Westacres Digital Climate Club : June 8-12 

Westacres Cares *here are some highlights from last week   

Take a look at some of the exciting stuff from last week in our K-Gr. 5 Google Classrooms. We continue to be inspired by all the hard work and creative thinking happening with our Westacres’ students.   Sophia in Kindergarten (Kellett) sidewalk chalk mural:     Marcus in Kindergarten (Roberston/Patel) counting: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mWoc8VZ8Y90yNirmVsVDgzLdJcu7YD2g/view?usp=sharing 

 Cecily in Gr. 1 (Buchan-Hill) ‘How To Make a Video using CLIPS’ video: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SS5u559Q0RyDWoEZH3nOqlSsBnWXNDP2/view?usp=sharing  Zoe B in Gr. 1(Mulcock) Veterinarian to wacky Lego creatures video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wtOiE9OwW6VaiM-WJ8wpBJ_ofnl5-PYu/view?usp=sharing  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Axel in Gr. 1 (Moore/Innes) made this Lego map of his bedroom.

 

Helpful Links  

      

 

A Kids Book About Racism by Jelani Memory https://safeYouTube.net/w/YcnK 

    Children’s Educational Video: Explaining Racism and Discrimination https://safeYouTube.net/w/lrnK   

 Last week, the Grade 4/5 AB classes had a community circle meeting to discuss what has been happening in Canada and the United States in recent news regarding racism. The discussion led to an understanding of institutionalised racism and historical thinking 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

concepts. This is further examined in the Ontario Social Studies Curriculum Guide (pg. 126). The grade 4 and 5 students can come up with a document called Questioning Like an Historian to help critically frame questions and thinking surrounding these events.        Parents: Here are 2 website links that may be helpful when trying to find an effective way to talk to children about issues around race and racism.   

1. How to Talk to your children about protests and racism 2. How White Parents Can Talk About Race *This article is helpful to all

parents, including parents “of colour”. Anti-black racism is also an issue in

many communities of “colour”.  

Optional Activities  

1. Watch this news interview with Abby Cadabby from Sesame Street. She shares a time a friend of hers was treated unfairly. https://safeYouTube.net/w/sNnK

2. Check out Elmo and his Dad, Louie having a virtual chat about racism and what protesting means. https://safeYouTube.net/w/LUnK

3. Take a look at the images below with your parent(s). Have a discussion with them about what you ‘Notice’ or ‘See’ and what

 

 

 

 

 

 

you ‘Wonder’ about. How do you see yourself reflected in these images?

 

Student Heritage Spotlight *At Westacres, we are working to make deeper connections 

● June - Strawberry Moon in Indigenous Worldview (First Nations) ● June – National Indigenous History Month declared by the Government 

of Canada ● June 4 to 22 - the month of Núr in Bahá'í ● June 14 - All Saints Day in Christianity ● June 16 Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev in Sikhism ● June 20 Litha/Summer Solstice in Wicca ● June 21 National Indigenous People’s Day in Indigenous Worldview ● June 23 to July 12 - the month of Rahmat in Baha’i ● June 24 - St. Jean Baptiste Day in Christianity ● June 27 - Multiculturalism DayJune 29 to July 3 - Ghambar 

Maidyoshem in Zoroastrianism 

PDSB Month: *In Peel, we recognize… 

June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada. It is a time for learning about, appreciating and acknowledging the contributions First Nations, Inuit and Métis people have made in shaping Canada. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Indigenous Heritage Month   

 

Lacrosse is the National Sport of Canada. This sport has Indigenous roots. Read this article from CBC NewsKids to learn about the origins of Lacrosse. 

5 Cool Facts About Indigenous Lacrosse 

● Gaylord Powless was a Mohawk lacrosse player from the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nations Reserve near Brantford, Ontario, where the Powless family has lived for over 200 years ● Received his first lacrosse stick at age two ● At 17, he won the Tom Longboat Award as the best

Indigenous athlete in Canada ● In 1964, was recruited by the Oshawa Green Gaels

junior lacrosse team ● Went on to a successful career in professional and senior amateur

lacrosse with teams in Detroit, Syracuse, New York, Montreal, Brantford, Port Coquitlam, Brampton and Six Nations

● Had to withstand tremendous racism from coaches, players, fans, and sports writers. His reaction was to recognize that he was a target for bullying and abuse and to overcome it by being the best player, and the highest scoring athlete he could be. 

Pride Month   

Harvey Milk was an American politician and civil rights activist. He was an important figure in the gay rights movement. The book called Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag (By Rob Sanders), was created to tell his story and the history behind the rainbow flag. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Westacres Inspires  *Check out these inspiring quotes