Happy Summer!!

It is time to UNPLUG and get outside and enjoy what nature has to offer!! I am so proud of the children in class 2B for adapting to a new way of learning and showing resilience. 

Happy Summer!!

Love, Mrs. Wickson

Canada's Birthday!!

Canada Day is Wednesday, July 1. Canada will be turning 153 years old this year! Usually the capital of Canada, Ottawa, holds large celebrations and fireworks displays each Canada Day to celebrate. This year, however, due to the Coronavirus all celebrations will be online. The following video is of the spectacular display of fireworks that occurred for the special CANADA 150 celebrations. This was in 2017 when Canada turned 150 years old. The fireworks are set off above and around the Peace Tower.

In class back in November, we discussed the Peace Tower during our Remembrance Day studies. The Peace Tower is also known as the Tower of Victory and Peace and it is the centre of the Centre Block building of the Canadian Parliament buildings. It was opened in 1920 and includes a bell and clock tower. This Peace Tower also includes a memorial to Canadians who have died in different wars and conflicts.

The fireworks video for CANADA 150 is 21 minutes long. It is a remarkable display!! Please make your own decision as to whether you would like to watch the video in it's entirety or perhaps just parts. This is the video link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Lr0KHXwTeY

Happy Birthday Canada!!

Animals With Jobs

Many types of animals actually work for a living! This video shows 14 types of animals that help humans in different ways, like dogs. Dogs can be trained to help people that are blind. They are called seeing eye dogs or guide dogs.

How are seeing eye dogs trained?
What type of dogs are trained as guide dogs?
How long does it take to train a dog?
How long do most trained dogs work as a guide dog?


Watch this video below to learn more about guide dogs and other helpful animals:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCjQL9sBSQA

Which animal is your favourite helper? Why? Can you think of another animal that could be trained to help humans? How would they help?

Cute Baby Animals

This video gives facts for 12 different kinds of baby animals. Listen closely and you can hear the sounds of the baby animal (e.g. croaks from an alligator hatchling and squeaks from a bear cub).

Watch the video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUl2HMMZiIw

Chose 3 of your favourite baby animals featured in the video. Make 3 headings with their names (e.g. Hatchling             Kit            Owlet ) at the top of a piece of paper. Use dot jots to list as many facts as you can for each one. Draw and label each baby animal.
 

Spooky Critters

Learn about some spooky looking critters like this star-nose mole, goblin shark, and mata mata turtle.

Watch the following video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3lAfaqL2V0

Which critter did you find the most scary? Do you know of another critter that is creepy? Chose a spooky critter from the video or another creepy critter you know about and ask an adult to help you research more facts. List as many facts as you can find and then sketch the animal. Be sure to add labels to  your drawing. 

Report Cards

As communicated in HWDSB phone calls, emails, and school updates, you will receive your child's report card as a secure document through School Messenger at the end of June. When you receive the email you will need your child's Ontario Education Number (OEN) to verify access to the reports (password). This number is found at the top of every report card your child has received over the years. If you are unable to locate the OEN, please send me an email.

Marsupials

Marsupials are special kinds of mammals that have pouches. Although many marsupials live in Australia and New Guinea, there are over 200 types of marsupials that live all over the world. The most well known marsupial is the kangaroo, but have you heard about the bilby, yapok, or Virginia opossum? 

Watch the following video to learn more about these amazing, pouched mammals:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s0Ewd3pG4s

After watching the video, answer these questions:

1. How do marsupial babies stay inside the pouch without falling out?

2. How are pouches different? Name the 2 kinds of pouches.

3. What is the name of one of the few marsupials that can swim?

4. When does the bilby hunt? How can they hunt so well in the dark?

Draw and label your favourite marsupial. Don't forget to add the pouch!

Animal Gathering Names

There are different names for different animal gatherings. For example, when animals with hooves (a tough, hard covering on their feet) move in a group it is called a herd. When many fish swim together it is called a school.

Watch the video to learn about the names of other animal gatherings:

Amazing Animal Groups

After watching the video, answer these questions:

1. What is a gathering of birds called?
2. Name 3 kinds of animals whose grouping is called a nest.
3. Name 5 different names for rat gatherings.
4. What animals live in groups called beds?
5. What is a group of prairie dogs and where they live called?

