January 22, 2012

January 22, 2012

Dear Parents,

With the much anticipated snow cover finally here, enthusiasm for sliding down hills, snow cave construction, and skiing burst forth from all who have been long awaiting its arrival. Please help your child remember to have all he/she needs to stay warm and dry during these winter activities. Also, indoor shoes are a must to keep feet comfortable and dry between the wearing of boots. Thank you! I have been very impressed with this group’s readiness for PSD skiing. Emily and I appreciate the ease in which our students ready themselves to “hit the trails!”
Our hallway displays art from classroom studies: paintings based on our Winslow Homer focus and portraits from time spent reading about and discussing the work of Martin Luther King Jr. On two benches below the latter are a collection of assorted waterwheels. This project further tapped the design and build problem-solving skills initiated during our straw construction challenges. It was great to see both the positive “can do” approach to initial attempts AND the delight when wheels rotated as water hit wheel fins made from plastic knives, sections of drinking cups, plastic plates, etc. Our next challenge will again focus on wheel and axle constructions, vehicles built from recycled materials.
We will soon complete Farmer Boy and begin long-term projects related to our literature/history unit: an illustrated timeline and an “art box” depicting the 19th century subject of a biography read. Tall tales will consume much of our literature focus in the coming weeks. Reading and comparing elements of each will highlight the distinguishing characteristics of this particular genre of folk literature. Students will begin work on planning their own original tall tales, a long-term writing project that will engage their skills in producing thoughtful revisions.
Working with data of city populations to median monthly rainfall, our math activities have targeted numbers ranging from the millions to the thousandths. Soon we will begin a geometry unit. The need to master the basic multiplication facts is ongoing throughout the school year, starting with the multiples of two, five, and four. Thank you for your support in this.

DATES:
Thursday, January 26 (11:00-7:00): Conference Day-please call Tammy to schedule a meeting.

Friday, February 10 (10:40-12:00): Visit to Thompson House-please contact Michelle if you are able to help with transportation.

Thank you.

Have a wonderful week and I look forward to our conference in a few days.

Sincerely,
Linda