Room 13
Rieper - Grade 1
Advice from a Solar Eclipse:
- see the whole picture
- be moved by beauty
- celebrate nature's cycles
Advice from a Solar Eclipse:
- see the whole picture
- be moved by beauty
- celebrate nature's cycles
Solar Eclipse
We took the opportunity to learn all about this rare occurrence! We learned why it's dangerous to our eyes, how seldom this happens, why it is happening here, and we used a crafty music montage that Ms. Kathleen made to put on a dance show of what we know!
Solar Eclipse
We took the opportunity to learn all about this rare occurrence! We learned why it's dangerous to our eyes, how seldom this happens, why it is happening here, and we used a crafty music montage that Ms. Kathleen made to put on a dance show of what we know!
Making Moves and Dancing What We Know
If you merge part of The Beatles' "Here Comes the Sun" with Death Cab for Cuties "No Sunlight" you create a great opportunity for student learning, creativity, and collaboration to shine - dance style! And dance they did!
Making Moves and Dancing What We Know
If you merge part of The Beatles' "Here Comes the Sun" with Death Cab for Cuties "No Sunlight" you create a great opportunity for student learning, creativity, and collaboration to shine - dance style! And dance they did!
"Maple Syrup: a delicious reminder of the beauty and richness of nature."
- unknown
"Maple Syrup: a delicious reminder of the beauty and richness of nature."
- unknown
Marvels of the Maple
This year at Wilkinson, we decided to celebrate this special time of year (sometimes referred to as the Maple Moon or Sugar Moon) by tapping two maples! What better way to learn about this amazing natural occurrence then to participate ourselves right here at school?!
Marvels of the Maple
This year at Wilkinson, we decided to celebrate this special time of year (sometimes referred to as the Maple Moon or Sugar Moon) by tapping two maples! What better way to learn about this amazing natural occurrence then to participate ourselves right here at school?!
It's Maple Syrup Time (Dance Edition) 🎶
This class spent two weeks connecting with our maples: we enjoyed an Indigenous legend about why maple trees have sap instead of syrup; learned how the sap is only at this time of year and acts as food for the buds in the late winter; how it is a 40:1 ratio for sap:syrup; and how boiling away water is the way to make syrup out of sap - you don't add anything! Each day for two weeks there was information about maple syrup shared on the announcements too. We touched supplies, we did a taste test of sap vs syrup, and even watched a short video about traditional Indigenous methods of tapping and saving maple sugar. For fun, we brought it all together in a dance to show what we had learned about this process. We danced to a great and apt song called "It's Maple Syrup Time" that you can listen to here. I tweeted about our maple syrup learning here and here too. It really is such a special time that provides a great learning opportunity!🍁
It's Maple Syrup Time (Dance Edition) 🎶
This class spent two weeks connecting with our maples: we enjoyed an Indigenous legend about why maple trees have sap instead of syrup; learned how the sap is only at this time of year and acts as food for the buds in the late winter; how it is a 40:1 ratio for sap:syrup; and how boiling away water is the way to make syrup out of sap - you don't add anything! Each day for two weeks there was information about maple syrup shared on the announcements too. We touched supplies, we did a taste test of sap vs syrup, and even watched a short video about traditional Indigenous methods of tapping and saving maple sugar. For fun, we brought it all together in a dance to show what we had learned about this process. We danced to a great and apt song called "It's Maple Syrup Time" that you can listen to here. I tweeted about our maple syrup learning here and here too. It really is such a special time that provides a great learning opportunity!🍁
"Creativity is the art of creating nothing into a joyful something!"
- Vince Gowmon
"Creativity is the art of creating nothing into a joyful something!"
- Vince Gowmon
Imagination and Innovation for the Win!
Witnessing the growth and development of creativity and collaboration with this class is impressive. When we are in the OPAL yard, these kiddos get to making something out of what starts out as nothing. They build together, they play together, the put everything away together. Sometimes they play as a big group, sometimes they naturally gravitate into smaller groups based on their interests that day. By truly allowing them the space to move and innovate, their imaginations take over and what they create is a wonder!
Imagination and Innovation for the Win!
