Gr. 2s and 3s Visit the Museum

Three classes of enthusiastic junior students recently visited the Alumnae Museum & Archives to learn about YHS.

Gr. 3s visit the YHS Alumnae Museum & Archives
Gr. 3s visit the YHS Alumnae Museum & Archives

In February, Ms. Ling brought in her Gr. 3 Science classes to learn about changes to YHS buildings over the years. The girls, who were studying physical structures, considered the forms and functions of earlier YHS buildings, while Ms. Ling followed up the discussion in her classroom with a slideshow of archival photos depicting the 1993 construction of the Junior School.

Gr. 2s Visit the YHS Alumnae Museum & Archives
Gr. 2s Visit the YHS Alumnae Museum & Archives

When Ms. Shore’s Grade 2s visited in March, they learned about some of the stories contained in the museum, such as previous YHS uniforms (ties! berets! bloomers! pumpkin suits!), the big old house with the stained glass windows that used to be the Junior School, what it was like being a YHS boarding student, and the years when boys attended the Junior School.

Teachers are always invited to bring their classes to the Museum & Archives for learning opportunities that link curriculum with YHS history in creative ways. Please contact Museum Curator and Archivist Susannah Smith for details.

Caldecott winner visits York House Junior Library

IMG_4077
Author / Illustrator Jon Klassen with Grade 2s

“Authorstrator” Jon Klassen arrived at our school last Thursday morning wearing his signature hat! Jon was on a North American tour to promote his newest book Sam and Dave Dig a Hole. View a promotional video here.

The Grade 2 girls enjoyed a rollicking session as Jon read his award winning hat books: I Want My Hat Back and That’s Not My Hat. Many of the girls wore hats to add to the fun. And a few girls honoured Jon’s visit with hand printed signs for his newest book.

The girls learned about the dual process of writing and illustrating a picturebook. Jon’s simple artwork came alive when he demonstrated how the placement of the eyes on an animal can evoke emotion. His characters have no mouths so can’t talk. The text represents their thinking (watch the video below).

Books for the girls were signed and personalized with a special JK illustration. The JS library also received an original image drawn by Jon especially for us!