Casa

Children working on skip counting with bead chains and arrows

Skip Counting

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These beautiful bead chains are hung from a wooden frame that holds squares and the cubes of one to ten with the corresponding chains and the containers with the respective coloured arrows. The chains are used for skip counting (for example counting by fives) and for learning the squares and cubes of the numbers one to ten. This activity is very useful because the child learns how to skip count as well as how to count in bases other than ten, which indirectly prepares them for multiplication. (Please click for full photos and more information.)

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A collage of children placing coloured pony beads inside metal cookie cutters and spining a dreidel

Holiday Fun

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Please click view to see videos of children spinning a dreidel and making 3D pony bead art, as well as full photos and more information about the holidays they explored and the fun they had!

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A collage of children lighting/snuffing menorahs with a teacher, working with a menorah and laatke set, and doing superimposition of shapes onto a menorah outline

Hanukkah

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We learned how to play the Dreidel game and what each Hebrew symbol represents. We read stories and learned about the traditions, foods, and meanings involved. We used the shamash (middle candle) on our menorah to light one candle on each of the 8 days of Hanukkah. (Please click for full photos and more information.)

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A collage of a child getting materials and placing them on the decimal placement mat

Bank Game

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The initial play relies on previous knowledge and experience with the units, 10 bars, 100 squares and 1000 cubes. The child receives a verbal request to bring one of the four quantities. As the child becomes more familiar with the game, the teacher will increase the challenge by including 2, 3 and finally all 4 quantities as the child learns to use the decimal placement mat to place the material in its corresponding places. (Please click for the full photos.)

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A collage of children caring for the environment

Care of the Environment

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Care of the environment plays a crucial role in our development. Maintaining a clean and orderly classroom is so important as it teaches children how to take care of the space around them, which then internalizes as appreciation for one’s environment. When children feel involved, they begin to understand they are part of a larger community, which builds on self-worth and empathy. (Please click for more information and the full photos.)

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A collage of children carving, cleaning, exploring, and experimenting with pumpkins

Pumpkin Volcanoes!

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We experimented with creating Pumpkin Volcanoes. We carved and cleaned pumpkins, and touched and examined the flesh. We made predictions about what would happen when we mixed various ingredients together and determined which ones worked best to “explode.” Please click for more information and full photos, and to find out which mixture came in first place!

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A collage of children making puffy ghost art

Creating Ghosts!

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The Casa West children mixed glue and shaving cream to create a foamy substance, spooned some of the mixture onto coloured paper, spread it out, then added googly eyes. As the mixture dried, the puffy ghosts started to appear! (Please click for more photos and information.)

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Grace and Courtesy

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Grace and courtesy starts with intentional modeling. Children are always watching and learning from behaviours. Grace and courtesy is taught during circle time as well as in real-time situations such as table manners, greetings, polite language, waiting patiently for our turn, helping others, and respiratory etiquette. (Please click for full photos and more information.)

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A collage of children creating and erupting a classroom-made volcano

Erupting a Created Volcano

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The children enjoyed creating a volcano using modelling clay, painting it and then predicting what would happen, before spooning baking soda and pouring vinegar inside the volcano. It was so exciting to see the results of their creation! Science appeals to young children’s inquisitive minds as they try to make sense of the world and how things work. (Please click for more information.)

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A collage of families enjoying the BBQ

Family BBQ

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We hosted our first barbecue in several years and families of every classroom attended to mix and mingle. Proceeds of cash donations went to the SickKids Foundation. We also held a silent auction of canvas paintings designed by each classroom and the proceeds were also donated to the SickKids Foundation. Thank you to everyone for your support. We had a great time!

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