Class-e-News

The 3 R's - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

2012-02-08T14:59:00.000-08:00

We've probably all heard the message. The Earth's population continues to grow and we continue to use up more and more of the resources while creating more and more garbage. So what can we do about it?

The good thing is that we can all make a difference. It may not seem like much if we put our paper in the recycling 'blue' bin, but if everyone in the world does a little, it makes a big difference.

So...let's take a look at how people are trying to make a difference all over the world.

Lilly is in Japan and sent the following photos. Thank you Lilly.

Lilly is in Japan. She went on a city tour of Wakkanai, Japan. She visited a recycling depot and a solar panel site to conserve energy. Lilly sent us these photos of two Japanese sites that are trying to make a difference.

If you are able to visit a site that is working to make the Earth a better place, send me a photo with a few sentences about where it is and what is happening.

What about where you live? What is happening in your part of the world to help make the world a cleaner place to live? Is there any sign of reducing, reusing, or recycling (RRR)?

If so, tell us about what is happening where you are. Tell us what you may be doing or could do to help RRR. Why is it important? What would happen if we don't RRR?

2012-01-04T09:44:00.000-08:00

Wow! A brand new year full of new possibilities...new beginnings...new challenges...new surprises...new.......you get the idea.

For many people the new year means a lot. They celebrate the new year in many different ways---fireworks, parties, resolutions, the polar bear swim...these are just a few ways people bring in the new year. People all over the world celebrate in their own way.

So I ask you...Do you celebrate the beginning of a new year? What did you do to bring in the 'new year'? If you are away from home, how did people celebrate in your part of the world? Do you think it is important to celebrate the beginning of a new year? Why is it important? If you think it's not that important, why not?

Pets Around the World: Chirp, Chirp, Chirp

2011-12-02T09:47:00.000-08:00

Judan is studying in Korea this year and sent the following information and photos to share with the class. Thank you Judan!

I bought a baby chick for 50 cents. Then I thought he would be lonely so I went back and bought a girl. Now I have two chicks. Sometimes I take them out to catch worms and to eat bugs. Sometimes I catch dragonflies and bring them home for them. My mom and I clean their cage together. I love my chicks!

Museums Around the World (in Indonesia)

2011-11-09T11:53:00.000-08:00

Reuben visited the Indonesian Heritage Museum and would like to share the following photos and comments.

I learned about Indonesian ancient history, artifacts, and the rich variety of textiles Indonesia is well known for.

Here, I am standing in front of a large statue of a long ago King of Melayu.

Below is a photo of a shirt and an outfit worn by the aboriginal people (the Dayak) who lived in the tropical rainforest of Borneo (now named Kalimantan). The shirt was made of animal skin and sewn with animal bones. The colour is natural dye from plants.

Below is a cannon decorated with a dragon head carving. It was used for ceremonial purposes only.

Museums Around the World (in Germany)

2011-11-07T15:25:00.000-08:00

This is a museum report sent by Lili, a student who is studying in Germany. Thank you for sharing this with us Lili.

I‘m doing my museum report about Schloss Linderhof. My Great-Aunt and Great-Uncle took us there and we took a tour.

The castle is in Bavaria, Germany and we looked into every room there. It is not a very big castle but it was the king’s favourite castle. His name was King Ludwig and he loved other kings like French ones, and other places. He never really got to go to other places. The only place he ever went to was France. He wasn’t allowed to travel so he just built different places to bring them to him, like a Moroccan Tearoom, a Grotto, and a small version of Versailles Castle. His bedroom was amazing with a giant chandelier and a giant bed. In those days people weren’t very tall but Ludwig was a giant at 6 foot 4 inches like my Dad. I also liked the small purple room and the small silver waiting room. Every room had gold except for the silver room, which was for the servants to wait in. There was an amazing mirror room, where I could see 100 of myself if you looked into a certain mirror.

The Grotto

Then, we went to see the gardens on our way to the Grotto. The Grotto was amazing and Ludwig liked to get rowed around in the water by his servants. He loved Wagner Operas and had live performances just for himself in the Grotto with singers, a choir and musicians. It was a really fun day!

Museums Around the World (in Vancouver)

2011-11-07T14:49:00.000-08:00

In Vancouver, students visited the Beaty Biodiversity Musuem at the University of British Columbia. One of the most impressive sites is the 26 meter long blue whale skeleton which is suspended in the entrance atrium. Students had the opportunity to view fossils, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and many other specifmens from around B. C. and the world. Here are a few photos taken during this field trip.

