We love rocks!

So lately, I've been noticing that many of the kids have been collecting rocks at Recess and Lunch, and during our Outside Playtime. They seem to really love the small white rocks from the playground, and any rock that's interesting in shape or colour. I remember doing this as a child. I collected rocks wherever I went - walking to school, at the park across the street from my house, or even the gravel from my driveway. And when we went to the beach...I wasn't really interested in the shells, although those were nice. It came as no surprise when I started taking geology courses in university. When I got married my dad brought out my childhood rock collection that he had kept for me. Today, after our Valentine desserts, we went out on a rock hunt and collected a whole bucket of rocks to examine and wonder about. We spent the whole afternoon searching for the best rocks. I have invited the children to bring a special rock to school on Thursday to share with the class. It can be a rock that they already have or one that they find. Or even just a photo of a special rock (although there is something soothing about holding a rock). I can't to see what they bring...

The 100th Day of School!!

On Thursday, February 23rd, we will be celebrating our 100th day of school.  The children each need to bring a ziplock bag filled with 100 objects to use in an art project (e.g. stickers, dried beans, macaroni, foam shapes, paper shapes, beads, etc.).  The objects need to be small and light to be glued to paper.  Please send the bag to school as soon as  possible.  Thank you.

Valentine's Celebration

On Tuesday, February 14th, we will be having a Friendship Lunch.  Each student will bring something to share at lunch time.  Please come in and sign up to bring something (or send me a note in your child's folder).  Keep in mind that our classroom needs to be nut free!  I am asking for sandwiches, crackers and cheese, cut vegetables, cut fruit, cookies, chips and cheezies.   I already have juice, cups, plates, etc. 

We will also be mailing Valentines to each other.  Each child will be decorating his/her own Valentine bag.  It would be helpful to have parent help in the morning to mail the cards.  I will send home a list of student names on Friday.  Thank you.

Backdrop and Props

We've started creating the backdrop for our show. I am hoping that we will be able to work on it more this week, with some parent help. We are painting a large handprint rainbow. We have been practicing our show every day. The songs are sounding good, the dancing is sweet, and our acting is coming along. The children do find it hard to keep doing the same thing each time, as their natural inclination is to use their imagination and creativity to change what they are pretending. And of course, with regular playtime that's exactly what we want to see. But not in a play for an audience, unless it is improv...maybe that's what we need to do next! Now I'm just rambling...time for a break. :)

Wiarton Willie has spoken...

This week we have been talking about Groundhog's Day.  We made our own predictions about whether or not Wiarton Willie (in Ontario) would see his shadow.  Most students thought that he would not see his shadow and that we would have an early spring.  

Today we looked online to find out Willie's prediction and we found out that we were right...he didn't see his shadow.  Now we will just have to wait to see if we do in fact have an early spring.

We went outside to see if we could see our own shadows.  But the clouds were too thick.  So we went inside and used our overhead projector to make shadows inside.