Hamer Grade 2 : Thursday, June 11

Entry for Thursday, June 11

Today in History

On this day in history, June 11, 1910 Jacques Cousteau was born in France.

He was a well-known oceanographer. An oceanographer is a person who studies the oceans. He spent his life devoted to teaching others that we must preserve and protect this vast habitat for future generations.

This is his famous research vessel he called the Calypso.

Jacques Cousteau spent a great deal of his time underwater observing and learning about the undersea world. His contributions to science are immense.

Although he is no longer with us, he has passed his passion for the ocean down to his children and grandchildren and they continue to research this wonderful area of our world.

This image shows his grandson, Philippe and Phillip's wife, Ashlan seaside beside an old shipwreck.

Many books have been written about Jacques Cousteau's adventures at sea including illustrated books for children.

Another wonder man was born on this day in history, June 11, 1933 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. His name is Gene Wilder and he chose to become an actor.

Children best remember him in his role as Willy Wonka in the movie "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory."

(A later version of the film came out entitled "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" starring Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka.)

Willy Wonka runs the chocolate factory.

A few lucky children get the chance to tour the factory.

I won't give any more of the movie away, but I would like to say that Gene Wilder's expressive face and eyes truly made the film a marvelous experience for the viewers.

Gene Wilder passed away in 2016 at the age of 83 and I bet he was still a kid at that time!

"When I grow up I may study the oceans like Jacques Cousteau!" this young lad opines.

"I'd love to meet Willy Wonka and get a tour of his chocolate factory!" he grins with a chuckle.

Language Learning

Speaking of chocolate, here is a cute read-aloud about that famous monkey, Curious George. In this adventure, he visits a chocolate factory.

As always, George gets into some sort of mischief...and as many reader disagree with...he gets himself out of trouble, not through any sort of empathy...but totally by accident.

Nevertheless, Mr. Hamer loved Curious George books when he was a wee little lad!

Read Aloud of "Curious George Goes to the Chocolate Factory

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

Your Reading Task

Chocolate bars come in all sorts of varieties.

Today you will make two lists of varieties of something and see if you can provide ten items in the list.

Mr. Hamer will offer an example of a list of chocolate bars.

Varieties of Chocolate Bars

1. Mars Bar

2. Snickers

3. Aero

4. Coffee Crisp

5. Oh Henry

6. Mr. Big

7. Caravan

8. Rolo

9. Crispy Crunch

10. Caramilk

Mr. Hamer's other list of varieties of train cars

Varieties of Train Cars

1. boxcar

2. tank car

3. refrigerator car

4. hopper car

5. covered hopper

6. flatcar

7. gondola

8. milk car

9. passenger car

10. caboose

"My big sister is really good at making lists!" she says with a big smile.

Math Learning

In some cases when discussing probability, we can get away with using two words only...possible and impossible.

Check out these two very accurate sentences.

It is possible that a bumble bee will fly into my garden.
It is impossible for a camel to sprout wings and fly.

Those two sentences make absolute sense.

Your Math Task

Check out the poster above and write three possible sentences and three impossible sentences.

"Learning about probability is so much fun, Mr. Hamer!" they state emphatically.

Student Sharing

This great photograph just came in hot off the wires of one of our very own enjoying a field trip yesterday following completion of her schoolwork! Yes, she and dad walked across the Alexandra Bridge over the Ottawa River.
What a great field trip, M.S.!!!

Science (With No Work)

We now know that simple machines help us out a lot.

The Wedge

All of the images above are examples of a wedge.

The shape of a wedge gets narrower and narrower.

This helps us use the wedge to dig into things, to cut things or hold things open or closed.

By placing a wedge atop the log, when you hammer the wedge, it drives down and automatically splits the log.

The nail, the spade, the axe, knife and screwdriver all are great examples of the wedge. Even the teeth in a zipper are shaped like a wedge. Yes, scissors cut paper because they are wedge shaped as well.

The doorstop keeps the door open. It is a wedge!

We all use simple machines in our lives!

Even Mr. Hamer's daughter, Alison, admires simple machines!

A Glimpse of Canada

New Brunswick

The flag of New Brunswick.

Indeed, the third province we visit on our trip across Canada is New Brunswick...also a maritime province.

Yes, we will find lighthouses in New Brunswick.

We will also see some beautiful rural areas rich in farming.

Saint John is a large city in New Brunswick.

Like Newfoundland and Labrador as well as Nova Scotia, New Brunswick contains many colourful areas like this neighbourhood in Saint John.

Fredericton is another city in New Brunswick.

It is the capital city of the province.

It is located along the banks of the Saint John River.

This area is known as Hopewell Rocks. Look at all of the people down on the sand.

Now look at the area a few hours later!

Yes, the Bay of Fundy between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia has the highest tides in the world! Look at this "artist's conception" of the height of the tides.

Or, check out these three photos which show the progression of the tides. Amazing!

This picture shows the tide out on top and the tide in on the bottom.

Here we see "Reversing Falls" in Saint John. The tide is rising and pushing the water up the river when the water normally flows down. What a sight to see.