Growing In Committment
Theme Three - What We Have Covered
We have had many interesting and educational discussions over the last week. If you are interested in the topics of conversation, take a look at the 3 letters home that I've included below. If you would like to see the textbook and the stories that we discussed, simply send a note in your child's agenda. Finally, take a look at the photos below of what students thought they looked liked while they were in their "special home" , the uterus.
We Are in the Easter Season
Now that we are in the Easter Season (the time after Holy Week and Easter Sunday) and in spring it is a great time to talk about new life by taking a look at the next unit in Family Life. The next unit which follows Unit 1: Created and Loved and Unit 2: Living In Relationship is called Created Sexual: Male and Female. The note below explains the next unit and what it entails.
Finishing Up Lent and Beginning Holy Week
We had some serious, in depth lessons and discussions about sin and how it connects to us. We looked at original sin and why we get baptized. We also compared venial sin vs mortal sin (revisiting the 10 commandments and the gift of free will). Students were able to identify with characters in stories and examples to fully grasp what sin means (consciously choosing to do something they know is wrong). As we begin Holy Week, girls and boys are hearing the familiar stories they hear every year. This year, however, they are looking at them with a wider lense using the information they gained during Lent. As a way to demonstrate their understanding as well as learn the skill of creating a media presentation, everyone is creating their very own slide show explaining the important events and days leading up to Easter. Stay tuned, they will be ready to share soon.
Making Choices and Making Connections
As part of growing up, God gives us the gift of free will. We have had many discussions on making choices, what is right and wrong, how do you decide and who can help you. When reading various texts students are making connections to things that have happened to themselves or others they know, connections to the real world, connections to other books they have read, and also making connections to their faith.
Family Life - Friendships and Belonging
After reading, having discussions, some role playing and skits, students gained a firm understanding of these 3 important pieces for friendship.
We Celebrated Epiphany and Took A Deeper Look at The 3 Wisemen's Role and What Missionaries Are
After hearing the story straight from the Bible, the students were able to put the events of the Wisemen's story in order. They came to understand that after seeing Jesus they were to go out and spread the Good News, sharing the important message that God's son was here on Earth - they were to be missionaries. We took a look at some other missionaries by taking another look at Isaiah, discussing St. Teresa (formally known as Mother Teresa), reading a story about Sister Sheila, and then getting examples of how we could be missionaries in our own communities (school, home). Our bulletin board is becoming full with all the things we've done this week.
First Week of Advent - We Light the Purple Candle of HOPE
Students wrote down a special hope and we combined them to create a class prayer of hope to start our Advent season off. It was added to the stable to lay a bed of hay in preparation of Jesus' coming.
One Week Until Advent So We Are Taking A Look At What Advent Is and Wonder About What We Would Like to Know About It
Family Life Project
Unit Two is Taking a Look at Family and Living in Relationship
We have started by discussing family, extended family, and origins of our family name (last name). Many new countries of origin for their family name and many are still wondering if they were to translate their last name into English, what would it mean. (Ex. VanZeeland translated means "from Zeeland" which was actually a small town in Holland). Students are practicing a style of colouring (outlining and shading - along with traditional colouring in one direction and in the lines) in order to create a tree where they will place all the important people of their immediate family and extended family.
|
Last Part of Unit One in Family Life - Talents and Gifts
Real Life Lesson on What To Do When Experiencing Feelings of ..."Targeting", "Anger from Unfair Play" and "Frustration When Others Don't Listen To Your Words"
In gym today, we had a great opportunity to learn and grow as a school family when a situation arose where some students were feeling "targetted" or it seemed that the way people were playing the game was "unfair". By looking at body language (stomping, arms crossed over chest, even laying on the ground with an arm over eyes) I saw that some students were experiencing some BIG emotions and were letting these emotions get the best of them instead of STAR (stop take a deep breath and relax ...then talk it out). We stopped the play, gathered as a group, breathed and then allowed those who needed or wanted to - talk, express their feelings and why. Students began to see the difference between being "targeted" or "unfair play" versus "strategic play" to win the game. They also were reminded that in many games as in real life, that sometimes we win and sometimes we lose and we have to learn how to do both with grace. I taught them the sign language for "fantastic" to celebrate winning and the sign language for "try again" for when they lose. As well, we tweaked the game rules of play to ensure clarity of how to play and provide a little bit of compassion in the game so a team won't feel "targeted". Way to go, Grade Threes!
On another note, after a class sharing opportunity revolving around teh two activity sheets completed last week in Family Life, these two ideas came about.
On another note, after a class sharing opportunity revolving around teh two activity sheets completed last week in Family Life, these two ideas came about.
Feelings In Family Life
We read a book called feelings, explored some photographs of people showing a variety of feelings, and explored a few scenarios of others experiencing big feelings like anger and frustration. Students had great insight and contributed very thoughtful ideas and solutions. Please read the home connection letter to see what we covered. The photos are students working cooperatively and diligently in pairs analyzing (determining feelings, deciding on the best solution, etc.) two different scenarios that really could have happened to any of us at St. James.
We Have Most of The Background Information, Now We Are Ready to Put it Into Action
On Friday, boys and girls indpendently decided which topic they would like to report on using which tool. They wrote their 2 choices down on a piece of paper with their name and handed it in. I simply matched the students up in partnerships according to their topic and tool. Everyone had a match! See the choices below.
Monday, students will be given the sheet below and will fill it in with their partner. The rest of the week will be spent learning how to use the tool they decided upon while creating a finished product.
We Are One Step Closer To Being A Digital Samaritan
Today we finished off the section on What Is A Digital Citizen?.
There were many interesting resources we used that drove the conversations we had. Here are some of the ideas we came up with to define how we - Mrs. V.P.'s Grade 3 Class - will be Digital Samaritans.
Exploring What Is A Friend
After reading the book Stick And Stone, students worked together to decide what it takes to be a good friend. Ideas were shared, written on paper and then posted. I handed out hearts made of tissue paper and asked students to crumple them up. I then told them that made a mistake in the order of the activity and asked them to unfold and unwrinkle their heart as best they could. Many were able to flatten them back out but some had a few rips and all could not be unwrinkled. Each student received a white sheet of paper to bring home the message how easily words can hurt and once they are said it is impossible to undo completely the damage they have done.
|