Mindful Monday, January 9, 2017

What a way to start the week with  our "Reading Buddies". This provided us a wonderful opportunity to share our enthusiasm for reading with the Grade 1 students in Mrs. Witczak's class. Our buddies shared their stories, poems and a book from their bins.
Afterward back in our class, we brainstormed questions about Ada's violin and it was interesting to think about how they made instruments from trash and that they sounded like the instruments in an orchestra. We then began to explore the instruments found in an orchestra and wondered about the drum. In Ada's story the drum was made with an x-ray and the base of a drum. It was interesting to see how First Nations people used the drum as part of their ceremonies and their stories.
Last week we created a chart that had us sharing our observations about what we heard then recording our feelings and why and from this information we started a letter to Ada. We started composing our letters on Friday and continued them today. In the afternoon we mapped where Ada lived and tomorrow are going to compare the country of Paraguay to Canada.
Reminder to dress for the weather and we have presentation on Thursday with a First Nation storyteller. What an exciting opportunity!