Science - Testing with Materials and DesignsStudents are busy working in centers to test the strength of materials and to experiment with techniques for joining in connection with our Testing Materials unit. They have learned what a fair test is and continue to use this scientific thinking throughout their work. Science - Hearing and Sound
Novel Study - CrenshawAs part of our learning to read for detail, students were asked to find specific description of the main character's imaginary friend - a cat named Crenshaw. They then were challenged to draw what he might look like based upon the descriptions that they found. Culture of EPSAs we observed our school through our investigations of quality of life and the culture here at Elbow Park School, students developed some ideas of what we could do to make our school even better.
Their work as anthropologists, observing and analyzing the data they collected, led students to believe that there are three areas where they, as grade 3/4 students, could help to improve our school: Physical Safety, Emotional Safety, and Trust. They are currently working on ways to share their message with other students throughout our school. Students are working by themselves or in small groups to create posters, slide shows, podcasts, and videos to share what they have noticed and what we all could do to improve. Although these posters are not totally completed, we have shared some below.
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Welcome back! Hopefully this week, our full class will be back from their extended holidays. Last week we enjoyed an opportunity to work with Three Left Feet to learn some specific dances from different cultures. This connected perfectly to our investigation of quality of life and what it means to be human. As we complete our study of the Elbow Park School culture over the next few weeks we will transition to looking at the ways that people of different countries meet their needs and what influences their quality of life. We have two University of Calgary student teachers, Ms. Brewer and Ms. Birkey, who will be with us for the first four weeks after Spring Break. As they are in their first year of the education program, they will be teaching one or two lessons per day during their time with us. Our next field trip is on Tuesday, April 25. Ms. Montanaro's class will be going to Telus Spark for the Junior Architects program and Mr. Messer's class will be participating in the Soup Sisters program at a new venue, the culinary arts program kitchen at Lord Shaughnessy High School at 2336 – 53 Ave. S.W. CrenshawWe have recently begun a read-aloud entitled Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate. As we explore our inquiry question, “What Does It Mean to be Human?” and look at ideas of quality of life, this book provides us with an example of a family’s story that might be different than ours. In this book, Jackson and his family are having a difficult time with paying their rent and getting enough food. A large imaginary cat comes into Jackson’s life to help him. This story about family, friendship and developing resilience provides us with a window into the lives of those less fortunate. As we continue to reflect on factors that influence quality of life and ways people can make a difference to others, the themes in this novel allow students to reflect upon concepts we have been studying in social studies. Using the adjectives describing the characters from the novel, students created plasticine models of Crenshaw and Jackson. |
AuthorsMrs. Montanaro, Mr. Messer and Mrs. Austman teach grades 3/4 at Elbow Park School in Calgary AB. Archives
April 2017
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