Scenes From the AGO

Hope everyone is enjoying their holiday. If you celebrated Christmas, I trust it was as happy as ours.

Playmobil smile

Here's a couple of pictures of the front of the AGO. What a wonderful space. King Tut, here we come!

We also get to walk through the rest of the gallery. Woo-hoo!

Here's a very cool song, written long before you kids were born. Maybe you've heard of this little band called U2?

King Tut AGO Field Trip - Hurrah!

I have booked a field trip to see the King Tut Exhibit at the AGO for the end of January. Details to come when we return after the holidays. How exciting!

Stills From Kindness and Caring Presentation

Hello,

First of all, I'd like to say thanks for the lovely gifts I received yesterday. I certainly don't expect anything, but I was touched and overwhelmed by the lovely comments in the cards and the generosity. If the White family is reading this - thank you so much for the Free the Children donation, which I somehow forgot to acknowledge in the card I sent home. This donation means a lot and I'm reminded that our class needs to devise a special fundraising activity for Free the Children in the new year.

The better I get to know the children in our class, the more I see how wonderful they are. We don't have any bullying issues in our class and the boys and girls happily work with each other. I wish everyone a happy, restful holiday. Merry Christmas!

One parent was able to attend the recognition assembly on Thursday. She was moved to tears by our presentation and asked if it could be filmed. Yesterday in library, we videotaped the performance. Mr. Knierim will upload it to Blogger in January. In the meanwhile, you can listen to the song and scroll down the screen to see the stills I took of the vignettes. Ask your child to explain the concept and the stills. Amazing work! P.S. At the bottom of this post, you'll see the papyrus made in class this week.

All the best,

E. Hawkins

P.S. I'll be posting crafty things throughout the holidays, so stay tuned.

Papyrus

As we continue our study of ancient Egypt, students have been learning about hieroglyphics. Earlier in the week, students each made their own piece of papyrus by soaking strips of paper in a watery flour mixture and then overlaying the strips both horizontally and vertically. Yesterday, we learned about the different types of hieroglyphs and students created their own message using this ancient script.

First, they decided what English word or message they wanted to transcribe.

Next, they found the hieroglyphs needed.

After completing their rough work, the hieroglyphs were transferred to their papyrus in pencil.

What does it all mean?

Egyptmania has gripped our class!

Students then added colour using India ink and food colour.

A scribe, hard at work.

Voila!

Hieroglyphs = happiness

Each child created something beautiful and unique.

Looking down with pride over a job well done.

Great work class! We will continue exploring ancient Egypt with more awesome hands-on activities in January.

Here's a very eighties music video that strangely enough links to the curriculum. Beware of gigantic shoulder pads!

Kindness and Caring

Thank you boys and girls for the wonderful performance at today's Recognition Awards. Many teachers congratulated you on the meaningful vignettes you created to show how kindness and caring gets passed from one person to the next. I hope to record or take some still photographs of you performing the piece tomorrow so parents can see what amazing work you are doing.

Ms. Hawkins

Winter Activity Forms

Hello,
Please note that the Winter Activity Forms are due tomorrow (Thursday, Nov. 17th), not Friday as stated in my last post.
Thanks a lot,
E. Hawkins

Holiday Party

Once again, Room 204 finds itself thrust into the limelight as the students perform at the Recognition Assembly this Thursday. This month's character trait is kindness and caring. We couldn't recycle "Jai Ho," though I gave it some serious consideration. Instead, students will be illustrating kindness and caring through a series of moving vignettes set to music from the film Amelie. Laughter, tears... something for everyone.

Just a reminder that we'll be having a little shin-dig Thursday afternoon. I'll be bringing in treats for the class, but please feel free to send munchies if you so desire. Thanks to Grace's family for the pizza lunch on Monday to help the class celebrate Grace's birthday.

P.S. Don't forget those Winter Activity Day forms. They are due Friday. Mr. Church works hard to coordinate this happy day and he cannot take more forms after the holiday.

Bye for now,

E. Hawkins

The Last Week of School 2009

Hello,

On the Monday of the last week our teacher gave to us...

Some lessons on inferencing.

On the Tuesday of the last week our teacher gave to us...

A bunch of twelve cent protractors and some lessons on inferencing.

On the Wednesday of the last week our teacher gave to us...

Renewable energy centres, a bunch of twelve cent protractors, and some lessons on inferencing.

On the Thursday of the last week our teacher gave to us...

Shared readings on Egyptian homes - and a holiday party!

Renewable energy centres, a bunch of twelve cent protractors, and some lessons on inferencing.

On the Friday of the last week our teacher gave to us...

An editing workshop, shared readings on Egyptian homes - a holiday party, renewable energy centres, a bunch of twelve cent protractors, and some lessons on inferencing.

There's more, but I can't fit it in with the lyrics. Students are welcome to bring in nut-free nibbles Thursday afternoon.

Have a great week,

Erin Hawkins

Jai Ho!

December 10th, 2009 - From our little classroom, to the big stage at SATEC, the Fantastic Fives rocked the Jai Ho. Our class would like to send out a huge thanks to Dominique, Nivatha, Kaly, and Kala for helping us bring Bollywood to Scarborough.

And to the boys and girls of room 204 - you were absolutely terrific tonight. Jai ho!

Enjoy the song one more time as you look at the photos that chronicle this memorable day.

- Ms. Hawkins