Think of 3 more animals not in the video. Ask an adult to help you research the name of their gatherings.                                                                                                 

        

Insects

Insects are the largest group of animals on Earth. Almost one million species (types) have been identified so far. Insects are invertebrates. They have no backbones. Insects have an outer shell called exoskeletons.

       

Watch the video link below on insects:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKQfJFAHW8Q

After watching the video, answer these questions:

1. Where in the world do insects live?

2. What kind of weather do insects prefer?

3. What are the 3 main sections on an insect's body?

4. How many legs do insects have and where do they attach to the insects body?

5. How do insects breath?

6. What is different about insect eyes?

Draw and label an ant using these words: head, thorax, abdomen.

                       

Animal Classification

We are going to finish out the school year by revisiting our favourite science unit on animals. We learned earlier in the year that animals can be placed into different groupings. We studied 6 groupings: mammals, fish, birds, insects, amphibians, and reptiles. Today we are going to look at how those 6 groupings can be classified, or sorted, into 2 groups. These groups are vertebrates and invertebrates.

vertebrates: animals with spines, or backbones           

invertebrates: animals that do NOT have backbones

Mammals, fish, birds, amphibians, and reptiles are all vertebrates. Insects are invertebrates. Watch the video link below to review the characteristics of 5 of these groups of animals (mammals, fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles) and to learn more about vertebrates and invertebrates:

Animal Classification Video

After watching the video, answer these questions:

1. Are most of the animals in the world vertebrates or invertebrates?
2. Which of the 5 animal groups mentioned are cold blooded?
3. What animal groups lay eggs?
4. What is the only animal group that has ears that stick out?

List 5 animals that are invertebrates and 5 animals that are vertebrates. Tomorrow we will have a closer look at insects.

Water Saving Ideas

It's time to design a poster! This will be our last activity for the Air and Water science unit.  We have learned that humans use a lot of water for drinking, cooking, and cleaning each day. Water is used at home, at work, and for fun. There are ways that we can use water wisely without waste. Here are a few ideas:

Turn off the tap while you brush your teeth or scrub your hands. Turn it back on only for rinsing.

Take short showers.

Make sure you have a full load before using the dishwasher.

Turn off the tap tightly after you use it. Small drips waste water.

Design a poster on tips for saving water. Pick one way your family can improve on saving water. Get a large piece of paper. Print in large letters the water saving rule. Add pictures to illustrate how to follow the rule. Make the poster colourful and appealing to catch everyone's eye. Place your poster where it will be seen by all family members. We can all make a difference in using water wisely!

Final School Access

I have just been notified that the board is now offering one last day for student/family access to the school: Thursday, June 18 (9-3 p.m.) for those families who were unable to previously book a time.

Once again, the booking system for scheduling a visit is on the school's website. It is located at the top under the heading Booking Calendar. Go to Wickson 2B for the calendar link. Booking opens today and you have until Wednesday at noon to schedule a time. This will be the FINAL access opportunity for students. 

Experiment: How Much Water Do I Use?

Yesterday we learned that we use a lot of water for drinking, cooking, and cleaning. We took a close look at just HOW much water is used for different activities. This weekend, I want you to choose one day to conduct an experiment. Find out how often you use water throughout the day. Use this chart as a guide:

Make your own chart. Print the activities down one side of your paper. Leave a large box beside each activity so you can tally count every time you use water for that activity. Pick a day. Start from the moment you wake up until you are getting back into bed for bedtime. 

What activity do you use water for the most? How often in a day are you using water? What could you do during these activities to help save water?

Use Water Wisely

We use a lot of water for drinking, cooking, and cleaning. In fact, people use TOO much water. Look at the chart below for the average water usage for some activities. To compare, a large plastic pop bottle holds 2 litres (or 2 L) of pop. To brush your teeth with the tap left running, it takes about 4 litres (4 L) of water. That would be 2 pop bottles full of water every time you brush your teeth!

Read the "Average Water Usage" chart closely and answer these questions:

What two activities take up the most water?
Would it be better to take a bath or shower?
How many litres of water do you save by turning off the tap while you brush your teeth?
What saves more water: washing the dishes by hand or by the dishwasher?