Mikel Visits Tropical Mexican Rainforest

2011-10-05T11:36:00.000-07:00

Grade three students have been learning about rainforests, both temperate and tropical. Of course, those of us who live in Vancouver, know what it is like to be in a temperate rainforest. However, not many of us have experienced the tropical rainforest yet. Well, we are lucky to have a student in our class currently in Mexico who visited a tropical rainforest in Nayarit, Mexico.

These are some photos that Mikel has forwarded to share with us. In one of the photos you see a lake that was formed in a crater of a volcano. The water is warm. Mikel found the trip fascinating and was able to point out some of the plants and ferns he had learned about in his study of the tropical rainforest module. The second photo shows the tops of homes overlooking the tropical rainforest. On the other side the homes of floor to ceiling windows with a breath-taking view of the rainforest.

Thank you Mikel for sharing these with us.

Welcome back to the 2011/12 school year!

2011-09-12T12:27:00.000-07:00

What a glorious September so far...it's sunny, it's warm, and it still feels like summer!
It's time to have some fun blogging. I thought we'd start off the year with a game called 'Guess the Landmark'. What is a landmark? A landmark is a man-made object that is special because it represents something important or a natural object that is easily seen and recognizable.

I have two landmarks that I would like you to try and identify. One is a man-made landmark. The other is a natural landmark. You are to identify the landmarks and then tell me one thing about each one of them.

Post your answers in the comment section of this posting.

Visiting Hiroshima Peace Park & Museum

2011-06-13T09:48:00.000-07:00

Dharma has been away for the year in Japan and Taiwan. She has forwarded the following report and photos to share with you. Thank you Dharma.

I went to Hiroshima to see some friends, but there is another reason I wanted to go there--- that was Hiroshima Peace Park and Museum. In the park , there is a Statue of Sadako. Sadako was a young girl who lived in Hiroshima from 1943 to 1955. She got leukemia from radiation. The radiation came from an atomic bomb. The bomb was dropped on August 6, 1945 on Hiroshima. Sadako believed that if she folded 1000 cranes, she would be cured and be able to run again. She had folded 641 paper cranes when she died on October 25, 1955. Her classmates helped fold up to 1000 cranes. So Sadako's wish was completed. Nowadays, people fold 1000 paper cranes and put them beneath the Statue of Sadako to wish for world peace. I am working on my cranes, too.

My Pet Hamster (by Tara)

2011-02-10T14:33:00.000-08:00

My name is Tara and these pictures are of my hamster, Rosebud. I got her for Christmas and at first I thought she was a toy for my cat Mila because Mila was
playing with it while she was in her pink ball. After I learned that there was a hamster in the ball, my brother told me that it was mine. Rosebud loves to run
around in her ball and to run in her wheel. We have to get her a new wheel because she broke that one already.

Thank you,
Tara

Poetry Writing

2011-01-31T14:20:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple of examples of poetry written by two Grade 3 students. Both use some interesting vocabulary and are good examples of different types of poetry.

The first one is a stair poem written by Tara who recently acquired a pet hamster and wanted to write about her.

The second poem is a cinquain written by Nathaniel about himself.

If this inspires you to write and illustrate a poem, great! Forward it to me and I will post it to share with the class. Make sure the words are printed darkly with lots of spacing between the words so that the poem is easier to read. Also, include a coloured illustration as it shows up much better.

Horseback Riding in Malaysia (by Abderrahmane)

2011-01-20T09:49:00.000-08:00

I live in the state of Pahang in Malaysia. I go to horseback riding classes twice a week. My teacher's name is Mr. Faisal. He trains horses on a farm.

In the picture, I am at my class riding. I am riding a horse named Casino. She is 30 years old. She used to be a jumping show horse.

2011---Here We Come!

2011-01-07T13:36:00.000-08:00

A new year begins with all sorts of new prospects and starts. A chance to begin again or take on new challenges and make new dreams come true. In the spirit of renewed energy to make positive changes, I want you to think about your neighbourhood, your community. If you had the power to make one positive change in your neighbourhood that would make things better or people happier, what would that change be? The change may be a very simple one or it could be something huge. It could be something that is added to your neighbourhood or something that is removed. Think about it. Talk to your family about it. Once you have an idea for a positive change in your neighbourhood, post your suggestion in the comment section.

Here's an example of a change I'd love to see in my neighbourhood.

We have a small green island where 3 streets meet. I would love it if this could be converted into a mini sitting area with a huge shade tree planted surrounded by benches so that it would be a wonderful place for neighbours to sit and talk.

Now it's your turn to post your positive suggestion for your neighbourhood in the comment section.

Life in Brazil (by Sebastian)

2010-10-13T11:21:00.000-07:00

I am in the state of Minas Gerias in Brazil. It is super hot. The temperature in the shade is usually 30 degrees celsius, and in the sun, it has been as hot as 42! I thought 25 was hot in Vancouver. It has been very dry, and just after we arrived, there was a brush fire that my family helped to put out with branches.

