Measuring Length

We have started a new unit in Math this week! We started looking at measuring length. We figured out that length means 'how long something is'. Today, we looked at how tall we are by cutting pieces of string to represent our length. Then we took the string and measured its length using a variety of good measuring tools. Before we started measuring, we brainstormed a list of possible tools that would work to measure length. Here are some of our tools that can work well:

- connecting cubes
- square tiles
- paper clips
- makers
- paper
- rulers

Here are some pictures of us measuring the length of our string-height.

Class Goals

Today we started something new! We now have a class goal. Right now we are working on getting to the carpet area quickly and quietly to show Mrs. van Rees that we are ready to learn. If she "catches" us doing this, we get to add a fuzzy to our class goal jar. Once we have filled our jar, we are going to have a celebration!

We brainstormed lots of celebrations we would like to have throughout the year. Such as, a popcorn party, wearing our pj's to school, having extra outside time, playing a game. We are looking forward to our first celebration!

We talked about what being ready to learn looks like and sounds like and practiced it this morning. Mrs. van Rees also took a picture of us doing it and we have that displayed on our easel with our look like/sounds like chart. We can't put it on our blog because it's a picture of us, but it's safe to have in our classroom.

Does your class have a class goal? If so, what is your goal? Maybe one day we can use your goal for our class.

Math Stations

We started Math Stations this past week as we have begun to explore numbers. We are looking at different ways that we can represent numbers and different ways to count. We have been using ten frames and number charts to help organize our counting.

Mrs. van Rees gave us an iPod to start taking pictures of our work. She said that she was SO impressed with how we handled taking pictures of our work. Here are some of the pictures we took.

Great Literature Inspires Great Ideas

Now is the time for beautiful colours and falling leaves. We've been reading leaf poems for the past few weeks and looking for our word wall words within them. We also read, "Leaf Man" written by Lois Ehlert. This book inspired a great art project!

The book was about Leaf Man who was on the move from the blowing wind. He was drifting all over the country, past ducks, geese, chickens, orchards, meadows and cows. The illustrations were made from actual leaves that were created into these various images.

We met with our Grade Six buddies on Tuesday and they helped us find a variety of leaves outside. We brought them back into the classroom, dried them off and let them sit for the night. The next day, during Art we took these leaves and created our very own Leaf Men!

Is it autumn (fall) where you live right now? If so, what is your favourite thing to do with leaves?

Classroom Video

Make your own slideshow at Animoto.

Mrs. van Rees was inspired to create a video of our classroom using Animoto. She had seen a few class videos where other teachers had used Animoto and she thought she'd give it a try. So, here it is: Our Classroom!

Welcome Primary Blogging Community!

This week is our week to "showcase" our blog to 4 other primary classes! Welcome Ms. Leech's class, Mrs. Ruckes' class, Mrs. Wideen's class and Ms. Ziemke's class to our class blog! Thank you for visiting us! We really enjoyed learning more about Mrs. Wideen's class blog and we are looking forward to meeting the rest of your class blogs in the next few weeks!

When Mrs. van Rees told us that we would be sharing our blog with you, we thought that you'd like to see our classroom. Here are some of the pictures we suggested she take, so you can get an idea of what our classroom looks like.

This is our classroom. Our desks are in groups of 4. We have 5 desk groups.

This is our classroom agreement that is posted on our wall to remind us of the things we promised to work on throughout the year.

A few girls in the class found a wooly bear caterpillar outside during nutrition break.
We have it in this cage to see if it will create a chrysalis. 

We created "Dot Art" inspired by Peter Reynolds' "The Dot" for International Dot Day in September. 

This is our classroom door with all our names on the owls.  

This is our monthly calendar so we can keep track of what is happening in the month.

Here is a picture of the front of the room and our SMARTboard.

Our school focuses on the 8 Keys of Excellence. These keys are posted on our wall as a reminder.
This month we are focusing on "Speak with Good Purpose".

This is our Math Wall and our math manipulatives underneath. Right now we're focusing on Graphing. 

This is our classroom library.

This is what our classroom looks like. What things in your room are similar? What things are different?

Global Read Aloud

October 1st starts the first day of the Global Read Aloud. Our class will be reading Charlotte's Web along with Mrs. Kewley and Mrs. McKinnon's classes at our school. Not only will our classes be reading this book, but classes all around the world will be reading Charlotte's Web.

Throughout the next 4 weeks, we will be sharing our reading with different classes participating in the Global Read Aloud.

If you are a class looking to connect with, please leave us a comment! We'd love to share our thinking and reading with you!

All classes participating will be following the same reading schedule:

Week 1: Chapters 1 - 6
Week 2: Chapters 7 - 11
Week 3: Chapters 12 - 17
Week 4: Chapters 18 - 22

Check out this Animoto of the Global Read Aloud history created by Mrs. Ripp (the creator of the Global Read Aloud)