Oct 21-25

In Social we have been learning about communities in the past.  Students are learning how stories of the past connect individuals and communities to the present.
Students are exploring:
* What is a community?
* In what ways has our community changed over time (e.g., changes in transportation, land use)?

*What has caused changes in our community?
*How has the population of our community changed over time (e.g. ethnic mix, age, occupations)?
*How have the people who live in the community contributed to change in the community?

In Science we started a new unit - Exploring Liquids.  This week we investigated with our senses - looking, touching, smelling, listening to water. We also talked about how in the real world water can take on different characteristics. Ocean water is salty. Waterfalls create a sound. Muddy water you can't see through. 

Recognize and describe characteristics of liquids: 
*Recognize and describe liquid flow
*Describe the surface of calm water

We have been working on our drawing ability.  Art for Kids Hub on youtube offers great tutorials and step by step instructions in creating a number of different pictures. Our first project was a seasonal pumpkin.

In literacy we brainstormed all our ideas about FALL using our 5 senses in a mind map. We then turned it into an information brochure.

Thanks to all of those that were able to attend the Halloween dance. Just a reminder that on October 31we can wear orange & black (no costumes).

Oct 15 - 18

With the weather getting colder, just a reminder that if you wish to come in early for soft entry you need to be at Door 3 between 8:55 - 9:00am.  If your child chooses to come in the expectation is that they are engaged in a quiet, independent activity.

After the weekend we often centre our first writing activity around what we did with our families, places we may have visited or friends we may have seen. It not only gives us a chance to practice our writing skills, but the students can share with me and their classmates a little more about their family and what they like to do together.

In math we are finishing up patterns. Ask me what ATTRIBUTES means.
  I can describe, extend, compare and draw a repeating pattern.
  I can describe, extend, compare and draw an increasing pattern.
  I can create a new pattern.
  I can talk about a pattern rule.
  I can identify the pattern core.
  I can use 2 attributes (size, shape, colour, design, direction, etc.) to make a pattern.

We read The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires. It taught us the importance of having a plan and sticking with it even if we aren't successful our first time.
We then had an orientation and chance to explore in our new Maker Space. It is housed in our Learning Commons and we got to build with blocks or straws, do some logic puzzles and try out some games. In the future we can plan out a project and bring it to life there.

We started TRY SOMETHING NEW (TSN) this week.  Ask me what group I am in.
October 25 - Halloween Dance 6-7:30pm

Oct 7 - 11

In math we are working on addition and basic facts.  One strategy we explored is adding doubles. number lines, hundreds charts and using manipulatives are other strategies we are using to help us.

In science we are still exploring magnets. We went on a scavenger hunt around our room and looked for things that were magnetic and non magnetic.
Ask me how I did on my quiz.👍

I can tell you where magnets are used in the environment. 
I can tell you what materials are attracted by a magnet from those that are not.
I know that magnets attract materials with iron or steel in them.
I know that magnets have a North / South Pole & that opposites attract.
I can compare and measure the strength of magnets.

With the snow & winter coming we looked at some autumn pictures & admired all the colors of the leaves. We created some tree art pictures with pastels.

....BUT we are ready for winter!

Happy Thanksgiving 🍗

Picture Day - October 16

Sept 30 - Oct 4

September 30 was Orange Shirt Day. We met in the gym as a whole school to mark the day and honor those that were taken from their families & put in a residential school. We also read a few stories to mark the day.

"All that we are is story.

From the moment we are born to the time we continue on our spirit journey,

we are involved in the creation of the story of our time here.

It is what we arrive with.

It is all that we leave behind.

We are not the things we accumulate.

We are not the things we deem important.

We are story.

All of us.

What comes to matter then is the creation of the best possible story we can create while we're here.

You, me, us - - together.

When we can do that and we can take the time to share these stories with each other,

we get bigger inside.

We see each other.

We recognize our kinship.

We change the world, one story at a time."