It is a hard life here, and I wonder how my dad survived. I miss Canada, and our comfy couch. But, Brazil is like a candy store. My favourites are doce de leite, puddim do leite, and biscoito (leite is Portuguese for milk).

There are weird bugs here, called cigarra, that make loud humming noises. There are a lot of flying termites at night. I hate it when they fly in my dinner. We are on a farm and there are chickens, chicks, dogs, cats, and kittens.

The photos you see are of the fire and the kittens who live in the outdour biscuit oven.

O.W.L Visits V. L. N.

2010-10-05T15:03:00.000-07:00

V. L. N. students thoroughly enjoyed a presentation given by the Orphanwd Wildlife Rehabilitation Society (O.W.L.) which included an onsite, face to face visit with two birds of prey---a falcon and a barred owl. Carrie, from O. W. L., shared a great deal of interesting information with us and brought in various other items of interest which included a mouse skeleton retrieved from an owl pellet, tallons from a barred owl and a skeletal head of a barred owl. Those of you who attended were probably as surprised as I to learn that a barred owl has up to 10,000 feathers!

We covered a great deal of information, some of which included answers to the following:

-why owls are difficult to see during the day

-why people should not litter on or near a highway

-what an owl pellet is and what may be inside one

-what nocturnal means
-what tallons are used for

-how beaks are used

It was a fascinating session!

Those of you who attended, please write one interesting fact that you learned about the birds of prey in the comment section. Those of you who were unable to attend, check out the following site for information on a few birds of prey and then contribute one fact to the comment section.

http://www.bczoo.org/birdsofprey.htm

Birds of Prey

2010-09-24T10:26:00.000-07:00

Angeline visited a rescue and rehabilitation centre in Ketchican, Alaska last year. There she saw various birds of prey that had been rescued, including eagles and a condor. These are photos Angeline took of these Alaskan birds of prey.

Thank you Angeline for sharing your photos with us.

A New School Year Begins!

2010-09-09T14:54:00.000-07:00

We're back! Summer holidays are a memory and we are ready to charge into the school year---right? Definitely!

There are so many fantastic websites, exciting information and photos to share. Sometimes you come across something completely new or strange. Well, I'd like to share one of these 'strange' videos with you. After you have watched the video, I want you to post a sentence in the comment section of this blog telling me one thing you learned about 'The Fainting Goats'.

'Fainting goats'? Yes, 'Fainting Goats'!

Have fun learning about them while watching the following video: Fainting Goats

Sun Yat Sen Gardens

2010-05-05T09:48:00.000-07:00

Vancouver is filled with wonderful, scenic spots. One of the most beautiful sites in the heart of Vancouver is Sun Yat Sen Gardens. Students, parents, and teachers thoroughly enjoyed their field trip to the gardens and learned a little about the history of China.

I'm sure all of you have visited some place either locally or abroad that you will remember forever because it was so spectacular. Take a minute to post a comment telling us a little about where your memorable site is and what makes it so unforgettable.

Sip Smart: Drink Water

2010-03-26T10:58:00.000-07:00

VLN students did a fabulous job in putting together a campaign for drinking WATER! Enjoy the show!

Fishy Wishy

2010-03-15T14:50:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had fish kissing your feet? I have!

I went to a hot spring with my family in Taiwan. There were six pools with different temperatures. My favourite pool was the fish pool. Second was the cold pool. Last, but not least, was the hot pool.

These tiny fish don't actually 'kiss' your feet. They eat the dead skin off your feet. It is so itchy when they bite you that they can make you laugh. When we finished, our feet were very smooth.

What an experience that was!

(This report was submitted by Joleah who recently visited Taiwan. Thank you for sharing this experience with us, Joleah.)

Burnaby Art Gallery Visit

2010-03-15T14:01:00.000-07:00

On March 3, a group of Vancouver Learning Network students visited the Burnaby Art Gallery to view the works of a well known B. C. artist, Gordon Smith. It was fascinating to learn about the lengthy process undertaken by the artist in order to produce a print. After the guided tour of Mr. Smith's works, students, parents, and teachers had the opportunity to create their own prints. These are some examples of our work.

Well done, fellow artists!

It's Over---Vancouver's Olympic Experience

2010-03-01T11:31:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe, but the 17-day 2010 Olympic Games are over. There are still the para-Olympics to come, but the major portion of the competition which involved Vancouver, Richmond, and Cypress is finished.

