Happy Summer!

Wow, where has time gone? 

We cannot believe it is summer already! 

What a great year!

As we reflected on the year, we were continually amazed and blown away by the incredible work the students did, day after day! We were so proud the students did their 'personal best' everyday. It was an absolute honour to have your children in our class this year, it is definitely one we will not forget.

Enjoy your summers!

Be sure to inquire, explore, ask questions, observe and be curious about what you see around you! 

Bond Lake, Richmond Hill

Looking forward to seeing most of you again in the fall!

The Beauty of the Butterfly

If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies! 

~ Author unknown

The students sketched our Painted Lady Butterflies using pencil and then sharpie. After they painted using water colour. We were again amazing by how they turned out! Each butterfly was so unique!

Here are some of the paintings:

As a class, we went outside to release our butterflies into their natural habitats. The students were so excited and waved good-bye to each of our 40 (we think, they were very difficult to count!) butterflies. Some students even ran after them as they flew away. As educators, we were so happy to see the joy and excitement in our students. Being able to watch metamorphosis right in front of their eyes was an incredible way to help them connect to the world around them. The change is amazing and we will miss having out butterflies with us in the class!

Walking our butterflies outside

Getting a final glimpse of them all in the net

A.Bh transferring the butterfly to a leaf 

The butterfly didn't want to leave him! 

Amazed at the butterflies

The butterflies didn't want to leave!

What an incredible experience, we know this is one we won't forget anytime soon!

Outdoor Learning Grand Opening

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the  earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.” – Rachel Carson

What a fabulous day! 

We are so grateful to all of our families and students who celebrated the grand opening of our outdoor learning yard today! It was wonderful to celebrate our year and spend time together outside.

An acrostic poem called 'Outdoor Learning' by S.P and A.B

Sidewalk chalk

Using our log tables to decorate wood chips to leave our mark on the learning environment

Picnic lunch

Documentation sharing some of our outdoor learning

The beautiful logs students and staff decorated

T.K's creation

Thank you to everyone who has supported us with our outdoor learning yard, we are truly grateful and it will be enjoyed for years to come!

Thank you again to all the families who took time out of their busy schedules to celebrate with us!

More Poems!

The students were inspired by our class poem 'This is Not a Stick' to write their own versions of the poem.

'This is Not a Stone' by S.P & A.B

'This is not a Pinecone' by K.B & A.M

'This is No a Feather' by A.Bh

'This is Not a Crayon' by a group of JK & SK girls

This is NOT a Stick...

Today, as a class, we wrote a poem about a stick that we found outside. We have been enjoying our outdoor learning environment. 

We were inspired by the book 'A Stick is an Excellent Thing: Poems Celebrating Outdoor Play' by Marilyn Singer.

Feel free to share your ideas with us in the comment section!

We Have Butterflies!

Beautiful and graceful, varied and enchanting, small but approachable, butterflies lead you to the sunny side of life. And everyone deserves a little sunshine.

~ Jeffrey Glassberg

It was a very exciting week in our classroom, our caterpillars have changed into butterflies!

Right before it emerged

I was able to capture one of the butterflies emerging from its chrysalis, click the link below to watch!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnT-L0His20 

Finally seeing our butterflies has inspired the children to create butterflies using a variety of materials!

Symmetry provocation (invitation for learning)

A.Bh & S.P. made this picture using pattern blocks

Using paint to again explore symmetry 

Watching metamorphosis has been incredible, and I think the educators are just as excited (if not more so) about the amazing change we have witnessed. 

Butterflies are self propelled flowers.” 

― Robert A. Heinlein