Treaty Simulation

Yesterday, we spent most of the day taking part in a treaty simulation. I put a line of tape down the centre of the room, and told students that one half of the room no longer existed. I divided the students into two groups, blue and red. Then, I gave students the following scenario (in French):

You are two separate nations who need to share this one half of the classroom. You need to share the space and also all of the materials in the room. You must decide with your group on a fair way to share the space and the materials. Make sure you consider how you can decide, how you can share resources, how much each person or nation can get, and for how long they should certain resources.

You will choose one person from your group to record your points on a large piece of paper. If your group does not agree, you must find a way to make the final decision. Then, you will exchange with the other group. When you exchange and read the other group's proposition, you will change, add, or remove details as needed until your group can agree with the other nation's proposition. Choose one representative to present the changes. The other group will listen, and then either agree to or dispute your changes to the agreement.

At this point, I stopped the dialogue and asked the students how they were feeling. The excitement with which they had at first greeted the task was replaced for many of them by less pleasant sentiments. Most responded "angry," "frustrated," "sad/upset," etc. A few were even on the verge of tears over the agreement, much to my chagrin. I asked them to consider that we were only trying to divide up part of our class for one day. Imagine trying to divide your homes, the land, a whole region.

I guided students through the rest of the process. On a new piece of paper, we wrote out the points that both groups agreed to accept, and then the groups chose a "chief" to come forward and sign the treaty.

I have attached a link with video of the students' discussions. The password is the same as it has been all year. I was so proud of how hard they worked and of how seriously they took the challenge. What a great group of students! I am a lucky teacher!

http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/mmehamilton/library/Treaty%20Simulation%20June%2019

School Swim

Friday, June 21 is our annual school swim at George Ward. As I am new to Victoria this year, I am sure that many of you will know even better than I do what that will look like! Here are a few notes about what I know:

-Parents/Caregivers are very welcome to join us for part or all of the day; however, we will not have space on the school bus, nor will we be able to pay for their admission to the pool.

-We will be outside, so students need to be well-prepared for the weather. I would suggest that each student comes prepared with sunscreen, hats, jackets/sweaters, and insect repellent.

-Students not wishing to swim for all or part of the time are welcome to bring a frisbee, a ball, or a book. Please do not bring valuables that you do not want lost or stolen, including personal electronic devices.
 
-The concession will be open and accessible to students; however, please ensure that your child brings a healthy lunch with snacks and a water bottle, as healthy choices may be limited and the line long at the concession.

-If possible, please also $2 with your child to cover the cost of the bus to the pool. Thank you for your help!

Please let me know if you have any questions about the trip. Hope to see you there!

La langue Michif

We are studying the Metis people in preparation for our trip to Batoche.
 
We found a few helpful websites to teach us about their language, Michif.
 
Audio Recordings of Michif Greetings and Common Phrases

The Three Varieties of Michif

Photobucket Albums

Here are some of our latest class photos. We had a pretty exciting encounter on Friday, so view the photos to see who we met!

Diefenbaker Field Trip Photos

Readers' Theatre Photos
 
Destination: Conservation Club Photos 

The albums are password protected, so please check your emails for the password.

La maison d'etre ou DR & MRS VANDERTRAMP

Our grammar and spelling work this week has focused on the verbs etre and avoir, or to be and to have. Students will write a short quiz tomorrow to show their understanding of whether to use the verb avoir or etre for certain expressions or phrases. Here is a picture that students can use to help them to remember what verbs go with être in the passé composé (past tense).

 

Summer Activities at Wanuskewin

Our school division's First Nations, Metis, and Inuit unit forwarded some information about exciting summer opportunities. I would like to share with you the information about some activities that will take place at Wanuskewin this summer. I hope that some of you have time to visit the site this summer!

Dream Catchers

As your students may tell you, we attempted to make dream catchers today. It was a bit complicated, but it was also a lot of fun! We were for the most part successful, although a few students may need to work on them again tomorrow.

We talked about the significance of dream catchers as a symbol of certain First Nations cultures. Tomorrow we will discuss some of our classmates' beliefs about the importance of dreams, and talk about where our beliefs differ or connect.

In case you are at a loss for a fun summer craft, here is a link to the website where I found the activity. The directions are directions pretty straight-forward. Happy crafting!

http://naturalkidsteam.com/wordpress/2010/07/making-dream-catchers-muddyfeet/

A Few Reminders

Here are a few reminders about current and upcoming projects at school:

1. Dream Catchers

We are going to attempt to make dream catchers next week using curved branches and string. Students are welcome to bring beads, feathers, and their own variety of string (if desired, otherwise they will be using plain white cotton yarn) to add to their dream catchers.

2. Math

Grade 3 students are writing math tests on multiplication and division. Grade 4 students will not write their test until next week. Our last unit will be on 2D and 3D shapes.