                      - Richard Wagamese

Together we read What to do with an idea?
The author Kobi Yamada taught us "Always remember, a single idea can change everything."

We have been counting the days we are at school & documenting it in our math books - it's the number of the day. We decide if the number is odd or even, how to write it in words, show it in tally marks and add or subtract 10. As a challenge we try to unscramble familiar words.  It is a warm up activity to start our day.

Jeff Stockton Storytelling Event:
Thank you to all of those that came out & created a family story "artifact" together.

Upcoming:
October 11 - No School - PD for teachers
October 16 - Picture Day

Sept 23 - 27

We had another story telling session with Jeff Stockton this week.  We will have 2 more sessions with him before our evening family storytelling event on October 3 at 6pm. We revisited the fact that all stories start with an idea.  💬

Sharing our ideas helps to build the story, adding detail, expression, pattern of events or time markers. 👪. Some stories have problems and solutions while others just walk us through a series of events.

Mrs. Watkins, our school's Indigenous Learning Leader came & read "Stolen Words" to us, by Melanie Florence. We talked about the meaning of Orange Shirt day coming Monday,  September 30. We journaled about all the things that we appreciated about our families & lives & what we would miss if we were sent away to school.

In Social we are continuing to learn that community is a place we learn, work & play together. Cooperating with each other, respecting our differences as well as following rules help us to feel safe & happy. We hiked up Thunder Hill to draw our Ranchlands / Calgary community as well as take in the colours of Fall.

In Science we made a prediction about which magnet was the strongest. We then carried out our experiment & documented our results.

Sept 16-20

Thank you to all of you that have returned your information packages (demographic/ technology/ health forms...). It was lovely to meet so many of you at teacher conference this week as well.
If you haven't heard SNACK IS BACK.  We will once again allow for a healthy, spoon-less snack in the morning.

In literacy we are focusing on the beauty of story telling.  We are lucky enough to have Jeff Stockton to help guide us in this process.  Stories all start with an idea. In our session with Jeff this week we learned that the ideas we have, big or small, come to life through sharing them with others. Human beings are unique in their ability to create and share stories together.  On October 3 your family will work together to create a story "treasure" of your own.

As a class we read the book "Courage" by Bernard Weber. We brainstormed ways in which we show courage & then wrote our own personal booklets.  Click on the link to read it.
Courage story

In science we are starting the year learning about magnets.  Many of the kids did this grade 2 topic last year in grade 1 so we have a wealth of prior knowledge built up already.








































In social studies we are learning about reading & labelling map as well as cardinal directions.
Ask me what a compass rose is.

TERRY FOX run will be on Thursday, Sept 26 @ 2pm. Come join us.

Sept 13

Welcome back to Ranchlands School & welcome to grade 2. We have had a busy start up to our year & there are lots of changes to learn about this year.
Here are a few highlights:
- Soft entry will be open from 8:55 - 9am; arriving after that means your child will play outside until the bell at 9:10am.
- We DO NOT have a morning snack.  Please ensure your child has a good breakfast that will last them until lunch time at 12:25pm.
- The whole school has recess together from 2:30-2:45.  They are allowed an afternoon snack at that time. On Fridays recess is from 10:35-10:55am.
- Meet the teacher is coming Thursday, Sept 19 in the evening & Friday Sept 20.  I look forward to meeting you.  Parents can start signing up Sept 13 at 4pm.

Grade 2 Overview (click link see better)

Jeff Stockton is our artist in residence this year.  He is an amazing storyteller & harpest.  We have had one session with him & will see him daily next week.  Save the evening of October 3 for a family story telling celebration here at Ranchlands.
Check out his website!

We are getting to know each other & what makes us all unique.

We were introduced to Beatrice, The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes. Through her we realized that making mistakes is part of life & often a good opportunity to learn.  It's always better to try & be incorrect then not to try at all.

In math we are learning about patterns.  Ask me what the CORE of the following patterns are.