Room 7
Cerqueira - Grade 2/3
"Good work has a snowball effect, it keeps leading to more good work."
- Richa Chadha
"Good work has a snowball effect, it keeps leading to more good work."
- Richa Chadha
Learning Moment Found
It was pretty exciting that there was still some remaining snow, so off to the Learning Garden we go! We had a side learning opportunity present itself ... a dead mouse! What do you think happened? What do you think it means? What should be done with it? What more can we learn from this?
Learning Moment Found
It was pretty exciting that there was still some remaining snow, so off to the Learning Garden we go! We had a side learning opportunity present itself ... a dead mouse! What do you think happened? What do you think it means? What should be done with it? What more can we learn from this?
Taking Aim and Taking Turns
The snow is sticky! The snow is sticky! What can we do to play with this is a fun and exciting way, without anyone's body being in the way? We broke into teams, we gathered our snowballs. We established targets and a throwing line and had.a.blast! Snow safety and fun can happen in Outdoor Ed!
Taking Aim and Taking Turns
The snow is sticky! The snow is sticky! What can we do to play with this is a fun and exciting way, without anyone's body being in the way? We broke into teams, we gathered our snowballs. We established targets and a throwing line and had.a.blast! Snow safety and fun can happen in Outdoor Ed!
"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 - they even got to be the class that helped tap our second tree (the one of the front yard)! 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 thought that the best way to consolidate some of our maple syrup learning was by dancing out what we know in time to a great 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 - they even got to be the class that helped tap our second tree (the one of the front yard)! 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 thought that the best way to consolidate some of our maple syrup learning was by dancing out what we know in time to a great 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!🍁
"Winter forms our character and brings out our best."
- Tim Allen
"Winter forms our character and brings out our best."
- Tim Allen
Playing in a SnowGlobe!
It was beautiful outside. Sure, it was sort of snowing sideways and the wind was gusty, but that just motivated this highly motivated crew to create shelters. Every item in the OPAL yard was utilized and everyone had at least a moment of time spent in a self-constructed shelter. This crew never ceases to amaze me with what they create and make!
Playing in a SnowGlobe!
It was beautiful outside. Sure, it was sort of snowing sideways and the wind was gusty, but that just motivated this highly motivated crew to create shelters. Every item in the OPAL yard was utilized and everyone had at least a moment of time spent in a self-constructed shelter. This crew never ceases to amaze me with what they create and make!
"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 so impressive. Any time 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, but often it ends up involving some sort of obstacle course of greatness. By truly allowing them the space to move and innovate, their imaginations take over and what they create is a wonder that is inclusive and adaptive for self-selected risk and comfort. My tweets have again incorporated some of their play and learning here.
Imagination and Innovation for the Win!
Witnessing the growth and development of creativity and collaboration with this class is so impressive. Any time 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, but often it ends up involving some sort of obstacle course of greatness. By truly allowing them the space to move and innovate, their imaginations take over and what they create is a wonder that is inclusive and adaptive for self-selected risk and comfort. My tweets have again incorporated some of their play and learning here.
"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 enjoyed 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 enjoyed 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
Rising to the Challenge
It was cold. Like, a special kind of cold, but these cool kiddos were up to the challenge they were presented with: safely get your group from one side of the OPAL yard to the other, using only the supplies you are given. They did it and along the way, they grew as a team (while they shivered), leadership skills were cultivated (shiver, shiver), positive communication skills were utilized (brr), creative solutions were born (brr), and, despite the cold - I think they enjoyed it!
Rising to the Challenge
It was cold. Like, a special kind of cold, but these cool kiddos were up to the challenge they were presented with: safely get your group from one side of the OPAL yard to the other, using only the supplies you are given. They did it and along the way, they grew as a team (while they shivered), leadership skills were cultivated (shiver, shiver), positive communication skills were utilized (brr), creative solutions were born (brr), and, despite the cold - I think they enjoyed it!
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 does such wonderful things together. They innovate, create, collaborate, and are flexible in their thinking. They have developed a neat process for building obstacles courses that naturally includes everyone and provides levelled challenge that all can participate in within their comfort zone or they can take the opportunity to push themselves to new growth. Mistakes are fun and learning always happens. I even tweeted about one of our OPAL days together here.