3. Spelling

English spelling work is due next Monday. French spelling for the rest of the year will focus on some basic spelling and grammar concepts, so we will not have "dictee" every two weeks. Students will, however, be working on French grammar and spelling at school on alternate weeks.

4. Creation Stories and Why/How Stories

Students have been working on two stories, one in French and one in English, for the past few weeks. Their rough copies, edited and revised, are mostly finished, and we will be working on good copies for the next two days. Good copies of both stories will be due on Monday morning, because students will need to choose one of their stories for "publication" (we will create and I will laminate mini-books). A few very ambitious students have elected to create "published" copies of both of their stories.

Bannock Recipe

Here is the bannock recipe, in English and in French, that we used to bake bannock this morning with the help of Mrs. Alsop and two parent volunteers. We used the recipe from following site:  http://www.ptitchef.com/recettes/bannique-pain-amerindien-fid-103096#vDT7icZP1A3WF5Y0.99

 

Recette de bannique

Ingrédients

2 tasses (240 gr) farine
2 ½ c. à thé (cc) poudre à pâte (levure chimique)
1 c. à thé (cc) sel
1 c. à soupe graisse, fondue
1 c. à soupe de sucre
1 tasse (250 ml) d'eau

Brasser le tout, pétrir un peu. Mettre dans une assiette à tarte de 9 pouces (23 cm), graissée. Cuire au four à 400°F (205°C) entre 35-40 minutes ou jusqu'à doré.

Bannock Recipe

Ingredients

2 cups flour

2 ½ tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 Tbsp butter or lard
1 Tbsp sugar
1 cup water

Mix ingredients and knead lightly. Put in a greased, 9-inch pie dish, and bake at 400 F between 35 and 40 minutes or until just golden. 

Star Phoenix Field Trip May 10

On May 10, at 9:05 am, we will leave to walk downtown to the Star Phoenix for a tour. Students will learn about the process, the people, and the technology involved in creating a newspaper. Following the field trip, students will have some writing lessons and small in-class assignments to write using what they learn on the trip. Students will need to wear comfortable shoes and appropriate clothing for a walk in whatever weather we have in store next Friday morning. I anticipate that we will finish our tour around 11:00 am, at which time we will walk back to school. 

If there are any caregivers who can join us for this trip, please let me know by Tuesday, May 7. I would appreciate any volunteers who could provide an extra pair of eyes during the walk to and from the Star Phoenix.

How Long Is Time and How Have Glaciers Shaped Our Province?

We have been working on a Treaty Education unit, and students wanted to share with you what they learned today. Today we read another creation story from the Huron First Nation, and we compared it to the Anishnabi creation story that we read last week. We also discussed again the idea that we are all treaty people, and that we all have meaningful stories which we pass on generation to generation. Then, we did a little investigating to see the story that science tells of how our Earth began. Here are some links to the facts that we examined:

http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/earth-sciences/products-services/mapping-product/geoscape/northern-saskatchewan/6443

http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/earth-sciences/products-services/mapping-product/geoscape/northern-saskatchewan/6206

Students will have an opportunity to write and share their own creation stories, based on whatever beliefs or imaginative ideas they have. Students have also begun to compile symbols to represent their learning; they will keep these symbols in "paniers d'apprentissages" (learning baskets), to demonstrate the value and validity of oral tradition and knowledge keeping.

UPDATE: Some Vokis were not yet viewable as they were unfinished until this week. As of May 7, all Vokis are now ready to view. Please follow the links to see your child's work.

Our Vokis

Please take a moment to view your child's work on Voki. Each student created an avatar who describes actions that people can take to project children's rights. The students typed in the text, and the avatar reads exactly what students write. To protect your child's privacy, avatars are listed by students' initials. The link to view projects is on our libguide or as follows: http://www.voki.com/php/classroom/PLPP/key=f5815de928b116661be4bb1dc3019624

Pompeii Novel Study Project Fair

The students would like to invite all parents, caregivers, and family members to join us in the Library Resource Centre (LRC) on Tuesday, April 30, from 12:45 to 1:35 pm for a project fair. Students will set up their projects on the tables around the LRC, briefly presenting and explaining their projects to small groups of circulating parents. In essence, it will be an informal "learning fair," so that students have a chance to share their displays and their writing. With this style of presentation, you will have time to see your child's work, even if you only have 10 minutes to visit.

We endeavoured to choose a date and a time that would work for the majority, but of course I know that it will not suit everyone. I apologise for the short notice, but I look forward to seeing those of you who are able to come!

