TaleBot Coding Adventures!

This past week, we went on a coding adventure! Simply put, coding is creating instructions. A fleet of little TaleBot robots joined our class and we learned how to have them follow our directions. 

We met the TaleBots and worked in pairs to learn how to use their comand buttons. The commands allow the TaleBots to move forward and back, turn left and right, and even dance! 

First, pairs were challenged to code the TaleBot to move around a block or two. There was lots of trial and error (and squeals of joy!) as we problem solved, discussed, and corrected our code. The spaces on the mat helped us count out our commands. 

Then we examined a zoo-themed coding mat and were challenged to write a story all about the zoo! 

The stories are about TaleBots who visit the zoo. What animal do they want to see at the zoo first? Next? Last? 

Once our zoo stories were written, we got back into teams. Using our story, we coded the TaleBot to retell our very own stories!

What a fantastic day of learning! You'll be able to see how your child codes their TaleBot at our upcoming Student-Led Celebrations of Learning!

100 Amazing Days of Learning!

100 days of school is a big deal in Grade 1!

Our Math curriculum focuses on numbers to 100, so celebrating 100 is an opportunity to tie in several Math activities, and more!

So we began preparing for the 100th day on ... day 96? Yup, it's possible we had 100+ activities planned for our celebration, and we needed a jump start! So here is a peek at day 96, 97, 98, 99, and 100!

We worked over several days to write 100 words! Be proud of that amazing list, kiddos!

We made fabulous runway-worthy party hats! There were 10 strips of paper, and we counted 10 polka dots on each. Boom, 100 dots!

The boys and girls practiced and read a 100 word poem to several classes:

We brought in collections of one hundred items. Isn't it interesting how different 100 can look?

And then a box showed up in our room. It was a very, very LOCKED box, and it came with a few clues! What could be inside? Our Breakout Box challenge was about to begin! The goal? Break into the box!

A Breakout Box is similar to a breakout room, but students use curricular skills to break into a box instead of breaking out of a room. Using teamwork and our knowledge of the 100-chart, we were able to open a number lock, word lock, and directional lock to open the box! Ask your child what was inside!

Sprinkled throughout the last few days were a variety of games, including a new favourite, 100s Chart Tic Tac Toe!

Happy 100th Day, girls and boys! I have loved learning with you for the last one hundred days, and I'm excited for more! Be proud of all your learning and hard work!

The Beauty of the Cross

As we explore the Easter Story, we reflect on how Jesus’ sacrifice left us with an enduring symbol, the cross. The cross is a reminder of God’s never ending love for each of us, and this past week, we had the pleasure of bringing that symbol to life. We were joined by a very special guest, Pani Lynne from Linking Generations, who helped us create our own meaningful keepsakes.

Together we tackled a unique and intricate project, our matchstick crosses. The students showed incredible focus and patience as they counted, glued, and pieced together their designs. (All matches were pre-lit and safely cooled before we began!)

What a spectacular, sticky afternoon! The result is a stunning collection of crosses adorning our bulletin board.

These crosses are a beautiful way to reflect on God’s never ending grace and love.

A Week of Mischief: Cookie Takes Over St. Nicholas!

This week, our classroom was full of laughter and nonsense! We read Cookie's Week about a cat who causes mischief all over his house! Inspired by this clumsy cat, we imagined a brand-new adventure: What if Cookie spent a week right here at St. Nicholas?

To get our creative juices flowing, we brainstormed the best spots for a sneaky kitty to cause some chaos. 

After brainstorming possible pranks, we got to work using sentence frames to craft our own original stories and illustrations.

Our young authors are working diligently to bring their stories to life. Quality takes time, so we’ll be spending the next few days perfecting our writing and adding careful detail to our drawings. 

We can’t wait to show you what this little trickster gets up to! 

Our Wintry Wilderness Adventures

We spent a spectacular day learning at the Strathcona Wilderness Centre!

Indigenous First Families Program

Our morning kicked off with the Indigenous First Families program, led by the wonderful Nadine. We stepped back in time to explore how the Inuit of the Arctic, the Plains First Nations, and the Woodland First Nations of Eastern Canada thrived long ago. Without stores like Costco, survival relied on expert hunting and a deep sense of community, where families shared everything from food to childcare.

