aboriginal storytelling experiences

This week our primary classes began some storytelling experiences using both natural materials as well as some toy animals. The students were asked to use the natural materials (collected from my backyard and local beaches) and create a setting for their stories. Most students chose a forest or beach setting while others chose a river or a combination of outdoor settings. The students were then asked to create a story that reflected something that they had learned about aboriginal culture and stories.

The students were highly engaged and animated. Some students worked on their own while others chose to work in small groups. It was exciting to see their learning come alive in stories!

It was a great story-full week in the library last week!

~Ms Novakowski

Chocolate Lily Picture Book Award voting

All of our primary students voted for their favourite Chocolate Lily Picture Book Award nominees. The students' two favourite books (with only one vote separating their totals) were Stanley's Little Sister and The Little Hummingbird.

Provincial votes and the winners will be release later in May. The Chocolate Lily picture books are now available for circulation and the primary students are enjoying being able to take them home to read.

A special thank you to the PAC for providing funding to purchase these excellent BC picture books for our library collection.

~Ms Novakowski

Red Cedar voting

On Thursday, May 3 at recess, the intermediate students who had read at least 5 of the books nominated for the Red Cedar Book Awards arrived in the library to vote for their favourites and to have a "Red Cedar (Velvet)" cupcake!

When the votes were tallied, our students' favourite fiction title was The Prince of Neither Here nor There, followed by After the Fire, Dear Canada: A Desperate Road to Freedom and Faerie Rebels: Spell Hunter. In the information book category, our students' favourite book was Whispers from the Ghettos followed by You Are Weird: Your Body's Peculiar Parts and Funny Functions.

Much thanks again to the PAC who provide funding so that we purchase multiple copies of these outstanding books for our school library.

The Red Cedar Gala will be held at the end of May and we are looking forward to hearing which titles are the provincial winners!

~Ms Novakowski

creating book commercials

The intermediate students have continued to explore different ways to create "book commercials" for their favourite books. After writing a draft of their commercial (focusing on persuasive writing and developing voice in their writing), the students have used both video and apps on the iPad to represent and share their writing.

please note: The Hunger Games is considered a "mature read" in our library system and is only available to our grade 6 and 7 students with consultation with a teacher.

~Ms Novakowski

learning about Musqueam culture

Two weeks ago, I packed up the Musqueam kit we borrowed from the Richmond Museum. It has enabled us to help our students understand some of the traditional indigenous knowledge that is important in our area. We learned about how natural resources were used to create clothing, shelter, tools and cooking implements. The students were fascinated by the artifacts that highlighted the importance of fishing to the Musqueam peoples. The intermediate students also looked at historical photographs from the kit.

The students in division 4 and 5 were asked to synthesize what they learned or investigate a question they had and represent their learning on the iPads. The students in divisions 1, 2 and 3 developed inquiry questions based on their observations of the artifacts and photographs and were given a chance to investigate their questions using the iPads.

There is aboriginal content in the fine arts, science, social studies and language arts IRPs (curriculum guides) for our province. With the local signing of our Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreement with the Musqueam First Nation, it is important that educators in Richmond schools develop an awareness and understanding of the local aboriginal culture for all of our students. This year, all classes (K-7) participated in a variety of experiences in the library related to Musqueam and other BC aboriginal cultures. More information about the Musqueam First Nation can be found on their website.

~Ms Novakowski

Illustrator visit: Brian Deines

As part of our celebrations for Canadian Children's Book Week, the Blair Library was fortunate to host acclaimed Canadian illustrator Brian Deines. In preparation for his visit on Tuesday, the intermediate classes all spent time looking at his amazing illustrations in the several picture books we have in the library. Many students remembered reading these books when they were younger.

 

Students from divisions 3 and 4 prepared a welcoming display for our visiting illustrator!

On Tuesday morning, Brian Deines presented to two groups of our students - divisions 4 and 5 and then division 3 with some students from divisions 1 and 2. The students learned about his process of creating illustrations for children's books from receiving the script (draft or manuscript of the story), to creating thumbnail sketches called squibs, to creating drawings with pencil on tissue paper to completing the final oil paintings on canvas.

Brian described that to create the 15 or so oil paintings for a picture book, he may take about 1000 photographs and do 350-400 drawings and that the process took about six months. I think the students now have a much greater appreciation for the work that goes into creating a picture book!

The students were so impressed by Brian's paintings and as they came into the library and saw the paintings there were lots of oohs and aahs as they recognized familiar images from his books. The intensity of the colours, the brushstrokes and the depth and richness in the paintings were things the students commented on. Brian explained that each painting has up from 15-20 layers of paint in order the get the depth and colours that he wants.

The students were full of thoughtful questions for Brian and we had line-ups to get his autograph!

The students and teachers had a very inspiring morning with an extremely talented artist. Brian graciously signed all the books we had of his!

Thank you Brian Deines for an amazing experience for our Blair students and thank you to the sponsors of Canadian Children's Book Week that helped to make this visit possible!

~Ms Novakowski

Scholastic Book Fair

Sabrina and her crew are at it again and are hosting another Scholastic Book Fair in our library. The library has been buzzing with excitement all week as the students look over all the books. Thanks to all the parents who make this event possible for our students!
A special thank you from me for all the hard work these parents do to contribute to the library program and to ignite an excitement for books and reading!

The book fair is open again today (Thursday) before and after school as well as at lunch hour.
~Ms Novakowski