December

Wiebe Weasel December Newsletter

Dear Parents,

Christmas is nearly here, and December is generally quite busy! I hope you are as excited as we are in Grade 3! We’ll count down the days before the break and jump from one topic to another in Math. Our patterning unit is “wrapping” up. Ask your child if they can name all 5 attributes with our silly mnemonic: “SCONS”! Patterns are everywhere... especially during the holidays, and in all of the Christmas carols!!! See if your children can spot some! You’ve noticed that schoolwork comes home for you to peruse from time to time. Feel free to keep it at home or send it back to school if your child prefers to add it to their portfolio. Sometimes, work needs to be signed and returned as indicated on some work. Remember that our website is loaded with remedial and enrichment opportunities for math in all strands as well as other areas of the curriculum.

Throughout December, we’ll be “shaping up” and learning about 2D shapes and 3D figures all around us! See if your child can identify some around your home, later this month! Perhaps they’ll be able to identify the Christmas tree’s geometric figure! Number sense is something we look at throughout the year, so please encourage your child to practice their math facts (adding and subtracting) for quick recall (facts to 20). Ask them to explain/demonstrate some mental math strategies as well. Many of your children have become experts at “jumping” on open number lines, “splitting,” finding friendly 10s, knowing doubles, and decomposing numbers.

What else are we up to? We’ve been writing retells, recounts and working through procedural writing (and tasting some yummy examples of food-related procedures along the way). We’ve also learned proper letter writing form and everyone had an opportunity to write to Santa or to you! Santa letters were sent off to the North Pole; hopefully he’ll have time to write back before the holidays. A copy of your child’s letter is attached so you can get a glimpse of their writing style and possibly a few other hints before Christmas....!!! If your child chose to write to you instead of Santa, please find some time to write back as this is part of the letter writing process and it’s always exciting to receive mail! Students have also helped create anchor charts and checklists to bump up their written work!

Speaking of Santa... On the last day before the holidays (Dec. 17), we’ll be celebrating with a Christmas Party and dance! The party will include Math and Language activities, crafts, games, music and a fun gift exchange game. Feel free (but not obligated) to send in other tasty treats for all to enjoy (provided they are nut-free, store-purchased and individually wrapped!) We’ll also be playing a traditional Gift Exchange Game.

The gift exchange game is unique and fun. Each student needs to bring in 1 gift that would be gender-neutral, costing around $2.00. (Markers, books, treats and games are a few examples.) The Dollar Store is a great place to shop for ideas. If you’re unable to provide your child with such a gift, fear not! I can always pick up a few extras. Noooooooooo worries!

For those who do bring in a gift, it needs to be wrapped with your child’s name written on the bottom! Your child needs to know which gift is theirs so they can be thanked and acknowledged at the end of the game. Everyone will receive a gift - but it won’t be their own! Please complete and return the slip below to let me know if your child is able to bring a gift for the game. Students must “sneak” their gifts in between now and Dec. 16 and place it under our Christmas tree.

Sincerely (and eagerly awaiting Santa’s visit),

Mrs. Wiebe ☺

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Please complete and return this portion to school by Dec. 3^rd. Student’s Name: ________________

❑ My child will bring in a $2 gift between Dec. 1 - Dec. 16 for the gift exchange game.

❑ My child is unable to bring in a $2 gift for the gift exchange game but is able to participate.

*Check out the plethora of resources and student photo galleries on our Weasel Website:

https://sites.google.com/gotvdsb.ca/wiebeweaselwebsite/home

Important Dates

Nov. 29 – Dec. 15 - Canned Food Drive

Dec. 1-16 - Sneak in your $2 game gift (name on bottom)

Dec. 6 - Merry Monday (dress in holiday spirit!),

- Jaffa Environmental Program: Structures in Nature (run by “Jaffa Dan” at our school)

Dec. 10 – Christmas Dinner for everyone!

Dec. 13 – Merriest Monday; dress accordingly! J

Dec. 17 - Party and Gift Game, Dance, Last school day of 2021!

*Thank you for initialing your child’s planner and sending in a water bottle daily.

****With winter upon us, it would be helpful to send extra socks and mitts as these tend to get wet. Also, where possible, please label your child’s belongings. Snow pants, for example, look similar so it would be ideal to add their names if you are able.

**Students are encouraged to continue reading regularly throughout December, but I will not be checking their H.R. (Home Reading) on the last day. It’s a short and busy month; we’ll resume the H.R. process in January.

Newsletter Activity Corner

*Have your child complete the activities below using this newsletter as the source for

their answers. Try similar activities with newspapers, fliers and magazines at home.*

1. Find contractions in the newsletter. (Example: can’t)

2. Find sets of words that can be turned into contractions. (Example: can not = can’t)

3. How many sentences are in each paragraph? How many paragraphs in total?

4. Find different types of punctuation and see if you know how to use each type.

5. Underline all of the nouns, highlight the adjectives, and circle all of the verbs.

6. How many compound words can you find?

7. Which word has the most syllables?

8. How many different ways are numbers used in the newsletter?

9. Use the longest word to write as many smaller words as you can using those letters.

(For example, “Christmas”: as, sit, rich, is, sat, stir, smart, Christ, mast, match...)

10. Make up games with words on a page. (Examples: who can find the word: “Christmas” first? How many times is the word “to” used in the 3^rd paragraph?)

11. Find pairs of antonyms (opposites), rhyming words, and synonyms (similar meanings)

12. Use the pictures in this newsletter (or pictures found elsewhere) to inspire some writing.