All things Dr. Seuss!

In honour of his upcoming birthday on March 2nd, our class is celebrating the late author Dr. Seuss in our classroom from February 23rd to March 6th.  It will be a fun few weeks, as we work on an author study, and other fun-filled activities that align with the Grade 1 and 2 curriculums. 

I will update this site with pictures of some of the activities we have completed in our classroom. 

In the meantime, feel free to visit the following website to learn about Dr. Seuss, and to play some fun "Seusstastic" games!

http://www.seussville.com/

Thanks!

Mrs. Onderdonk

Winter Wonderland Play Day - UPDATED

This Thursday February 26th is our school's Winter Wonderland Play Day for Grades 1 to 3.  Please ensure your child is dressed appropriately for the cold weather (if it is too cold, children will not be going outside on this date).  Please ensure your child has:

Winter Coat
Snow Pants
Mittens/Gloves
Winter boots
Hat/Toque
Scarf

UPDATE
The students will be going outside for 1 hour at the end of the day.  The Winter Wonderland Play Day will be postponed only if temperatures are colder that -20 degrees Celsius. 


Thanks!

Mrs. Onderdonk

Share Your Moment with the Flag Challenge!

Here is a challenge I found online.  It's simple: Take a picture or a video with the Canadian flag, and share it on social media with the hashtag #flag50

Challenge your friends and family to do the same!

Here is a link to the challenge. 
http://www.pch.gc.ca/eng/1422543834385

Below is my picture I shared on social media (my son with the Canadian flag).

 
Happy National Flag of Canada Day!

Happy National Flag of Canada Day!

Today, February 15, 2015, marks the 50th anniversary of the National Flag of Canada.  50 years ago, our Canadian flag was raised on Parliament Hill for the very first time. In 1996, February 15th was declared National Flag of Canada Day.

You can visit the following site to learn more about National Flag of Canada Day.

http://www.pch.gc.ca/eng/1359734222181/1359734330674

Monday is Family Day - No School

Monday February 16, 2015, is Family Day in Ontario.  There will be no school on this day.

Family Day is a holiday that celebrates the importance of families and family life to people and to communities. 

Here are a few links about Family Day in Brampton!

Brampton Recreation information:
http://www.brampton.ca/en/residents/recreational-Activities/Pages/Family-Day.aspx

What's open and closed on Family Day:
http://www.bramptonguardian.com/news-story/4371113-what-s-open-closed-on-family-day/

I hope you all have a wonderful family day spent with your loved ones!

Happy Valentine's Day!

You can visit www.abcya.com for a few different Valentine's Day games (as well as many other educational games too).

Grade 1: http://www.abcya.com/first_grade_computers.htm

Grade 2: http://www.abcya.com/second_grade_computers.htm

Learning about Canadian Coins in Math!

This month, the grade 1s have been introduced to Canadian coins.  We are learning what the coins are called, as well as each coin's worth.  We will start to learn how to add various coins this week (e.g., what coins do we require to purchase something that costs 20 cents?). 

I have included a link to an online game that the grade 1s can play that will help them remember what coins are worth. 

http://www.tvokids.com/games/coinspot
The grade 2s are working hard on adding various coins together, understanding how to make the desired amount of money (e.g., if a product costs 90cents, you can use 3 quarters 1 dime, and 1 nickel; alternatively, you can use 9 dimes)

Below are some poems we are reading in the classroom, as well. 

Activities you can do at home:

1.  Ask your child to gather various coins in their hand (Grade 1 students can use nickels and dimes, grade 2 students can use coins up to $1.00).  Ask your child home much money they have in their hand (e.g., 2 nickels = 10cents).  Alternatively, you can hold some coins and ask your child which coins they think you have in you and (e.g., "I have 17cents in my hand.  What coins do you think I am holding?)

2.  Count the ways to make ___.  How many ways can you make 10cents? 20 cents? 25 cents?, etc.

 

100 Days Smarter!!!

 Monday February 9th was our 100th day of school! We celebrated by completing various activities revolving around the number "100". 

Scholastic Book Orders

Since our class is learning how to REDUCE, REUSE, and RECYCLE, I have decided to put the March order forms for Scholastic ONLINE this month.  Below you will find the links:

SeeSaw (K-1)
http://scholastic.ca/clubs/images/7A15/S7A15_N.pdf

Lucky (2-3)
http://scholastic.ca/clubs/images/7A15/L7A15_N.pdf

If you would like a book, please write down the following:

1. Club (See Saw or Lucky)
2. Book Name
3. Price

Please provide the above information and payment by Friday February 27th, 2015. Orders will be placed on Friday February 27th, and will be given to students as soon as I receive them. 

Thanks!  All orders provide classroom dollars that I can use to purchase new books for our classroom.

Mrs. Onderdonk

February Calendar

Reminders...

1.  InspirEd Arts Resource Program - African Canadian Contributions
Please ensure you bring in $2.00 and the signed form by Friday February 13th, 2015.

2. Pizza order forms went home today (Tuesday February 3rd, 2015).
Please ensure you bring in payment, along with the signed pink form, by Thursday February 5th, 2015.

Thanks!

Mrs. Onderdonk

Reading - Working on our Fluency

After completing many reading assessments with the students, it is clear that one area that needs to be worked on in their reading is Fluency. We have been learning a great deal about fluency in our classroom, and we are practicing it daily. 

Below is a chart that I created for our classroom to remind students what fluency is. 

It's Groundhog Day!!

Today is February 2nd, 2015 - Groundhog Day!!! I wonder if Wiarton Willie saw his shadow?

Due to the snow day today, all of the fun and highly educational activities I had planned for today will be postponed until tomorrow.  Until then, feel free to describe what the Canadian tradition of Groundhog Day is to your family and friends.

Snow Day

As we all know, Monday Febuary 2nd was a SNOW DAY....No School!!!

Here is a picture of my backyard, full of the "white stuff".....brrr, it's cold just looking at it!

Goodbye January!

January has come and gone.  Welcome February! I have many fun and exciting things in store this month....stay tuned!

February at a Glance...

Term 2 has officially begun!  Report cards for Term 1 should be going home on Friday February 6th.
Coming up in February:

Grade 1

Language
- Identify and describe the characteristics of a fictional text (and other text forms)
- Writing recounts
- Grammar: Personal object pronouns (e.g., me, you, him, her)
- creating media texts (an illustrated story)

Math
Geometry
– Building a structure using 3D solids
Number Sense
- Money (Identify and describe various coins and state their value)
Measurement
– time and temperature
- investigate, estimate, and measure the passage of time
- read digital and analogue clocks, and use them to identify benchmark times (e.g., breakfast, recess, bedtime, etc.)
- relate temperature to the experiences of the seasons
Problem Solving
– Understanding how to correctly answer a problem solving question

Science
Structures and Materials

Social Studies
Communities

Grade 2

Language
- writing narratives
- identify parts of a narrative: character analysis
- punctuation: quotation marks
- grammar: personal object pronouns (e.g., me, you, him, her)
- creating media texts (an illustrated story)

Math
Measurement
- Time and temperature
- tell and write time to the quarter hour
- use thermometer for air and water temperature

Number Sense
- Money
- representing money amounts to $1.00
- add and subtract money amounts to $1.00
- Problem Solving
–Reviewing how to correctly answer a problem solving question

Science
Simple Machines & Movement

Social Studies
- Continue discussing various traditions (Groundhog Day, Valentine’s Day, Chinese New Year, Family Day)
- World is made up of countries, continents and regions
- understanding location and climate