Mrs. Garlow's Classroom Blog

Math

We have started our new math unit where students are comparing age differences and exploring and representing strategies for addition and subtraction through the context of timelines using the open number line.  Students began their investigation with characters from a storybook. 

If you have not already done so, please bring in the math form with the years family members were born.  Your child will need this information to start exploring concepts of addition and subtraction in a meaningful and engaging way.  

On a separate note, two math packages came home this evening highlighting some of the work that was done in class.  While other work completed over the unit such as performance tasks, math posters with partners, investigation of problems, and conversations were not included in the take home package, they are also used to assess student work.  Please review with your child, sign, and kindly return it.

Below are a string of related questions/problems designed to explore and highlight math concepts.  These were all solved through mental math and children's strategies were recorded on an open number line.  Students have a discussion around different strategies and which ones are more efficient during the minilesson.

Bruce Spruce Author Celebration

Earlier this week, students celebrated the winner for the Blue Spruce.  The winner this year was the story Barnaby Never Forgets by Pierre Collet-Derby.  The chosen story was read to us by Ms. Jeremic.

Author Visit

Next Tuesday author Deborah Kerbel, the author of the Blue Spruce nominated book Sun Dog will visit Rick Hansen P.S. to do an interactive talk.  To learn more about Deborah Kerbel go to her website.

Swim to Survive

Just a reminder that we will be starting our Swim to Survive program next Friday.  This program provides training to ensure that children will learn basic survival skills.  We will be travelling to the Aurora Family Leisure Complex for our lessons.  Please remember to pack a separate bag with a towel, undergarment, a plastic bag to store wet clothes.  To expedite the process, please have your child arrive at school with their bathing suits under their clothes.  If you have any questions, please fell free to contact me.

No School

Just a reminder to all families that there will be no school on Friday and next Monday.  Happy Easter!

Mrs. Garlow's Classroom Blog

Science

This week in science we conducted various experiments that explored force.  We launched balloon rockets across the classroom and also across the length of our front foyer.  Students tested out their hypothesis with various shapes and sizes of balloons.  We timed how long it took for the balloon to deflate, measured the distance travelled, and compared the results with the different sized balloons.

Math

In math we have started our unit on patterning.  Students have been identifying and describing attributes, finding the core, and extending patterns.  Below are some examples of patterns created by students with at least 2 changing attributes. 

shape and colour

 shape, colour, height, thickness, size

Social Studies

Students have been working on constructing their understanding about living and working in Ontario.  We learned about the 3 different landform regions in Ontario and how these differences and the environment impact the way people live their lives.  Students also recognize how we have benefitted from the knowledge shared by the First Peoples of this land such as agriculture, using the natural resources in the environment to survive, recreational activities, and modes of transportation.  We have been co-creating our learning scroll as we develop our understanding through the unit.

Literacy

Students have been busy all week finishing and revising their expository books.  Next week, they will begin editing their written work and conferring with their peers.  Once students have completed their books, we will be inviting families into the classroom so they can show off their expert topics with you!  

Mrs. Garlow's Classroom Blog

Living and Working in Ontario

Earlier this week, Mr. Shah came to our class to share with the students about his personal experiences of living and working in Ontario.  Mr. Shah spoke about the various places his family lived and why they finally settled in Aurora, Ontario.  He also shared with the students about why he chose to open up an ice cream business in the city along the Toronto Beaches.  We are so grateful to our parent and community members for coming in to share their lived experiences with the students and enhance their understanding of the curriculum by allowing them to make personal connections to the content.

Pay It Forward

A tradition among the graduating class at Rick Hansen P.S., students devote their energy and time to help a local community organization.  This year, our graduating class has decided they want to help the Salvation Army and Soles for Souls.  Our graduating class will be collecting used clothing and shoes from April 1st until May long weekend.  If your family has any gently used clothing and shoes that you no longer need and can donate, please have your child bring it to the school.  Thank you for your continued support.

Mrs. Garlow's Classroom Blog

Literacy

In literacy students have been busy working on their information books.  They have been looking over their Table of Contents as a structure to organize their research.  Students have been working and thinking about which organizational structure they would like to use when presenting their information.  This has been modelled through the topic of cockroaches.  As students observed how this was done, they have been reading over their written work to see if any of the following structures could work.  Below are some of the charts which were modelled.

