February 10-12

ELAL

Analyze mentor texts to determine how word choice can influence the purpose or audience of a text.

Create expressive descriptions by selecting vocabulary to convey mood or sensory images.

What did students do:

Students learned about creating mood through watching a video and exploring and analyzing mentor texts. After watching a video on how mood is created in different ways, we looked at specifically how authors create mood in their writing. As a whole group we read some mentor texts and determined what mood the author was conveying. We looked for words and phrases that helped create the desired mood. Students were then given some short texts to examine and determine mood as well as the vocabulary used to create it. They then applied their learning to their own writing with another set of pages of their Journey text. Using their writing toolbox including their newly entered mood word list, they began creating mood in their writing. They are now writing about the character getting captured by the guards in the book but she escapes with the help of the bird she released and draws a magic carpet that they fly through the clouds on. These pages provide an excellent opportunity to move from a mood of fear, hopelessness and desperation to one of joy, freedom, and belonging. Students can't wait to share their amazing stories. 

Student Writing Sample: 

The guards dragged her into a cage like she was an object. Locked in the cage she cried for help but nothing came out. The cage was small and tight. She felt like she was suffocating inside and out. She was terrified. She started to wonder whether she would be able to get out or not. She got desperate and started to shake the cage clank clank clank! “I'm stuck here, I'm stuck, I miss my mom! I wanna go back home!” She crumples into a ball. She looks out to the night sky and imagines being back home warm with her mom and dad and sister.

Student Writing Sample:The guards grabbed her and kept on pulling her and pulling her across the ship. Lila was miserable and nervous she was wondering where they would take her. Lila couldn't do anything to save herself.The guards dragged her further and further across the Wood bridge into the metal cage they threw Lila in. She hit her head hard against the back of the cage. The metal bars felt like ice Lila said “Ow” to the guards but they didn't help her they just laughed they slowly lowered Lila down.She was floating above the dark grey sky the cage was small, tight and cold it was so scary lila just sat there didn't do anything to get out of the cage. She felt like did at home, invisible,empty and desperate for help.

Coming Up at Sibbald

February 13, 14th  - Teacher's Convention - no school for students

February 17th – Family Day holiday – no school for staff or students     February 24th – Mon/Wed Kindergarten and Gr. 3 Celebration of Learning (9:30 am)    February 18th – Scope and Sequence documents for parents go home this week      February 26th – Pink Shirt Day, Mary Lambert presentation for K-5 students    February 28th – Professional Learning Day for Staff – no school for students   March 4th – Gr. 5 Field Trip to The Confluence (Ms. Chen's Class)   March 3 – 7th Basketball residency for K-5 students      March 6th – Fun Lunch   March 10th – Gr. 5 Field Trip to The Confluence (Mrs. Sampson's class)  March 12th – School Council Meeting

 Feb 3 - 7

Science

What Did Students Do?

This week, students investigated displacement, buoyancy, buoyant force and gravitational force in Science. They also had opportunities to predict and test materials to determine whether they sank or could float.

Firstly, students developed their understanding that when an object is placed in water, water will be displaced. We did a demonstration with students where two balls of clay of the same weight were used. One stayed in a round ball shape. The other was shaped into a boat that could float. Ask your child to tell you more about the demonstration. Was the same amount of water displaced? Different?

Then, students were given two pieces of tin foil of the same size. They had to use one piece to create something that could float and the other piece to make something that would sink. Ask them to tell you about what they created, how they adjusted it and what they noticed.

Students learned about buoyant force and gravitational force. Ask them to explain the diagram below.

Students brought in items from home and used classroom materials to predict and test whether it would sink or float. Students had fun experimenting and many of them were surprised by some of their findings. Ask your child to tell you about the items they tested.

 

 

Coming Up at Sibbald          February 12th – School Council Meeting – Grades 3 and 5 to share Teacher Report   February 13 & 14th – Teacher's & Support Staff Convention – no school for students   February 17th – Family Day holiday – no school for staff or students

 

January 27 - 30th 

ELAL

Students enhance the accuracy and artistry of expression through creative and critical thinking processes.

Establish a plot, point of view, setting, and problem through creative writing.

Create texts that show, rather than tell, story events.

What Did Students Do?

This week students reviewed figurative language, specifically similes and metaphors. We looked at some similes and metaphors together, watched videos about them, practiced identifying them, and brainstormed a list of each one in small groups. Students created their own simile and metaphor and illustrated it on a piece of cardstock for our bulletin board. Returning to our Journey writing, students then transferred their knowledge of similes and metaphors into their narrative writing.  

  

Here are some examples from student's Journey writing:

"She was spinning in the air like a ballerina."

"the guards were like toy soldiers"

"She fell as fast as lightning,"

"He was as calm as a capybara."

 

Coming Up at Sibbald          February 3rd – Fun Lunch   February 5th – Storyteller Jeff Stockton to visit Andrew Sibbald   February 6th – Storyteller Jeff Stockton to visit Andrew Sibbald   February 12th – School Council Meeting – Grades 3 and 5 to share Teacher Report   February 13 & 14th – Teacher's & Support Staff Convention – no school for students   February 17th – Family Day holiday – no school for staff or students

 

 Jan 20 - 24

Science 

Explain the effects of thrust and drag on the flight of living things and objects. 

 

Explain the effects of lift and weight on the flight of living things and objects. 

 

Observe living things and objects in flight. 

 

Describe traditional or modern technologies developed by diverse cultures that reflect understanding of forces that affect flight. 

 

Construct a device that can fly. 

What Did Students Do?

