November 14-18th

What a wonderful week we had examining different communities in Canada and continuing our exploration of liquids. We also enjoyed some wonderful time outside connecting with nature and our environment and experiencing the different changes in our seasons. 

Just a reminder that we go outside everyday the outside temperature is warmer than -20 degrees celsius.  Everyone should come each day with the appropriate winter gear (snow pants, boots, mitts, hats, etc.) to enjoy their time outdoors in comfort.  It is also important that students continue to build their skills to independently put on their winter gear.  This would be a great thing for families to practice at home so they are successful at school.

 I Can Appreciate the Diversity of Communities in Canada / I Can Examine How Communities Have Changed and Emerged

This week we had an in-school field trip with the Glenbow Museum.  Our presenter came in and showed pictures from the arctic and showed us artifacts from the Inuit people.  We spent some time closely examining the artifacts and then sketching them in our visual journals.  A highlight is when we got to feel an arctic fox pelt with the back of our hand.  We also got to play a traditional children's game meant to strengthen our hand-eye coordination for hunting.  It was very tough!


This past week was also Metis Week here in Alberta so we spent some time examining the people, their culture and their traditions. We enjoyed learning and trying some of their different cultural traditions such as jigging to fiddle music and listening to a traditional story handed down to generations called the Giving Tree. This story was an excellent way to practice our western way of learning about stories through the techniques of questioning and summarizing. We also examined the Indigenous ways of knowing by examining the values and connections to nature in the story such as - only take what you need and equality among men and women and our nonhuman beings. 
We also spent time learning about a traditional form of artwork - pointilism or traditional Metis dot art. 
We focussed on Metis artist, Christ Belcourt's beautiful works of art and learned that dot art is usually symmetrical and usually includes one dot(or bead) that is different. This dot is called the "Spirit" bead which symbolizes it is ok to make mistakes, be unique and to be ourselves.  Students loved creating their own Dot art! 





Reminders:

Wednesday, November 23 -

  • Library Book Exchange Day
Thursday, November 24 - 
  • Conference Booking closes at 2pm.  Click here to book. Conferences can be either in person or online depending on preference. Please email me your intended preference after you book. Thank you. 
  • Parent Teacher Conferences from 4pm to 7pm
Friday, November 25 - 
  • Parent Teacher Conferences from 8am to 1pm.  NO SCHOOL for STUDENTS

Upcoming Fun Days in December

December 20 – Christmas Sweater Day

December 21 – Christmas Hat Day

December 22 – Last day of classes - PJ Day






















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