Tom Thomson

Tom Thomson. Snow In The Woods. 1916

This morning we continued learning about the letter 'M' and read the book, If You Take A Mouse To The Movies. Then the children learned about the musical term 'pizzicato' (see Thursday).

In art we learned about the Canadian artist, Tom Thomson. We looked at his paintings titled, Wood Interior, Winter and Snow In The Woods, which he painted in 1916. Then the children tried his technique, using big thick brush strokes and lots of paint.

More Snow!

In today's class we also read the book Snow, used scarves to move to Snow is Dancing, and looked at Maude Lewis’ snowy paintings in art (see Wednesday).

In music, the children learned about the term 'pizzicato', a technique where the strings of a violin are plucked with the fingers instead of using a bow. Then we listened for the pizzicato section in the Chinese Dance from the Nutcracker, and plucked along on our pretend violins. After, we used ribbon sticks and explored the Chinese Dance through movement, tiptoeing around whenever we heard the pizzicato.

Kyri had her special day in the afternoon. She brought her collection of Disney princess and Barbie dolls to show the class. Then her mom read the story, If You Give A Moose A Muffin. Thank you, Debbie, for helping out today!

Dancing Snow

This morning we read the book Snow, written by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Lauren Stringer. Then we listened to The Snow is Dancing, a musical piece composed by Claude Debussy. We discussed the way snow falls and used scarves to become dancing snowflakes.

Today we also used ribbon sticks to explore movement, while listening to the Chinese Dance from the Nutcracker. We talked briefly about the Nutcracker, a ballet that is performed in winter.

Paintings of winter scenes by Canadian folk artist Maude Lewis were our inspiration for art. The children painted their own pictures, adding white at the end to create winter scenes.

Jingle Bells!

On Monday and Tuesday we read the book Jingle Bells and talked about horse-drawn sleighs. Then we sang practiced singing the song, which we will perform at the Winter Festival.

For music, we listened to The Skater’s Waltz. On the second listen we used pieces of wax paper under our feet to ‘skate’ around the room. Our letter of the week is ‘M’, so we also learned about the mandolin, an instrument from the string family. Each child had a turn playing the mandolin.

Then the children made their own jingle sticks, which they use at the Winter Festival.

Tuesday was Cassidy’s special day. She brought her older brother’s Webkinz to show the class and her mom read the classic story, 101 Dalmatians. Thank you, Rhonda, for helping out and for the delicious cupcakes!

Parachute Play

The book orders were placed yesterday. Thank you to everyone for ordering! The books should be here in about two weeks.

Today we sang and danced to a song about the letter 'L'. Then we read the book Snowman's Big Job. After snack, we went to the gym to play freeze tag. When everyone was tired of running, we got out the parachute and played Cat & Mouse. Since it was a PD day, we had the gym all to ourselves and we spent extra time on movement in place of music and art.

Next week we will start preparing for the Winter Festival. We have a backdrop to paint, jingle sticks to make, songs to learn, and a dance to choreograph!

Winter Fun

Today's class was similar to Wednesday's class, but we also made it to the gym in the morning and afternoon for some fun and exercise.

Jennie had her special day in the morning and she brought her stuffed dog, named Chocolate, to show the other children. Her mom read the book Princes Mia and the Big Smile to the class. Thank you, Stephanie, for helping today and for the tasty fruit!

Thank you also to everyone who placed orders for our Sugar Cookie Fundraiser!

Winter Wonderland

This morning we started a new calendar, letter (L), colour (white) and theme (winter). We read the book Winter Rabbit, and talked about winter activities like skating, sledding, and playing in the snow. Then we listened to Vivaldi’s “Winter” concerto from The Four Seasons, and played our pretend violins. While listening a second time, we skated around the room, built a snowperson, threw snowballs, made snow angels and slid around on our imaginary toboggans.

In art we drew pictures to send to the Children’s Library as a thank you for the puppet show.

Today was Claire’s special day, and she brought a Curious George book to read and some stuffed animals to share with the class. Thank you, Amy, for your help this morning!

Children's Library Fieldtrip

Today's classes also attended the RPL Children's Library for a puppet show based on the book Rockabye Crocodile. The children laughed a lot and thoroughly enjoyed the retelling of this Philippine tale.

After snack we also read the story Three Little Alligators. Then the children played until it was time to go home.

Thank you to the parents who helped out on the fieldtrip today!

Warthogs and Crocodiles

Today we went to the RPL Children’s Library to see a puppet show about a warthog who befriends a lemon tree and a crocodile family, and is given food in return for her kindness. Then the warthog’s sister tries to get food from the lemon tree and crocodile family, but the sister is rude and selfish, and ends up with bugs instead.  In the end, everyone shares and they all live happily ever after.

After the puppet show, the children ate their snacks and then played in the play area. We read a book called Three Little Alligators, and then it was time to go home.

Thank you to the parents who stayed and helped out today!

Gone Fishing



Paul Klee, The Golden Fish, 1925. Image source: The Web Museum

This morning we read the book Super Submarines by Tony Mitton & Ant Parker. Then we went on our own imaginary submarine to explore the ocean. We saw some fish, alligators, a dolphin, and almost went over a waterfall once again. We continued to learn about the letter ‘K’, and talked about our upcoming fieldtrip to the library on Monday. The children also explored tempo some more by moving to music with fast and slow sections.

