Gingerbread Construction Action

Santa Science

Last week, I got an unusual voicemail on my school phone. Luckily, the school voicemail automatically emails me an mp3 of every message I receive so it is to play for others, if necessary.

The class had to research what twelve different types of scientists study and use for equipment. Some of the more unusual scientists we learned about include ichthyologists,ornithologists and cytologists. 
The class did a super job with their research and were able to successfully relay the appropriate information! 

Thank you!

My thank you card image looks remarkably similar to my wonderful autographed class photo gift!

Thank you so much for all the fabulous gifts! I really appreciate your thoughtfulness and I love everything I was given! The tiny tree is sitting right in the middle of my dining room table and I spent a good chunk of the day today browsing the iTunes app store. I am so lucky to have such a generous, supportive, kind group of parents. I hope everyone has a super Winter Break and a very happy 2011. Although, I am sure I will post again before then.... :) 

Thanks again!!! 

Gingerbread Lane

Artist in Residence

You may have heard that we have been dancing at school!

It's true! We have had a few classes with the current Artist in Residence at Sonoran Sky, Mr. Thom Lewis of The Thom Lewis Dance Company in Tucson, Arizona.

Students have had a wonderful time, dancing, stretching and playing rhythmic games with Mr. Lewis.

Sensational Snowflake Symmetry

We have been learning about symmetry in math. We created paper snowflakes to demonstrate symmetry.

We will wrap up our symmetry studies this week with a post assessment.

If you have heard we are doing "nothing" at school, be sure to ask your child to explain a line of symmetry, rotational symmetry, reflectional symmetry and asymmetry. 

The MIM

We enjoyed a fantastic field trip at The Musical Instrument Museum today. Our class was met at the door by a docent who showed us around all the different "countries". We were introduced to many obscure instruments including one that you do not even to touch to play! 

We wrapped up our experience in the MIM Music Theater and were treated to a private performance by the MIM's current Artist in Residence - Michael J. Miles. Five of our students were lucky enough to be called on stage to join Mr. Miles during the show. What a treat!

Thanks again to our fabulous parent chaperones for making this trip such a success and to Mrs. Woodard, for her hard work securing the grant that made this field trip possible! Click below to experience a slideshow which will give you a little taste of our unique day.

Join Us For Gingerbread House Construction - December 17

On December 17 at 10:00am everyone is welcome to join us in the classroom for our annual Gingerbread House Construction event! Students will be building "Gingerbread" Houses out of graham crackers, frosting, candy, sprinkles, sugar, etc. It will be festive, messy, noisy fun!

Rosa Parks

We studied Rosa Parks this week since yesterday was the 55th anniversary of her refusal to give up her seat on a public bus (and this topic is included in the Arizona State Standards).

Each student created a timeline of her life, we watched a brief interview with Rosa Parks from Discovery Education and then we had a class discussion. After everyone finished their timeline they had to choose a topic (the choices were civil rights, segregation, Lyndon B. Johnson, the Montgomery Bus Boycott or the United States Constitution) and do some research.

We used our brand new iPads to conduct our research and then students had to apply what they had learned into a final project. Choices included a poster, a written report, an informative comic book or a non-fiction story with at least one illustration.

We wrapped up our lesson on this historical woman with a post assessment.