How to Get Back at a Tuna Fish

Last week we continued our look at "Swimmy", and participated in an activity that shows what team work can accomplish. All of the classes that visited the Library painted a small fish using a stamp (Just like Leo Leoni did) and the end result is just pretty amazing. Our students got together and created something by working as a team. 

Whose afraid of the big bad wolf... I mean fish?

Well this week we kept it light and read a funny book. You may have heard of the "Scaredy Squirrel" series. We read "Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend" by Melanie Watt, and what this fun story teaches us is that sometimes you need a helping hand. Teamwork is not just about working and school, but its also about play.

Yesterday was Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a holiday observed in the United States. We will be talking about him next week and looking at how he worked with a large group of people to make some changes.

In the meanitime, we will be working on another team activity that we will be showing you next week. If your children liked Swimmy or Scaredy, there are more titles by Leo Leonni and Melanie Watt in our Library. 

Keep Reading!

What happens when a tuna fish eats all your friends?

Welcome back!

This month we will be focusing on texts that center around teamwork, our character education trait. This week we have been reading an award wining book called "Swimmy" by Leo Leonni. Below is an excerpt from goodreads.com:


Deep in the sea there lives a happy school of little fish. Their watery world is full of wonders, but there is also danger, and the little fish are afraid to come out of hiding . . . until Swimmy comes along. Swimmy shows his friends how—with ingenuity and team work—they can overcome any danger.

If your children enjoyed this book, we have many other Leo Lionni titles in our collection. Below is another document to support discussions at home about working as a team.

Keep Reading!
Earl Beatty Library :)

Kindness and Caring for the Holidays

Another year is coming to a close. This week we have been reading the story " How to Heal a Broken Wing" by Bob Graham. While it is not a Holiday story, it does capture that theme of kindness, and thinking of others. Last week we read a winter story called "One Winter's Day" by Christina Butler, it highlights the adventures of a Hedgehog who also spends his time doing kind things for others despite his own troubles. Below are summary's of each book from indigo.


One Winter's Day:

When a fierce windstorm blows away Little Hedgehog''s nest, he puts on his winter clothes and sets off for Badger''s warm house. On his way, Hedgehog meets his friends, all shivering in the wind and snow. One by one, Hedgehog gives away his cozy mittens, hat, and scarf.

But will Little Hedgehog make it through the storm to safety without his warm clothes?

A delightful story about sharing with others, with soft flocking wherever Little Hedgehog''s mittens, hat and scarf appear.

How to Heal a broken Wing:

No one saw the bird fall."

In a city full of hurried people, only young Will notices the bird lying hurt on the ground. With the help of his sympathetic mother, he gently wraps the injured bird and takes it home. In classic Bob Graham style, the beauty is in the details: the careful ministrations with an eyedropper, the bedroom filled with animal memorabilia, the saving of the single feather as a good-luck charm for the bird''s return to the sky. Wistful and uplifting, here is a tale of possibility - and of the souls who never doubt its power.


Below is a resource for parents that highlights Kindness and Caring, and how you can continue the conversation at home.

Finally, students have been given overdue notices to take home today. Please return the form (with the books!) So that we may maintain our collection here at Earl Beatty.

Have a safe and Happy Holiday!

This Past Week: Just Read it Parties and Google Work

Hello Earl Beatty!

As the week begins, we wanted to share with you what has been happening in the Library, and what is to come. This past week we hosted our very first Library parties for the winners of the just read it campaign. Students had a great time working together in cooperative games, and enjoyed each other's company over hot chocolate and cookies.
Keep reading throughout December and tell us about it here on our blog to win a chance to be a part of next month's party.

We have begun to wrap up our work on the google 4 doodle contest. Most of the work we have been doing include investigating inventions, and helping students to generate ideas that are innovative and forward thinking. We have sent home a notice with students on how to follow through with the contest if you would wish to officially enter their ideas. Please see the notice attached to this email for more details on what you can do at home over the holiday break.

Finally, over the course of this week and the next, the Library will be sending home notices for overdue books. Please make sure to look for these missing items over the winter break. Many overdue notices may be showing up from previous year. We are trying to resolve accounts and need your help in either finding missing books, or communicating errors that are showing up in our reports.

Notice Home for Google Doodle Contest

Check out some great ideas from our Kindergarten students!



Have a great week!

Inventing in the Library Continued....

Hello Earl Beatty,

This week and next we have and will continue working on our Google submissions. The Thursday folder will contain a permission slip with information about the contest and information about what we need from parents to enter.

To help students differentiate between good and not so great inventions, we have been looking at some very interesting inventions in the "Klutz Book of Inventions". While all students agree, the inventions in this book may be useful, but they definitely are not desirable or practical. Some examples are a pogo stick toilet plunger, or a to-go orange juicer! 

The focus this coming week in the library will be to allow students an opportunity to plan and create. The library will also be drawing names for the first ever Library games party happening this week! 

Have a great December!

Inventing in the Library

This week our Library is working with students on an opportunity presented through Google Canada.
They are hosting a contest for students across Canada to design a Google Doodle. According to Google, Google Doodles are:

"the fun, surprising, and sometimes spontaneous changes that are made to the Google logo to celebrate holidays, anniversaries, and the lives of famous artists, pioneers, and scientists"

Click HERE to see some examples of Google Doodles

The theme this year is "If I could invent anything,I would invent..."

Students are going to explore the idea of an invention in the Library through fiction and non-fiction texts. Once students have their idea they will create their very own Google Doodle on a template provided. Students are encouraged to explore ideas at home and plan ahead.

Click on the link HERE to see details of the contest, and prizes.

In the Library we will discuss what makes a good invention

- does it solve a problem?
- does it make life easier or fun?
- is it practical?
- is it something that people will want to use?

As an example to these leading questions we will discuss basic inventions (zipper, wheelchair, eyeglasses, television, car, basketball)

To start off discussions we will read 2 stories which have the main characters using their imagination to create:

If you would like to follow up with Not a Box by Antoinette Portis, students will really enjoy, Not a Stick by the same author!

Happy Inventing!

Lost and Found - Looking at Empathy

This week in the Library, primary students are being introduced to the concept of empathy. Below this entry is a letter to parents to help focus and guide discussions on Empathy at home


Last week we read a story called "A Bear in War" in recognition of Remembrance Day.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6136672-a-bear-in-war


This week we are reading "Lost and Found" by Oliver Jeffers. After reading this story we discuss what empathy is and then connect it back to last weeks story to discuss what we think Aileen may have been feeling.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/301141.Lost_and_Found?from_search=true

Oliver Jeffers is a great author and has many other titles that you can read with your child at home. We have a few in our collection at Earl Beatty. The story Lost and Found also is available as a video.

Enjoy the week, and don't forget to Just Read it!