"Heritage Minutes" and Canadian Encyclopedia

Institut Historica-Dominion Institute is a repository of all things Canadian, including the well-known Heritage Minutes.

https://www.historicacanada.ca/content/history

Heritage Minutes are a series of one-minute vignettes on important moments in Canadian history that most people have probably seen on TV.  Your family will enjoy viewing all of them at this site.

You can also access the Canadian Encyclopedia at this site.

Translating words from English to French

Please do not run your child's entire project through the Google translator or any electronic translator.  It will "look and sound" translated.  Let your child's writing reflect his or her style and level of writing knowledge.

Translating individual words from English to French might be better.  In your browser's search bar, simply type "what is ____ in French".  You can simplify it further by just simply typing  "___ in French".

Also, it's never old-fashioned to use a paper dictionary.  This will hone your child's book sense.  Books will not be going anywhere soon.

Links related to Ancient Civilizations - Grade 4

Thematic Map:  Migration and Development of Early North and Central American Societies

http://www.timemaps.com/history/north-america-979ad

Aztec, Maya, Inca:

http://www.ducksters.com/history/aztec_maya_inca.php

Teotihuacán:

http://www.aztec-history.com/teotihuacan.html

  

http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/archaeology/teotihuacan-/

The Pyramids at Teotihuacán (HD video):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PibnTBi1rrQ

Other Ancient Civilizations (this is a good site for ancient societies in the Old World):

https://sites.google.com/site/1ancientcivilizationsforkids/home

(This site ignores early civilization in the Americas)

Iroquois Society before contact with Europe:

The Iroquois Confederacy (Haudenosaunee) – Good to read with your child (Reading Strategy:  "Finding Important Information" (by using subtitles / subheadings)

(Pronunciation of "Haudenosaunee" is "how-den-o-SHAW-nee")

Focus:  Role of Women in Haudenosaunee society:  Clans and Leadership

http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Ha-La/Iroquois-Confederacy.html

Wendat Society before contact with Europe:

http://www.saintemarieamongthehurons.on.ca/sm/en/HistoricalInformation/TheLifeoftheWendat/index.htm

 Searching Online:

• Google
• Google Earth
• Google Streetview (for a tour of these ancient sites)
• Google Images

Search Terms:

(You can add the search term "map" after the place names below.  Look for maps of ancient layout of city.)

• Chichen Itza
• Chchen Itza map
• Teotihuacan
• Tenochtitlan
• Tikal
• Machu Picchu

French Search Terms:

• anciennes civilisations
• civilisations anciennes

 YouTube is a great source for videos in French and English on early societies.

Printable Maps

Print off maps for projects and homework related to Social Studies.  Please follow the links below:

http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/world.htm

http://geography.about.com/library/blank/blxindex.htm

"Captain Canuck"

Everyone's favourite Canadian superhero is back!  Click on the "Web Series" option on the website below and see new animated episodes of "Captain Canuck":

http://www.captaincanuck.com

Reminder: Library times for Mmes Arbour and Millar

I will take Mme Arbour's class to the library on Mondays at 11:55 a.m.

I will take Mme Millar's class to the library on Wednesdays at 9:55 a.m.

• All students in those classes should bring their library books back to school on library day.

• Students may not normally take out new books if they haven't yet returned the books they borrowed in the previous week.  If they forgot their books, it's fine to bring them back for the following week.

• If students haven't returned their books, they can still browse through the stacks.

LOST BOOKS:

If your child has lost a book, please inform me as soon as possible. and we will try to work around that.  If the lost book is suddenly found, please return it to school with your child as soon as you can.

STORY TIME:

On those days when the Library is not available, we will have story time in the classroom.

LANGUAGE OF BOOKS:

In keeping with the goals of the French Immersion program, students should borrow French-language books from the school library.

OTHER LIBRARIES:

I encourage families to join the Chatham-Kent Public Library.  The Library is a free municipal service open to all residents of Chatham-Kent.  You will need proof of residence (something that shows your residential address).  The Children's Room at the Chatham Branch provides children with many activities and learning opportunities, plus a more ample collection of children's literature, fiction and non-fiction, English and French.

Curriculum Documents

Here are links to the Ontario Curriculum Documents.  See what students will be learning throughout the year:

Social Studies:

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/elementary/sshg18curr2013.pdf

The Arts:

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/elementary/arts18b09curr.pdf

Getting ready!

What a lovely fall day.  We had our first frost of the season this morning.  Spent most of the morning setting up this blog.  I think it works.

It's Saturday morning, October 11th and this is my first post.  Brrrr... it's cold this morning.