Pompeii Novel Study Projects

Students have already begun collecting supplies for their projects on Pompeii. Students had a choice of projects, such as building a diorama, making a map (2D or 3D), making a poster, or, for the very ambitious, making a film. Students co-constructed the evaluation criteria in class, and we have reviewed it several times. If you would like to download or to view a copy of the documents that students received, please click the following link: http://snack.to/fdnaofsi.

Please note that as we are working on our projects, there will be no French dictee until the week on April 29.

Report Cards and Interviews

As we all scramble to prepare for the upcoming holiday, it is easy for things to fall through the cracks. I have prepared a small list of reminders for us all:

- Brown report card envelopes need to be signed and returned to the school as soon as possible. Please remove the report card before returning the envelope.

- If you are unable to schedule an interview time on the 26 or 27, please contact me to arrange an alternate interview (if only so that I can sing your child's praises in person).

- If possible, please read your child's report card before your interview so I can answer any questions you might have
.
- The Scholastic Book Fair will take place March 26 and 27, during the day and the evening, for those who would like to purchase a book for the holiday.

- Complimentary copies of the Star Phoenix will be outside each teacher's door to promote our upcoming fundraiser. The Star Phoenix is donating $20 for every subscription that students raise, beginning April 11.


If I do not get the chance to tell you in person, have a wonderful week with your families!

Science Fair

On March 20, those students who have chosen to participate in the Victoria School Science Fair will display their projects. Displays will be set up in the gym, and with over 60 projects this year, there should be something to interest everyone! Participants will display their work between 1:00 and 3:30 pm and between 5:30 and 7:00 pm (optional).

For our class, those participating will be in the gym to display their work from 1:00 to 2:25 pm. Participants need to arrive and set up in the gym during lunch time. They will clean up either after the Fair is over in the evening, or before school on March 21.

 Please join us at the Science Fair to show appreciation for our students' hard work!

A Busy Month!

Please remember to check the upcoming events on our blog throughout the month of March. As you can see, we have a VERY busy month ahead of us!

Please note in particular:

- Our next spirit day on March 7 will celebrate the Rafiki Water Chain Fundraiser we held in January. Students are welcome to wear their water chains, or to dress in "watery" colours and fabrics to show their school spirit.
- March 12 - parents are welcome to our afternoon assembly to celebrate those who had great success with the concours d'arts oratoires.
- Report cards go home on March 22. Please call or stop by the office for an interview time.

Readers' Theatre

Dear Parents,

Our class would like to invite you to our presentations of a few short Readers' Theatre pieces, next Friday, February 15, at 1:00 pm. Thank you to all those who are able to join us, although I know the timing will not work for everyone! After the theatre we will enjoy a small snack of fruit and other nibbles. I hope to see many of you then!

Photo Bucket Albums

I have created some photo albums on Photo Bucket with images from our recent trip to Marian Gymnastics; there are also photos from our afternoon of learning about the Inukshuk, an important and historic Canadian symbol. Here are the links to the albums:

http://s1276.beta.photobucket.com/user/mmehamilton/library/Inuksuit

http://s1276.beta.photobucket.com/user/mmehamilton/library/Marian%20Gymnastics

The albums are password protected to ensure your child's privacy. Please check your email for the password. If you have a Sasktel email address, I cannot email you due to changes in Sasktel's privacy settings. Please contact me by phone or through the agenda to get the password, in that case.

Friendship Chains



Free the Children's Water Rafiki Friend Chain

Did you know that 1 in 6 people around the world lives without access to clean drinking water?

In an effort to raise awareness about the lack of clean drinking water in many communities around the world, our school Student Leadership Council (SLC) is selling water rafiki friend chains. Each chain will cost $10 and will provide clean water to an individual for an entire year. Order forms are due Jan. 31, 2013.

For more information, please watch the following videos, or visit the Free the Children's Water Initiative page at http://www.freethechildren.com/water/. You can also learn more about the Me to We Foundation at http://www.metowe.com/2012/10/11/introducing-the-water-rafiki-friend-chain/.

Sasktel Emails

Unfortunately, Sasktel has recently changed privacy settings so that emails from Saskatoon Public School accounts are filtered as junk mail. As far as I understand, the school division is hoping to resolve the issue as soon as possible. In the meantime, please add my address to your "safe list," or you will not receive my emails. Thank you for your cooperation.

Science Fair

This year's Science Fair will take place on March 20. The Science Fair is an optional activity that offers students a chance to design and perform an experiment on the subject of their choice.

Interested students can find more information on selecting and planning a project on the school's libguides page:

http://elementarylibguides.spsd.sk.ca/content.php?pid=290416&sid=3304031

Please contact me with any questions. Also, keep checking the school newsletters for more information. Thank you for your support at home.

Random Acts of Kindness

The following video illustrates the concept behind the schoolwide activity for our January virtue, kindness. Each class is creating a kindness chain from paper links that describe the acts of kindness they have witnessed.