Students investigated and applied their understanding of the four forces of flight (lift, weight, thrust, drag) through a variety of learning tasks this week. Students made paper airplanes and tested them. During this task, students folded a paper airplane, observed it in the air and made adjustments to improve the distance it flew. This was an opportunity for students to apply their scientific understanding to solve a problem. Students engaged in rich discussions with their classmates in determining how to improve their airplane design. Then, students created a visual journal page to explain how the forces of flight were acting upon their paper plane. 

Students also began researching traditional tools developed by various groups of people in the past and present. Students are learning about one of the following tools: atalatl, bow and arrow, fishing spear and slingshot. They are creating a slideshow slide to teach their peers about this tool, how it works, what is it made of and how people utilized this tool. They are working towards explaining how these tools are impacted by the forces of flight.

Then, during Makerspace, students were invited to create a glider. Students had reference tools to consider wing shape and wing span. They attached their wings to a fuselage (main body of the aircraft) and tested it. Once again, students observed, recorded and made adjustments to their designs. Students applied their knowledge of the forces of flight to adjust and improve their gliders.

Students had a great time inline skating this week! Ask them to tell you more about their experience. Coach Ashley taught students how to do really cool tricks and played a dodgeball game with them this week. Students also had the opportunity to support their Grade 2 buddies in getting their gear on. 

 

Coming Up at Sibbald          January 27th – Report Cards available through PowerSchool   January 30th – Grade 5 Field Trip to the Hangar Museum   January 31st – Professional Learning Day for teachers – no school for students  February 3rd – Fun Lunch   February 5th – Storyteller Jeff Stockton to visit Andrew Sibbald   February 6th – Storyteller Jeff Stockton to visit Andrew Sibbald   February 12th – School Council Meeting – Grades 3 and 5 to share Teacher Report   February 13 & 14th – Teacher's & Support Staff Convention – no school for students   February 17th – Family Day holiday – no school for staff or students

 Jan 13 - 17, 2025

Phys-Ed

Students analyze and apply strategies and tactics that support improved decision making in physical activities.

Students demonstrate how collaboration influences physical activity.

What Did Students Do?

Students were involved in playing various territorial and invasion games such as Two-Ball, Castle, Tail Tag, and Three Ball. For all of these games, teamwork skills and strategizing was very important. Students needed to collaborate, communicate, and cooperate in order to achieve success. They were involved in kicking, running, throwing, and tagging. Each team needed to focus on defense while defending their territory and offense while invading the territory of the other team. With games such as two-ball there were many things happening all at once so they needed to be alert and aware. Students were engaged and excited to participate. We stopped regularly to evaluate what was working and what we needed to change so students had a voice in how the games progressed and evolved throughout the week. 

   

Green Communication Folders

Students did not bring green folders home today. They will come home next Friday. Please send back any folders and work samples that have not yet been returned. Thank you. 

Alien Inline Skating begins next week! Please have students dress in comfortable clothing on their skating days. 

Please send back field trip forms for the Hangar Flight Museum. We are in need of five volunteers per class so please email me if you are able to join us.

Coming Up at Sibbald         January 20th – K-5 Alien Inline Skating residency   January 27th – K-5 Alien Inline Skating residency   January 27th – Report Cards available through PowerSchool   January 30th – Grade 5 Field Trip to the Hangar Museum   January 31st – Professional Learning Day for teachers – no school for students  February 3rd – Fun Lunch   February 5th – Storyteller Jeff Stockton to visit Andrew Sibbald   February 6th – Storyteller Jeff Stockton to visit Andrew Sibbald   February 12th – School Council Meeting – Grades 3 and 5 to share Teacher Report   February 13 & 14th – Teacher's & Support Staff Convention – no school for students   February 17th – Family Day holiday – no school for staff or students

  Jan 6-10

Happy New Year! Hope you had a wonderful holiday season. 

ELAL

Students enhance the accuracy and artistry of expression through creative and critical thinking processes.

Establish a plot, point of view, setting, and problem through creative writing.

Create texts that show, rather than tell, story events.

What Did Students Do?

This week, students examined how to make engaging story beginnings to hook their readers. They learned about specific types of leads that they can us to craft a beginning. They browsed classroom and school library books to identify examples of these beginnings. Students experimented with creating great beginnings by using a picture prompt and tried to make three different beginnings based on the picture. See below for some examples of these story leads and some of the resources used to support student learning.

As the week went on, we introduced our writing project - Journey. We looked at the wordless picture book and discussed how the writing task would unfold. Students were provided with a brief outline for what the project would include. Throughout the project, students will learn, practice and apply narrative writing techniques such as using descriptive detail, dialogue, creating mood and using figurative language to engage readers. Students will have opportunities to conference with their teacher throughout the project to receive feedback.

Students began writing and crafted a beginning for their story. Ask them to tell you more about it. 

    

   

Ask Your Child:

-What picture prompt did you choose? 

-Tell me about your beginnings. 

-Tell me about French and the school supplies you learned

-Tell me about Science and the new unit that was started

-Tell me about Math and how to use the grid method to multiply

Green Communication Folders

Students brought home their communication folders on Friday. Please take a moment to review the work with your child. Please return the folders with work samples to school.

Alien Inline Skating Forms

Forms for this amazing opportunity went home this week. Please return ASAP.

Coming Up at Sibbald         January 20th – K-5 Alien Inline Skating residency   January 27th – K-5 Alien Inline Skating residency   January 27th – Report Cards available through PowerSchool   January 30th – Grade 5 Field Trip to the Hangar Museum   January 31st – Professional Learning Day for teachers – no school for students  February 3rd – Fun Lunch   February 5th – Storyteller Jeff Stockton to visit Andrew Sibbald   February 6th – Storyteller Jeff Stockton to visit Andrew Sibbald   February 12th – School Council Meeting – Grades 3 and 5 to share Teacher Report   February 13 & 14th – Teacher's & Support Staff Convention – no school for students   February 17th – Family Day holiday – no school for staff or students