An afternoon in JK/SK - From Music to Worms

This fall, we were very excited to add a full day JK/SK option at Beacon for interested families. Here is a peek into a typical afternoon in this classroom: 

 

We have been enjoying a special time of music and movement with scarves and other instruments like shakers and rhythm sticks twice a week. 

A view of a couple of our art projects on display in the hallway.

Children also have time for open ended art activities during the afternoon where they can choose their materials and explore.  This week porcupines were created with toothpicks and styrofoam.

 

 

We also worked on some paper tearing skills to represent feathery owls, these are on display in the hallway now.

 With the scattered showers this week, a couple of students found worms in our playground!  This led to a large excavation project and some inquiry into earthworms.

 
Students really loved the worms and  they drew a picture to show what they were observing and then found a book about worms to help learn some more.  

 The class worked together on a KWL chart that lists "What we KNOW about worms", "What we WONDER about" and later we will fill out "What we have LEARNED". 

Re-imagining Education

The 2013 Edifide Convention was a wonderful time for Christian educators from across Ontario to re-imagine their classrooms and schools as places for service and learning in God’s kingdom. 

Our teachers had a chance to explore many spheres of learning, as they participated in sessions about story telling, capstone project, twitter, kindergarten chaos and so much more.

We are blessed to have an opportunity for our staff to take time to worship, renew, re-energize and re-imagine together with other educators from all across Ontario!

Cross Country 2013

  On Friday, some of our Beacon students had the opportunity to participate 

in the annual Christian Schools invitational cross country meet.  

The students joined close to 400 other students from various schools to run the hilly trails in the Dundas Conservation Area.  It was a beautiful cool day, and the team spirit was great!  Spanning grades 3-8, our students supported one another through each race with cheers, encouragement, water bottles, and shoulders to lean on.  

 Certainly there is an element of competition with any race, but the primary goal for each student was to finish the race to the best of their ability.  We are proud of our students for their determination and perseverance.

... And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us... Hebrews 12:1

Applesauce!

The SK class enjoyed making applesauce a little while ago. It sure did smell wonderful through the hallways. Enjoying the fruits of God's creation! Mmmmmm.....

Cutting the apples

Dumping the apples into the pan

Turning the crank to make the apple sauce

Concentrating!

Taking a careful taste

Hey, this is good!

Mmmmmm!

Buddy Classes

While much of the learning at Beacon happens within the walls of a classroom, library, gymnasium or lab, there are also many opportunities that allow us to share gifts with those from different classrooms. 

Working with a buddy class is met with cheers and smiles!

This time, the Grade 8 students worked with the Grade 2 students to create large painted crocodiles.

They helped them draw and paint, using their grade 8 skills to model for the younger students. 

The older students then guided the younger students in colour choice and shading and helped them paint their large animal.

There was a lot of laughter and smiles. 

Our younger students look up to our older students and they in turn are good models for them. 

Our grade 8 students work with patience and gentleness.

One of the fun parts is that these Grade 8 students were once the younger student painting the crocodiles looking up to an older student and now they have come full circle. 

When they were finished, the Grade 8's read to their buddy. 

Co operative learning at its best!