Art for the Sky

Coming soon!                               
                                      Art for the Sky
An exciting school-wide event is taking place at Florence Meares Public School. The entire school will be working together to create an artistic masterpiece similar to the one created at another school in Burlington. This picture is an aerial photo of the children and staff at the school. Can you see them?

Of course our design will be unique to us, since the artist 'Daniel Dancer' will be creating a vision that is meaningful for our school. The fun will begin in mid-May and for a week there will be lots of preparation to do; songs to learn, assemblies and cooperative activities. What a great way for our school to work together! If you would like to see more of his artwork, please follow this link to the gallery.
http://www.artforthesky.com/htm/skygallery.htm


Have a great Easter weekend! Here is a glimpse of some of the fabulous Easter art decorating our hallways this month. The 3 D eggs are made by our Grade Two students and the Easter bunnies and hatching chicks are from our Grade One students. 

Sorry this is a short (and a bit later than usual) post this week...struggling with migraines. Probably from eating Easter chocolate :)

Reading strategy - Inferring

Where is Spring?

This week we took down our winter art in order to hopefully chase winter away and usher in Spring! Here is a look at our Monthly book collection - Rabbits and an Easter theme. If you are looking for some fun reads, Dav Pilkey's books 'The Dumb Bunnies' are a real hit with boys (girls too). The 'Hopper' series by Marcus Pfister are a nice read with lovely pictures. Muncha, Muncha, Muncha by Candace Fleming is one of those books that little ones will make you read over and over!

However, I have snuck in some books which support our reading strategy - 'inference'! The series 'Knuffle Bunny' by Mo Willems is a great opportunity to talk to children about how to find clues to predict aspects of the story by looking at the picture.

We have talked a lot this week about how to 'infer'. We now know that there are 'text clues', 'picture clues' and we can 'use our own schema' to predict and explain what we have read. Here is an example of a group discussion where we read the text and had to determine what was happening. You can see our thinking and predictions.

Once children are able to infer text, they have a greater ability to comprehend what they have read. This is a higher level thinking strategy that is supported by such educational gurus as 'Debbie Miller' who wrote the book 'Reading with Meaning'. 

Spring Baskets

Here are a few of our Grade One Easter baskets...just waiting for the Easter bunny. 

The Grade Two children are making different baskets and are growing their own grass to go inside! Stay tuned as they are still working on them. Here is a sneak peak of the beginning stages. No grass yet...

Chocolate chip cookie recipe from the December blog post...

A few people have asked where to find the mini Hershey kisses. I have found them at quite a few local grocery stores. However, since you don't know what you are looking for, here is a picture of the package and a link to the original recipe post (for the worlds best chocolate chip cookies!)

p.s. I don't work for Hersheys or know anyone that does. Any chocolate chip works, I just happen to like these ones. In fact, I sometimes like them so much I fail to make the cookie and just eat them as is...sigh! 

March Recipe, Art, Technology

                                   Blog thoughts
When I first started this blog, I assumed that a few people might read it and that it might be difficult to find something to write each week. Wrong...on both counts! I routinely hit 1500 blog hits a month and I am never at a loss for something to write. In fact, I often have to curb my enthusiasm and not write too much. So, I'm guessing that as well as parents of the students in my current class there are also other educators and parents checking things out. I will try to write news and happenings so that everyone gets something out of this blog!
                                          Spring Art! 
My Grade One students did some art to celebrate the arrival of Spring (not here yet but hoping soon). They turned out so well that many people have complimented us. I adapted an idea that I found on pinterest to make it look more like a stained glass window. 

If you want to do this at home. 
We used:
* tissue (cut into eggs)
* markers to decorate the eggs /a few sparkles
*wax paper (folded with the eggs placed inside) 
  (glue stick to save the frustration of tissue blowing away)
* an iron to iron it together
*bunny cut out of black
*cotton for the bunny tail
*shiny recycled kleenex box for the one special Easter egg for the
  bunny
*black construction paper frame

                                  Technology Moment
Mr Cann our wonderful librarian is teaching the students how to use Halton Cloud. The implications for this program are incredible. Students can work at home on the same document while conversing in a message box. Mr Cann and I modeled for the students how to create a shared story while we were both on separate computers in different parts of the library. Our students can access their private work using their regular passwords through the Halton Cloud link on the F.M. Library webpage. 
                                    Study Ladder
I know a few people have asked for some different programs that might be used over the March Break. I have set up a free account for our class on 'Study Ladder'. There are many free learning games in whatever area of curriculum that interests you. It has some motivators similar to Raz Kids so students will enjoy that. I will send passwords and links home in the front pocket of the agenda for you. If you are in a hurry, simply google it.

                                   March Recipe for you
One side of my family is from Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was always a tradition for me to make this bread for my Irish Grandpa. It is quite simple for children to make and is great with natural ingredients. 
So for St. Patrick's Day...I give you....
                     Grandpa's Favourite Wheaten Bread
3 cups flour (1 1/2 white and 1 1/2 whole wheat)
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp soft butter
1/4 cup sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
Mix together and add buttermilk to make a dough. ( I use my food processor but you can mix it by hand just as easily)
Grease and flour a loaf pan. 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook for one hour
Note*** For treacle bread use all white flour and add treacle (you can get it at the British import store in Waterdown) with the buttermilk. 
It is also nice if you want to add raisins, currents, chopped dates
I like to have this bread toasted with special home made jam!

              Enjoy a wonderful March Break everyone!