Wednesday, April 1

Entry for Wednesday, April 1

Indeed, it is that day that teachers dread...April Fool's Day...when the students get to prank the teachers at school.  I've always loved when this day falls on a Saturday or a Sunday!

Did you know that the month of April got its name from the Romans who used the Latin word "aprilis" ?  The verb "aperire" means "to open" which could very well be in  association with the flowers and the trees coming into bloom at this time of the year.

Yes, we should always follow these words of wisdom..."Today...be present in all things and thankful for all things" especially at this very time in our history.

By the time you read this, you will have already received a very important e-mail from Mrs. MacDonald and Mr. Hogg, our school principal and vice-principal outlining the latest information available to parents.  Our school board has set up the following website which will take you to numerous lessons and activities for all subject areas across all grades.  Check it out at:

https://www.ocsb.ca/ocsb-at-home/learning-resources/

Below is the Ministry of Education's "Learn at Home" website which I have shared with you in an earlier e-mail.

https://www.ontario.ca/page/learn-at-home

Both of these sites offer boundless learning resources for you to use with your child.

Note from Mr. Hamer

Please do not feel overwhelmed with the amount of resources and ideas found in these sites.  Over the next number of weekdays, Mr, Hamer will devote our classroom blog as a tool to focus on specific lessons and ideas for learning.  This will help you navigate the immediate future with regard to lessons.

For today, we celebrate Lent.  Then devote your time to "peruse" these resources and have a relaxing day!

Mr. Hamer

Let us remind ourselves of this special season.  We are now in the fifth week of Lent.

We can learn so much from the story of Jesus's meeting with his friends, Mary and Martha.

Jesus' reputation grew with each miracle he performed.  People believed in Him and started following Him.  As he attracted larger and larger crowds of people, the religious leaders began to see Him as a threat.  One day, Jesus visited his friends, Mary and Martha.

The Gospel according to John tells us of this visit.  Martha tells Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.  But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you."  Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.  Do you believe this?"  She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God."

Jesus said, "Where have you laid him?"  They said to him, "Lord, come and see."  Jesus said, "Take away the stone."  When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out.

The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth.  Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."  Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in Him.

Think about this story you have just read in the silence of your heart.  Is there a problem or a concern you have that you would like to ask Jesus to help you with today?

We ask God to help us come closer to Him during this holy season.  We ask Him to help us fast from those things that separate us from His love, to give generously to others and to pray for the well-being of all humans during this difficult time for our planet.

Rather than offer up additional ideas across the subject areas today, I would ask you to visit the ministry site and our school board site at your convenience and peruse all that is there for our students to learn from.

Stay inside, stay safe...and enjoy the company of your family!
See you tomorrow!

Mr. Hamer

Tuesday, March 31

Entry for Tuesday, March 31

This is the picture I left off with yesterday.  It was taken out in the portapack a few years ago.  I'm playing a Rickenbacker guitar here, similar to one the Beatles played with many years ago.  John Lennon took his Rickenbacker and painted it black.  I like the looks of this red one.  Rickenbacker guitars are made in Germany.

(Remember, if you haven't checked Saturday's and Sunday's posting, I have shared a bunch of cool websites for you to visit!)

Also, this week is the fifth week of Lent.  Tomorrow I will share some Lenten resources with you.  Have fun with your family today!
 Mr. Hamer

"That sure is a cool looking guitar, Mr. Hamer!" they call out in the middle of class!

Quick note to parents:  Remember to think of these ideas I send around as being optional activities...the important thing for the children to be doing at this moment in time is to enjoy being with family, doing creative things on their own with your guidance or as a whole family...thinking of "outside the box." ideas for spending time together.

Let's learn about how Tuesday got its name.  Get an older member of your family to help you read the information.

The name "Tuesday" derives from the Old English "Tiwesdaeg" and it literally means "Tiw's Day" named after the Germanic God "tiwaz".  Tiwaz translated means "to shine".

Tiw's Day = Tuesday 

The latin "dies Martis" helps us to understand in French, "mardi" from "Martis".  Any language with a latin derivation indicates that the name "mardi" is named after Mars.

