The children have completed a variety of science experiments for our sound unit. This was a loud unit for the classrooms that were close to ours. We have been reviewing the specific vocabulary terms for this unit. Your child should have brought home flashcards to practice. The children did very well on a quiz of terms that we took today to check for understanding. An online quiz, matching game or printable flashcards can be viewed by clicking on the picture below:
If your child would like to visit websites that provide a review, as well as, allow them to experiment with sounds, instruments, pitch and vibration, click on the pictures below:
It was a fantastic way to celebrate the end of 2011 before leaving for break. The children entered the multipurpose room by giving their ticket to the conductor after caroling through the halls. Every time the train whistle blew, they chanted, “I believe” before rotating to a new center. The centers consisted of several games (such as: impulse, bingo, snowman draw, marshmallow toss), cookie decorating and hot chocolate, and a craft. We had some excellent volunteers assisting with centers. Thank you! We couldn’t have done it without you. We ended our day with a gift exchange and a movie. We had a fantastic day!
Just a reminder that the 3rd graders can wear their pajamas to school on Friday for our Polar Express party. We will be celebrating as a grade level from 9:15-10:30 in the multipurpose room. If you haven’t sent in your $2.00 for the party or gift exchange, please do so as soon as possible.
I am truly humbled by the support that everyone has given with our Day 2 Quest (raising money by providing a service to purchase material to make scarves for the homeless). The children have gone above and beyond my expectations for this activity. I purchased material this weekend thinking that the students would bring in between $1.00-$3.00 each. They have earned $120.20 thus far, which has left me speechless. Needless to say, I went back out to purchase more material. The children will wrap each scarf when they are done with a ribbon, candy cane and small note. I am hoping to add a certificate for a hot coffee from McDonald’s too. The scarves will be delivered on December 18th when hiking in the city.
When the children were asked about how they felt about this activity, here are some of the responses that I received:
I think this was a good idea because it helped both your parents (by doing the jobs) and the homeless.
I think it is a good idea because now they can stay warm and it was kind and generous.
I learned that you had to take responsibility and do a good job to get paid.
I learned that I could give my parents a break from their work by doing extra jobs.
I learned that I should maybe vacuum and do stuff like that more.
I learned that it is actually fun doing chores.
I learned to not be lazy. Be nice and help clean the house.
I provided a service of washing the dogs and learned that the more I do this, the better I get.
I learned that you have to do work well to get paid.
I learned that it was very hard work.
The children did an amazing job with this task! I am very proud of them and the excitement that they had when coming to school to report on the weekend. I would love it if some of them could stay after school on Thursday, December 8th, to assist with the finishing touches. Please email me if you are interested and I will give you additional details. They would need a ride home at 5:00. Thanks a bunch!
Today the children were given the challenge of using all of their six “Tag You’re It” cards by completing acts of kindness by Tuesday. They were extremely excited to be sneaky about completing these. If a student was tagged, they had to take the card and complete an act of kindness for someone else, leaving the card behind to keep the acts going.
Yesterday we started the Twelve Days of Christmas (seeing we have 12 days of school before break). As a class we will open a scroll that has a quest for the day. We will celebrate with a series of giving quests. Each quest will have something to do for others or something that brings us close together as a class with a feeling of celebration.
Each day I am hoping to post the Quest so that you know our focus and you can see if there is any follow through outside of the school setting. Your help is appreciated for the Day 2 Quest, but please don’t feel obligated. Listed below are the quests that we have discussed thus far:
Day 1: Thank the wonderful Georgetown givers. ~We are in the process of making notes, booklets and cards. Our goal was to use the word “THANK YOU” for even the littlest things that people did for us. I am hoping that your child used this word often after school or after the Program.
Day 2: Give to those in need by doing some work. Your child generated a list of jobs or chores that he/she could do to earn money at home over the weekend. It is their job to discuss this with you. This money is going to be used to purchase material to make scarves for the homeless people in Grand Rapids. I will deliver them during the Hiking in the City Project. The children will be making the scarves at the end of next week (if you are interested in helping us, please let me know). If your child doesn’t do the work or doesn’t do the work well, then please do not pay them. The goal is that they will take ownership for this activity. Please do not feel as if you have to send money.
If you have a Santa or Christmas hat, please wear it tomorrow to celebrate the excellent job with the Program. The kids sure are excited to sing for you!
In Social Studies we are studying economics. There are quite a few vocabulary terms to reinforce in this unit. We had a great time today shopping (both at the Santa Secret Shop and within the classroom). The children exchanged their tickets for play money to shop at my store. They were able to see how our unlimited wants and limited resources caused scarcity which meant that they couldn’t have all of the goods that they wanted. They had to make a choice. They found out that there were incentives while shopping especially when a truckload arrived. The choices that they made lead to opportunity cost. We also reinforced everything that we are learning about in math but determining/estimating our total cost, as well as, the change that we will receive.
For extra practice of the vocabulary used in this unit, Mr. Gort created on-line note cards that you can use to practice. This site allows you to print flashcards or complete a review online. http://www.easynotecards.com/notecard_set/1543