In art we looked at Paul Klee’s (pronounced clay) The Golden Fish, a painting made with oil and watercolour on paper. The children used oil pastels and watercolours to make their own artwork, and we discovered that oil and water do not mix.

It was Judson’s special day today, and he brought a toy combine and tow truck to share with the rest of the class. He also brought mini oranges and pretzels to share at snack time. Thank you Darren & Jennifer for all of your help with these goofy kids today!

Seeing Dots

Nate and Addyson's explorations of pointillism.

Today the children learned about boats, tempo, and Seurat (see Wednesday). We also talked about our upcoming fieldtrip.  Next Tuesday we will be meeting at the library to see a puppet show, and we just may read some books while we are there!

Addyson had her special day in the morning. She brought a plush toy penguin for show and tell and all of the children had a chance to hug it. Her mom read a Look & Find ABC book to the children and they found this week’s letter, ‘K’.

Thank you to Nicole for helping this morning, and for the snack of grapes and crackers!

Sailing Away



Aislynn & Carson's Pointillism Artwork

Today we built an imaginary boat and went sailing in it after reading the book We'll All Sail Away. We had a few close calls with some sharks and alligators, but managed to save a parrot that was stranded in the middle of the sea before tumbling down a waterfall. (Seriously folks, the children make this stuff up, not me!)

We continued to learn about tempo and did some more movement with scarves to fast and slow music. Then we listened to the song A Sailor Went to Sea, Sea, Sea and played our rhythm sticks with a fast steady beat, then a second time with a slow steady beat.

In art, we learned about Georges Seurat (zhorzh sir-ah), who also liked to use dots in a style that is called pointillism. The children used Q-tips and tempera paint to create their own pointillist artwork.

Full of Hot Air!

Tuesday’s class learned about Lichenstein & tempo, and went for an imaginary hot air balloon ride, just like Monday's class. In the morning we flew over a beach and decided to land our balloon there for some fun in the sun! In the afternoon we had a close call with a fighter jet, but luckily some of the children were able to patch the damage on the balloon, so we all made it home safe and sound.

It was Mackenna's special day in the morning and she brought her Strawberry Shortcake dolls to show the class. Her mom read Skippyjon Jones, a book about a Siamese cat that thinks he is a Chihuahua dog!

Denton's special day was in the afternoon. He brought his bucket of hockey action figures to share with the other children. Then he and his mom read Z is for Zamboni: A Hockey Alphabet.

Thank you Gillian & Tammy for the help and wonderful snacks!

Up, Up, and Away!

This morning we read the story We’ll All Go Flying. Then we went on our own imaginary hot air balloon ride, and what a ride it was! As we were floating in the sky over farms and zoos and playing charades, our basket broke. Luckily, some of the children were flying a rocket ship nearby and they saved us before we plunged to the ground. Whew!

In music we continued learning about tempo, and today we used scarves and movement to explore fast and slow.

Tavion and Jud's Artworks

In art we looked at the painting Whaam! by pop artist Roy Lichtenstein (only the left panel of the diptych, featuring a plane). The children created their own pictures using dots in the style of Lichtenstein.

It was Tavion’s birthday today and his special day. He brought his favourite toys, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, for show and tell. His mom read the very humourous book, If You Give a Moose a Muffin, to the class. Thank you, Stacy, for helping out today, and for the delicious snacks!

All Aboard!

A ticket for the
Imagination Train

This morning we looked at the Caldecott Honor Book Freight Train by Donald Crews. Then we boarded the Imagination Train and went for a ride. I really hoped we would leave the cold and snow behind and head for Hawaii, but the children wanted to visit Trainland, the jungle, and the zoo. Our last stop was Cupcake Land, where everyone got a big, imaginary cupcake.

The artwork in Freight Train was our inspiration for art today. We tried out Donald Crews style and used stencils and spatter painting to create our own pictures.

It was Zachary’s special day and he brought a camera for show & tell. He snapped some pictures and even made a video of the class, which the children took turns watching. The children also helped Zachary’s mom read the short, funny story But Not the Hippopotamus by Sandra Boynton.

Thank you to Claire for the help today and for the yummy snack of veggies, cheese and crackers!

Stunning Tie-dye

Today we continued tie-dying t-shirts, learning about trains, Turner and the letter 'J' (see yesterday's post).  The tie-dyed shirts look stunning! I'll wash the t-shirts over the weekend and send them home next week. Pictured below: Marina, Camryn, Matt & Hunter's t-shirts.

It was Matt's special day in the morning and we celebrated Hunter's birthday in the afternoon. Matt brought his monkey and a toy motorbike to show the rest of the class. Hunter brought a Star Wars transformer and his mom helped him show the class how it transforms.

A big THANK YOU to parents Nicole and Jodi for all the help today!

Trains, Tie-dye & Turner

Today we continued learning about different modes of transportation. We read a book about passenger and freight trains. Then we played a steady beat on our rhythm sticks to a song called A Pilot Likes to Fly Her Plane, Plane, Plane. In art we looked at a painting by J.M.W. Turner, titled Rain, Steam and Speed -- The Great Western Railway, and painted our own 'oil' paintings.

We also tie-dyed our shirts that we'll wear on our fieldtrips. The shirts will be sent home with the children on Friday. Please wash them separately in cold water.

Our letter this week is the letter 'J'. We jumped, jiggled around and sang Jelly in Bowl with lots of giggling!