Week #30: Apr. 17 - 21st

Dear Families,

We had yet another productive week of learning!  We spent quality time thinking about, reflecting upon, and honouring Mother Earth.  

Many students told me that they've already shared some of our discussions with you at home and you were very intrigued as we've been learning about a very important crisis - CLIMATE CHANGE.  

As a result of this, we know now more than ever before, our Earth needs us to make wiser more mindful choices.

We need to INVEST IN OUR PLANET!  Get Inspired.  Take Action. Be a part of the Green Revolution.

For Earth Day 2023, we need to act (boldly), innovate (broadly), and implement (equitably).  Businesses, governments, and citizens — everyone accounted for, and everyone accountable. A partnership for the planet.

For more information, I urge you as a family to get out the following link -->  Invest in Our Planet!

Below, many of us are dressed in GREEN (represents the land) and BLUE (represents the oceans, lakes, rivers, ponds) to show our dedication to our planet to help it get greener and cleaner!! 

Thank you boys and girls for not only showing school spirit, but more importantly, demonstrating your commitment to being an environmental activist to help PROTECT, RESTORE, and FUN for preserving the planet!

EARTH WEEK ACTIVITIES:
This week, our class dedicated our energies to do a deep dive into expanding our knowledge and understanding about our Earth and completing initiatives to help preserve and protect it.  It was remarkable for me to see how much everyone is concerned and cares for our planet!  

One of the first initiatives we took was to honour my former students' very own Planet Pledge.  

Our class shared this Pledge with the whole school over the announcements.  We want to help make a difference not solely for our class family, but for the SCHOOL FAMILY!

I have shared many times with my class, and I trust you believe in this too that we must honour and celebrate Earth Day every day! 

The time is NOW my friends to bring about positive change.  It is up to us to make a significant difference not just for our generation, but for generations to come!

We must always make an effort to be mindful of reducing, reusing, and recycling when ever we can.  We have one planet, it is up to us to help it!  There is NO PLANET B!!

COMMUNITY CLEAN UP:

Another significant initiative we took this week was going outside and doing a community clean up.  As Greta has taught us, "no one is too small to make a difference!"  

That's certainly been our mentality :-)  We were very eager to do our part demonstrating our care and compassion for the environment and nature. 

As you'll soon see below, we enjoyed this process and are always ready to lend a helping hand! 

Thank you boys and girls for your efforts and demonstrating true character!  Thumbs up to making a difference, YAY!

CLIMATE CHANGE:

Who is Greta Thunberg? What is climate change? Please ask your child about this prior to reading on. We did a thorough discussion about this and I believe you'll be quite impressed with their deeper knowledge and understanding :)

Below is a very meaningful book called "Greta and the Giants." This story is inspired by Greta Thunberg a 20 year old environmental activist who is known for challenging world leaders to take immediate action for climate change.

Thank you Libby for selecting this text and sharing it with me!  

I've shared this book in class, but I have also posted an online version for you below so you too can listen and learn about the dire need to help our planet.

"The story you've just heard has a happy ending. But in the real world, Greta is still fighting the "giants." They might not be as easy to see as they are in this book, but they are there. Some of the giants don't want to change their ways. That's why Greta needs OUR HELP."

"There is a natural solution to the climate breakdown: Protecting forests. Climate activist Greta Thunberg and writer and climate activist George Monbiot explain." Please watch this inspiring video below and discuss its importance as a family :)

Greta's care and concern for climate change is powerful. She is here to unite humanity to make a difference before it's too late. "Climate change means the world is getting hotter and hotter and this is causing a lot of damage."

Scientists all agree that this rising temperature is down to human activity. When we burn coal, oil, and gas (called "fossil fuels"), something called carbon dioxide is released into the air and this makes the world warm up. The polar ice is melting and sea levels are rising. Forests are being chopped down and animals are left homeless :(

"Did you know the Earth is already 1 degree Celsius hotter than it used to be? This has caused worse wildfires, storms, droughts, and floods, and more than 1 million people living near the coast have been forced to leave their homes."

"If we carry on as we are, things will only get worse. Climate change is the biggest crisis humans have ever faced."

"Greta knew all of this and she couldn't understand why no one was doing anything about it. So, when she was only 15 years old, she went on strike from school, sitting outside the Swedish government building and holding a sign that said, "Strike for climate!"

"Over time, people stopped to join her and now, her protest has encouraged children and adults from all over the world to stand up for climate change too. Greta has spoken to politicians from many different countries, and in 2019 she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize."

