Shapes

Our final math unit focused on two and three-dimensional shapes. The children explored, sorted and compared shapes and worked on describing their attributes through free and guided activities.

pattern blocks

pattern block pictures

making shapes on a geoboard using rubber bands

A tangram person.

 The tangram is an ancient Chinese puzzle that is made up of 7 pieces. We read Grandfather Tang's Story and created the tangrams shown in the book.

Here is a page from our story. 

Building with 3D shapes and identifying the 2D shapes in them

Our shape pictures. We used and identified: square, circle, triangle, rhombus, trapezoid, hexagon, rectangle

Sculptures

The children enjoyed experimenting with plasticine to create these beautiful sculptures. They added to their bases using a variety of materials (e.g. feathers, pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks and buttons) and explored with different lines and designs to create a piece that they found aesthetically pleasing. 

The Great Butterfly Release

 Even though we were sad to see them go, knowing that it is our responsibility to protect and not harm nature, we released our beloved butterflies into one of our school's courtyards where they will have plenty of nectar to drink and room to fly freely.

We had kept them on a diet of delicious sugar water, strawberries and oranges, so some of the butterflies debated whether or not to leave the net!

One of our painted lady friends up-close. 

Goodbye butterflies! We will miss you!

The Life Cycle of a Butterfly

Observing first-hand the transformations from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly was a great way for the children to learn about the life cycle of a butterfly and the wonders of nature. 

We reinforced the concepts through dramatizations and fiction and non-fiction texts. 

Here is one example of a student's representation of the life cycle of a butterfly. 

Butterfly Experiments

After returning from the long weekend, we were surprised and excited to see that our butterflies had emerged from their chrysalises!

We tried to figure out how butterflies eat by creating our own experiments.

After observing and reading about butterflies, we learned that they drink nectar using their tongues, called a proboscis. We created an experiment to test how butterflies consume nectar using a straw. We learned that they can not eat because they can't chew. They can only drink. 

We also wanted to figure out how butterflies fly, so we tried to make our own paper insects fly. 

We decided that if it wasn't windy enough outside, we would create our own wind using a fan!

Painted Lady Update: Chrysalis

After two and a half weeks, all of our painted lady caterpillars have transformed into chrysalises. 

They attached themselves to the lids of their containers, so we carefully taped the lids to the top of this large butterfly pavilion, as we eagerly await the next stage of their transformation.

Here is a close-up of what the chrysalises look like.

Our New Friends

As most of you know, we are playing host to a group of lively caterpillars. We are excitedly awaiting their transformation into Painted Lady butterflies! The children are amazed at how quickly they have been growing. Feel free to continue to pop into our classroom to look at our new friends!

Don't Pick the Flowers! (and other important messages from the children)

As part of a school-wide initiative, the morning class helped clean up the garbage in the school yard. This led to discussions about littering and the damaging effects it has on the natural environment.






The afternoon class was very excited about the beautiful flowers growing in our courtyard. Subsequently, they were quite upset when they found that the flowers had been picked. Although they tried to revive the picked flowers by bringing them into the classroom and giving them soil, water and sunlight, the flowers died.

In an effort to bring awareness to the greater school community about littering and not hurting the flowers, the children created posters. These included messages, such as "Don't pick the flowers!" that are relevant to them that want to share with others. 

Growing Tall Like Trees

 The children and I created these "forests" to measure and compare their heights. After cutting a strip of brown paper according to their individual heights, we used a measuring tape to measure their height in centimetres. Then we used paint to measure how many "hands" tall they were. 

Primary Colour Dolls

The children have been experimenting with primary (blue, red, yellow) and secondary (purple, orange, green) colours. After reading Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni, we created our own colour stories using red, blue and yellow pastels. 

They look beautiful on display! Visit the hallway right outside our classroom for a better view.

We then created our very own primary colour dolls. First, we covered an old spindle with red, blue and yellow tissue paper. Next, we painted a styrofoam ball to be our head and glued on yarn for hair and googly eyes.

Measurement: Length and Area

 The children worked as a class to compare the area of our classroom carpets. They covered each carpet with sheets of 81/2 x 11 paper and created strategies for counting the number of sheets used  (one student stepped on each sheet while we counted aloud, each child counted a small section of the carpet, counting the paper as they were picked up, etc.)

 Some children wanted to extend this idea to comparing papers of different sizes by covering them with objects, such as unifix cubes.

 Working in small groups, the children measured the lengths of our classroom carpets by lining up objects, like cubes, chain links and straws end to end and counting the number of materials used.

At Home: Help your child measure common household items (e.g. furniture, books, pillows) using their hands, blocks, straws, etc. This is also a great way to measure distance. How may steps does it take to get from the elevator to your apartment door? 

Field Trip: Toronto Botanical Gardens

 The children and I had an amazing time at the Toronto Botanical Gardens. Thank you to our parent volunteers for making this experience possible. Here are some highlights from our trip: 

The apartment building of some red wiggler worms

One level of the apartment: the kitchen equipped with compost

We had a chance to hold our new worm friends

The morning class planted parsnip seeds

The afternoon class planted carrot seeds

You are welcome to visit the gardens and watch our vegetables grow. All of the vegetables planted will be harvested and donated to a local food bank

We know that plants need soil, sun and water to grow

We used treasure finders to open our eyes to all of the natural treasures around us. At Home: Create your own treasure finder using a container lid or piece of cardboard and discover your own natural treasures in your neighbourhood.

We went on a scavenger hunt to look for signs of spring.

We looked through the gardens to find "pieces of the rainbow" in nature.
At Home: This is an easy activity to do with your child. Use paint chips or coloured paper and search your neighbourhood to find your own pieces of the rainbow in nature.