YOUR CONCERT!!!!

Hi Grade 1/2's

Mrs. Nichol shared a video of you singing at your concert with me! You all did so amazing! I just love that you choose to sing an Australian song! How many books do you have left until it is the Christmas Holidays? I did something special and let Mrs. Nichol pick her favourite Christmas book for the very last one on Friday. Some of my friends here are from Africa and they are celebrating a holiday called Kwanza, can you do some research on it and let me know what it is all about?

Over the next couple of days  I will be busy traveling, I am heading to China for the Chinese New Year. Next time you hear from me I will have a new country to teach you about!

Love,
S.

Today's book..

Dear 1/2 Friends,

Due to all the heavy snow I heard my books could not be delivered today. I asked Mrs. Nichol to wrap up the one I had picked out for today. How did she do giving you a clue? Hope you enjoy!

Yours in sunshine and sand,

Syd

dear   Sidney   
I   like   your   books  .  I  wonder what one  were   going   to   read   next I   wonder  what  the   next    one  is  about.



From
Reed

Hi From Grade 1/2

Dear Sydney,

We like your books!  I can't wait to read the last book to see if it is exciting. I wonder what the last book is going to be like, can you please tell us what the last book is!? Do you celebrate with Christmas trees? 13 people in our class already have their Christmas trees up! Are you having fun in Australia? What time is it in our country when it is winter in your country? Is it snowing over there. We woke up this morning to lots of snow. Tonight we are going to get even more! Last time it was Christmas there was a lot of snow!  We hope to hear from you again soon!

Love,
Grade 1/2 Students at MPS

Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel

!

Hi Grade 1/2's!

What have you learned about Hanukkah so far?

 Can you make a web to show me?

I hope you enjoyed "There was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Dreidel"

I LOVE that book, today I am sending a song that is about a dreidel to!


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

Here are some answers to your questions:

GELT IS MONEY!!
It refers to money and chocolate coins given to children during Hanukkah.

Latkes- a pancake, especially one made with grated potato.




How do Families celebrate Hanukkah?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrmsFI7xPAs

We Don't all Celebrate Christmas

Hi Grade 1/2's!!!

I learned something so cool this week and I can not wait to share with you!! Did you know that in Australia not all people celebrate Christmas! Some celebrate something called Hanukkah. I mailed a book to your teacher so you can learn a little bit about this holiday. I thought we could do something fun to get excited about Christmas together, so I picked out my favourite Christmas stories and wrapped them up. You are going to read one each day until Christmas break! Let the countdown begin! Can you share what you learned so we can compare notes? I wonder how you will share it...
Some more information about Hanukkah

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VfChLAADS8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tws_uMAEOs
Here is a funny song about dreidels.

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

More information to help answer your questions!

Hi Grade 1/2's,

I have some more answers to your questions!

I heard you learned what a dingo was! Check out this quick video to learn more! What other Australian animals have you learned about?

Dingo
Kangaroo

How is it going picking your Christmas concert song? Here are some Christmas songs from Australia! Are the words different then you remember?
Christmas in Australia
Jingle Bells
6 White Boomers

Hi Grade 1/2's. 

I am working hard to answer some of your questions. Today look at a map and take some guesses on how long it would take to travel from Canada to Australia on an airplane. Can you label Canada and Australia on a map? What about the equator? 

Write your guess on a sticky note and we will see who is the closest! Ready...scroll down to see the answer! 

14,143 km

Distance from Canada to Australia

If you travel with an airplane  from Australia to Canada, It takes 15.69 hours to arrive.

6 white boomers

Hi Grade 1/2's

Let's see if this video can give you any more information about Australia!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktTp1Aq845g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsBfaM6sdys

Listen to this funny song about Santa at Christmas Time! I know you have already heard it but today I want you to use the information in it to do something after!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qu76GhRO9Yk&list=PLbt3ka10CleDQLXUK6XOy6qAAuilq0tDB


Watch the video and then create a snow globe that looks like it came from Australia. Use the words from the song to get ideas to include in your globe!!

Can you tell which snow globes came from Canada and which ones came from Australia?

  

Santa in Australia

Hi Grade 1/2's
Great guesses!!!! I can tell that you watched some of the information I sent you!!!
The clues I gave you were that it is hot during Christmas so Santa wears less clothing, reindeer get a break and kangaroos take over and there is NO snow!!

Here is what Santa looks like to people in Australia...

......
JOKING again...  I like to trick you!!!

This is really what he wears...

Great Questions!!!

Hi Grade 1/2's!!! 

I am so excited to hear from you so soon! 
Your teacher told me you were curious whether I was a boy or girl. I posted a picture so you can find out!!!!!

JOKING!!!This is not really me but here is why... on a blog a good rule to have is to never post your face!!!!!!!!!!!!! this will help keep you safe!

Before I answer your questions I want you to read the information on this link and watch the video Mrs. Nichol has for you to see if you can answer some of them on your own!!
http://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/australia.shtml

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXWFcNLSZiQ ****
http://www.thekoala.com/ausxmas.htm

http://www.reindeerland.org/christmas-traditions/christmas-traditions-in-australia.htm

What we think Santa in Australia looks like...

Hi Sydney!!! We watched the video you sent us and then we made guesses about what we thought Santa might look like in Australia! Are any of us close?

Hello!!

Dear Grade 1/2 class,


I am writing to you to formally introduce myself. My name is Silly Sydney. I am friends with Mrs. Nichol and I have a problem that she said you would be able to help me with. Santa has lost all his information about how people around the world celebrate Christmas. I will be traveling all over the world and need your help to find out how people celebrate Christmas in the countries I visit. I will be working with you to help Santa retrieve his lost information about Christmas around the World! I am looking forward to working with all of you. Stay tuned for more information as I travel around the world sending you lots of information! My first stop Australia. Can you find Australia on a map? What do you think Santa looks like in Australia? Watch this video to see if you have any guesses! Do you have any questions for me so far?

http://learn360.infobase.com/p_ViewVideo.aspx?xtid=141707&tScript=0


Your friend,


Silly Sydney