End of January?

Yup - it is the end of January - sometimes January can seem like such a long month coming back from the holidays, but we have filled it with wonderful penguin learning!  Here are some more interesting things we learned/did this week at school

We learned more about math with penguin games

we learned more about length by measuring the height of penguins

we learned more about Chinstrap penguins - the most numerous in the world (over 50 million)

we learned more about penguin predators

 WE are very grateful to the PTA for supporting science in school.  We had a visitor from the zoo who brought 2 animals to teach us more about how animals survive the winter - hibernation, migration, or acclimation - which is how penguins survive!

tortoise time - they hibernate

fun to pet!

so cute - and over 25 years old!

here comes the duck!  they migrate!

 Today, we were privileged to view "the roots of hip-hop" with the Rainbow dance theater - what a great, interactive performance!

Thanks for all of the support from home everyone - and have a wonderful weekend!

Another Busy week

Hi everyone!  We had another busy week learning more about penguins through reading, writing, thinking, speaking, researching, calculating and creating.
We began the week with our first Artist in Residence (thank you PTA).  The artist helped us create clay penguins and each student put their own special touches to their design - we will finish this process in February with glazing:

We researched more information about what penguins eat in the wild.

We also explored water temperature by adding ice or warm water to a cup of water to lower or raise the temperature so we could understand better the temperature of the oceans of the world. - then we can better understand the conditions penguins live in!  We used/read thermometers to determine water temperature.

We also worked on an experiment about the insulating properties of blubber by putting our hand in a "glove" made from plastic and cristco then placing the glove in ice water.  Our other hand briefly went into the ice water with no glove.  We all agree- blubber helped keep our hand much warmer, and it also is part of the reason why penguins can swim in icy cold water.

We even got to create some art about an Arctic animal with our wonder guest teacher Mrs. Beach!

We had a busy week - thanks for all the support from home!

More Penguins

We are continuing to learn more about penguins in many ways.

We read ideas about penguins together

WE measure their sizes and record the information

We learn about how much they weigh- then try to lift to see how heavy they feel.

The King penguins weighs about 30 pounds - just like this box!

measuring 36 inches - the height of the King Penguin

We find their homes on maps and globes

we create projects about what we have learned

We have had a busy week learning more about penguins - ask your young scientist what they have learned!

Happy New year!

Hi everyone and welcome to 2018!

We for off to a good start this year, easing back into the rigor of the school day after a relaxing break. We started the week creating our class monthly calendar and learning more about the book "A Snowy Day".  We used that book for our weekly literacy learning time.

We got used to each other as we created a communicated during choosing time.

But one of the exciting things of the week was starting our newest learning - all about penguins!  This learning will encompass the whole day for the next 5-6 weeks as we will learn more about penguins, ocean temperatures, reading maps, measuring length and weight as they relate to Antarctica and penguins. Ask your child each day about what they learned about penguins!

We also enjoyed 3rd grade buddy time - they showed us their report projects

Have a great weekend everyone - see you Monday

Happy Holidays

Hi everyone!
Our class has had a very busy three weeks learning more about fables and fairy tales.  We worked on ideas regarding what we can learn when we read  "The Little Red" (Friends should help each other), "The Three Little Pigs" (build your house out of something stronger than straw) and "The Gingerbread Man"(Foxes can be tricky!)

This week we enjoyed catching and eating a gingerbread man! Thank you to Tara for the organizing of the decorating and all the parents who cam and helped or donated supplies...

 Today we enjoyed We Care sports assembly

and watched a sweet little movie called the Tangerine Bear - a movie about friendship and what it means to be a family.

I am touched by your generous gift this season - your children are amazing and I wish you all a lovely, a restful break!