Let us all be like Greta and take immediate action before it's too late!

"NO ONE IS TOO SMALL TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!" - Greta Thunberg

Here are some things YOU CAN do to help Greta:

• learn everything you can about climate change.  Tell your friends and family all about what we have learned in class

• ask your parents or guardians to take you on a climate protest so you can stand up to "giants."  Write a letter to or visit your elected officials to ask them to stop climate change

• walk, run, cycle, or take the bus or train instead of getting in the car or taking a plane.  This means LESS FOSSIL FUELS are burned

• try to get your family to eat less meat.  Ask your parents or guardian to buy food made nearby instead of from a far-away country

• look after the things you have.  Mend them when they are broken instead of buying new things.  Share them with your friends when you've finished with them

"You might think that it won't make a difference, but if we all work together, WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD!"

LANGUAGE:

Our focus in reading and writing has been on Earth Week activities.  Your child lovingly completed a collection of meaningful tasks which promotes taking action to help preserve and protect our planet!!

If you haven't already, please take some time to sit with your child and read over their various responses.  I think you will be delighted with what they wrote especially the sheet about "I am a PLANET PROTECTOR" :)

We also discussed the importance of why we need to STOP PLASTIC POLLUTION IN OUR OCEANS FOR GOOD!  Please watch this 4:30 minute video to learn more.

Our oceans are being filled and killed by throwaway plastics. But together, we can create a movement to reduce throwaway plastic at the source and save our oceans.

Oceana and its allies are already winning plastic-free victories -- victories that aren't possible without your help. Are you ready to be part of our movement to #BreakFreeFromPlastic?

teamseas.org

BENNER & ISLA:

Thank you to Benner and Isla for contributing so many batteries from your homes which will now be saved from going into our landfill and successfully recycled!  

Your contributions are making a difference and have inspired your peers to think about and do their part too :)

Please consider NEVER throwing out batteries, this is why!  Check out the video below for more information :)

MATH - CODING:

Coding has been such an engaging and interactive concept for the students.  I am sure they've been buzzing about this at home too ;)

We completed a series of Coding Lessons this week and I am so proud of how our skills have developed in such a short period of time.  

Check us out below in ScratchJr. Coding action ;)  We learned to create & code a variety of games!!

I'm hoping at some point this week, your child came home and showed you how to - 

Animate the Letters of Your Name!

Create & Code a Game Called Penguin Poke!

Create & Code a Game Called Squish the Ghost!

SHOW WHAT YOU KNOW & Create & Code an Interactive Animal Scene!

If your child did not get to showing you these interactive lessons, not to worry, that is why I posted the videos above and perhaps sometime over the weekend, your child can show you what they know :)

For more tutorials, please click the link below 'Learn to Code' and your child may choose another coding task they wish to complete on their own!

Please note, I have also posted the coding link (which is below) on our Google Classroom for the children to access at home and get coding!

Learn to Code!

As a culminating (final) task, students will be asked to create & code their own game for their peers and teacher to try out!  Happy Coding :)

MAE:

I hope you were able to enjoy your child's spring artwork that came home in the agenda.  Check out Mae's here!  

The children had fun with this one as it used different mediums of crayons, pastels, sharpies, and water colours.  As they say, "April showers bring May flowers!"  Let's sure hope so ;)

LOGAN:

Thank you Logan for picking some beautiful flowers to help brighten up our classroom.  

Your thoughtfulness and act of kindness is appreciated!  So, SO SWEET!

I'm happy you had some time outdoors going for a walk with your Mom and your new pup!  

MINDFULNESS:

Please tune into this captivating short Conservation International film and join forces to give nature a voice!!

Yes my friends, it is up to us to PROTECT, RESTORE, and provide FUNDING to help Mother Earth who is our greatest provider. The time is now to LISTEN, ACT, UNITE for climate change!!

GROWTH MINDSET:

Thank you Mae for this week's mindset message!  You had shared with me that you overheard your little brother Bennett say this and you wanted the class to know about it.  That's amazing!  

"Remember all people good or bad have LOVE IN THEIR HEART." - Mae

Your little brother is only in grade 1 and his growth mindset way of thinking is admirable!  We must all embrace and adopt Bennett's way of thinking and see the good in people even if they choose to make wrong decisions at times because we all have a heart and it's meant to love and be loved :)

Respectfully Yours,

Ms. Gill