2010---Already?

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!

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

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!

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!

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

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!

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?

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!

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!

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!!!

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.

OR

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!

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!

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!

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!

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

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!

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!

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

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!

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.