November 4th - 7th 

What did students do this week?

The grade fours did an amazing job representing their understanding of Remembrance Day and Indigenous Veterans Day through beautiful artwork. 

To start, we reviewed what students already know about Remembrance Day. Then, we read picture books and in small reading groups, students read an article about Remembrance Day. The grade fours identified important symbols of this day, like a poppy, wreath, and dove. 

Next, we talked about how Indigenous Veterans Day is another significant day in November. We watched a video sharing the importance Indigenous people had in the wars. Students learned about the Cree Code Talkers and the role they played. 

After that, the students learned about the Métis people and their beautiful beadwork. We looked at examples though pictures, books, and moccasins and a pin.

Then, students looked at dot art and how this is modelled after the Métis people's beadwork. Students watched a video of a Métis artist, Christi Belcourt, and learned about one of her paintings. The grade fours were very excited to learn about the Spirit Dot! After learning about Christi Belcourt's painting, "My Heart is Beautiful," students collaborated to put together a floor puzzle of this painting. Following this, students used paint to create their own dot art poppies. As a class, we wrote about the process of student learning to go along with the art. 

Finally, students connected their learning of Métis beadwork and dot art with an important symbol of Remembrance Day, the poppy. They used loose parts (which they glued) to create beautiful poppies for our class wreath. The loose parts represented the Métis beadwork and dot art in their own way. 

Overall, the students worked very hard and created beautiful art to demonstrate their understanding of Remembrance Day and Indigenous Veterans Day. 

Art Learning Outcomes  (I can...)

• I can express a message through a symbol.

Social Studies Learning Outcomes (I can...)

• I can recognize the Indigenous peoples' importance to Alberta.
• I can understand how the Métis people contribute to Alberta's identity.

Possible Questions to Ask Your Child:

• What can you tell me about Remembrance Day and Indigenous Veterans Day?
• Who are the Métis people?
• What beautiful art work are Métis people known for?
• Tell me about the Spirit Dot.

Photos