Being a sports' fan, I watched and enjoyed many of the events. Observing the athletes prepare themselves mentally and seeing the focus and determination in their eyes just before they began was fascinating. All those years of training coming down to a peak performance with a separation from other performances of less than a second in many cases---Unbelievable!

It's fabulous that Canada achieved the most gold medals ever in the winter Olympic games. But, there were so many stories and memories to be treasured. For those of you who were in the Vancouver/Whistler area during the past 17 days, what will you remember the most about the Olympic Games of 2010? If you are abroad, was there any mention or discussion or news coverage about the Olympics where you are?

2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver

2010-02-02T13:30:00.000-08:00

The Winter Olympics are soon to begin here in Vancouver. I'm sure you have been hearing lots about them in the news and from family and friends. People have been talking about the Olympics coming to Vancouver for years. Vancouver has been getting ready for this event for years. Lots of changes have occurred in Vancouver to get ready for the Olympics. Lots of excitement is building around the city. People around the world will be watching and learning about Vancouver once the Olympic events begin.

There are people who believe the Olympics coming to Vancouver is fabulous and they want to see as much as they can and go to various free events being held around the city. Other people do not want to support the Olympics and do not even want to be in the city during this time.

How do you feel? Are you pleased to have the Olympics come here? If so, why? Or, do you feel that the Olympics are not a good idea. If so, why do you feel this way? Another way to think about this is ...if you had the power to decide to either have the Olympics happen in Vancouver or not happen in Vancouver, what would you decide and why?

2010---Already?

2010-01-18T14:27:00.000-08:00

Yes! It is January, 2010. We are all a year older and, hopefully, a year wiser. Although it is winter, the days are slowly getting longer and the sun, when we see it, actually feels warm at times. To bring in the new year, many communities hold a 'polar bear swim' on New Year's Day no matter how cold it is. In fact, Vancouver holds a 'polar bear swim' and has held this event since 1920.

Have you ever participated in a 'polar bear swim'? If so, tell us a little bit about your experience. If not, why do you think others participate in the 'polar bear swim'? Is it for health reasons? Is it for good luck? What do you think? Would you ever even consider doing this? Tell why or why not.

Winter Break!

2009-12-18T10:33:00.000-08:00

The first term has just flashed by and we are heading into our winter break. Take the next two weeks to enjoy the company of your family and friends and have fun with various indoor and outdoor activities. See you in January.

Wish you a fabulous winter holiday!

Field trip to the Port Moody Station Museum

2009-10-22T14:28:00.000-07:00

The Port Moody Station Museum is a very important and interesting historical site. It is a direct link to B. C.'s past. Without the railway, who knows what Canada would look like today.

To learn a little about the importance of the railway, take a few minutes to view the video titled 'Forging the National Dream'. After viewing the video, go to the comment section and write one fact that you learned from watching the video.

Bugs, Bugs, Bugs!

2009-09-30T14:56:00.000-07:00

What a super day! We had a wonderful turnout for the 'Meet your Classmates' event where a local entomologist visited us with her collections of bugs. 'Live and in person', we saw mealworms, a tarantula and a scorpion.

The scorpion was the highlight of the show when he decided that he was hungry. He hunted down a cricket and promptly began eating it while many excited students stood and watched in awe. Students had brought glass jars which they transformed into 'bug catchers' to collect their own bugs. We then ventured outside for the 'bug hunt'. All students experienced success in collecting a wide range of bugs.

After all this activity, hunting can be exhausting, everyone was eager to launch into lunch.

It was a great day and everyone had a fun time.

Name This Insect!

2009-09-21T10:48:00.000-07:00

Here I am! Do you know my name? I live in B. C. I love living here because you have just what I love to devour! I am not well liked because I turn what is big, tall, green and alive, to red and eventually a dull, weak and dying grey. Enough clues. Guess my name. Then do a little research and tell one fact about me.

Photos from Student Sailing the World

2009-09-14T10:01:00.000-07:00

Maia is a student in our class who is sailing to various parts of the world with her family this year. She has sent these photos to share with us with the following description: These pictures are of a humpback whale I saw on my offshore passage from Neah Bay, Washington to Coos Bay, Oregon.

The 2009-10 School Year Begins!

2009-09-10T10:18:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the new school year! Here in Vancouver we've enjoyed a fabulous summer and spent lots of time enjoying the outdoors. I hope all of you had a super summer and are re-energized for this school year.

Today as I look at the brilliant sunshine, I think about my summer and lots of great memories spring to mind. What will I remember most about this summer?

I will remember ....

floating on my back in the ocean watching bright white, puffy clouds gliding by in the dark blue Hawaiian sky.

Now, take a few minutes to think about your summer. What will you remember most about your summer? Please share your memory with us by posting it in the comment section. You may begin your sentence with 'I will remember...'

