ECO Field Trip

On Thursday, we took a field trip to the ponds in Adamant.  The weather was perfect!  We walked around the pond and saw a beaver lodge and several trees that had been gnawed by beavers.  Then, we took water samples from the pond and looked closely at the small creatures in our containers.  There were a lot of different types of birds at the pond, including a great blue heron.  Next, we enjoyed lunch by the brook and waterfall.

Check out our ECO journals at the Writing Celebration next Wednesday to learn more about our field trip and our other exciting ECO lessons.

Thank you to Shannon, Derek, Josh, Kris, and Jenna for joining us on this trip!  A big thank you to Carrie, our ECO teacher, and Susan DeForge for helping to make this trip possible. 

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: