Thank you to those who sent in beach balls on Friday! We used them to play two mini volleyball games. It was helpful for students to practice the skills (set, bump) with a larger, lighter ball. I will send the beach balls home next week after our Tuesday gym period, which will be our last session on volleyball.

Math homework for those who wish to participate: Show the number 765 two different ways

1) using 54 blocks (hundreds, tens or ones)
2) using 36 blocks (hundreds, tens or ones)

Students can draw pictures of the blocks to show their answers. We have begun a unit on place value. Earlier in the week, we spent time developing an understanding of our place value system. For example, when there is a 2 in the hundreds place it has a value of 200. We also learned how to read and write number words. Later in the week, we played a game called Decide the Digits. Ask students if they can teach you the game.

In writing, we have been practicing Showing rather than Telling in our writing. Students are learning to describe feelings without explicitly telling. Here's an example:

Koala Lou shivered. Her stomach tumbled over and over like a million butterflies trying to escape from a jar. She looked up at the tall tree she was about to climb. Can I do this? she wondered.

We had a lot of fun in Science this week. Our first activity was called the 100 Apple Solar System which helped students gain an understanding of the relative mass of the planets in relation to the sun. We learned that the sun is 99.86% of the mass of the solar system. Ask your child to tell you which part of the apple represented the inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars), comets, meteors, and moons. On Wednesday, we went out to the back field and created our own model of the distance between planets from the sun. Then we talked about how much greater the real distance would be out in our solar system.

We have begun looking at Canada in Social Studies by learning about the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. I asked students to brainstorm with their table groups and come up with an idea they thought might be represented in this charter. It was a nice link to our culture unit. Their answers were incredibly thoughtful.

Class meetings - what are they? Every Friday, we are holding a class meeting. Students are taking turns as the Chair of the meeting. The format is the same. We begin by giving bouquets to the Chair. Going around the circle, we pass a talking rock and students say something they appreciate about the person. Then we move into problems or suggestions. Throughout the week, students can put a slip of paper in the suggestion box with an idea for the class to consider or a problem they would like the class to help solve. We then go through a series of steps to find a solution.

On Thursday, we enjoyed a school-wide performance by Axe Capoira. Students were amazed at the agility of the dancers.

• Picture order forms and proofs came home today. Please return your orders by Thursday.
• The moon was beautiful on Thursday night. One more week to get some moon watching in.
• We are collecting clear film canisters (the ones where the lid goes inside the canister) for a fun science activity. Thanks for your help!