Africa Homework – Click here to get to KIDBLOG

Money Homework – Everyone must do this.

If your inboxes are anything like mine, I’m sure you are inundated with emails all day long! I am trying to streamline this system and one of the ways I am experimenting with is a brief text message reminder for certain events. For example, if a field trip is happening, I can simply and quickly text and remind you, rather than going to an email account, seeing it is from me and checking it later! I have found a service called Remind101 and it is working well with my test subjects so far. Please find the information below.

Most of the Science Night projects have arrived at school and are looking great. I’m sure a lot of people will be interested to discover how they were made. We are working on our presentation skills between now and Tuesday night. We are also visiting the middle school exhibits to see how the older kids present and to pick up any tips!

Just to let you all know that for the next 2 days Ms. Judson will be running the classroom as part of her credential program. I will be there to offer assistance, should she need it, but for the most part Ms. Judson will be the lead teacher. I will be taking over Ms.Judson’s schedule for Monday and Tuesday.

Science Night in 2nd Grade is a great chance for the students to use their creative side and to blend that with what they have learned about recycling. The project is for the students to create something of use from materials that are going to go either be recycled or thrown away.

This project is created partly in school and partly at home. The building side of the project is to be completed at home. The written report and video explanation will be done in school. This has become a really successful part of the 2nd Grade curriculum over the past 4 years and is now an eagerly anticipated event by students, faculty and parents. Some examples of what has been created in the past are:

*Chessboard made from an old pizza box.

*Flip Flops made from old newspaper.

*A bedside table made from an old pizza box and some pieces of wood.

*An electronic map of the world showing places visited by the student. Made from styrofoam from a television box and an old set of plug-in holiday lights.

*A lamp mad from a plastic bottle.

*A vase made from an old Vinyl record, melted into a new shape.

* A calendar made from old bottle caps.

*Plus so many other great designs.

Students can use glue, tape, string and any other materials, but the main idea is that it is made from something that isn’t needed in the house anymore.

Part of the project requires the students to document the building process. I would like them to have some photographs from start to finish which will then be placed on the posters that we create at school.

Some ideas:

Some great ideas here

Great use of old cans and maps

As I find more I will post them. Be as creative as you can.

Deadline for bringing completed project to school is Friday, 24th January

HAVE FUN

As you know, we love studying about the World and the children have asked to learn about interesting places. We have decided to study Africa. We have just looked at the map of the continent and a few of the interesting countries, however, after the Winter Break we will delve deeper into this fascinating place. Be sure to ask you child about this.

Ms. Judson is currently teaching a lesson about the differences between the ‘Traditional Cinderella’ story and the ‘African’ version of the story. They students are making Venn diagrams and comparing the two stories.

Just a reminder that we have a class account for the Raz-Kids reading program. Be sure to continue thee fine work you started before Thanksgiving. At this moment in time David and Guy lead the way with the most points. Great job boys!