Highlights from the Library Learning Commons

It has been so nice to welcome students back into the Library Learning Commons this year. The excitement of just being able to come in and pick a book is so wonderful to see after not being able to come last year. 

We started out with a library orientation to work on independence. Students practiced using Destiny and finding books on their own. We took out the Makerspace materials for some exploration. Straws and connectors, discovery ramps, and the Lego wall seem to be the favourites. 

Grades 1-6 have done some story book STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math). Storybook STEM is an exciting mix of literature and STEM. After reading a story, students identify a problem and engineer a solution to that problem using the engineering design process. Some great STEM books we’ve read are; “The Most Magnificent Thing,” “Nerdycorn,” and “Rosie Revere Engineer.” We’ve been using recyclable materials from our Makerspace.

The end of September was a week of reconciliation which we continue throughout the year. We have a large selection of books by Indigenous authors and we have been using these books and STEM to show our reconciliation journey. We celebrated “Manitoba School Library Day” on October 25^th with a whole school “Drop Everything and Read” which focused on reconciliation. 

October was an exciting month with Laidlaw’s first ever book character pumpkin decorating contest. We collected approximately 353 meals for Manitoban families in need. Amazing generosity Laidlaw! We had 55 pumpkin entries and each one was so incredible. The amount of work and detail that went into them was a true sight to see. Excited to see what next year will bring! 

Remembrance Day was honored with a video by the students. The K-4’s thought about how they will bring peace to the world and the 5-8’s thought about how they will remember. We read the true story “Winnie the Pooh,” “The Peace Book,” and “Peace Begins with You.” 

The library has also been busy with the grade 5/6 classes working on a severe weather project. It’s been so wonderful to see their inquiring minds think of questions and design a weather instrument. They will be showing what they know by becoming meteorologists using Greenscreen technology. 

The MYRCA (Manitoba Young Readers Choice Awards) books have finally arrived! We are having the grade 4-8 classes come in for a little “Starbooks” book tasting to check out the new books and pick out ones of interest in order to vote for a favourite in April. 

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