Last Day

Today was the last day of term 4 and the last day of the 2013 school year and what a big year it has been. I made a roast turkey lunch for us ( Turkey, roast potatoes and vegetables) and we had chocolate mud cake for dessert.
After lunch we had a visit from Santa who handed out books ( chosen specially for individual children) and a Christmas stocking full of chocolates. My two grade 6 students who finish up this year also received an engraved pen and graduation certificate. I'll miss these 2 students in 2014 but I'm sure they'll have a great time in secondary school.
Reports went home. I reported using AusVELS for the first time following implementation of the national curriculum during this year.
I left as soon as the kids today so I'll need to pop in over the next few days and tidy up a bit but I want a nice long break for a few weeks. As this is not a private blog but one about Glen Park Primary School and state education in general there won't be anything to put up for a while.
So Merry Christmas and happy New Year to all those who have visited the blog and hopefully found something there of interest.

Tony Shaw
20/12/13

The photos below show the school this morning (another warm day) the kids eating their Christmas lunch and Santa handing out gifts.

Christmas Carol pop-up card

Today we made Christmas Carol pop up cards ( the scene in Scrooge's bedroom when Marley appears) refer to the photos below. It was the first hot day here of the summer (40 degrees Celsius) so we stayed inside in the air conditioning. Tomorrow is our last day of term. I have a turkey lunch to cook. ( crazy in this weather I know)
Below is also a photo of sheep wandering around after being recently shorn.

Christmas Carol unit plan

Refer to this link to access my Christmas Carol literature unit for free as promised.

A Christmas Carol

We've just finished reading a Christmas Carol and we're watching the Jim Carey version of it.( I have a copy of the Mr. McGoo version which I might watch.....'ahh Mc Goo, you've done it again') and we've started some work on it. ( below is a photo of one of my students completing a literary sociogram) We completed a 'Y Chart' of Scrooge's bedroom when Marley arrives and a Venn diagram comparing Scrooge at the start of the story and at the end. The early years students watched the Polar Express ( refer photo) after reading it and then they designed a railway ticket for a trip to the North Pole and their first Y Chart about travelling in a steam train. (refer to Paula's Place blog and shop name on TPT for access to a terrific Polar Express unit - shawpaula.blogspot.com)

Rubber Band Bracelets

As a treat I bought some rubber band bracelet looms for my girls yesterday. My daughter who is already on school holidays came up to school this morning to Glen Park with the girls to make bracelets today.
They caught on quickly and had a great time. Tomorrow they should be able to start making these and teach the younger girls how to make them by themselves without any guidance.
13500 views....yippee!

Start of Christmas

I stopped off on the way to work this morning and took photos of the Christmas display in the windows of the Myer Department Store. (They usually put on a massive display in their Melbourne store and send their old displays out to the provinces.) The window display is based on the story of Russell the Sheep who saves Christmas. Below is also a photo of the Christmas tree on Sturt St.
We've started our Christmas work this week. Tomorrow I'll finish reading A Christmas Carol. After Treasure Island I think it is my favourite 'read aloud' book.I'll put my Christmas Carol unit plan on TPT tomorrow.

Going into the last week

I have posted some craft activities for free on TPT for where the Wild things Are ( Refer photo of one of the activities below) from this LINK
Already (as of 14/12/13 I've had 500+ downloads)


My Peter Pan unit on TPT can be bought for a modest $2.00 from TPT if you go to this LINK