How To Blow A Bubble

This reporting period, our Language Arts writing goals focused mainly on informational writing. First we worked on our non-fiction penguin themed writing. Once our penguin theme unit ended, we moved onto procedural writing in the form of "How To" booklets. To kick off our procedural writing unit, I searched through Pinterest looking for ideas that the students would find fun and engaging. I came across the cutest activity that required the kids to write the instructions for blowing a bubble. The fact that they got to chew bubblegum in class had them hooked immediately. Our "How To Blow a Bubble" writing and craftivity turned out great. They were on display in the hallway until today.

The bubblegum writing activity turned out so well that I immediately knew any other procedural writing activity needed to be as hands-on as possible. So that is exactly what we did! Over the last two weeks, students were partnered-up with another class member. Each group was given an envelope containing pictures that could be manipulated to "make" whatever product they were writing "How To" instructions for. There were 10 different products in total and each student completed approximately 6 activities each. I wish we could have completed all ten activities, but with the terrible round of the cold and flu which hit our school, it was nearly impossible. Let's hope that it is all behind us now!

(*if you are another teacher reading this post, I highly suggest you check out this resource. It is amazing. Just click here .)

This is an example of the "How To Make A Pizza" packet.

Grade one students manipulated the pieces to make the product, then sequenced the steps using transitional words as well as completing a cut and paste activity. Grade two students completed a sequencing activity but then wrote the instructions out, including transitional words, rather than the cut and paste portion. The students loved this unit and their procedural writing as well as their reading skills certainly improved. Tomorrow, we will be publishing our favourite "How To " activity to display in the hallway along with a cute craftivity.

In other news... 

Anti-bullying Day was successful. Check out our classroom full of pink shirts.

-Mrs. Singh



Family Literacy Day Photos

Last Thursday, we celebrated Family Literacy Day. The morning's events were successful and the students loved dressing up as their favourite characters. We started our day's activities by meeting in the gym for a whole school assembly. We listened to Mrs. Souder read Woolbur, a story about a spunky adorable sheep who is not afraid to be himself.

 

 

Next, Amy and Puneet helped me read Pete the Cat: Rocking In My School Shoes (one of our classroom favourites) to the entire student population and some of their family members.

 

 

After meeting in the gym, we moved to several different areas throughout the school to read with our parents, grandparents, sisters and brothers.

 

Many of the students chose to dress up as their favourite characters. Here are a few of our awesome costumes.

 

 

The Three Very Cute Little Pigs

 

Heartland and Junie B. Jones

 

The Paperbag Princess and Pinkalicious

 

 

Pete the Cat and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

 

 

 

Hope you enjoyed the photos.

-Mrs. Singh

 

Fifties Rock n' Roll Fun and A Sad Good-Bye

This post will be more fun if you click on the video and listen to the music.

 

 

We celebrated fifty days of school this week. The kids were amazing today. Our fifties dress-up day was too much fun. Even the other grades got involved and came dolled up in their best fifties outfits. Here are a few of my stylish girls in their poodle skirts and boys in their greaser outfits.

 

We started the morning off with a little greater than / less than 50 fun. The students sorted a pile of numbers into two different groups - numbers less than 50 and numbers greater than 50.

 

Next we discussed how kids in the fifties were the same and different from kids nowadays. We added our ideas to our "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" bulletin board display.

 

 

After recess, we learned how to make root beer floats.

 

 

After writing out the recipe, we enjoyed our floats.

 

 

 

 

The verdict is........

 

We LOVE root beer floats!

 

Even though our day was jammed packed with fifties activities, we still managed to fit in our spelling quiz and even a quick trip down to the public library.

 

To end the day, the entire school met in the gym for a fun-filled rock n' roll sock hop where we were able to showcase some of our amazing dance moves!

 

Amoung all of our fifties fun, there was also a bit of sadness. Today was Mrs. Sandhu's last day with us. I feel like the luckiest teacher in the world to have been able to work with Mrs. Sandhu for the past year. We will all miss her but I know that she will be back to come and visit us and share her new adventures in the Surrey School District.

 

We'll MISS YOU!

 

-Mrs. Singh