Mon petit doigt me l'a dit...

Becoming Stewards of the Earth

Our saplings (planted in late fall) have inspired us to delve a little deeper into understanding the difference one person can make. In March we read Wangari's Tree's of Peace by Janette Winter.

"The Earth was naked.
For me the mission was to try to cover it with green."
- Wangari Maathai, Environmentalist and winner of Nobel Peace Prize (2004)

It is the true story of Wangari Maathai, environmentalist, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, and shining example of how one woman's passion, vision, and determination inspired great change.

Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai would have turned 73 on April 1^st.Her birthday gives us occasion to honor and emulate her values and inculcate in our children the importance of trees and the environment and what better way than for all of us to plant a tree.

A clip from the movie Dirt! The Movie 2009

We also watched, L'homme qui plantait des arbres. (The Man Who Planted Trees) it is a 1987 Canadian short film directed and animated by Frédéric Back. It is based on the story of the same name by Jean Giono and was published in 1953.

It tells the story of one shepherd's long and successful single handed effort to re-forest a desolate valley in the foothills of the Alps in Provence. Reiterating that one person can make a difference.

French Version

English Version

Play at its best!

Using puppets and the overhead projector several students recreated the story, Les trois petits cochons. The story study we started earlier this month. I was really impressed with their imaginative retelling and the creative shadow puppet theater scene they collaborated on.

Our new story study in Kindergarten put to music!

Les trois petits cochons

Your child is presently learning all of the vocabulary in this song!

Several of my former fantastic JK students who have now become spectacular SK students have requested this song be re-posted as they enjoyed it so much last year. I am so impressed that Andrew Praamsma took the time to make this video and I hope he and his puppeting pals make more!

Les trois petits cochons app. and videos

If you are looking for another way for your child to practise their French why not try this app. Les trois petits cochons is the story we are studying in class. Your child is learning to tell, read and write about this story. He or she is also dramatising it with puppets and is learning a dance too. If you don't understand the review, he gives it a good one and the story is available in both French and English on the app.

This song by Henri Des is just another way to practise the familiar vocabulary from the story Les trois petits cochons.

The visuals on this video are very simple but the story is the exact version we are learning in class and the song played at the end of the video is the one by Matt Maxwell that we have been singing and have learned to dance to in class.

Another version of the Les trois petits cochons to enjoy read by Hélène Sauvin.

Structures

We have been building daily in class with blocks, giant straws, recyclables, marble maze, cloth, scarves, sand... Just for fun I've posted a little inspirational book called It's Not a Box by Antoinette Portis to inspire more building! Some rainy afternoon just supply any child with a "not a box" and see what happens.

Two Dimensional Shapes

Les formes géométriques à deux dimensions

In math we have been working on learning the names of the basic 2D shapes in French. Un triangle, un carré, un rectangle et un cercle (un rond). Both cercle and rond have been introduced as your child will hear both throughout their education.

Practice your new vocabulary with these videos. You may even learn a few more before they are taught in class!

A very simple song.

If you are a teacher you may also want to go visit Shannon Weibe's wonderful blog Madame Belle Feuille: les figures, for more resources. I appreciate so very much that she generously shares printables for free!

Daily Routine

Here is a great little video for learning basic daily routine vocabulary for life's moments outside of the school day.

Les couleurs!

Practice and review your colours!