inquiry together on Habitats on the Earth and have so far talked and read about the Ocean, Forest, and Prairie/Grassland. Next week we will be developing a bulletin board in the hall about habitats.

Also in keeping with Earth Day and recycling, the children are continuing to enjoy the "Take-Apart Centre" and I brought in an old intercom from home and Claire brought in a small scanner for the children to take apart and examine. The children have also been bringing in and making great toys made from recycled cardboard and other household objects. This week Martel, Christopher and Cole made decorative shields, Dylan made a saw, and Matthew made a rocket launcher and a rocket. Two children work at the centre each day.

Miss. Nisker taught the children about Passover this week and on Monday will do an Afikaman hunt. Thank you Miss Nisker.

The sight words of the week were WHO and DOWN.

Thank you to Samantha who brought in a silica package that she found in the yard - we talked about not to touch this. We will turn it into a science learning opportunity next week, watching how the crystals absorb water.

Thank you as well to Martel's mom who made play-doh for the children. Martel also prepared this month's Scholastic order forms. The next order is due May 31st.

Thank you Camilla who brought in a book about reusing home articles to make egg heads.

Thank you as well to Elizabeth's dad who was our mystery reader.

Next week in the morning we are continuing our learning about Habitats and in the afternoons we are going to be learning about dinosaurs. Thanks to Samantha who brought in a "dinosaur foot" she made from a tissue box, because this inspired all the kids to want to learn more in class about dinosaurs. I have several books about dinosaurs and Kosti, Dylan and Christopher brought in terrific books too.

That's our news from room 166. I hope you have a terrific week!