This week:

• Our focus is the sound eau in bateau which makes a long o sound as in nose
• We are reviewing Christmas words in French and learning to spell them like in a book
• We learned about Hanakah with a focus on the menorah and the dreidel
• We are continuing learning about how wind, water, and humans change the shape of Earth in Science
• We will explore the App Chatterkids to express our learning in science
• We will continue to focus on subtraction, including working with 2-digit numbers
• We will be introduced to coding in the computer lab, and use a web site called www.code.org
• Leadership students will lead a social responsibility activity with the students
• We will be continuing Christmas tree art
• Report Cards will go home on Friday

Applied Design, Skills and Technologies – ADST

ADST is a curriculum area that students explore throughout the year. In ADST, students:

• Generate and share ideas
• Use tools and a variety of materials
• Use trial and error
• Problem solve to develop a product
• Share their process
• Develop skills through play

We often think of computers when we think of technology, but basic tools such as scissors or a needle and thread are also technologies! During the first term, students had two challenges where they needed to work together and use their collective creativity to solve a problem.

Problem one: Make the longest paper you can using only one sheet of newsprint, a pipecleaner and scissors. One group achieved a length of 10 metres!

Problem two: Using one piece of 8/5 x 11 paper and scissors, create a hole in the paper that a student and even a teacher can pass through!

Soon, we will be using both tablets and desktop computers and be developing coding skills. We will also have a chance to program spherical robots called Spheros in mid- January.

Your child will need a labelled set of headphones for school. They need to have a narrow end in order to plug into our tablets in cases. The headphones need to be in a container or ziplock bag. The headphones will remain at school for the duration of the school year and brought home at the end of June. The dollar store sells inexpensive headphones. Or you may invest in a pair that your child can continue to use for years to come. Maybe a great stocking stuffer?!