How People Use Water at Work

Water is used daily in many different ways. Yesterday you made a list of how families use water at home and how water is used for fun. Maybe some of you even used water for fun yesterday during the hot day! Perhaps you went for a swim, played in the sprinkler, or tossed water balloons.

Water is also used everyday for work. One important way water is put to work is for hydro-electricity. This form of electricity is made by changing the energy from falling (moving) water into electricity. Below is a photograph of a reservoir at a pump generating station near Niagara Falls. The energy from the rushing water pouring over Niagara Falls everyday is changed (converted) into electricity. This use of water is extremely important as it provides a clean, renewable, and reliable energy source.

Water is used in many other ways for work. Ask your Mom or Dad how they use water for work. Brainstorm ways around the world that water is used for work. 

Make a list of how people use water for work.

How People Use Water

Families use water at home. Here are some ways to use water at home: drink water, wash your hands, flush toilets, and wash and rinse dishes.

Can you think of other ways families use water at home? 

Families also use water for fun at home and outside of the home.

Draw a line down the middle of a piece of paper. Put the headings Water at Home/Water for Fun at the top. Make a list of all the ways families use water at home and for fun. 

Where is the Water?

Water is all around us. Lakes, rivers, and streams are full of water. High in the sky, clouds contain tiny water drops. There is water under the ground, too. If you dig in a garden, you may find the soil is damp. There is water in the soil.

Where do people get water? Some people get water from a well. People who live in towns and cities hold water in reservoirs. A reservoir looks like a lake. Some reservoirs are created by people. A water tower is like a reservoir. Water leaves the reservoir through large pipes. It travels through many pipes before it gets to your home. Did you know that water is treated? This makes water safe to use. You can help keep water clean. Here is one way: clean up after your pet. Pet waste can get into the water through soil. This can make water unsafe.

Can you think of other ways to help keep water clean?
List all the places that water can be found.

Experiment #2: Water Cycle in a Bag

Here is an easy science experiment that gives you the water cycle in a bag! Remember, the water on Earth keeps recycling. We call this the water cycle. The water cycle makes sure that we always have water.

Watch the video link below to see the few easy steps to create a water cycle in a bag. You will need a marker to draw the water cycle diagram on the bag. Use the labels: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection.

Water Cycle in a Bag Experiment Link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZnwobFKqLI

Experiment #1: The Water Cycle in Your Kitchen

Do you know why the mirror in the bathroom fogs up after a shower? The vapour from the hot shower rises from the shower and covers the mirror. Since the mirror is colder, the vapour changes back to water. What is this part of the water cycle called? Is it evaporation, precipitation, or condensation?

Ask a parent to help you create a water cycle in your kitchen.

What you need:
- a pot
- water
- a mirror
- a cup
- an oven mitt

What to Do:

1. Ask an adult to help you boil water in a pot. When the water is hot, you will see steam. Steam is water vapour. This is evaporation. ****Stem is hot. Wear the oven mitt to protect your hand****

2. Ask the adult to hold the shiny side of a mirror over the pot. You will see tiny drop of water form on the mirror. This is condensation.

3. Put a cup under the mirror. Collect the water drops as they fall from the mirror. This is precipitation.

You have just created the water cycle in your kitchen!

The Water Cycle

The water on Earth keeps recycling. We call this the water cycle. The water cycle makes sure that we always have water.

Here is a diagram of the water cycle:

Evaporation: The sun heats the water in lakes, streams, oceans, and puddles. Some of the heated water turns into vapour. The vapour rises into the air. This is called evaporation.

Condensation: The air is cool high in the sky. The cool air makes the vapour change back to tiny drops of water. This is called condensation. 

Precipitation: The water drops group together. They form a cloud. The water drops become larger as more water condenses. These water drops fall from the clouds as snow, rain, hail, and sleet.

Collection: Water collects in lakes, streams, oceans, and puddles. The cycle begins again.

Use these words to fill in the blanks:
cloud            cool            heat

1. The ___________ from the sun changes water into vapour.

2. The ____________ air changes vapour to tiny drops of water.

3. Water drops group together to make a _________________.

Try making your own diagram of the water cycle using the example above. Use these labels: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection.

