It's the end of another year...

Well 2016 is over and the students are really enjoying their last day of school in pyjamas, with stuffed toys, a party, a movie... you name it, we're doing it!

There is no homework over the holidays, however there will be a 20 word spelling test on frequently used words at the end of the first week. These are words that students are expected to know by this point in the year. The best way to prepare for this is to read daily and to focus on words that appear frequently. Happy reading!

I wish you all the very best for the New Year and wonderful, happy holidays.

Friday pyjama day!!

After some discussion with your children, it has been decided that this Friday will be PYJAMA DAY!!!

In addition, we will watch a holiday movie and have a party. With regards to food, please feel free to send in a small amount of HEALTHY treats. I discourage the students from eating junk food.

Spelling words and homework.

Spelling words for next week focus on the sound "an". 

1. le pantalon
2. une orange
3. le panda
4. quand
5. demander
6. méchant
7. avant
8. devant
9. blanc
10. la guirlande

Homework:

Students are bringing home a sheet with interview questions on it. All week, they will be given the opportunity to listen to other students' presentations and to ask them clarifying questions. The homework is to write up what they have learned.

Dioramas and science project update

Hi there everyone. I wanted to give you all a quick update on our science projects. Students haven't yet started to do their presentations... that's going to happen tomorrow! Why? Well, because it's taking a while to get the dioramas done. Some students have been putting in so much effort that we've needed a few extra days to get things finished.
Below are pictures of their work... enjoy!

Science Project Due Date

A friendly reminder that our science project is due on Monday, December 12th.  The research project consists of:
1) Introduction
2) Appearance
3) Habitat
4) Food
5) Life cycle with drawing
6) Adaptation to the environment
7) Interesting facts
8) Cover page - drawing of your animal 

I am attaching the rubric that was sent home 4 weeks ago, for you to look over with your child. Oral presentations will take place next week; students will speak freely to the class, prompted by my questions. The goal is for them to share what they have researched and learned, and not to read off a script.  Please email me if you have any questions; 

	Level 1      (D)	Level 2      (C)	Level 3      (B)	Level 4      (A)
Knowledge of content	Demonstrates limited knowledge of content.	Demonstrates some knowledge of content.	Demonstrates considerable knowledge of content.	Demonstrates thorough knowledge of content.
Understanding	Demonstrates limited understanding of content.	Demonstrates some understanding of content.	Demonstrates considerable understanding of content.	Demonstrates thorough understanding of content.
Creativity	Produces works of art that express ideas inspired by observations of nature with limited care or creativity.	Produces works of art that express ideas inspired by observations of nature with some care or creativity.	Produces works of art that express ideas inspired by observations of nature with considerable care or creativity.	Produces works of art that express ideas inspired by observations of nature with great care and creativity.
Written communication TRANSLATION TOOLS ARE NOT PERMITTED!	Uses conventions, vocabulary, and terminology about animals with limited effectiveness.	Uses conventions, vocabulary, and terminology about animals with some effectiveness.	Uses conventions, vocabulary, and terminology about animals with considerable effectiveness.	Uses conventions, vocabulary, and terminology about animals with a high degree of effectiveness.
Written presentation	Written work is not neat and tidy or well-organized, and does not demonstrate that a good effort has been made.	Written work is somewhat neat and tidy, well-organized, and demonstrates some degree of effort.	Written work is neat and tidy, well-organized, and demonstrates a good effort.	Written work is extremely neat and tidy, well-organized, and demonstrates a great deal of effort.
Research	Little evidence of research.	Some evidence of research. Research is accurate/some categories are complete.	Project is researched and accurate. Most categories are complete.	Project is researched and accurate. All categories are complete.
Oral presentation	Presentation is not serious and/or very little information is shared with the class.	Presentation is serious but little information is shared with the class, or vice versa.	Presentation is serious and some information is shared with the class.	Presentation is serious and much information is shared with the class.
Attentitive listening/ respect	Demonstrates appreciation appropriately as an audience member, with limited effectiveness.	Demonstrates appreciation appropriately as an audience member, with some effectiveness.	Demonstrates appreciation appropriately as an audience member, with considerable effectiveness.	Demonstrates appreciation appropriately as an audience member, with a high degree of effectiveness.

Spelling words and homework.

Spelling words are:

1. la chenille
2. la chèvre
3. le chocolat
4. chuchoter
5. le chateau
6. la chose
7. le choix
8.  le mouchoir
9. la cheminée
10. le cochon

Homework:

We have been learning about non-fiction texts (les textes et livres informatifs). This week, students are asked to find a non-fiction book and identify a minimum 5 elements of this genre of writing. For example, there might be a glossary, bold type, maps, and photos. 

Tomorrow's field trip!

Tomorrow is our much anticipated class trip to the Théâtre Français to see "l'Île au trésor". 

A very heartfelt thank you for returning permission forms and money so quickly.

We will leave the school by 9AM and travel by school bus.  We will return between 11:30 - 12:00.

