WE CREATED STARRY NIGHT MASTERPIECES!

Hello families of room 205s. I hope everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable March Break. We heard about some very exciting trips and cruises that some of our students went on over the break. It's nice to see everyone back and well rested.

Vincent Van Gogh - After learning about the life and history of the famous artist Vincent Van Gogh, the students were asked to recreate their own version of Starry Night using pastels. We examined the painting through Van Gogh's eyes and discussed the area in France where he painted Starry Night and what Van Gogh may have been thinking while painting this. We also discussed the specific style unique to Van Gogh's artwork including his identified brushstrokes, swirling sky and hills as well as images that are in the foreground, mid ground and background of the painting.

The students worked very hard to draw their own renditions of this masterpiece using oil pastels. They are hung up in our classroom and look beautiful! I am proud of the students hard work and effort during this art project.While working in class, we listened to music from a variety of genres. Below is a link to the song Starry Night by Don Maclean that we enjoyed listening to in class.

Officer Janet - This week, police officer Janet visited Forest Hill and spoke with the grade 4 and grade 5 students separately in our classroom. She talked to both the class about cyber bullying. She described what it looks like, what it feels like and what to do if you feel that you are being bullied on line. Unfortunately, I was unable to sit in on the presentations as I had to be with the students in another classroom at the time. The students found this presentation very informative and officer Janet told me that both grades asked many excellent questions.

Director's Cut in coming to our class! - On April 14th, the Director's Cut will be coming to our class for the day to do a workshop with the students called "Stop Animation using Lego." This workshop is specifically designed by a team of expert filmmakers and educators for students between the 4th and 6th grades. This workshop allows students to create a stop motion animation film using their very own toys, and then use technology to add titles, voices, sound effects, and music to create a unique animated film, with the studentsʼ favourite toys as the stars! The cost of the workshop is $21.00 per student. A permission form will be sent home next week with all the details. We are very excited to have Director's Cut in our class in April!

Book Reports - The grade 4 and grade 5 book reports are due this Monday March 24th. I have read many first drafts of the reports and I'm really looking forward to the presentations that will take place at the beginning of next week.

Math tests - The grade 5's had their math test this past week of Perimeter and Area. Please ask your child to see their test and sign the top of the first page. The grade 4's will have their test on Perimeter and Area on Wednesday March 26, 2014. The next math unit for both grades will be Transformational Geometry.

Plot Diagrams - This week we discussed the concept of plot and how it plays out in different stories and novels. The students received a booklet with some important information clearly describing the 5 elements of plot. These are:

• -EXPOSITION
• -RISING ACTION
• -CLIMAX
• -FALLING ACTION
• -RESOLUTION

In partners, the students wrote about each of these 5 elements in relation to the novel we just finished reading in class, We all Fall Down by Eric Walters.  Once they completed this activity, they were given one element and were asked to write a detailed paragraph using examples from the novel. This paragraph will be written in good copy form on strips of paper, with an illustration and will be displayed in our classroom.

Reminders:

• Friday Reports are due on Monday March 24, 2014
• Book reports and presentations are due on Monday March 24, 2014
• Please return your gifted waiver forms ASAP if you have not done so

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND...

LETS HOPE THAT WE FEEL THE WARMTH AND SUNSHINE SPRING PROMISES TO OFFER VERY SOON! THANK YOU FOR YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT.

Mrs. Mendelson