More About Water

Think back to our Liquids and Solids Science unit. We learned that water comes in three forms, or states of matter. What are these 3 states of matter?

Did you remember that the 3 states of matter are liquid, solid, and gas? Most of the water we use is liquid. A liquid can be poured. A liquid changes shape when it is poured into a container. 

Sometimes we use water as a solid. Water becomes solid when it freezes. It is called ice. Ice is hard. It cannot be poured. You can pick it up and move a solid.

Water can be a gas. Water evaporates and changes into vapour when it is heated. Vapour is a gas. You cannot always see the gas in the air. For example, water turns to a gas as it evaporates from clothes drying on a clothesline. 

Print the numbers 1-8 on a piece of paper. Write the state of water for each example.

1. hail

2. fog

3. clothes drying

4. rain

5. ice

6. frost

7. snow

8. dew

We Need Water!

All living things need water to live. People need to drink water every day to keep healthy. Water helps your body digest food. It keeps your body temperature steady. Water carries waste from your body. Most animals use water the same way we do.

Plants need water too. Plants suck up water through their roots. They also take water in through their leaves, stems, branches, and trunks. Plants use the nutrients in water to make their own food.

Is the following statement true or false?

1. Living things need water to live.
2. Animals do not need water.
3. Plants get water only through their roots.

List three ways that water helps your body. Remember to drink lots of water each day!

Changes in the Air

The air moving around us affects the weather. Weather is the day to day conditions where you live. The temperature tells how warm or cold the air is. We can feel hot and cold air as the temperature changes.

A weather report tells us about the weather outside. The report tells if it is warm or cold. It tells how windy or cloudy it is. It also tells if the air is dry or wet.

Experiment: Make a Wind Sock

A wind sock tells us which direction the wind is blowing from. Hang a wind sock where it catches the wind.

c

What You Need:

- a large piece of construction paper to roll into a cylinder

- glue

- scissors

- streamers (tissue paper, party streamers, paper cut into strips)

- strong string, yarn, or rope

- decorations (crayons, paint, stickers, google eyes)

What to Do:

- decorate the construction paper as you wish (bright colours, into a fish or other animal)

- roll paper into a cylinder and tape or staple 

- glue streamers around the bottom edge of the cylinder

- make a handle out of the rope/yarn/string

Hang your wind sock and test it. How well did your wind sock work? Tell why you think so.

Air Moves

Wind is air that is moving. Have you been outside on a windy day? Did you feel the air moving around you? Read theses facts about wind:

- wind cools us down when we are warm
- wind makes flying a kite fun
- wind helps sailboats move
- wind spins a windmill to make electricity
- wind blows seeds and new plants will grow where the seeds land

We use moving air at home. Read these facts about moving air at home:

- a hair dryer uses moving air to dry hair
- a dryer uses moving air to dry clothes
- a vacuum cleaner uses moving air to suck up dirt
- a fan keeps air moving and makes us feel cooler
- an air conditioner blows cool air to cool your home
- a furnace blows warm air to warm your house

Draw a line down the middle of a piece of paper. Put these headings at the top of each row: Air Moves Outside/ Air Moves at Home. List at least three ways we use wind and at least three ways we use moving air at home.

Experiment: Does Air Take Up Space?

Remember: We cannot see air but air is all around us. Try this experiment to find out whether air takes up space.

What You Need:
- a clear plastic container
- water
- a plastic cup (shorter than the container)
- a piece of paper towel

What You Do:
1. Fill the container nearly to the top with water.
2. Crunch up the paper towel. Push it down to the bottom of the cup.
3. Turn the cup over. Push the cup into the water. Do NOT tilt the cup.
4. Pull the cup straight out of the water. Check the paper towel.

Was the paper towel wet or dry?
What kept the towel dry?

What is Air?

Read the following facts about air and then complete a fact list:

We cannot see air but air is all around us. The layer of air that surrounds Earth is called the atmosphere.

Air has no colour. It has no taste. Air has no odour (you can not smell air). We might see dust in the air. We might smell a skunk in the air. What we see and smell is not actually air. We are seeing and smelling things that the air is carrying.

