We are so excited to welcome our new and returning learners to our classroom. We have worked to create an environment that is welcome, engaging and promotes self-regulation and independence in our learners. Here is a sneak peak into our room.
Our literacy shelf with various resources for our writers (writing templates, vocabulary books, sight word rings, sight word lists, letter rings, alphabet)
Providing a variety of vocabulary books allows learners to build independence when writing
Writing table Materials are organized by colour and type to promote independence when cleaning up
Everyday our writers complete 'daily writing'. They hang their work up on the wall everyday
The their 'personal best' work ends up on this wall as a celebration before being added into their portfolios
Our math area
We have writing templates and various open ended materials available for our mathematicians
This little table is our 'math table' where we usually have a math game set up
This year we have combined our drama centre and building centre. We are excited to see what type of play our builders and actors come up with!
Snack table- available all day for learners to eat when hungry
Our yoga and exercise area provides learners the opportunities to move their bodies in various ways
Our 'reading nook'
Calming corner materials to support down-regulation
Another calming activity
Our Zones of Regulation check in
Our 'flow of the day' and check in board
Our educator area
We provide various 'provocations' or 'invitations for learning' to engage our learners in various types of play and exploration. Here are some of the ones we had out in the first couple weeks.
We're looking forward to another great year in Room 122!
Our botanists have loved learning about flowers and sharing their knowledge in many different ways during 'Thinking and Learning Time'. We have been so impressed with their ability to communicate their understanding of flowers in such different ways. Inquiries are such a beautiful way to allow all learners access to content and when you expose them, they retain it! Our botanists shared many wonders through writing and conversations.
B.J- I wonder why the flower turn to fruit?
Year 2 scientist- I wonder how the pistil makes the seeds?
I.O- I wonder why when you plant flowers they turn into a fruit?
E.W- I wonder why they have to be so beautiful?
Year 1 scientist- I wonder why flowers need leaves?
A.B- I wonder why some flowers have petals and some don’t?
We watched a few information videos to learn about flowers.
After these and other non-fiction books, our learners began to share their learning. They shared their learning through conversations, work samples and all the wonderful art and writing you'll see below!
A.G- rain makes flowers grow
P.W- seeds help flowers grow to make plants
Year 2 scientist- some flowers have stamens and pistils
A.B- the bee drinks the nectar and the pollen gets on his body and sticks and the pollen gets stuck to the pistil
Year 1 scientist- the bee gets the pollen flies to another flower and sticks to the pistil
T.P- all flowers don’t have the same colour all of them are different colours
E.W- we learned that the sepal holds the bud for the flower with the petals
Z.D- bees buzz and get honey from flowers
D.S- pollen and nectar
A.D- flowers have to grow for rain to come down
S.A- the bees takes the pollen to another flower and it makes new flowers
B.K- all of the pollen sticks on all over the bee
I.O- I know about bees that bees go and drink nectar and get pollen to make honey
I.S- seed, stamen
E.L- the petals
D.K- nectar, flowers have stem
M.V- flowers have seeds and flowers have everything attached
M.R- petals are on the circle so flowers in the middle and then the petals fall off it turns to a fruit
Using shapes and labels to represent various flowers and their parts.
Construction paper flowers.
These girls wanted to make a lotus flower, so they worked together to cut out all the parts.
Various writing about pollination and flowers.
Examining real flowers.
Using clay.
We used 'how to' videos from 'Kids Art Hub' on YouTube (check them out, they're fabulous!) to help us learn how to draw various flowers. We made them into collaborative art pieces for our classroom on pieces of wood.
We enjoyed the Olympics in Room 122. There is something special about being able to experience the Olympics alongside our students who have never seen an Olympics before. We provided opportunities for our learners to share their expertise and learn about various winter sports.
Our 'Olympic Centre' aka the area our learners could spend learning about the various winter sports. This provided many natural writing opportunities for them to share wonders, learning and excitement through drawings and words.
Word walls to support independence with writing
A 4 person bobsleigh
Our learners had many different wonders about the various sports. Thanks to CBC Kids, we were able to watch many great videos teaching us about each of the Olympic sports.
"I wonder what you do with them (the Olympic rings)?
"I wonder why it's (the rings) connecting together?"- S.F
"I wonder why there is blue, yellow, red, black, and green?"- E.M.
"I wonder why you have to wear white skates when you figure skate?"- L.G.
"I wonder if they (figure skaters) get dizzy?"- S.A.
"I wonder why you have a hockey stick to score?"- J.C.
"I wonder if you win do you get a trophy?- A.H.
"I wonder why they push the broom in front?"- B.K. (about curling)
"I wonder why they have to put the thing (curling rock) on super close to the button?"- A.B
We competed in our own Room 122 Olympics using many of our math skills to determine length, proximity and time.
Ski jumping
Curling
Speed skating
Medals
We were so impressed with all of the Canadian athletes. Looking forward to the next Olympics!