Mars Day = mardi

Very Interesting!

Let's enjoy our day, shall we?

"We always enjoy our day, Mr, Hamer!" they tell us.

"Gotcha!" Mr. Hamer replies.

Art Suggestion Intergrated with Math

Remember last week we looked at creating a work of art using math shapes.

Let's take this idea in a different direction.

The image above shows a various shapes superimposed atop each other with everything coloured in.  This looks like "abstract art" to me.  So cool!

As a variation...how about picking a single shape...

...and superimposing that shape over top itself numerous times.

The result will be an amazing work of art!

"I love art for all of its amazing colours!"  he indicates from outside on the playground.

Math Suggestion

We know how to add and how to subtract.  We understand the theory of multiplication and we are pretty good at reciting our times tables up to three times.  In a couple of weeks we will get into division...but we still want to deepen our understanding of multiplication further.

We can use a chart to help us study and memorize our times tables.  Yes, memorization is one of the basic forms of learning...with basic meaning "foundational".  You can't build a house that will stand tall and sturdy if its foundation is poor.

We already understand the concept of multiplication from earlier lessons.  With so much time off school, what better way to spend our time than to learn the times tables

Don' rush!  Take your time.  Only go on to the next number when you have mastered the number before!

Take note that as you look down each column for each number, the answer to your multiplication (the product) shows a pattern.  Yes, for the three times tables, the products "skip count" by three.  For the four times table, they skip count by four...and so on.

Another way of practising your times tables is by using a multiplication chart like the one pictured above.  (You also have one in the back of your agenda!)

To find the answer to a multiplication you have to use the outside section in white.

For example  for 3 x 6 , you first go to the 3 in white (in the left column).  Then you follow along it row of 3 skip counts until you come under the white 5 in the top row.  Where the two number meet, you will find your correct product.  For 3 x 5, your answer is 15 (in light green).

Feel free to practise with your parents.  Quiz them on their times tables.  Then, have them quiz you on the ones you know already.  

If you are brave enough, try mastering the four times tables over the next couple of days!

"Mastering my times tables is as easy as going down this slide, Mr. Hamer!"

"He may think so!"

Aha!  Remember to refer to your personal "growth mindset!"

"I can do anything if I put my mind to it!"

Science Suggestion

Remember we learned a few things about animal tracks yesterday.

One thing we learned was to look at the tracks carefully to determine which animal made them as we check a reference card like the ones above.

Here are a few more facts.

Typically, the size of the track will give you a clue as to the size of the animal.

With our understanding of footwear, we are able to determine if the track was made by an animal or by a human being.

With our understanding of feet (toes at the front, heel at the back), we can easily determine which way the animal was heading.

Depending how far apart the tracks are (or how close they are to each other) we can determine if the animals was in a hurry or not...running versus walking, hopping far distances or close distances.)

Here is a fascinating fact.  Animals that are members of the canine family (the dog family) usually show their claws in the tracks they leave behind while members of the feline family (cat family) typically do not.

Check the chart above.  Coyotes and dogs are canines - claws showing.  Bobcats and mountain lions are felines - no claws showing.

There are many more cool things we can learn by studying animal tracks in the snow, dirt, mud or sand.  That's for you to research!

Check out this fun video.  (The lady doesn't tell us the distinction between dog and cat tracks, but she lets us in on many other valuable ideas.

Snow Tracks Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz02S-CizAU

I'm sure they loved learning all about animal tracks while at home!

Have a great day everyone!

Mr. Hamer OCT

Monday, March 30

Entry for Monday, March 30

It's Monday...the start of a new school week with learning taking place at home.
Where does Monday get its name?  
The name "Monday" comes from Old English "Monandaeg" and Middle English "Monenday" which is derived from the Latin lunea "day of the Moon".
So...Monday literally means the "moon's day" or "Monday".
Moon is lunar, so the French word for Monday is lundi.  There you have it!

"It's fun when you tell us how the days of the week got their names, Mr. Hamer."

Mr. Hamer wants to remind our parents and guardians to check in on his Saturday and Sunday postings where he shared with us a number of new and interesting websites to visit.  Just go to the blog archive at the right hand side of the blog page and click on Saturday's and Sunday's entry to see these amazing sites.