Witnessing the growth and development of creativity and collaboration with this class is impressive. When we are in the OPAL yard, these kiddos get to making something out of what starts out as nothing. They build together, they play together, the put everything away together. Sometimes they play as a big group, sometimes they naturally gravitate into smaller groups based on their interests that day. By truly allowing them the space to move and innovate, their imaginations take over and what they create is a wonder!
"Fun is just another word for learning."
- Raph Koster
"Fun is just another word for learning."
- Raph Koster
Keeping the play outside and mud-free!
The OPAL yard was muddy - seriously muddy. Everywhere was. That didn't stop us from learning, playing, and having fun! We played all sorts of silly cooperative games and some drama activities too. Fun is where these kids are!
Keeping the play outside and mud-free!
The OPAL yard was muddy - seriously muddy. Everywhere was. That didn't stop us from learning, playing, and having fun! We played all sorts of silly cooperative games and some drama activities too. Fun is where these kids are!
"When you hand good people possibility, they do great things."
- Biz Stone
"When you hand good people possibility, they do great things."
- Biz Stone
Escape a Deserted Island!
It was time to leave the deserted Island (one side of the OPAL yard), but the Island is surrounded by shark infested waters (fine, it was Ms. Kathleen)! The only way you can get to safety (the other side of the OPAL yard) is by using the few loose parts you've been given. It's also hot outside and any item left floating for too long could melt! Working together in 4 teams, the escape routes were had. Good news - everyone made it and they developed as teams, communicated well, solved some problems, and had a good time!
Escape a Deserted Island!
It was time to leave the deserted Island (one side of the OPAL yard), but the Island is surrounded by shark infested waters (fine, it was Ms. Kathleen)! The only way you can get to safety (the other side of the OPAL yard) is by using the few loose parts you've been given. It's also hot outside and any item left floating for too long could melt! Working together in 4 teams, the escape routes were had. Good news - everyone made it and they developed as teams, communicated well, solved some problems, and had a good time!
Let your heart emerge, as all the wild things do, with the return of the light... HAPPY WINTER SOLSTICE!
Let your heart emerge, as all the wild things do, with the return of the light... HAPPY WINTER SOLSTICE!
Winter: A Solstice Story
This story is a sweet celebration of the the Winter Solstice. A group of animal friends gather in a quiet forest to celebrate the longest night of the year, each bringing something to share in decorating a beautiful tree and sharing the light of the season.
Winter: A Solstice Story
This story is a sweet celebration of the the Winter Solstice. A group of animal friends gather in a quiet forest to celebrate the longest night of the year, each bringing something to share in decorating a beautiful tree and sharing the light of the season.
Wilkinson's Winter Solstice Tree
After learning about what solstice is and how we were heading into the day with the longest amount of darkness, we took inspiration from Kelsey E. Gross' book and decided honour and acknowledge this amazing pattern of nature by creating gifts of hope for a mulberry tree in the Learning Garden that we dubbed "The Solistice Tree". Using only natural objects found in the Learning Garden and without causing any harm to the plants, students got creative! A number of classes contributed and if you happened past the Learning Garden on the Solstice, you would have been treated to flickering tea lights and nature decorations. You can see my tweet about it here.
Wilkinson's Winter Solstice Tree
After learning about what solstice is and how we were heading into the day with the longest amount of darkness, we took inspiration from Kelsey E. Gross' book and decided honour and acknowledge this amazing pattern of nature by creating gifts of hope for a mulberry tree in the Learning Garden that we dubbed "The Solistice Tree". Using only natural objects found in the Learning Garden and without causing any harm to the plants, students got creative! A number of classes contributed and if you happened past the Learning Garden on the Solstice, you would have been treated to flickering tea lights and nature decorations. You can see my tweet about it here.
"The greatest invention in the world is the mind of a child."
- Thomas Edison
"The greatest invention in the world is the mind of a child."
- Thomas Edison
OPAL & S.I.F
The space at the front of the school yard is referred to as "The OPAL yard".
OPAL = Outdoor Play And Learning.
OPAL & S.I.F
The space at the front of the school yard is referred to as "The OPAL yard".
OPAL = Outdoor Play And Learning.
It's a great space offering open, free, loose parts for students to take charge of following their interests and learning. Kids can be active in this environment that supports creative expression and provides endless opportunity to create and challenge themselves. Play is the way to learn all of the things they need to know that aren't taught like cooperation, imagination, initiative, collaboration, resilience, and risk-taking.