While children didn’t attend formal schools, they were always learning! They learned hunting, cooking, and sewing from their elders. It was a life of responsibility and teamwork. Every job helped the family survive.

❄️ The Inuit: Life in the North

In the Arctic, the Inuit survived the cold by living in igloos and making tools. We got a close look at ring seal fur, used to create warm clothing and kamiks (shoes). One student even tried on a cozy seal fur parka! We learned how tough, creative and resilient the Inuit were.

🌾 The Plains First Nations: Hunters & Celebrators

The Plains First Nations followed the buffalo, living in tipis that could be moved. Nadine shared their vibrant culture of celebration, particularly the "powwow." We heard an elaborate fan that sounded like birds flapping. One lucky student dressed in traditional regalia, including a bone-and-bead choker, moose moccasins, and a protective breastplate. We even saw a replica headdress, where each feather represents a brave or kind deed.

🌲 The Woodland First Nations: Masters of the Forest

The Woodland First Nations lived near the Great Lakes, where they became incredible hunters and navigators. They used the birch trees around them to build canoes for traveling. After learning so many facts, the students were thrilled to handle the artifacts themselves. Feeling the silky furs and pelts was an absolute highlight!

Creativity and Play

To wrap up the morning, the students tapped into their own creativity! They designed fans decorated with nature-inspired scenes like rainbows and animals. We ended the morning with several traditional games. Though the rules were simple and the pieces were few, they were a challenging and high-energy hit!

Nature Scavenger Hunt

After a quick lunch, we bundled up and headed outside to experience God’s beautiful creation! Did you know we brought our own detective tools? Our five senses! Inspired by the book I Wonder, we set off on the trails, using our eyes, ears, noses, hands, and even our sense of smell to explore the world around us.

We shared a perfect day together! What a blessing to be able to take our learning beyond the classroom!

Lent has Begun

This past week we celebrated Shrove Tuesday, a day of feasting and fun. Traditionally, this is a time to use up rich foods in the fridge that are not often eaten during Lent, such as milk, eggs, and butter. Add a little flour, and you have pancakes!

Earlier this week, our prayer table was green for Ordinary Time. Now that Lent has begun, it is purple. 

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. During this season, we take time to look at our hearts and think about how we can grow and become more like Jesus. We pray more, ask for forgiveness, and try to be kinder and more generous to others. For forty days, we prepare our hearts for the new life and joy of Easter.

Our Lenten wreath is brown and bare, symbolizing the desert where Jesus prayed for forty days, as well as the crown of thorns. Can your child explain the symbols on our wreath, such as the purple ribbon and the burlap cloth with a cross? As we journey through Lent, we will continue adding new symbols to help us better understand this liturgical season.

We celebrated Ash Wednesday mass as a school community. We all received ashes on our foreheads to remind us of Jesus' sacrifice for us. 

Lent is a time of reflection, prayer and service. May the 40 days of Lent help us prepare for the joy of Easter. 

Our Hearts are Happy, Healthy and Holy!

We continue to learn about Christ's love for us and have been celebrating friendship and kindness. With Valentine's this week, we've had a lot on the go, so here are a few highlights!

Step by step, we created spectacular mixed-media heart art explosions!

Aren't they joyful and unique, just like our kids?!

We were thrilled to make silly, creative Love Monster mailbags! 

What better way to celebrate our hearts than by heading off to the gym for some healthy heart-pumping skipping! We skipped in support of Jump Rope for Heart, a initiative supporting the Heart & Stroke Foundation. 

Valentine's Day gave us a chance to sharpen our numeracy skills! We tackled missing numbers to 20 ...

 ... and challenged ourselves with a number hunt, colouring in the numbers we found on a 100's board! Look at the hidden picture!

We hunted for hearts and wrote the missing end sound in each word. We love a challenge!

We certainly had fun celebrating Valentine's Day, but whether it's Valentine's or not, we share love and kindness in our classroom each and every day.

May you have a happy, healthy, and holy Valentine's Day!