It's always important to keep in mind our growth mindset...which is our attitude toward our learning.  Mr. Hamer likes this saying, "Winners never quit and quitters never win."

Our little classroom stuffies demonstrate some fine growth mindsets.  They all managed to climb successfully to the top of the tower during an inclement recess period earlier in the year.

The teddy bear said to himself, "If at first I don't succeed, I'll try and try again!"

The panda bear said to herself as she was climbing, "I think I can, I think I can!"

The friendly horse was heard to chant while overcoming difficulties, "Stay positive, stay strong, stay positive stay strong, stay positive, stay strong."

Ask yourself...how is your growth mindset today?

"Thanks for reminding us about our growth mindset, Mr. Hamer!" they all shout out at once.

Language Arts Suggestion

Hey, check out this amazing site below!

Bookflix offers us stories where the words are highlighted as the storyteller reads the book.

Example:  Penguins story linked below.

Link to Bookflix

https://bookflix.digital.scholastic.com/pair/detail/bk0007pr/story?authCtx=

Indeed...a listing of all of the categories showcases so many great books to visit in each area of study!

Animals and Nature

Earth and Sky

People and Places

ABC's and 123's

Adventure

Family and Community

Celebrations

Music and Rhyme

Imagination

Check out all of these great themes which offer up a multitude of stories for the children!

A Closer Bookflix Link

https://bookflix.digital.scholastic.com/home?authCtx=

The site also offers up puzzle games as well.  Bravo!  Thank you, Bookflix from Scholastic!

"Thanks for sharing the Bookflix site with us, Mr. Hamer." they smile.
"Reading is a big part of language arts and it is so much fun!"

Say, after you have read one of the stories on-line, perhaps you could share with a parent or guardian what the story was all about.  Remember to offer a beginning, middle and end when you recount the story.  This is retelling the "plot" of the story.  Tell your family members about the characters and where the story took place.  Where the story took place is called the setting.  Have fun with your reding!

Science Suggestion

Lilly is a winter dog.  She loves the great outdoors when their is white stuff on the ground.  The more snow there is, the happier she is!  This photograph was taken a couple of winters ago when we had some really big snowstorms.  I love looking at the footprints she leaves behind in the snow.

While out on dog walks, I would love looking at the footprints Lilly left in the snow as we walked down the street.  Lilly and I would find all kinds of other footprints and she would stop and sniff many of them.  I imagine she was trying to determine which of her doggy friends had left them...or...which type of animal had left the funny looking footprints!

Hmmm...what do you think?

Some different animals pictured here.

I think I know this little critter...or sometimes...a bigger critter!

A close up image of a footprint.

Here are a few charts to help you identify some animal tracks.

It`s fun studying the various tracks.

Tomorrow we will check out some things we can learn through the study of the tracks.

"Say, Mr. Hamer...can we go out and run in the snow in our bare feet and check out our own footprints?" they ask eagerly.

"No!" Mr. Hamer responds with a big grin, "When you get home you can!"

Math Suggestion

Let's review "arrays" to see how they help us to learn multiplication.

In all three of the examples above, there are three rows of four items...apples, trucks and cubes.

We have 3 rows of 4 apples

4 + 4 + 4

or 3 x 4 = 12

We have twelve apples

We could look at it the other way around.

We have four columns of three trucks

3 + 3 + 3 +3

or 4 x 3 = 12

We have 12 trucks.

Let's look at the cubes in yet another way.

three rows of four cubes = four columns of three cubes

4 + 4 + 4 = 3 + 3+ 3 + 3

3 x 4 = 4 x 3

=12

Yabba dabba doo!  We are multiplication marvels!

Yes, you can arrange your factors (3 and 4) and still get the same product (12)

Remember, we call the answer to a multiplication the product.

"We've learned so much more about multiplication by studying those arrays, Mr. Hamer." the lads call out from their perch on the tire swing.

To learn more about arrays, check out the video link below:

Video on Multiplication Arrays

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRgKavUxvKY

Have a great Monday everyone!
Mr. Hamer OCT