Earth Day: What can we do to make a difference?

2009-04-24T11:25:00.000-07:00

It's is great to see everyone becoming more aware of the importance of our Earth. In fact, not only is the awareness increasing, people are actually starting to make changes in their day to day lives to improve the long term health of the Earth. All of us are taking on the responsibility of making a difference. April 22 is designated as 'Earth Day', a day to re-commit ourselves to the well-being of our Earth.

Making a difference begins at home. One of the major areas to make a difference is in our consumption of energy. As we become more and more technologically advanced, we are inventing more and more electronic gadgets. We are also realizing and becoming more advanced in saving energy. I would like you to go to the following website http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/eco_info/topics/energy/energy_efficient/index.cfm Here you will find a quiz on being energy efficient. By taking this quiz you will learn how you can help reduce your use of energy and greenhouse gases. After you have played the game, post a comment telling one thing that you can do to make a difference in saving energy.

Friday, the thirteenth!

2009-02-13T10:46:00.000-08:00

It's Friday the thirteenth. For most people, it's just another day. However, there are others that feel when Friday falls on the 13th day of a month, it is best to be on guard, because it may be a day for bad luck. This is called a 'superstition'- an idea or belief that has no basis in fact.

There are many, many superstitions that have been passed on through the years from one generation to the next. Have you heard of these:

* a rabbit's foot brings good luck

* at the end of a rainbow is a pot of gold

* if you blow out all your birthday cake candles in one breath, your wish will be granted

Think of a superstition that you have heard, and post it in the comment section.

January, 2009: Happy New Year!

2009-01-13T10:49:00.000-08:00

A new year begins! What does this mean?

To some people it means, just another year. To others, it means a fresh start. Some like to think about the past year and then decide what changes they'd like to make in the new year. Many people like to make new year's resolutions---goals they'd like to meet in the new year. However, not very many people are successful in sticking to their new year's resolutions.

Why do you think some people are able to keep their resolutions and others are not? Is there something different about these people? Do some people have certain qualities that help them keep their resolutions that other people don't have? What are these qualities? Maybe it has nothing to do with the people. Maybe it has everything to do with the resolutions they make. Are some types of resolutions easier to keep than others? What makes some easier than others?

Is it a good idea to make new year's resolutions? Why or why not? What do you think?

Discuss the questions above with your family members, then post your thoughts about resolutions in the comment section. By the way, did you make any new year's resolutions for 2009?

Winter!!!

2008-12-11T10:31:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year...time to put on your mittens, scarves, winter boots and coats. Time to find your skates, sleds, skis, and head out for some winter fun.

Maybe it's time to go somewhere warm...pack your suntan lotion, swim suit, sun glasses. and go to the airport to find a hot spot.

Tell which you would prefer to do during the winter season, enjoy winter fun or go to a hot spot. Then tell why you made this choice.

Halloween Fun!

2008-10-31T09:53:00.000-07:00

It looks like it's going to be a wet night today, but wet or not, many of you will probably be costumed and 'haunting' the malls and neighborhood streets. Have fun, but remember to be safe.

Take a few minutes and share with us what you plan to do on Halloween night. Also, if you are overseas, tell us whether or not Halloween or a similar type of night is celebrated there.

Our Environment---Astounding!

2008-10-27T10:33:00.000-07:00

These powerful photos were taken by Alexandar during a summer trip. He writes:

Our trip was really fun! The starfish was my favorite.

Questions for the class:

What can we do to make sure that our environment stays as beautiful as shown in these photos?

Also, can you guess where these

photos were taken?

Please post your comments in the comment section.

Thank you for sharing these photos with us, Alexandar.

October Is Here!

2008-10-02T14:00:00.000-07:00

Yes, it is October! Isn't that great! Why is it great, you ask? I'm sure there are lots of reasons!

I can think of many reasons why I love October. There are some special days in October. There have been lots of wonderful memories made in October. There are lots of things that happen in October. For example, I love October because hockey season starts! I love October because when the leaves change colour they look beautiful! I love October because...

Now it's your turn. I want you to think of one reason why October is a great month for you, and post it in the comments.

Okay, for those of you who are struggling coming up with an idea, try this: Can you tell me what important event is happening on October 14th?

Welcome to the VLN 2008/09 School Year!

2008-09-22T09:28:00.000-07:00

We're back! We have now all begun working on our school program for this year. Things are progressing smoothly and now we have time to 'connect' using the blog. For some of you this will be a new experience. For others, this will be 'old hat'. The idea is to share our opinions, comments and experiences through the blog.