Math

In math we have been learning about temperature, capacity and mass.  We will be moving onto time later this week.  Some of the expectations students will be learning are:

• Read time using analogue clocks, to the nearest five minutes, and using digital clocks, and represent time in 12 hour notation
• Solve problems involving the relationships between minutes and hours, hours and days, days and weeks, and weeks and years, using a variety of tools

Later this week a study guide will be coming home to help prepare your child for their test next week.  Please keep an eye out for it!

Social Studies

We are about to begin our unit on Living and Working in Ontario for Social Studies.  Students will develop an understanding about:

• why people in Ontario live where they live?
• why some jobs are located where they are?
• how the relationship between the natural environment and land use affects employment opportunities
• different uses of land
• how resources affect the environment and how the environment also affects human activities

To help students make a personal connection to our Social Studies unit and to learn from the lived experiences of community members, we would like to extend an invitation to all families into our classroom to share why you chose to live and raise your family in Aurora, Ontario.  We would also like for you to share information about a current and/or previous job you have/had.  Examples may include: manufacturing, tourism, recreation, service and hospitality sector, education, government, agriculture, etc.  You may find that using the information above to be helpful.

Sharing can look like: brining in artefacts or objects that you use or make at work, maps, photos, diagrams, reading a picture book, etc.

If you are able to come and give a brief presentation, please let me know.

Golf in the Schools

Students had a great time last week practising their golf swings.  Here are a few photos that captured their impressive skills!

                    

Mrs. Garlow's Classroom Blog

Happy Naw Ruz,  Holi,  and Purim!

Naw Ruz marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the New Year in the Iranian calendar.  It is the holiday of spring and renewal, celebrated by millions of people worldwide and dates back thousands of years.  We are very grateful to have had parent volunteers create two displays of Naw Ruz for us in the front foyer.  One is in the display case on the main floor and the other is outside of the learning commons on the"Haft-seen" (seven 'S's) table setting.  Please come and have a look at the beautiful display.  There is a QR Code on the table outside of the learning commons that can be scanned to connect to a short video explaining the items and their significance.

A student sharing about the items on the Haft-seen table.

Purim is a festive Jewish holiday that celebrates the story of Queen Esther outwitted Haman.  Jewish kids around the world celebrate this holiday by dressing in costume, eating hamantaschen (triangular prune cookies), and giving to the less fortunate by doing a "mitzvah".  This year the celebration falls on March 20th.  Students are invited to wear a costume, bring a non-perishable food item and join in a read-aloud in the learning commons during snack recess tomorrow.


Holi is undoubtedly one of the most colourful festivals in the world and is celebrated by Hindus across Northern India.  It involves throwing coloured powder at one another which pays tribute to the many hues of the spring season as well as events from Hindu mythology.  Usually lasting a full day and night.  The festival is a gloriously colourful and happy celebration of the end of winter and the spring growing season.  We will be offering coloured sand art in the learning commons on Thursday during snack recess to celebrate this colourful tradition.

Mrs. Garlow's Classroom Blog

Creating a Free Range Community for Our Children

In partnership with Activate Aurora, we are pleased to provide an evening for parents that will focus on:

• Preparing children to be safe outside without direct parent supervision
• Strategies to develop your child’s independence in our community
• How to keep your child active and safe

There will be a variety of guest speakers as well as a panel session where parents can ask questions of the experts.  Book your spot today!

For more information about this presentation please click on this link.

Mrs. Garlow's Classroom Blog

Research Books for Writing

Students have been working on analyzing text structures to understand what they are reading and to grasp main ideas.  Learning this skill helps to support students when they are reading their research books and taking notes based on their understanding. 

It is strongly encouraged that your child has books based on their topic of interest to support their research.  A good place to start is at the Aurora Public Library.  If you have not already done so, please visit the public library with your child so they may sign out books to help them.

Math

This past week we wrapped up our learning about two-dimensional geometry and angles.  The photos below captures some of the students engaged in the learning.

Students constructing their understanding of shape and angle 

through the context of a math problem presented.

A student's hypothesis made visible on the shape of the 

"danger zone" or blind spot around a boat.

Students playing online math games.

Students working together to solve a math problem.

Math games and puzzles.

We will be moving onto Transformational Geometry this week.  Students will learn how to identify and describe the locations and movements of shapes and objects such as flips, slides and turns as reflections, translations, and rotations (e.g., a slide to the right is a translation; a turn is a rotation.  A math guide will go home later this week to help prepare students for the test after March Break on Fractions, 2D Geometry, Angles, and Transformational Geometry.  Please keep an eye out for it.