Students will not be able to bring a snack (no eating on the bus or in the theatre), so you may want to feed the kids a very hearty breakfast!

Thanks for your support on this trip:)

Dioramas

It's taken a little while for all students to bring in shoe boxes and materials for their diorama. I think we're pretty much there now, so next week we'll use our science periods to begin making them. If you have any extra materials you've been collecting, send them in for Tuesday.
Here are some more examples:

Spelling words and homework.

The sound of the week next week is "in"/"im". The words are:

1. grimper
2. la main
3. impossible
4. maintenant
5. peindre
6. demain
7. le lapin
8. le sapin
9. le train
10. le requin

Homework:

This week, students are bringing home the final tasks for their project. The sections are Adaptations to the Environment and Interesting Facts. An example of adaptations to the environment for a dolphin might be:

• It has a streamlined shape so it can move fast in the water to get away from predators
• It has excellent hearing to protect itself from predators, and 
• It swims with other dolphins to protect itself from predators.

Students are also bringing home their cover page. This is to be glued to the front of their yellow folder. Students should draw a realistic picture of their animal, write the name of their animal, their own name, and the date that they drew it.

This is a short week and I haven't had a chance to read one-on-one with every student so I'm not sending home book bags.

Also, the deadline for sending in trip forms and money is this coming TUESDAY!

Field trip forms...

Please please send in your field trip forms as soon as possible. Even if your child isn't going on the trip, I still need the form back to indicate that you do not give your permission.
The trip is next Thursday!
Thanks

Another great web site!

www.bestioles.ca
It's amazing and has MANY more animals listed than are available on jaitoutcompris. Go wild!

Field trip!

FIELD TRIP - DEC. 8th!
Students have brought home permission forms for a school trip on Thursday, Dec. 8th (AM only).  We will travel by school bus to the Théâtre Français to watch "l'Île au Trésor" (an adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's book Treasure Island which dates back to 1881).  http://theatrefrancais.com/fr/spectacles/lile-au-tresor/

I am looking for ONE parent volunteer to help out that morning.  Please send a note or email me if you are available.

Panther assembly

This morning we had a panther assembly to celebrate empathy. To kick it off, Madame Trott's and my class presented a medley of recorder tunes accompanied by Mr Kryzanowski. They did a wonderful job! I believe that mme Trott recorded a video so you might want to check out her blog in case she posts it.

Spelling words and homework.

Because this is another short week, please return book bags on WEDNESDAY to give me time to read with your child and send home a new book. Thanks.

This week, we're going to review the sound "on". The words are:

1. le bonbon
2. la boisson
3. le biberon
4. le ballon
5. la confiture
6. la leçon
7. répondre
8. un avion
9. un camion
10. une fontaine

Homework is to continue to work on animal reports. The sections to complete this week are diet and life cycle. Don't forget that there is great information on many animals at www.jaitoutcompris.com under the "animaux" tab on the top left. Bon travail!

Diorama materials.

Don't forget to collect materials for making dioramas. I'm hoping to get started on them next week so perhaps this weekend, students could hunt through their houses and use their imaginations to think of things that would work for their creations.
Thanks!

Numbers with audio and video

This video comes from http://www.audiofrench.com/. It's a pretty handy site for French pronunciation but I thought that this video in particular would be helpful for students struggling with numbers.

It goes through all the numbers from 1 to 1000000 (we only need 200!).

Even when your child is able to recite the numbers in order, the key is to write random numbers down and ask what the number is. This is can be tricky with numbers between 11 and 20, as well as numbers between 69 and 100.

Have fun!

Homework, spelling, and book bags.

Hi everyone -
This was short week and I haven't had a chance to read everyone's book bag with them. As such, I'll get to them as early as I can next week.

Spelling words are:

1. un jouet
2. jouer
3. un trou
4. où
5. la soustraction
6. mon cou
7. en dessous
8. debout
9. trouver
10. ouvrir

Homework:
Students are bringing home a yellow folder. Inside it you will find:

• A model for the project on an arctic fox. This is to help guide students regarding length, content, and structure for their project. It may also provide some vocabulary.
• A page of useful vocabulary. I can't anticipate everything but this should be a good start.
• A worksheet on which students are to write their introduction, the appearance of their animal (including to which animal group it belongs), and its habitat (including continent and countries).

Please do not start a cover page. This will be a separate homework task.

Thanks and happy homework!

Scholastic book orders

New this year, Scholastic book orders under $30 come with a $5.65 shipping and handling fee 😕.
I'll collect orders and wait until there is a total amount over $30 - if I don't receive enough orders, I'll put a note in your child's agenda asking if you wish to pay the shipping and handling fee or cancel your order. Sorry folks!

Additional web site for animal project.

I just came across a web site for kids en français! Here it is:
http://www.jaitoutcompris.com/animaux/

Animals project update

Today, students are bringing home the project description, a list of helpful web sites, and the rubric (marking scheme).