On a piece of paper, make a list of five facts you learned about air.

Don't forget about our virtual class meeting tomorrow on MS Teams at 11:00 am!

We Need Air!

We are going to have a closer look at air and water on Earth. The Grade 2 Science curriculum includes a strand called "Air and Water in the Environment". It is important to know that air and water are a major part of the Earth's environment. All living things need air and water to survive and any changes to air and water affect both living things and the environment. Our actions most certainly affect the quality of the air and water on Earth.

Read the following facts about air and then answer the fill in the blank questions:

Air is made of gases. The gas we breathe in is oxygen and the gas we breathe out is called carbon dioxide. Most animals do this. Did you know that the root and leaves of a plant or tree can take in air? Plants and trees do the opposite of what you do! They take in carbon dioxide. This gas is in the air. Plants and trees release oxygen back into the air. Plants and trees and humans need each other!

______________ is all around us.

No plants or animals can live without ____________________.

Air is made of  _______________________.

The gas we take in is called _____________________.

When we breathe out, we release _________________________.

Plants and trees need to take in ______________________ from the air.

Plants and trees release ___________________________ back into the air.

Taiga

The Taiga biome is also known as the Coniferous Forest or Boreal Forest. It is the world's largest land biome. Coniferous forests are made from the type of trees that have needle-like leaves. Watch the video link below and answer these questions: Name three kinds of coniferous trees found in the Taiga biome. The Taiga has a harsh climate. Where are these forests found in the world?

Here is the link:
https://safeYouTube.net/w/ulQF

Only certain kinds of plants and animals can live in the harsh climate of the Taiga biome. Draw a line down the middle of a piece of paper. On one side print Plants at the top and on the other side print Animals at the top. Make a list of the plants and animals found in the Taiga.

Savanna

The Savanna is a hotter grassland than the temperate grasslands. This biome is located closer to the equator. The Savanna has warm temperatures year round with a wet and dry season. These grasslands have trees, shrubs, and large animals. Watch the video below and answer these questions: What do the trees and shrubs have (adaptations) that protect them from the hot, dry season? Why are fires important in the Savanna grasslands?

Here is the video link:

https://safeYouTube.net/w/KxKE

After watching this video, draw a tree or shrub from the Savanna grasslands. Be sure to add the adaptions these trees and shrubs have for the hot, dry season. Label these adaptions.

Please keep an eye on your emails today as I am sending a letter regarding an opportunity to have a class meeting next week.

Temperate Grasslands

Large areas covered with grass are called grasslands. Temperate grasslands are cooler and farther away from the equator. Tropical grasslands are closer to the equator and are typically called the Savanna. Watch the video on temperate grasslands and answer the following questions: There are few trees and shrubs in the temperate grasslands. What are some of the few things that grow there? What is the difference between Prairie grasslands and Steppes grasslands?

Here is the video link to the Temperate grasslands video:

https://safeYouTube.net/w/tpKE

After watching the video, list the many different animals found in the grasslands. 

Desert Biome: May 19

Our next biome to investigate is the desert. Deserts can be found on every continent of the world. Some deserts are hot and some deserts are cold. Watch the link below to find out more about deserts. The video is set to music with text. A reading partner might be needed for some students. Discuss the following question: How do animals survive the extreme heat or extreme cold of a desert? If you were going to live in a desert, would you rather live in a hot desert or a cold desert? Why?

Here is the link to the "Desert Biome":

https://safeYouTube.net/w/UIJD

Make a list of 5 desert facts. Chose one fact to print on a separate sheet of paper and draw an illustration. 

Rainforest

Our next biome to investigate is the rainforest. Watch the link below to the "Explore the Rainforest!" video. Discuss the following questions: How many types of rainforests are there? What part of the world are the rainforests found? How are they different?


"Explore the Rainforest!" video link:

https://safeyoutube.net/w/b6ID

List some kinds of animals and trees found in the warm rainforests (tropical) and the cool rainforests (temperate). Which rainforest would you rather visit?

What are Tundras?

