The Golden Touch

Today we decided that we couldn't wait forever for warmer weather (it is currently snowing as I write this!). We headed outside to spray paint our masks! They look fantastic and it is exciting to see our masks so close to being complete!

Next step, adding the headdresses and beards!

Monday we have library. Please return your library books! Spring Photo Day is Monday for those interested. Book orders are also due. 

Death Masks Part 2

On Thursday afternoon, it was time for the hockey students to have an opportunity to get messy and make their death mask! 

If students were not making their death mask, they were designing and colouring their headdress and beard that will later be hot glued onto their mask, completing the project!

 Ta-da! Finished and ready to dry! Friday morning, students will pop them off the mold. Depending on the temperature, we may be able to go outside and spray paint them gold Friday afternoon!

~Ms. Burland

Adding 9

Grade 2 students are learning the mental math strategy for adding nine. Nine can be a tricky or scary number to add, but adding ten is easy! So they are taught that when they are adding nine to a number, to first add ten and then take away one.

I have added 2 new websites on the blog that practice this strategy. Check them out!

Death Masks Part 1

Wednesday we began to create our death masks! Death masks were put on the died as it was believed that the soul of the died would need to recognize it's body once journeying back from the afterlife. Mrs. Shabaga, the death mask expert, graciously gave us a demonstration of how to prepare the face mask and how to apply the cast plaster.

Making the mask with cast plaster will be done in small groups. Students who did not go to hockey made their masks yesterday! Students did a GREAT job! It was very messy and an activity the kids won't quickly forget!

Today, students who traveled to hockey will make their masks. We will then spray paint them gold and attach a nemes or headdress and a beard. Stay tuned!!

~Ms. Burland

**April Newsletter Correction**

My brain was still on holidays... please note that in the April newsletter: "...we will use vertical addition strategies..." should read: "...we will use horizontal addition strategies..."

Sorry for the error!
~Ms. Burland

April Fool's Day!

Today we were too tired to work, so we watched movies and ate popcorn ALL day long! Just kidding. April Fools!

We actually did lots today! We talked about our Spring Break and wrote in our journals.

In math, we are writing story problems. All stories have three parts. A story problem has a start, a change (something happens, is added or taken away from the start) and then an end. When you write a story problem, you give the reader information for 2 parts of the story. Then you ask a question about the third. For example, we wrote this about the number sentence 15 + 6 = 21:

Damien had some money. Emily gave him $6 more. Now he has $21. How much did Damien have to start?

? + 6 = 21

We worked as table groups to write story problems solving for the start. Tomorrow we will write story problems solving for the change and the end.

This afternoon we started to learn about pyramids. We learned that:
-pyramids are for pharaohs who pass away. (Leland)
-if you made a pyramid, it could take 20 years, like the Great Pyramid of Giza. (Grace)
-there are 3 pyramids of Giza. (Naomi)
-when you become a pharaoh, you start building your pyramid because if you didn't, it might not be done when you're dead. (Brianna)
-there are booby traps in case tomb robbers come, but robbers always got through anyways. (Spencer)
-you can't breathe that much in a pyramid. (Liz)
-the king is buried in a place called the King's Chamber. (Damien)
-the pharaohs believed the bigger the pyramid, the better! (Grace)
-each corner of the pyramids of Giza faced the direction North, South, East and West. (Leland)
-we watched 2 videos, one was silly, about pyramids. One was serious. (Liz)

In gym, we started gymnastics. We balanced on our shoulders by laying down on our backs on the mats and lifting our hips, pointing our toes into the air. We also played a tag game where the taggers were chickens and they tagged the three-legged dogs (the non-taggers). The dogs then became chickens. This game practiced balancing. Mr. Sarahs said next week we will go on the ropes.

This was a fun day back at school!

(Parents, look for reading logs, the April Newsletter and information on swimming (grade 3s) ~Ms. Burland)

~Team 24

PJ Day

Dear families,

We did it! We survived a very exciting and busy Spirit Week and everyone is very ready for a break to recoup and rest up for the final three months of school. Look for spelling tests and TWAS in your child's backpack.

Twins!

Thank you so much to Adrian's mum for treating us with beautiful and delicious homemade cake! Needless to say, there were no left overs! YUM!

Wishing everyone a safe and restful break! See you April 1st!
~Ms. Burland