For now, students are tasked with CHOOSING THEIR ANIMAL by Thursday of this week. They are NOT to begin the project. The written portion of the project will come home in chunks as homework.

In case your child loses the documents coming home... here it all is:

Grade 2 Science Project – Animals

Project is due in class on Monday, December 12^th.

As part of our unit on animals, the students will be making a diorama in class. The purpose of this activity is that they begin to understand the process of inquiry (research) and that they develop and share some knowledge about a particular animal.

For this project, you are to research an animal of your choice (I will approve the animal and let you know what it is).

Part 1 – Report (Do NOT use translation tools)

Your report must include:

Cover Page

Your cover page needs to have the following:

1. Title
2. Illustration of your animal in its natural habitat in colour (your own artwork only).
3. Your name and the date.

Main Report (to be completed at HOME)

1.             Introduction – explain why you chose this animal (1 or 2 lines).
2.       Research about your animal under the following headings:

·       Appearance (including to which animal group it belongs – mammal etc.)

·       Habitat

·       Diet

·       Life Cycle

·       Adaptation to the Environment

·       Interesting Facts

Your report should be 1 to 2 pages long. You may use library books, class books and the internet to research your animal.

Part 2 - Presentation to the class

Short presentation (2-3 minutes) telling us what you have learned about your animal. Don’t read your research, just tell us what you know.

Part 3 – Diorama (to be completed at SCHOOL)

Students will be given class time over the next few weeks, to create a diorama.  Each student must bring in a shoe-box.  Please help your child gather materials (e.g. a fish might need items to represent shells, seaweed, other marine animals etc. and a lion might need items to represent a savannah, rocks, grasses, sand etc.  Nature images cut out from magazines could make for a lovely background.) I can supply paper, paint, glue, and a few additional materials.  Each important element of the diorama needs to be labeled. These elements include:

•      The animal
•           Items of importance in its habitat (e.g. ice, or rainforest).
•         Prey
•        What preys on the animal

Students will create a title for their diorama e.g. Zebras by Jimmy Carson, Grade 2. This title will be pasted to the front of their diorama so that we may all appreciate each student’s hard work!

Below are some examples of what a diorama looks like:

Useful websites:

FOR ANIMAL RESEARCH:
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/

http://www.softschools.com/facts/animals/

http://www.kidsplayandcreate.com/amazing-animal-facts-for-kids/

FOR TRANSLATING WORDS:

http://www.wordreference.com/

www.reverso.com

Please remember not to use translation tools such as (but not limited to) Google Translate. It is important that your child try to make sentences him/herself. I am not looking for perfection but for effort. Thanks!

Grade 2 Science Project – Animals

RUBRIC

	Level 1      (D)	Level 2      (C)	Level 3      (B)	Level 4      (A)
Knowledge of content	Demonstrates limited knowledge of content.	Demonstrates some knowledge of content.	Demonstrates considerable knowledge of content.	Demonstrates thorough knowledge of content.
Understanding	Demonstrates limited understanding of content.	Demonstrates some understanding of content.	Demonstrates considerable understanding of content.	Demonstrates thorough understanding of content.
Creativity	Produces works of art that express ideas inspired by observations of nature with limited care or creativity.	Produces works of art that express ideas inspired by observations of nature with some care or creativity.	Produces works of art that express ideas inspired by observations of nature with considerable care or creativity.	Produces works of art that express ideas inspired by observations of nature with great care and creativity.
Written communication TRANSLATION TOOLS ARE NOT PERMITTED!	Uses conventions, vocabulary, and terminology about animals with limited effectiveness.	Uses conventions, vocabulary, and terminology about animals with some effectiveness.	Uses conventions, vocabulary, and terminology about animals with considerable effectiveness.	Uses conventions, vocabulary, and terminology about animals with a high degree of effectiveness.
Written presentation	Written work is not neat and tidy or well-organized, and does not demonstrate that a good effort has been made.	Written work is somewhat neat and tidy, well-organized, and demonstrates some degree of effort.	Written work is neat and tidy, well-organized, and demonstrates a good effort.	Written work is extremely neat and tidy, well-organized, and demonstrates a great deal of effort.
Research	Little evidence of research.	Some evidence of research. Research is accurate/some categories are complete.	Project is researched and accurate. Most categories are complete.	Project is researched and accurate. All categories are complete.
Oral presentation	Presentation is not serious and/or very little information is shared with the class.	Presentation is serious but little information is shared with the class, or vice versa.	Presentation is serious and some information is shared with the class.	Presentation is serious and much information is shared with the class.
Attentitive listening/ respect	Demonstrates appreciation appropriately as an audience member, with limited effectiveness.	Demonstrates appreciation appropriately as an audience member, with some effectiveness.	Demonstrates appreciation appropriately as an audience member, with considerable effectiveness.	Demonstrates appreciation appropriately as an audience member, with a high degree of effectiveness.