It's a great space offering open, free, loose parts for students to take charge of following their interests and learning. Kids can be active in this environment that supports creative expression and provides endless opportunity to create and challenge themselves. Play is the way to learn all of the things they need to know that aren't taught like cooperation, imagination, initiative, collaboration, resilience, and risk-taking.
Building Bridges and Taking Risks
This class innovates, creates, collaborates, and are flexible in their thinking together play (and learning) in the OPAL yard. They have developed an informal process for play that naturally includes others. Children gravitate to certain areas and people but they are actively participating within their comfort zone or they can take the opportunity to push themselves to new growth. Mistakes are fun and learning always happens. I tweet now and then about OPAL fun, feel free to check out my twitter handle @teacher_kath!
Building Bridges and Taking Risks
This class innovates, creates, collaborates, and are flexible in their thinking together play (and learning) in the OPAL yard. They have developed an informal process for play that naturally includes others. Children gravitate to certain areas and people but they are actively participating within their comfort zone or they can take the opportunity to push themselves to new growth. Mistakes are fun and learning always happens. I tweet now and then about OPAL fun, feel free to check out my twitter handle @teacher_kath!
The only rule is to be SIF
Safe with our words, hands, land.
Inclusive of others.
Fun - lots of it!
"Tell me a fact and I'll learn. Tell me the truth and I'll believe. But tell me a story and it will live in my heart forever."
- North American Indigenous Proverb
"Tell me a fact and I'll learn. Tell me the truth and I'll believe. But tell me a story and it will live in my heart forever."
- North American Indigenous Proverb
The Year the Roses Died
This story is from a book about Anishinaabe Botanical Teachings called "Plants have so Much to Give Us, All We have to do is Ask" by Mary Siisip Geniusz. We learned Anishinaabemowin words for different animals including:
- waawaashkeshiwag (deer), bineshiinyag (little birds), aamoog (bees), memengwaag (butterflies), waabooz (rabbit), makwa (black bear) and more...
We also learned the Anishinaabe explanation for why roses have thorns (and why rabbits look the way they do)! Ms. Kathleen sent us in search of the wild roses growing in the Learning Garden and without flowers, we had to search for the thorns! We also found rose hips and learned all about this wild rose plant growing here!
The Year the Roses Died
This story is from a book about Anishinaabe Botanical Teachings called "Plants have so Much to Give Us, All We have to do is Ask" by Mary Siisip Geniusz. We learned Anishinaabemowin words for different animals including:
- waawaashkeshiwag (deer), bineshiinyag (little birds), aamoog (bees), memengwaag (butterflies), waabooz (rabbit), makwa (black bear) and more...
We also learned the Anishinaabe explanation for why roses have thorns (and why rabbits look the way they do)! Ms. Kathleen sent us in search of the wild roses growing in the Learning Garden and without flowers, we had to search for the thorns! We also found rose hips and learned all about this wild rose plant growing here!
The Year the Roses Died
The story is worth retelling, ask you child what they remember! Plus, the lessons in the story are many. We shared "I think the lesson is..." after hearing it the story the first time, so maybe they can share that with you too!
The second time we read this story (that has no images), we decided to use our tableau skills to support to the story. We did 'storytime on the move' in the Learning Garden. Each student participated at times as part of the audience, supporting classmates who were involved in a tableau, and other times as part of the tableau themselves to hone their dramatic skills!
The Year the Roses Died
The story is worth retelling, ask you child what they remember! Plus, the lessons in the story are many. We shared "I think the lesson is..." after hearing it the story the first time, so maybe they can share that with you too!
The second time we read this story (that has no images), we decided to use our tableau skills to support to the story. We did 'storytime on the move' in the Learning Garden. Each student participated at times as part of the audience, supporting classmates who were involved in a tableau, and other times as part of the tableau themselves to hone their dramatic skills!
International Inuit Day - an opportunity to deepen knowledge and learn shared stories from Inuit voices.
International Inuit Day - an opportunity to deepen knowledge and learn shared stories from Inuit voices.
Inuit Story: The Bee
We were fortunate to have our Outdoor Education period when TDSB offered a live virtual reading and songs from Inuk author, Becky Han (learn more about her here). She sang and shared her book, "The Bee". It is not often we get opportunities like this, so we took advantage and participated!
