"Commotion in the Ocean" is finally here! The kids are so excited! We begin rehearsing in the theater this week for our big show on Friday! I hope that you will be able to be there! We will have a dress rehearsal on Thursday morning for the lower school students and teachers. Please have your child wear jean shorts, pants, skirts, or skorts on both Thursday and Friday this week. I will have the t-shirts they made waiting to put on them Thursday morning. They will only wear them for the dress rehearsal so they will stay clean for Friday. Please send in a full uniform to change into after the rehearsal on Thursday. We will send the t-shirts and jean bottoms home on Thursday afternoon. The children should come to school dressed in them Friday. Please don't forget!
Please no "light-up" shoes on Thursday or Friday. Thank you! :)
I want to thank you for practicing the speaking parts with your children. Please continue to practice with them all this week on volume and expression!
With all this commotion, we'll still be busing learning in our classroom! In reading and writing, we'll continue to practice all that we have learned as non-fiction readers and writers. The focus in word work this week is on words with the /oo/ sound as in book. We'll also spend some time reviewing other sounds we have learned. Our ocean word ring words this week relate to our science focus... that friendly mammal of the sea... the dolphin! We'll be learning about these amazing members of the whale family. Oh and if you would like to have a little trivia contest with your child on whales, try this website http://www.whalesongs.org Then click on "Cetacean Trivia". Be careful - your child just might win! Last week, during our study of whales, we had a special visit from one of Mrs. Owen's former first graders, Jacob Nelson, who is now in high school! His interest in the ocean began back in first grade! Jacob brought real whale baleen to share with us! It was so cool! He also brought several other specimens from the sea, including a megalodon shark tooth! We learned so much from him!
A big thank you to Lorraine Thorpe, Kim Gross, and Mary Hind for helping us with our blubber experiment during our whale study! The children were able to feel how the whale's blubber helps to keep it warm in the cold ocean waters.
Another big thank you to Donna Main and Sharon Cannella for helping us measure the length of many whales to compare their sizes and see just how GIANT these creatures are! We measured from the 14 foot beluga whale to the 100 foot blue whale!
We also loved having Lisa Peck bring sea stars and sea urchins to share with us. Here are some pictures from the sea urchin dissection!
Next Thursday, May 16, Lisa Peck will be bringing sharks for our final dissection! Let me know if you would like to join us! In math, we are beginning unit 9. This week the children will be provided with experiences to help them develop proficiency in adding and subtracting 10s. We'll practice counting forward and backward using a number grid, extending patterns on a number grid, and using the number grid to add and subtract 2-digit numbers. We'll identify values of digits in a 2-digit number and solve number-grid puzzles. We'll also practice solving addition and subtraction problems with and without manipulatives and tools.
Please make sure that your child returns their completed research (and any pictures) on their chosen ocean animal by Thursday. This week, the children will spend some time deciding and planning how they would like to construct their ocean animal projects. Please talk with your child about their plan to see if there are any special supplies he/she needs. Next week the children will begin writing "All About" books about their creature and constructing their final projects on the animal.
Last week during technology lab, the children had a ball working on animation videos with the models they created during art of their chosen ocean animal. I hope to soon have a link for you to see their videos!
Friday, May 17, is Splash Day during PE! Children will need towels, swimsuits and swim shoes. They will change into these before PE and change back into their spirit clothes after PE.
Our last field trip will be on Tuesday, May 21. We will be going to the Florida Aquarium in Tampa. The children should wear their "Commotion in the Ocean" t-shirts with jean bottoms. I am so glad that so many of you are able to join us!
Monday, May 27, is Memorial Day. There will be no school that day.
On Thursday, May 30, we will have our end of the year party beginning at 1:15. Students again may wear their "Commotion in the Ocean" t-shirts with jean bottoms. Parents are welcome to join us as always! The more the merrier!
Friday, May 31, is the last day of school. Dismissal will be at noon.
Volunteers this week:
- Library Check-out has ended! Thank you for helping this year!
- Thursday - Math Game - 10:30 - David Richardson
- Friday - Art - 10:30 - 11:15 - time change - any volunteers?
- Friday - Parent Reader - 2:15 - Kim Gross
Have a great week! See you Friday!
Susan
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