Continuing with Bird Week, we read Owl Babies.

Our favourite line was when Bill said "I want my mommy!!!"

But of course - Mommy came back.

Then we checked in on the real-life Owl Baby.

We are sure their mommy will come back - just like in the book.

For "Wondering Wednesday" we learned the songs or calls of four different birds; robins, cardinals, chickadees and blue jays. These are all songs and calls you will hear outside now! We all voted on our favourite birdcall.

 The Scholastic book fair is back at Moraine Hills! 

Tomorrow during our library time, we will be taking a look at the books available in the book fair. Next week, if you would like your child to purchase something to support our library, you may send money for your child to make a purchase. Alternately - if you are not comfortable sending money, you can purchase books using the virtual book fair using the following link- MHPS Virtual Book Fair

In continuing our learning about spring - we are learning about birds this week.

We read the book "Have You Seen Birds?"

We continue to watch the nest cameras. Spring is such an exciting time -  so many eggs in nests.

Here is the Barred Owl that we are keeping an eye on. She is sitting on eggs right now. We are excited to see the new owlets when they come out of their eggs!

You can watch at home too!

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/cams/barred-owls/

Imagine you are a bird what do you do all day? What would you write in your diary?

"Today I was sleeping in my nest."

"Today I flew far."

 Fun Friday!

We had a great time with our shared reading of Elephant and Piggy - I Will Surprise My Friend.

So many giggles! It warmed my heart.

Continuing with concept of symmetry. Challenge! Using our pencil at the mirror line or line of symmetry, can we make a symmetrical design with item in our desk?

 Today we started learning about symmetry.

Can you find things around your house that are symmetrical?

 Welcome back! I hope everyone had a restful and safe March Break.

With the lifting of restrictions, we were able to change up our classroom. 

The new set-up is much more conducive to shared and co-operative learning. Wow! Did we ever notice a difference! Students helping each other, complimenting each other and all-around working together. Great news!

Now that spring is here (YAY!) we will be exploring signs of spring over the next little while.

We started with reading the book "Hurray for Spring!"

We are learning about the "ing" family of words - Spring!

At home you can talk about different "ing" words. 

ring

swing

bring

king

We are writing "ing" sentences using our sight words.

 To wrap up our Fairy Tales learning, Ms. Babcock did a wonderful activity to illustrate the big idea that a story can be seen differently depending on the viewer/listener. The basic story stays the same, but the way we see it, understand it, or interpret it may be different.

She read a short story out loud and left the pictures or interpretation up to our imaginations. The story she told is of child having fun at home with family. Here are three of our amazing interpretations;

This family is a father and two brothers playing outside on a sunny day on a trampoline.

This family is cousins playing outside and a rainbow near by.

This family is playing with cars and grandma's house is just down the street.

We all heard the same story -but got very different pictures in our minds. The best thing is that each one of them is the right one! So amazing.

 I have a little catching up to do on this blog!

Our third and final Fairy Tale is Goldilocks. Mrs. Babcock presented us three beautiful Goldilocks stories. Each tells the same storyline but gives us a different point of view. No one story is the "right" one. The story is seen through different eyes -just as we all see things differently.

 Fun Friday!

We did some co-operative learning by puzzling together.

"Let's do this together!"

"Yeah we all work together!"

"We can do this!"

"This is amazing!"

"This is all our puzzle!"

"Yeah. We share the puzzle."

"We are doing great!"

"Good job guys!"

Success!

Success!

Success!

Success!

We spent the afternoon creating our own magic stalk. Ms. Babcock created a Strawberry stalk because in her culture, strawberries are very important.

Look at our beautiful work!

 Today we heard the story of Jack and the Beanstalk from the perspective of the giant.

The events of the story don't change - but the way we are told them is different! As Ms. Babcock noted "We learned so much more from hearing both stories!"

It is important to hear each person's perspective to get the whole story.

With our new perspective in mind, we asked a question for Wondering Wednesday.

We collected our answers in a Super Secret Survey.

Ms. Babcock then facilitated a wonderful discussion around the two sides of the story. (I love these thoughtful young people.)

"Why was is ok for Jack to steal?"

• -"Because he needed the money."
• - "Because his family had zero money."

"Why was is not ok for Jack to steal?"

• "If you stole someone's things, they would be sad." 
• "It's the giant's money not Jack's"
• "Because it is not good to steal things."

"What should Jack have done?"

• "When the man offered the magic beans - he should have said no."
• "He could have asked the giant - maybe he would have helped."
• "He should have said thank-you for the food."
• "He could have borrowed from the giant."

Look at this amazing interpretation of the giant's castle!

Working on writing our sight words.

I can love.

Wow. Did I mention how much I adore these thoughtful young people?

This morning we had a virtual author visit with Eric Walters. Mr. Walters has written over 100 hundred books for all ages. He told us some wonderful stories.

We are still making our way through the alphabet. Today's letter: S! How many s-words can you find around the house?