The weather is not co-operating today at all, we haven't been able to go outside to play. We've been keeping busy and having some black and orange fun inside instead! Hope that the rain stops in time for the trick-or-treaters! Click on the images below to find out what's happening in the pictures.
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We've been learning a lot about pumpkins - their life cycle, the different parts (pulp, seeds, flesh, skin), counting seeds, shapes, attributes (bumpy, smooth, with a stem, without a stem, big, little, etc.) - so of course we had to cut open a couple to see what's inside up close and personal! We're roasting the seeds too so we'll see how those taste. Last year, we forgot about them in the oven and they were waaaaaaay overdone! We'll be more careful this year. Our jack-o-lanterns were glowing nicely with a little flashlight inside (no real flame of course).
A novel idea yes, but not mine! On our field trip we were given a little lesson about corn and its uses while we made our way through the corn maze in the company of a friendly witch, and then we were given an ear of corn for our classroom. After a few days of hanging around on our science table and then light table, we thought we'd take the witch's suggestion and try painting with it! Fun! Messy! And that's it for that corn cob!
This little boy wore the perfect shirt for today because we've been talking about bones and skeletons - not the scary kind - the kind that protects our insides, help us stand up, move and bend! Kids are seeing lots of Halloween images everywhere so we like to take advantage of their interest and, as always, use what excites and motivates kids as the basis for lessons on just about everything. We always add early numeracy and literacy elements to everything we do. We had a wonderful experience on our first field trip to the pumpkin patch yesterday. Be sure to visit the site's photo gallery for dozens of great pictures! Meanwhile we're back to business as usual today, and that includes lots of learning and playing: This group of JK students were happily putting together the alphabet puzzle pieces when they came up with the idea of putting it in the correct order. I got them started by suggesting they go around the edge of the table. They sang the ABC song while pointing to each card as they went along, placing them in the correct order. When they couldn't recognize a letter, I would sing the picture on the card (e.g. " D is for dog, /d/ /d/ dog) to help them identify it. We are in the process of creating a dramatic play centre - everyone's favourite destination is Tim Horton's! The kids have been busy making signs, money and props. This afternoon we will be making baked goods using salt dough, which will dry hard and then we can decorate it. We hope to open for business soon. It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving weekend is already here. We have so much to be thankful for, and we have been talking about it here at school all week. We hope that you have the time to spend with your family, to enjoy all of the good things in life. Don't forget that we have a field trip on Tuesday afternoon - we'll be outside rain or shine so please be sure to dress your child appropriately. With some direction and supervision, these two JK students are learning to use the materials set out appropriately. Here they are conducting an experiment to see which objects will roll down the ramp. This little guy has learned to choose which objects to test and then how to record his results. We've been talking about the changing seasons and signs of fall. Here you can see our tree is reflecting the changes on the real trees outside. Our handprint leaves look lovely and we'll continue to add them as the season progresses. Perhaps you could take your child outside this weekend and look for signs of fall too! Today was "Walk to School Day", and the weather couldn't have been nicer as the entire school, along with representatives from the Windsor Essex County Health Unit, set out to explore safe and healthy walking routes to school. As with our Terry Fox walk, we paired up with students from Mrs. Hollinger's grade 7/8 class. I really love how the older kids are so nurturing and protective of our little ones! A representative of Enwin Utilities was in the school today giving presentations about electricity safety and conservation to our students. Several of our little ones were very actively engaged, answering questions and volunteering to participate in demonstrations. A couple of them were a little scared as the built models depicted electrical shocks and the demonstrator ran a current through a dill pickle - which lit up quite impressively. This was a first for our JK students, going down to the gym to sit with the older students and watch a presentation. They were very attentive and well behaved! As you can see, the presenter came well equiped with many interesting displays, pictures and props. One of our boys was happy to volunteer, but was overcome by shyness as the presenter approached him! Well, it looked like a good idea at the time! We had a visitor waiting by our door this morning - a praying mantis! Mrs. Nilo is really quite fearless and scooped it up. We put him on our light table and the kids were fascinated. We happen to have some toy mantis in our classroom and the kids were comparing them for size and trying to befriend the live insect using the toy insects! We didn't keep the mantis for very long - it was definitely stressed out and I had to constantly remind the kids not to torment it by shaking the container or tapping the sides. I released it again on the field behind the school. Hopefully it found its way to a safe haven! If you click on the pictures below the images will enlarge.
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About Mrs. C.Mrs. Cuckovic, or "Mrs. C." as she's called, is a retired educator who spent a long and varied career with the Greater Essex County District School Board in Windsor, Ontario. Archives
November 2020
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