Inuit Story: The Bee
We were fortunate to have our Outdoor Education period when TDSB offered a live virtual reading and songs from Inuk author, Becky Han (learn more about her here). She sang and shared her book, "The Bee". It is not often we get opportunities like this, so we took advantage and participated!
"How can anyone play outside with all this rain?!"
- Piggie in "Are You Ready to Play Outside?" by Mo Willems
"How can anyone play outside with all this rain?!"
- Piggie in "Are You Ready to Play Outside?" by Mo Willems
Story: Are You Ready to Play Outside? is a great story starring Gerald (elephant) and Piggie. They are excited to play outside (run, skip, jump) then it starts to rain. Piggie is not happy. Gerald offers shelter with his ear until they notice that worms make the most of the rain and get an idea to make the most of the rain too! When it stops raining, and disappoitment surfaces again - Gerald has a plan. Elephants do make the best friends...
We are Ready to Play Outside
We love to mingle and when Ms. Kathleen stops singing the mingle song and calls out emotion, we freeze and show her our best full body representation of that emotion. We learned about what a tableau is (still, silent picture) and worked with a partner to make a scene that represents something we do at school. We had a blast guessing them! Next, we moved into making tableaus from the Piggy and Gerald story. We have some excellent picture makers here - the Piggy and Gerald show (well, it was still and silent) for each page was a lot of fun to make. We <3 drama!
We are Ready to Play Outside
We love to mingle and when Ms. Kathleen stops singing the mingle song and calls out emotion, we freeze and show her our best full body representation of that emotion. We learned about what a tableau is (still, silent picture) and worked with a partner to make a scene that represents something we do at school. We had a blast guessing them! Next, we moved into making tableaus from the Piggy and Gerald story. We have some excellent picture makers here - the Piggy and Gerald show (well, it was still and silent) for each page was a lot of fun to make. We <3 drama!
"In some Native languages, the term for plants translates to 'those who take care of us'." - Robin Wall Kimmerer
"In some Native languages, the term for plants translates to 'those who take care of us'." - Robin Wall Kimmerer
Story: The First Blade of Sweetgrass is a Own Voice Indigenous picture book story about Musquon who learns to distinguish sweetgrass from other grasses when going with her Grandmother for the first time to harvest sweetgrass for basket making. She learns that her ancestors have done this for centuries and she's careful to leave the first blade she sees for future generations.
Story: Braiding Sweetgrass shares a story about how sweetgrass is the first plant to grow on Turtle Island. The author (Robin Wall Kimmerer) explains that it is still an important ceremonial plant for many Indigenous cultures - the braid similar to the hair of Mother Earth.
Breathing it all in
We listened to the stories, moved our bodies like sweetgrass dancing in the breeze that 'let go' with just a light pull when it was harvest time. We learned to be careful to leave the first blade of sweetgrass. We described our thoughts and feelings when we smelled braided sweetgrass from the Learning Garden - it is amazing all of the things that come to mind for us. It is such a wonderful plant.
Breathing it all in
We listened to the stories, moved our bodies like sweetgrass dancing in the breeze that 'let go' with just a light pull when it was harvest time. We learned to be careful to leave the first blade of sweetgrass. We described our thoughts and feelings when we smelled braided sweetgrass from the Learning Garden - it is amazing all of the things that come to mind for us. It is such a wonderful plant.
"Art takes nature as its model." - Aristotle
"Art takes nature as its model." - Aristotle
Artistic Knowledge!
We have become better acquainted with the Learning Garden plants so wanted a creative way to show what we know through some nature art we made. We even pulled the sunchoke plant that may have looked like it had nothing to give, only to find the tuber in the soil! You can read more about it here. We also searched to find the new plantings of high bush cranberry plants that we will be able to watch grow (as we will) through our years at Wilkinson in the 'food forest'. Then, we made some art with the plants we know! Some focussed on colours, others made a representation of the plants to teach others with, while a few did a blend of both or something entirely of their own creation! What they all had in common is how lovely they are. Using nature as our model and inspiration, we made art representing a wonderful place. I tweeted about it on "X" here.
Artistic Knowledge!
