Folk Dancing, Valentine’s Day, and Flag Day

We are very busy in Grade One!  We have been practicing our folk dances and will “celebrate” at the school’s dance event- February 14th, Valentine’s Day!  As well, we will be making Valentine holders to place our “friendship” valentines into.  On February 16th (Flag Day is actually recognized in Canada on Feb.15) we will celebrate Flag Day Heritage Day.  This is a wonderful opportunity for families to share their heritage, customs, and culture with us. Remember to wear red and white on February the 16th, the colours of our  Maple Leaf flag!  The Grade Ones are learning a song, Let’s Wave and Say Hello (tune- Farmer in the Dell).  We can say “hello” in several languages, already!

Let’s wave and say hello, Let’s wave and say hello, Let’s say hello to all our friends, Let’s wave and say hello!

How do you say hello in your language? Chinese– ni hao ( nee how), Iranian/Faarsi-shalom, French– bonjour, Italian- ciao (chow), Spanish– hola, Russian– prevet, Philippines/Tagalog-Kumustaka, Korean– Ahn Nyong ( un yong), Albanian C’Kemi …  Listen to us sing!

Let’s Wave and Say hello

Play Match the Canadian Symbols Game! Canadian Symbols Game

Gung Hay Fat Choy- Happy Chinese New Year!

According to the  Chinese  calendar, this is the year of the dragon!  Each year in the Chinese calendar is matched with an animal. Why a dragon?  Dragons appear in many Chinese legends.  They are powerful beasts!  One legend claimed that the dragon feared loud noises and the colour red.  The villagers hung up red decorations and banged drums and gongs.  The dragon ran away!  Now, the dragon appears in every Chinese New Year parade!  Our school’s dragon will dance and prance for the audience on, February 16th- at our Heritage Day assembly!  

Our classmates were born in the year of the Rooster (2005) or the year of the Dog   (2006)!

 

See our dragons! 

 

 

 

 

The Maple Man

 

Today we had visit from, Rene Turmel, the Maple Man!  The Maple Man taught us about French Canadian culture.  We viewed a film about the Sugar Shack and learned how maple water is extracted from the Sugar Maple trees. After the maple water drains into a bucket, the water is boiled down until it turns into syrup.  The Maple Man performed wooden spoon musicals for us.  We got to use the spoons to produce our own music.  We danced a line and a jig!  The highlight was tasting the maple sugar taffy!  It was delicious, sweet, and ooey-gooey!  Merci, Maple Man!

How many foods do you put maple syrup on?

Visit the Maple Man’s site-

The Maple Man\’s Site