We are going to have a closer look today at one of the world's biomes: tundras. Remember biomes are large areas on Earth that have very different plants, animals and weather. Tundras are among the world's biggest and harshest biomes. After viewing the 2 minute video, discuss the following questions. Here is the video link:

https://safeyoutube.net/w/nvID

What are the two different types of tundras? Why can't trees grow in the Arctic tundra? What is negatively changing the Arctic tundra? Why?

Biomes

Around the world, there are large areas on Earth that have very different plants, animals, and weather. These areas with varying environments are called "biomes". Some biomes include the desert, forest, grasslands, tundra, and rainforest. The link below has beautiful visuals of a variety of biomes found around the world. The 3 minute video is set to music with some written facts. Watch the link below:

Introduction to Biomes

Could you name some of the biomes that you saw? List some ways that make each biome different. What is the type of animal found at the very end of the video that tips right over? In the next few days we will have a closer look at some different biomes found around the world. 

Urban, Suburban, Rural

Let's take a closer look at the three types of communities: urban, suburban, and rural. During the video, listen for some Pros (good/positive reasons) and Cons (not good/negative reasons) of living in each type of community. Here is the video link:

Second Grade: Types of Communities

After watching the video, make a Pro/Con list for each type of community. For example, print "Rural" at the top of your paper. Now, on one side print Pro and on the other side print Con. Think of what you learned in the video that shows a good reason to live in a rural community (fresh air, space). Add these dot jots to your Pro side. Now think of the not so good reasons to live in a rural community (long distance to stores, other family members live far away). Add these dot jots to your Con side.

After you have made a Pro/Con list for the three types of communities, decide where you would want to live. Why?

Monday, May 11

We will continue our exploration of maps and the world by looking closer at different kinds of communities. The link below provides a lesson on three types of communities: urban, suburban, and rural. Watch the link below:

Your Community: Types of Communities

What type of community do you live in? Do you have family members that live in a different kind of community? What do you think some of the challenges would be to live in a rural community? An urban community?

Colour to Cope with COVID 19

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week (May 4-10). Thank you to Ashlyn's Mom for passing on this information.

Underwater Colour Bursts/Go Noodle

Happy Friday! Enjoy some fun activities for the weekend. First, explore at home with liquids and colour. This experiment can be conducted in your kitchen or simply watch the video to experience the investigation. If conducting the experiment and you don't have a medicine dropper, a small spoon can be used to make food colouring droplets. Watch the link below:

Underwater Colour Bursts

Now, switch gears and get your body moving by watching this Go Noodle link:

Indoor Recess: Moose on the Loose

Lastly, relax for the rest of the weekend. Calm your body and mind with the Go Noodle activity called Melting- Flow.

 Melting- Flow

How to Make a Map

Read along with this RedCat Reading video and learn more about maps. At the end of the video learn how to make a map of your bedroom. You will need paper (graph paper is best), a ruler, a pencil, and crayons. Here is the link below:

How to Make a Map Video

Learning About Canada

From the West Coast across to the East Coast and up to the Northern Territories, we live in a very diverse, beautiful country! Take a tour across Canada and find out what makes each province and territory so special.

If you have difficulty viewing the video, it is called "Map of Canada: Part 2 Learn the Canadian Provinces". The running time is 6 minutes and 30 seconds. It can be Googled.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ4qBWz6o4Q

We live in Ontario. What facts did you learn about Ontario? What city in Ontario is Canada's capital?

STEM Challenge/Crazy Hair

Pop Pom Drop STEM Challenge:

Get your kids thinking critically and developing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) skills with just some simple items from around the house! Watch the link below to see how some pom poms, tape, and toilet paper rolls become a STEM challenge.

Pom Pom Drop

Crazy Hair Art

With all of the hair salons closed for months, many people are getting some crazy hairdos! We explored with Crazy Hair Art in the fall. Watch the video link below to revisit this fun activity!

Crazy Hair Art Video

Week of May 4-8

The students will take a closer look at the parts of a map (title, symbols, key, compass rose) by viewing the video link below:

My Map Movie Digital Story

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNcF53AEPeQ

Use the symbols in the key and the compass rose on the "My Neighbourhood" map to complete the questions. Enjoy looking at a map of Canada's Wonderland from 2008. What rides have you been on? What new rides are not included in this 2008 map?