Friday, May 30, 2014

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

The Paper Bag Princess

During our literacy block, we have been studying the book The Paper Bag Princess. The Paper Bag Princess is a children's book written by Robert Munsch and illustrated by Michael Martchenko. It was first published on 1 May 1980 by Annick Press. The story reverses the princess and dragon stereotype.  Our first graders are working on several comprehension activities with this text. Today, we became Paper Bag Princes and Princesses! 








Feel free to discuss the text at home and ask your child the 5W questions about this text. Here is the plot-line to guide you:

Princess Elizabeth plans on marrying Prince Ronald, who is practically perfect. However, a dragon arrives who destroys her kingdom, kidnaps Ronald, and burns all her clothes so that she has no choice but to wear a paper bag. Elizabeth follows the dragon and Ronald, and seeking to rescue her fiancé, challenges the dragon to burn forests with fire and to fly around the world. The dragon completes the tasks but after flying around the world a second time becomes tired and falls asleep. Elizabeth rescues Ronald, who is ungrateful and tells her to return when she looks more like a princess.

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Poisson d' Avril



In France, April Fools’ Day is known for “poisson d’avril” or April Fish.

 According to popular beliefs, the New Year used to start on the 1st of April. 

However, King Charles IX wanted the year to start on the 1st of January. 
 Legend has it that some people were not happy with this change and continued

 to celebrate the New Year on April 1st.  The people who DID embrace the new

 calendar started to mock the reluctant ones and gave them false presents and

 played tricks on them. When the jokes started to become more common,

false fish were often used to trick the victim.  There lies the legendary origin of

 April Fish, stuck on the back of the fools.  Today, French children try to stick

a fish picture on their friends' back. When the joke is discovered,

they shout "poisson d'avril!"







Thursday, May 1, 2014

Math Game Day

Our last Math Game Day.
Thanks to all of our AMAZING volunteers!  
We couldn't do it without all of you!