Introducing Unit One

Dear Parents,

I would like to share with you some information about unit one. In this unit students are looking at how signs and symbols communicate different ideas and messages. We will be completing many hands on tasks throughout the subject areas that relate to this main concept. We will be looking at the signs and symbols in mathmatics and literacy, thinking about the morals and symbolism within books, and also ways in which we can express ourselves through signs and symbols. Below I will explain to you what we will be learning about in more depth.

Unit One:

How we express ourselves: an inquiry into the ways in which we discover and express ideas, feelings, nature, culture, beliefs and values;

Central Idea: Signs and symbols can be used to communicate different messages

Lines of Inquiry:

- How signs and symbols convey messages (function)

- Signs and symbols can be interpreted in different ways (perspective)

- Different ways that the same messages can be communicated (change)

Students will be learning about signs and symbols that express ideas, feelings, nature, culture, beliefs and values. Our main goal is to create a symbol that represents the individual. A great way for students to accomplish this is to think about their national identity, their personality, and who they are as a person.

Math

We will be learning about place value, focusing specifically on thousands, hundreds, tens, and ones. Students will take this knowledge to perform -10 and +10, -100 and +100, ordering numbers, comparing numbers, answering word problems and number problems, and deciding if a number is odd or even. Students will see and use signs and symbols (place value blocks, <, >, +, -, =) to guide their learning. We will be working with numbers from 0 – 1300 to meet Grade 2 standards, however, when the children are comfortable with these numbers, I will extend their learning further.

Literacy

Students will be learning core comprehension, accuracy, fluency, and extended vocabulary skills from The Daily Five. Students will be working on skills that they personally need for further achievement by meeting with me regularly and creating goals. Students will also be looking at the meaning behind myths/legends/fables and creating some poems that portray the five senses.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.