Welcome Back!

Happy New Year everyone! Welcome back to school! I hope everyone is ready to learn and have fun!

Today we did a little switcheroo with our seating arrangement. Some people have moved up, back, side to side and some are in the same spot. I hope that the new seating helps everyone to learn the best they can and still allow collaboration with others.

Also, our behaviour chart is fresh and new - erasing all the old "x's" from last year, but keeping all the "checks". Now is a good time to set your sights on having a clean record.

We will be experimenting with more light and sound. Discuss at home all of the things you have that give off light or sound.

In math we are working on Geometry as well as continuing with problem solving in Number Sense and Numeration with a focus in adding and subtracting decimals, including money amounts. I feel being able to estimate the total cost of things and make change is an essential life skill which we will be working with.

Here is a list of activities that you can do at home or in your neighborhood to help understand symmetry.

• Symmetry at the Supermarket
  • Go to the supermarket and identify symmetrical boxes, containers, and packages. 
  • Look at the different fruits and vegetables.  Which are symmetrical and which are not?  What is more likely to be symmetrical-fruit or veggies?
• Symmetry in Nature
  • Examine flowers, trees, leaves for symmetry
  • Take a picture of an insect-where is the line of symmetry?
• Symmetry in Your Bedroom
  • Identify lines of symmetry on your bed, TV, video game system, computer and closet door.
  • Who has more symmetrical figures in the bedroom-you or your sibling?  How many more symmetrical figures do you see?
• Kitchen Symmetry
  • Use boxes or containers from the kitchen cupboards to create a symmetrical figure on either side of a line of symmetry (you can use a meter stick or a long piece of tape as the line of symmetry).
• Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt
• Look for examples of symmetry by simply walking around your neighborhood.
• Record drawings or pictures of figures that are symmetrical.

In language, we are continuing with making inferences and I have started a Read Aloud novel with them: "The City of Ember". It is one of my favourites and we will be able to watch the movie as well when we are all done.
We missed our last spelling test, but new words will be given out this week for the quiz on Friday.
Dinner Dazzle word will be sent home, but I hope to slowly transition to a "word of the day".
No Monday Mission this week, as I need to make up some more activities for students.

A reminder that signed Canada and Measurement tests still need to come back.

Hope we can settle back into all our routines with ease!