Let's begin by sharing your opinion about summer holidays. Summer holidays are just over two months long. Some people think this is too long. They would rather have a shorter summer and increase the winter and spring breaks. What if you had the power to make a change in shortening the summer or leaving it as is. What would you do and why?

You can share your opinion by clicking on the 'comments' and posting it there. I look forward to reading your opinions!

Traveling in Africa

2008-04-18T08:54:00.000-07:00

This photo and write up has been forwarded by Joel who is a Grade 4 V.L.N. student studying in Africa this year.

I went on a 10 day trip to three different African countries. We traveled to Botswana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Kruger National Park in South Africa. On our way to Zimbabwe we saw elephants on the side of the road. In Zimbabwe we stayed by the Zambezi River. We went to Victoria Falls while there. At Kruger National Park we saw elephants, lions , a leopard , cape buffalos , kudus , impalas , warthogs , lots of birds , vultures , crocks , hippos, mice, squalls, rhinos, hyenas, eland, giraffes, and zebras. When we went to Swaziland we fished, went to a school, and we stayed there for one night. I had fun on the trip.

April Fun!

2008-04-03T09:47:00.000-07:00

It's poetry month! The April Newsletter told you about Shel Silverstein and the enjoyment he gets from writing poetry. I decided to take a fun poem of his, change it a little, and then have you add a rhyming couplet (two lines that rhyme) to the poem. At the end of April, everyone who posts a rhyming couplet to the blog will receive a little prize.

Here's the beginning of the poem, followed by two examples of rhyming couplets:

No Schoolwork Today

"I can not do schoolwork today,"

Said little Peggy Ann McKay.

(here's an example of a rhyming couplet to add to this beginning)

My nose is clogged and I cannot breathe.
Just listen to my chest; you can hear me wheeze.

(here's another example of a rhyming couplet to add to this poem)

Penicillin, Sudafed, Tylenol too
With all this medicine, what's a body to do!

Now it's time for you to think of a fun, rhyming couplet to add to this poem and then post it in the comment section.

Spring Break!

2008-03-14T11:56:00.001-07:00

Hi Everyone,
Spring break is here! The school is closed from March 17 to March 25. Hopefully we will have lots of sunny days to get out and enjoy the many signs of spring. Take a photo or two of some of the more splendid signs of spring and send them to me to post in our blog. Have fun!

Venice and Its Working Boats

2008-01-10T09:13:00.000-08:00

Josh took a trip to Venice recently. There he saw all types of working boats. Here is his report.

1. Gondola: A gondola is an old fashioned Venice boat. It has one big oar and is a long narrow boat. Right how it is used for tourists. Before it was used like a taxi to get people from one place to another.

2. Vaparetto: A vaparetto is a Venetian type of bus. It's back is like a usual bus with lots of seats. But it is a boat. It's used to carry people from one stop to another.

3. Garbage scow: Garbage scows are like garbage trucks. They have an arm which picks up the garbage cans, like the ones in Vancouver, and empies them into the boat. They are green and they don't smell very good.

I also saw boats which ar ambulances, police boats, fire boats, and taxis (actual taxis-not gondolas).

2008 --- Here We Come!

2008-01-08T11:09:00.000-08:00

It's the beginning of another new year. A chance for a fresh start. An opportunity to set new personal goals. Many people make new year's resolutions, and within a couple of days, maybe weeks, maybe months, they are forgotten.

Here's the situation. You are 'Doctor Advice'. Walter is your friend. He comes to you and says that he really wants to stay focussed on his resolution for the entire year so that he can make progress all year long. Walter asks you, "How do I keep my resolution from just being lost after a short time? What should I do to make sure I remember my resolution all year?"

So...Doctor Advice, what would you tell Walter to do?

Post your suggestions for Walter on this blog.

Holiday Time!

2007-12-17T10:32:00.000-08:00

The holiday season has arrived, and not a moment too soon. I'm sure all of you are as ready for some fun and good family time as I am after working diligently since September. Various cultures hold celebrations at different times of the year. Some of you have the wonderful opportunity to see what happens during the holiday season outside of British Columbia. What a great experience! It would be excellent if you could share with us what is happening this time of year in the area that you reside or visit. Whether you live locally or abroad, it would be great to learn a little about a celebration that you participate in. There's a lot we can learn from each other.

Josh is visiting Italy this year and has forwarded some photos and the following write up.

Thank you Josh for your contribution!

Above is a photo Josh sent from Trento, Italy. He tells us the following: Trento is cold and damp. It has a big Christmas tree in one of the squares. There is a Christmas train that goes around some of the squares. There are lights that hang across the streets.