We have become better acquainted with the Learning Garden plants so wanted a creative way to show what we know through some nature art we made. We even pulled the sunchoke plant that may have looked like it had nothing to give, only to find the tuber in the soil! You can read more about it here. We also searched to find the new plantings of high bush cranberry plants that we will be able to watch grow (as we will) through our years at Wilkinson in the 'food forest'. Then, we made some art with the plants we know! Some focussed on colours, others made a representation of the plants to teach others with, while a few did a blend of both or something entirely of their own creation! What they all had in common is how lovely they are. Using nature as our model and inspiration, we made art representing a wonderful place. I tweeted about it on "X" here.
"Nature is not just a place to visit. It is home." - Gary Snyder
"Nature is not just a place to visit. It is home." - Gary Snyder
Story: Shi-shi-etko is a story about a young girl who leaves for residential school in 4 days and takes us on her journey as she counts the days down. Shi-shi-etko means she loves to play in the water .In the story, we see how she connects with her family who share valuable teachings with her and how she treasures the beauty of her world which she gathers bits of to remember while she is gone away. The illustrations let us know that it is the fall and we relate to the beauty around her while we look around our own school yard. I tweeted about it here.
Learning Garden Plants
We were inspired by how Shi-shi-etko wanted to know the plants that were in her familiar space. Ms. Kathleen gave out boards with a photo on it and we set out to find it in Wilkinson's Learning Garden. Like Shi-shi-etko, we also wanted to know: is this plant used for medicine? can this plant be food? We also learned some interesting facts about the plants here in the Learning Garden then made a quick reference of a few of them for our classroom! Ask your child, they just might impress you with their plant knowledge!
Learning Garden Plants
We were inspired by how Shi-shi-etko wanted to know the plants that were in her familiar space. Ms. Kathleen gave out boards with a photo on it and we set out to find it in Wilkinson's Learning Garden. Like Shi-shi-etko, we also wanted to know: is this plant used for medicine? can this plant be food? We also learned some interesting facts about the plants here in the Learning Garden then made a quick reference of a few of them for our classroom! Ask your child, they just might impress you with their plant knowledge!
"It is in the still silence of nature where one will find true bliss." - unknown
"It is in the still silence of nature where one will find true bliss." - unknown
Story
A shrew had wonderful news to share with the whole world, but it was too noisy. No one could hear because they were busy creating noise! This story is a beautiful plea for peace in a way that reminds us that we can make a difference just by being present. Maybe, just maybe, if everyone, just for a moment, counted to three and listened, we would feel a little peace on earth. 1 - 2- 3 - Shhhh! We even acted it out all together!
Story
A shrew had wonderful news to share with the whole world, but it was too noisy. No one could hear because they were busy creating noise! This story is a beautiful plea for peace in a way that reminds us that we can make a difference just by being present. Maybe, just maybe, if everyone, just for a moment, counted to three and listened, we would feel a little peace on earth. 1 - 2- 3 - Shhhh! We even acted it out all together!
Living in a world of our own, good guests are welcome. - Learning Garden
Since none of us live in the Learning Garden, we are guests. Imagine having a 'bad guest' come to where you live! They might rearrange your furniture, leave garbage around, break things, and leave without a thank you.
Living in a world of our own, good guests are welcome. - Learning Garden
Since none of us live in the Learning Garden, we are guests. Imagine having a 'bad guest' come to where you live! They might rearrange your furniture, leave garbage around, break things, and leave without a thank you.
We want to be good guests in the Learning Garden. Take only memories. Leave only footprints. Keep ourselves off of the furniture and certainly be sure we don't rearrange it! Say thank you for the space and learning it provides us...
We want to be good guests in the Learning Garden. Take only memories. Leave only footprints. Keep ourselves off of the furniture and certainly be sure we don't rearrange it! Say thank you for the space and learning it provides us...
We re-toured the space, getting to really see it as it looks in the fall. We enjoyed our story, heard the rainstick, felt the peace, and found our own special spot to sit and enjoy the space. Ahhh, it feels so good to be back in the Learning Garden!
We re-toured the space, getting to really see it as it looks in the fall. We enjoyed our story, heard the rainstick, felt the peace, and found our own special spot to sit and enjoy the space. Ahhh, it feels so good to be back in the Learning Garden!