Dear Parents,
We have a full week of learning that overall with some special festivals and celebrations this week. As today is Diwali, the festival of lights celebrated by Indians all over the world, we learnt about the fable of Ram and Ravan, a fable about royalty, romance, duty, fighting evil, and valuing family. As with all mythological stories, there were fantastical elements and magic involved. We also capitalized on the opportunity to create some candle art in the classroom.
Language: In language this week we will do a book study on Wombat Stew by Marcia Vaughan. It's an interesting story that lends itself to rhyme, alliteration, and procedural writing. We are going to be creating our own poems using alliteration. We will also answer comprehension questions as a book response and explore our creativity by creating a recipe for our own kind of "unusual" stew - an opportunity for students to link their creativity to Halloween and creepy crawlies!
At this point in the year, we have had many writing opportunities to focus on expressing ourselves and our experiences using the past tense. While we learn different strategies and rules as well continue to build ourselves as writers, students can now take more ownership of their self-editing skills. If you are writing at home with your child, please be aware that I am now holding students accountable for using 'ed' correctly with most verbs. Unfortunately only about 60% of words in the English language follow 'rules.' However, if you encounter your child using 'd' or 'id' instead of 'ed' to express something in the past, please ask them to revisit the word and provide them with the opportunity to self-correct. We have also started looking at how words beginning with vowels are preceded by 'an' while words beginning with consonants are preceded by 'a'. For example, an elephant vs. a elephant or a house vs. an house.
Maths: In maths this week we are going to be finishing off our work basic vertical and horizontal subtraction and will focus on subtraction with regrouping for 2 and 3-digit numbers. We will also look at reflective patterns and how their applications in real life. We will be incorporating this through our Unit of Inquiry and looking at how patterning is used in number and in art.
Unit of Inquiry: This is our making session week where the children are getting involved in looking and discussing different artists. We have a number of art projects started and will continue those well into next week - our Picasso canvases, our abstract/surreal illustrations to support poems we have written, etc. We will be discussing the different forms that that artist has used and we will begin to discuss what they think the artist was trying express, finding supporting evidence through the elements of art.
We have also just finished doing an author/illustration/character study based on David Shannon. The children have created wonderful write-ups which are on display on our walls and will also be shared through seesaw.
Seesaw, our online e-portfolio for student work, is due to start this week. You will be receiving a letter which will give you instructions as to how to access your child’s digital portfolio. Each child by the 3rd November will have 2-3 pieces pieces of work to share with you.
Announcements/Reminders:
Once again, thank you for your continued support at home.
Have a wonderful week!
Warm regards,
Bhavna
We have a full week of learning that overall with some special festivals and celebrations this week. As today is Diwali, the festival of lights celebrated by Indians all over the world, we learnt about the fable of Ram and Ravan, a fable about royalty, romance, duty, fighting evil, and valuing family. As with all mythological stories, there were fantastical elements and magic involved. We also capitalized on the opportunity to create some candle art in the classroom.
Language: In language this week we will do a book study on Wombat Stew by Marcia Vaughan. It's an interesting story that lends itself to rhyme, alliteration, and procedural writing. We are going to be creating our own poems using alliteration. We will also answer comprehension questions as a book response and explore our creativity by creating a recipe for our own kind of "unusual" stew - an opportunity for students to link their creativity to Halloween and creepy crawlies!
At this point in the year, we have had many writing opportunities to focus on expressing ourselves and our experiences using the past tense. While we learn different strategies and rules as well continue to build ourselves as writers, students can now take more ownership of their self-editing skills. If you are writing at home with your child, please be aware that I am now holding students accountable for using 'ed' correctly with most verbs. Unfortunately only about 60% of words in the English language follow 'rules.' However, if you encounter your child using 'd' or 'id' instead of 'ed' to express something in the past, please ask them to revisit the word and provide them with the opportunity to self-correct. We have also started looking at how words beginning with vowels are preceded by 'an' while words beginning with consonants are preceded by 'a'. For example, an elephant vs. a elephant or a house vs. an house.
Maths: In maths this week we are going to be finishing off our work basic vertical and horizontal subtraction and will focus on subtraction with regrouping for 2 and 3-digit numbers. We will also look at reflective patterns and how their applications in real life. We will be incorporating this through our Unit of Inquiry and looking at how patterning is used in number and in art.
Unit of Inquiry: This is our making session week where the children are getting involved in looking and discussing different artists. We have a number of art projects started and will continue those well into next week - our Picasso canvases, our abstract/surreal illustrations to support poems we have written, etc. We will be discussing the different forms that that artist has used and we will begin to discuss what they think the artist was trying express, finding supporting evidence through the elements of art.
We have also just finished doing an author/illustration/character study based on David Shannon. The children have created wonderful write-ups which are on display on our walls and will also be shared through seesaw.
Seesaw, our online e-portfolio for student work, is due to start this week. You will be receiving a letter which will give you instructions as to how to access your child’s digital portfolio. Each child by the 3rd November will have 2-3 pieces pieces of work to share with you.
Announcements/Reminders:
- Thursday 3rd November is International Day where we ask the children to dress up in clothes from their home country, it is a great time to celebrate all of the wonderful countries that we all come from.
- Thursday 10th November is career dress up day, the student council are asking children to dress up as their chosen career for the future.
Once again, thank you for your continued support at home.
Have a wonderful week!
Warm regards,
Bhavna