Holidays in Italy

When we got to Florence, we went to the Dome first. It is the largest dome made out of bricks in the world. They have a tower and a square---quite a large square. The square was full of people. The Dome's steps are on the inside. They are made of rock. There are 462 steps. There are lots of ventilation drafts as you go up. You can see out and take pictures through them. It took one hour to get to the top. Once you are at the top, you can see the whole of Florence, Italy.

Happy Halloween!

2007-10-31T09:38:00.000-07:00

There's a chill in the air. The ground is littered in leaves. Excited children dressed in strange and unusual ways are parading through the neighborhood. It must be Halloween!

If you participate in Halloween, do you have a favorite costume or a funny or scary story to tell?

If you are overseas, do children there participate in a special day or event during this time of year?

Photos from Adam in Spain & Joshua in Italy!

2007-10-22T14:42:00.000-07:00

Adam is a student in our class who is fortunate to be living and learning in Spain this year. He is visiting many historic sights and has forwarded the following photos taken at the Bode and Altes Museums to share with us.

The following photo shows the Bacharach fortress located on the Rhine. It is now called Burg Stahleckhostel and, as the name suggests, is used as a hostel for tourists.

Joshua is a student in our class who is currently in Italy having a fabulous time. He has sent three photos taken in Venice, Italy and has this to say about them.

1. This is Piazza San Marco where they have Carnivale and lots of pigeons.

2. This is a flying lion, a symbol of Venice.

3. This is the Rialto Bridge with a gondola going under it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-10-04T13:31:00.000-07:00

It's Thanksgiving! What does Thanksgiving mean to us? A long weekend... A time to get together with friends and family...A time to eat turkey...A time to stop and give thanks for all the good things we have...

Thanksgiving probably means a little of all of these.

What do you know about the history of Thanksgiving in Canada? How did Thanksgiving start in Canada? Why do Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving in October while Americans celebrate it in November?

I would like you to take some time to learn about the history of Canadian Thanksgiving. You can go to the website http://www.twilightbridge.com/hobbies/festivals/thanksgiving/canada/

for information. Then I would like you to post one new fact that you learned that you found most interesting about the history of Thanksgiving in Canada.

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Italian Lizard

2007-10-01T14:56:00.000-07:00

Joshua is in Italy and has submitted this photo and comment for the class blog.

This is a lizard. It is in Bolzano, just north of Trento. The lizard was up a mountain sunning itself on a fence it had crawled up on padded feet. We had to get close up to the lizard to take the picture and it just stayed there. This type of lizard is all over the place.

Summer Memories

2007-09-27T14:33:00.000-07:00

Kiersten writes: I went to a farm to go horseback riding. Can you guess where I went. Here are 5 choices: Washington, North Vancouver, Tennessee, Hawaii, Fiji.

Welcome to the 2007/08 School Year!

2007-09-13T14:14:00.000-07:00

What a great September! The summer weather is still with us. I'm sure you are all participating in a lot of outside activities and having a lot of fun. At the same time, we've begun our school schedule and have all begun to work on this year's program.

Given the hot weather and the energy in the air, it's easy to look back at our vacations and all the wonderful new memories we've collected. So, on that note, I decided it would be great to start this blog with photos of 'summer memories'. What I'd like you to do is to search through your summer photo collections and choose a photo you'd like to have posted on the blog. With the photo, please email a few sentences telling us about the photo. I will then post your photo and comments on the blog for you.

I've started our 'Summer Memories' collection by posting this photo taken during my vacation. I would like you to try and guess where this photo was taken and then post your guess on the 'Comments' section of this blog. After your guess, write your first name only.

Ready? Alright! Where do you think this photo was taken and why do you think that?

Cellphones----good or bad?

2007-04-19T11:42:00.000-07:00

Cellphones, cellphones, and more cellphones! It seems that almost everyone has a cellphone these days. Those who don't have one, want one. Many children, teenagers and adults feel that a cellphone is absolutely necessary. Without it, they feel they are unable to do the things they need to do in a day. Meanwhile, researchers continue to warn people about the dangers of too much cellphone use and use at inappropriate times.

What do you think? Are cellphones a necessity or a luxury? Are they dangerous to your health? Who should have cellphones? When should they be used? When should they not be used? Do we need rules for regulating cellphone use? If so, what rules would you make? Do you have a cellphone? If not, why not? Do you want a cellphone? What would you use it for?

Take a few minutes to share your thoughts about cellphones.

Science World Fieldtrip

2007-02-28T13:41:00.000-08:00

What a great day at Science World!
It was great to see so many students and parents. I thoroughly enjoyed our visit.
Sampling a Purdy's chocolate while learning about cocoa and the manufacturing of chocolate, to testing my ability to relax and move a ball through 'Mind Power' ,to going to the Omnimax and seeing the force of nature, to examining live insects at the Eureka Lab...I had a fabulous time.

