Updated: March 4th

What we are currently learning is highlighted in blue.

Reading

1. How to choose a 'just right' book.

2. Making predictions based on background knowledge, the title, cover, and by looking at the pictures.

3. Making Connections with a focus on 'text-to-self' connections.

4. Summarizing

Writing

1. Journals (Who, What, When, Why, Where)

2. When to use capitals (e.g., Proper Nouns, the beginning of a sentence, etc.) and periods.

3. Putting finger spaces between words.

4. Writing paragraphs with a topic sentence.

Friendly Letters

The students just started to learn about friendly letters!  The students learned the format of a friendly letter, and they are now writing a letter to their best friend, telling him/why why he/she is so special to them. When we are finished, the students will be mailing or giving their letter to their friend!

The students also wrote a letter to a celebrity!  We will be learning how to write the address on the front of an envelope.  The students are encouraged to mail their letters when they take take them home!

Narratives

We have been learning about the features of fiction texts (e.g., stories have a beginning, middle, and end).  We learned that the characters, setting, and problem are introduced at the beginning of a story.  During the 'rising action', the problem gets worse and more complicated.  At the climax of the story, the problem is usually solved.  The ending of the story explains what happens after the problem has been solved, and it sometimes ties back to the beginning of the story.

We will soon be planning our first narrative on a 'story mountain' template.

Persuasive Writing

We are learning how to write a persuasive argument.  The students will write me a letter, trying to convince me to buy a specific board game for the class.  I will model how to write a persuasive letter, and then they will have an opportunity to write me a letter.  I will be buying one board game for the class.  I will present the game to the class, and read the letter that convinced me to buy it.

Next, I will be asking the students to write Ms. Lang a letter.  In their letter, they are going to try to persuade Ms. Lang to get something for the school that will benefit all the students.  

Last, the students will be asked to write a persuasive speech about a topic of their choice.  They will be asked to present it to the class.  More information coming soon!

Number Sense

Place Value

Will have been learning how to model a number using base ten blocks in more than one way.  We have also started to learn how to regroup (e.g., 12 tens = 100 and 20).

We are also learning how to order numbers, how to write numbers in expanded form (e.g., 325 = 300 + 20 + 5), and how to solve math problems (e.g., finding a 'mystery number' based on clues that I give them).

Examples: 

I am thinking of a three-digit number.  The sum of the digits is 9.  It is an even number.  It is between 330 and 350.  What could the number be?  Answer: 342

My number has 1 hundred, 12 tens, and 11 ones.  What is my number?  Answer: 231 (2 hundreds, 3 tens, and 1 one).

Ordering Numbers

We have been learning how to order numbers from least to greatest, and greatest to least.

Addition and Subtraction

We are learning how to add and subtract 3-digit numbers with regrouping.

Rounding Numbers

We also learned how to round numbers to the nearest ten and to the nearest hundred.

Patterns

To start this unit, we reviewed some new math words that they learned last year (e.g., repeating, attribute, etc.).  We discussed how patterns are used in our everyday lives (e.g., designs on clothes and carpets, patterns in calendars, etc.).  

We recently learned about repeating geometric patterns and patterns in calendars.  We also learned about number patterns.  

Data Management

We have now started our unit on Data Management.  The students learned how to sort data using Tree Diagrams, Venn Diagrams, and a Carroll Diagrams.  Over the past week, we have been learning how to display data using pictographs and bar graphs.  We have also been learning how to analyze and draw conclusions from the data. 

Measurement

We have now started our unit on measurement.  The students are learning how to estimate, measure, and compare the perimeters of polygons.  They will also draw polygons with a given perimeter. The students will also learn the relationships between millimetres, centimetres, metres, and kilometres, and use these benchmarks to estimate and measure lengths. 

Telling Time: We are currently learning how to tell time to the nearest second.  When we are finished this short unit, we will be moving on to multiplication/division.

Here is a link to an interactive clock that the students can use at home to practise telling time to the nearest second.

Multiplication

For this unit, students should be able to recall and demonstrate multiplication facts of 2, 5 and 10, and related division facts.  Although not required, the ability to recall other multiplication facts up to 10x10 would be extremely helpful.

The students will also learn how to represent the multiplication of numbers up to 10x10, and division up to 100 divided by 10, using a variety of tools and/or drawings (e.g., arrays). 

The students will also learn how to solve problems including multiplication and division.

I included some flash cards below so your child can practise the multiplication facts at home.  If you do not have a printer at home, please let me know and I will print them for you.

We just started our unit on Social Studies.  The students are currently learning about the Alonguin.  We are learning about their way of life with a focus on shelter, roles of men, women, and children, their daily life (e.g. diet, clothing, etc.).  

Here is a link to a website that I created on the Algonquin.  Visuals, videos, and audio files of me reading the notes, are all provided for the students.  I will continue to provide online notes for Social Studies and Science this year.

We will also be learning about the Huron Wendat.  After learning about them, we will compare the Huron Wendat with the Algonquin.

Later, will will learn about why people moved here from Europe.  We will learn where they settled, and how they impacted the indigenous communities in positive and negative ways (e.g., residential schools, etc.).

Strong and Stable Structures

In Science, we learned about strong and stable structures.  We started this unit by looking at structures all around us, including natural structures.  

We are now learning about the science around structures (e.g., How do we make buildings, towers, and bridges that are stable and strong?).  

The students recently made some paper bridges.  Using only six pieces of paper and masking tape, they had to make a bridge that would support a heavy load.  They learned how we can modify materials to make them stronger (e.g., twisting paper, using triangulation, making an arch, etc.). After one attempt, they tried to make another bridge that was even better and stronger.  Their bridges are posted on our website!  You can check them out by clicking here.

The students also created strong cube structures out of straws.  The students were challenged to use what they learned in class to make their structures strong AND stable.  Their structures were tested to see if they could hold a heavy load (e.g., several heavy books) without collapsing.  Check out their structures under the Science tab!

Forces (Magnetism and Static Electricity)

Over the past week, we have been learning about forces.  We learned that a force is a push or a pull. Using spring scales, we conducted experiments to determine the force required to lift small objects.  We learned that we measure force using Newtons. 

We also learned about friction. We dragged different objects across different surfaces to determine the amount of force required.  The students discovered that more force was required to drag items across rough surfaces (e.g., sandpaper). 

We also learned about magnets. We discovered that the same poles of magnets repel and that opposite poles attract.  We discovered that magnets will attract metals that contain iron. Through experimentation, we also learned that if we rub a metal that contains iron with a magnet, that metal can temporarily become magnetized!

We also learned about static electricity.  We conducted some fun experiments to create static electric charges with combs and balloons!

Soils and Plants (Coming Soon!)

Our science kit has arrived!  We will be starting this unit shortly.  More information coming soon!

The students learned all about perspective.  The students learned that objects that are closer to us are larger and closer to the bottom of the page. Objects that are further away are smaller and closer to the horizon line.  I also introduced the students to shading.  Pictures of their wonderful artwork is posted in our Gallery!

Students are currently painting beautiful winter scenes!  I will be posting pictures soon!

In Health, the students learned  about the importance of brushing our teeth.  We  also reviewed how to brush our teeth properly.

The students have learned how the origins of food (e.g., where the food is grown, harvested, trapped, fished, or hunted) affects its nutritional value.  The students will also learn how local foods and foods from various cultures (e.g., berries, curries, chapatis, lychees, kale, lentils, corn, naan, wild game, fish, tourtière) can be used to expand their range of healthy eating choices