Classroom News: ECO, Timelines, and Lego Robotics

Reminders and Upcoming Events:

Students do not need to bring mud boots in for recess, but it would be great for them to have a pair of outside shoes.  This helps to keep our hallways and classroom floor clean!

ECO Field Trip:  Thursday, May 12 (rain date to be determined). Please help your child come prepared for the morning outside.  Students should wear shoes that can get muddy or wet.  They should bring a backpack with snack, lunch, and a water bottle.  It would be great if students can put on sunscreen right before coming to school and/or bring some to apply there.  Also, students may want bug spray.  It would be helpful for students to have an extra change of clothes in case they get muddy.  (We will not be swimming, but we may get a bit wet or muddy.)

Thank you to all of the chaperones who have volunteered to join us for the day.  We may need a few booster seats for the short drive.  Please email (lgiammusso@u32.org) or send in a note if your child could bring one in or if you are driving and you can provide one or more booster seats. 

Writing Celebration, Art Show, and Spring Concert:  Wednesday, May 20th 

        Writing Celebration and Art Show:  5:00- 6:30

        EMES Spring Concert:  6:30 (Second graders are not performing, but are welcome to watch
               the chorus and band performances.)

The writing celebration is a great time for your child to share writing pieces from our second grade year together.  There will be several "published" final drafts, as well as current drafts that we are working on during our writing workshop.

Hope to see you there!

Here are some photos from our week.  Thanks to Mrs. DeForge for the ECO photos!

Students did a great job creating and presenting their personal timelines to the class!  It was fun to learn about the important events in each others' lives.

Lego Robotics!

Classroom News: Green Up, Buddy Time, and Biography Projects

We have been working hard to finish up our biography choice projects and research.  Students have been reading a variety of texts to explore how and why the person they chose made a change in the world.  They have been working on speeches, plays, posters, and songs to teach others what they have learned.

Last week in math class, students worked in small groups to demonstrate examples of effective strategies for adding larger numbers that they presented to the rest of the class.  Then, they practiced using several of these strategies on on their own to solve number story problems.  

In writing, we are continuing our work on our opinion writing pieces.  Students are writing about favorite characters and books.  They are stating opinions clearly and then describing evidence from the books to support their claims.

Last Friday, we wrapped up our week with some fun activities.  First, we took a walk with our fifth grade buddies.  They showed us some of the flowers they had found during their nature journal work time.  Then, we played on the playground for a few minutes before going back to our own classrooms.

Later in the day, we participated in the school Green Up day activity. We talked about how this project connected with the main questions we have been discussing about how people can make a difference.  It was fun to have time together outside while cleaning up our playground and wooded areas.

Important Reminders and Upcoming Events:
 

ECO Dates:  Thursdays, May 7, 14, and 28

I am planning an ECO field trip to a local pond on Thursday, May 14th.  I am looking for volunteers, especially Level 2 volunteers who can drive students.  A permission slip and chaperone form will be coming home on Wednesday.

 

Thanks to Mrs. Shedd for photos from our nature walk with our 5th Grade Buddies:

Classroom News: Biographies, ECO, and Vacation!

Over the past two weeks, students have done an amazing job staying focused on learning even when the weather is beautiful and vacation is right around the corner! 

In Literacy, we have been hard at work on our Biography Unit.  Each student has been researching a famous person to find out how they made a change in the world and what inspired them.  When we return from vacation, students will work on a project of their choice to show what they have learned to the rest of the class.

Last week, we finished working on our interview questions for our project based on the information in the book Teammates.  This wonderful book tells the story of how Jackie Robinson became the first African-American baseball player in the Major Leagues.  We learned how Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese (Jackie's teammate), and Branch Rickey (the Dodgers' manager) also helped to integrate baseball.  As I met with each group to discuss their interview questions and answers, I was impressed with their great ideas and thoughtfulness about this important, but challenging time in history when segregation was changing.  Today, each group presented their interview to the group.

We also read, The Story of Ruby Bridges, which tells about a girl who becomes the first African American student at her newly integrated school.  It was wonderful to read about a kid who made a difference!  It was inspiring to learn how she kept going to school and stayed positive even when she faced obstacles, such as people not treating her fairly.

On Thursday, we had an exciting ECO lesson where we looked for signs of spring.  First, we shared "nature notes" about what we have been observing outdoors over the past few days.  We played a vernal pool tag game where wood frogs tried to catch insects.  Then, each group checked in on their trees to observe any changes and to record their findings.  Finally, we went on a Signs of Spring Scavenger Hunt on the trail through the woods.  Later, we wrote in our ECO journals to tell more about what we observed using all of our senses.

I hope everyone has a wonderful vacation!  I look forward to hearing everyone's stories when we return!

 

Upcoming Events

I really enjoyed meeting with everyone at conferences!  Thank you for coming in to discuss your child's progress.

Here are some exciting events next week:

ECO on Thursday, April 16th:  Please help your child come prepared with snowpants or rainpants and other outdoor clothing.  We will spend most of the morning outside.  Thursday is Fancy Day, so students can bring a fancier outfit to change into after ECO. 

Tuesday, April 14th, 5:00-6:30:  Library Event

EMES Spirit Week
Monday- Camo/Glitter Day
Tuesday- Crazy Hat/Hair Day
Wednesday- Favorite Movie/TV/Book Character Day
Thursday- Fancy Day
Friday- Pajama Day (no stuffed animals, please)