Those of you who were able to join us, I'm sure you had an enjoyable experience also. I'd like you to share one thing that impressed you on the field trip. It may be one fact that you remember from watching the Omnimax film, or it could be something you learned at the insect or chemistry workshop, or it could be something you discovered at one of the galleries.

Those of you who were unable to join us, I'd like you to share an interesting fact or observation about a special place of interest that you may have visited recently. You may be overseas and visited a tourist attraction or you may tell us about something interesting in your neighborhood, perhaps a statue in a local park.

Books...Television...Computers...?

2007-01-29T14:32:00.000-08:00

Here it is, the year 2007 and the world keeps changing and changing. We have no control over the speed in which things change. First it was books. Then we moved onto televisions. Now computers are everywhere. As you get older, you will have more and more decisions to make as to how you want to spend your time. I'd like you to rank the three(books, television, computer) in the order in which you spend your free time, from most to least. Also, a brief explanation telling why you spend your time in this way would be good.

As always, I'll start.

During the school year, given the 3 choices (books, t.v., computers) I spend more time watching television. This is partially because I'm a big hockey fan so this means watching games on television. In second place would be using my computer. I spend so much time on my computer at school, it's not as appealing to me after school. I spend the least of my time with books. This is because it takes me some serious time to find something I really want to read. Once I find something to read, I want to have the freedom of reading whenever I want throughout the day until I finish it. This usually means that I save reading until the summer.

So, that's me. What about you?

Happy New Year!

2007-01-08T14:19:00.000-08:00

2007---Here we come!
A new year, a new start, and, a chance to make some New Year's Resolutions. What is a resolution? It's a commitment to try and make changes for the better. It gives you an opportunity to start fresh with renewed energy. So, now, let's do it. Let's decide what each of us wants to change for the better and how. When you've decided, post your New Year's Resolution.

What's my New Year's Resolution?

My first resolution is to deal with things sooner rather than put things off. I want to make a decision and follow through within a reasonable period of time---sooner rather than later.

My second resolution is to take at least thirty minutes a day to do some form of exercise. It's time to get moving!

Alright! It's your turn. What's your New Year's Resolution?

Fun Times!

2006-10-31T11:05:00.000-08:00

One of my favourite times of year is Christmas. I love Christmas for lots of reasons. First of all we have holidays so I have time to relax and sit in front of the fireplace on cold evenings maybe read a little and sip hot chocolate. Secondly, we always get together with our family and friends and talk, and eat, and talk, and eat some more. Everyone is happy and the children are excited. The seasonal music adds to the whole holiday feeling.
What about you---what time of year or what celebration is one of your favourites. What is it that you like most about it?

O.W.L. Presentation

2006-10-04T09:23:00.000-07:00

Wow! What an excellent presentation! It was great to see that many of you were able to attend the presentation by the O. W. L. (Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation) society, and had the opporunity to learn about the fabulous work that they do. I know you all enjoyed seeing a live owl and a Mexican hawk. Ted Williams, the presenter, shared a wealth of very interesting information. Additional photos taken at the presentation can be viewed at http://www.gvdes.ca/~jmattu/fieldtrips/owl/owl.htm

Let's start this year's blog by sharing one thing that you learned from attending the presentation. Those of you who were not able to attend can also add to this by looking up information about Canadian hawks and owls and give one interesting fact you learned through your research.

This is a 'live' blog in that you are able to add your comments here directly. So, decide on an interesting fact about hawks or owls that you'd like to share. Then add your fact by clicking on 'comment'. Only give your first name when you leave a comment. I look forward to reading your interesting facts.

Cruisin' the Fraser

2006-06-08T14:23:00.000-07:00

What a great experience!
The elementary GVDES students rode down the Fraser on a paddlewheeler! It was a wet, soggy day, but this did not dampen the spirit of the participants.

Enjoy the video!

Connor Meets Manatees

2006-03-29T11:04:00.000-08:00

This photo of a manatee was taken by Connor when he was in Florida. Connor writes that he went out on a boat, and with a wet suit and a mask on, jumped into the water to swim with the manatess for over an hour and a half!
Another unforgettable experience for one of our classmates!

Caroline Visits the Penguins

2006-03-29T10:29:00.000-08:00

Caroline sent this photo taken during her visit to the Strait of Magellan.This is a penguin colony---what a super experience!
Do you know where the Strait of Magellan is?

Many of you are studying in various parts of the world and are visiting some very interesting places. E-mail me your interesting photos with a brief write-up explaining the photo, and I will post it here for everyone in our class to enjoy.