Building Bridges and Taking Risks
This class does such wonderful things together. They innovate, create, collaborate, and are flexible in their thinking. They have developed a neat process for building obstacles courses that naturally includes everyone and provides levelled challenge that all can participate in within their comfort zone or they can take the opportunity to push themselves to new growth. Mistakes are fun and learning always happens. I even tweeted about one of our OPAL days together here.
The only rule is to be SIF
Safe with our words, hands, land.
Inclusive of others.
Fun - lots of it!
"Logic will get you from A-Z. Imagination will get you everywhere."
- Albert Einstein
"Logic will get you from A-Z. Imagination will get you everywhere."
- Albert Einstein
Rainy Day = Indoor Drama Play!
We had a blast! We passed an invisible ball that kept changing from heavy to light to sticky to hot... We know all about death toes and boy can we act out a dramatic fall from standing when we need to! We loved a good ol' game of Entourage where only one rock, paper, scissors victor can prevail and of course, we created some innovative skits with a bag full of random things! Ha. These are theatre people!
Rainy Day = Indoor Drama Play!
We had a blast! We passed an invisible ball that kept changing from heavy to light to sticky to hot... We know all about death toes and boy can we act out a dramatic fall from standing when we need to! We loved a good ol' game of Entourage where only one rock, paper, scissors victor can prevail and of course, we created some innovative skits with a bag full of random things! Ha. These are theatre people!
"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.
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.
"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 made some statues of emotions to learn more about what a tableau is (a still, silent picture) and worked in small groups to make some tableaus. 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 made some statues of emotions to learn more about what a tableau is (a still, silent picture) and worked in small groups to make some tableaus. 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 all 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 because this is such a sweet grass!
Breathing it all in
We all 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 because this is such a sweet grass!
"Art takes nature as its model." - Aristotle
"Art takes nature as its model." - Aristotle
Sunchoke
The photo is lovely, but looking around the Learning Garden we noticed that these flowers had changed - in their place what looked like dead plants! To our surprise, we were able to harvest it's tuber! Link here for some more info:
link
Sunchoke
The photo is lovely, but looking around the Learning Garden we noticed that these flowers had changed - in their place what looked like dead plants! To our surprise, we were able to harvest it's tuber! Link here for some more info:
link
Artistic Knowledge and Natural Beauty!
We had a special visitor that we escorted to the milkweed plant! It was good timing because we have become better acquainted with the Learning Garden plants. We decided we wanted a creative way to show what we know through some nature art we made. Some made art with the colours from the plants we've met. Some made a representation of the plants to teach with. Others did a blend of both or something entirely of their own creation! What they all had in common is how lovely they are - even with a fire drill interrupting our creative process! I tweeted about it on "X" here.
Artistic Knowledge and Natural Beauty!
We had a special visitor that we escorted to the milkweed plant! It was good timing because we have become better acquainted with the Learning Garden plants. We decided we wanted a creative way to show what we know through some nature art we made. Some made art with the colours from the plants we've met. Some made a representation of the plants to teach with. Others did a blend of both or something entirely of their own creation! What they all had in common is how lovely they are - even with a fire drill interrupting our creative process! 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 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. 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. Ask your child, they just might impress you with their plant knowledge!
"None of us is as smart as all of us." - Ken Blanchard
"None of us is as smart as all of us." - Ken Blanchard
Teamwork
Building a group of class mates as a team of learners helps us evolve into a cohesive unit. Through activities and challenges, we share expectations for accomplishing tasks and we need to support one another and respect one another's individual differences.
Teamwork
Building a group of class mates as a team of learners helps us evolve into a cohesive unit. Through activities and challenges, we share expectations for accomplishing tasks and we need to support one another and respect one another's individual differences.
Warp Speed!
So, we have this bean bag - let's make an order where it starts with Ms. Kathleen, ends with Ms. Kathleen, and everyone else gets it just one time. How fast can we keep this order....? We got it down to under 5 seconds - ask your student how we did it! It took teamwork and creative thinking, but we did it! And it was so HOT outside, that we had to huddle in the air conditioned daycare room in the basement to do it!
Warp Speed!
So, we have this bean bag - let's make an order where it starts with Ms. Kathleen, ends with Ms. Kathleen, and everyone else gets it just one time. How fast can we keep this order....? We got it down to under 5 seconds - ask your student how we did it! It took teamwork and creative thinking, but we did it! And it was so HOT outside, that we had to huddle in the air conditioned daycare room in the basement to do it!
