Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Jan. 30-Feb. 3

This week we are learning about fractions in math. We are learning about equal and not equal parts as well as learning how to write fractions. One site where students can practice is Harcourt. Children can also practice fractions with circles by clicking the highlighted text. Please keep practicing those math facts. :0)

Last week we were fortunate to have Valentina's mom help introduce this week's story to us. The story is called Fernando's Gift. The story contains text in both English and Spanish and relates the tale of a boy who gives an amazing, long-lasting gift to a friend. Some of the students are honing their research skills by using the ZOOM Rainforest site to discover information about the rainforest. This early introduction to research will help with other projects this year as well as future endeavors.

In science we are learning about matter. By Friday we will have conducted lessons that develop the concepts of liquids and solids. Our first lesson taught us that solids do not change when they are moved from place to place and that they do not change to fill up the container that they are in.

Have a super rest of the week. K

Monday, January 30, 2006

Valentine Box Instructions

DUE: Tuesday, February 14th

Each student is to create a Valentine box to collect valentine cards. To make the box, the student will need to read a story pertaining to a February theme (President’s Day, Valentines Day, Black History, Dental Health, Healthy Heart, Groundhog Day, the Olympics). To create the box, the front of the box should be decorated to depict the cover of the story, including the title, author, and illustrator. The next side should depict a scene from the beginning of the story. The back should depict a scene from the middle of the story. The remaining side should depict the end. The top should have a slot so valentines can be slid inside. On Valentines Day each student will retell the story to the class using the box as an aid. Words can be written on the box to assist with the retell, as well.

Have fun!

Friday, January 27, 2006

Indica's: Snowmen in Colorado

One cold wintry night a snowman was made. The next day he was not the same at all. His eyes slipped. His nose drooped. His arms were crooked. He did not look the same. So I decided to camp out. I wanted to know what snowmen do at night.
When I was camping in my backyard I was amazed. I saw my snowman move! I’ll bet he’s been sledding and having fun playing and having snowball fights, too.
Suddenly I saw my snowman sledding. When he was sledding he was smashing into rocks. His sled was long. There were a lot of snowmen with him on it.
My snowman got hit in the head by a snowball. Another snowman threw it at him. He laughed and threw one back. All the snowmen got tired of snowball fights. One snowman said, “Who wants to play hockey?” Suddenly the ice started to break and then all the snowmen fell in the water. Then I saw my snowman sinking in the cold water so I helped my snowman out. I grabbed his arm and pulled him out and he said, “Thank you. We have to save the others.” So we helped the others out of the water.

Ian's: Snowman at Night

One winter night there was a snowman named Justin. He had a black hat and a scarf that was green and orange. He had sticks for hands. He was out in the yard of somebody’s house. I did not know the kid or the snowman either. When everybody was asleep, but me, the snowman was alive! Then he went to the airport. He bought a ticket to California. I did, too.
When we got to California Justin went to a hotel called Palm Inn. It was an extremely big room. It had a pretty big flat screen TV that was gray outside and black inside. There was a huge bed just for him. The room had a refrigerator full of snacks and sodas. Justin did not know what to do. “I will go get new clothes. But where? How about the mall? Yeah!”
He went to the mall and got some swimming trunks. Then some shirts. One of them was Quicksilver. The second one was Burton. The third one was Billabong. They were short sleeve. Then he got some shorts.
He did not know what to do again. “I will go to the warm sandy beach. Yeah!” So Justin went swimming in his black trunks with blue flames. He went in the deepest water in the ocean. Then he went surfing. He did a lot of tricks.
He was hungry so he went back to the hotel to get food. Afterwards he went to the park to skateboard. He did an ollie. It is when both sides of the board come up and you land. He did a kickflip. A kickflip is like an ollie except the board spins.
After he went skateboarding he got some really cold vanilla ice cream. When he was done I told him it was time to go so we got on the plane.
When we got home Justin melted because it was spring. I will never forget him.

Bennett's: Snowmen Are Everywhere

One cold winter day in Colorado I was making a snowman. I called him Brandon. He was round and big. Then my mom called me for dinner. At 9:30 I went to sleep. The next day my snowman was not the same. His eyes had fallen in the snow. His nose was beside his mouth. What happened to my snowman? Did a rabbit mess with it?
That night I snuck out of my house to see what my snowman was up to. I was in a tree looking at my snowman. I saw my snowman in the football field. He was the quarterback. His team was the Panthers. The score was 50 to 50. There were 20 seconds left! Brandon threw the ball. Touchdown!
After the game he went snowboarding. He was at Mt. Icy. It was a steep hill. He sped down. He was going really fast! Then he fell in the Candy Cane Forest. There were candy canes everywhere. You could lick the trees. It also had a pond. He was afraid of the raccoons. Then someone threw a snowball at them. It was war! There were too many of them so Brandon ran into the Holly Jolly Woods. He heard a snap. It was a raccoon! Then he burst into speed down town.
He was really starving so he went to Joe’s Pizza. He ordered a frozen pizza because hot pizza would melt him. He had fries with it. He said it was delicious. Then he had some pudding. It tasted fabulous. Then he went home.
The next morning it was warmer. The birds were singing and my snowman had melted.

Emma's: Snowmen at Night

One cold winter night I was in my warm bed at my nanny’s house watching movies or playing my Game Boy SP. Then I caught a flash of movement outside. Next I got out of my bed. I ran to the window to see what it was. It was snowmen moving! I followed them down to the park very quietly.
There were snowmen jamming out down at the park. “They are having fun!” I said to myself. I could not believe my eyes! There were snowmen having rolling races. In rolling races you have to roll. Of course my boy snowman, Drake, won first place. My girl snowman, Mary, won second place. I clapped for them. I was excited.
Then the snowball fights began. The snowball fights were long plus they were fun. The snowmen saw me spying on them. I joined the fight. The two snowmen against me. We all had a great time together. Then the snowmen asked if I wanted to go skiing with them after we sat down.
After resting we went skiing. I fell down a few times. I just got up and tried again. The snowmen and I had a great time. All three of us held hands and skied all together. Then we let go of each other’s hands.
Then the snowmen and I walked back to my nanny’s house. I went inside. The snowmen stopped out in the front yard. I got in the bed and went to sleep.