My, Spring Break must have lasted a long time! Sorry for the lapse in updates. Here's what's been going on, and what we will be working on for the rest of the year:
Media Literacy
3rd Grade: Students have been hard at work on their bird reports. Many of them have finished typing their reports in Microsoft Word. Some have started finding pictures of their bird on Google Images. As we finish this, they will put these pictures onto their PowerPoint slides. We'll also be working on summarizing, so they can put nice, short bullet points on their slides. This will probably take most of the rest of the year, but the end result will be a nice, polished report and PowerPoint that the students can be proud of.
4th Grade: Students have been working hard to finish the library unit on reference books. After discussing different types of books (dictionaries, atlases, encyclopedias, almanacs, etc.), they used them to answer research questions. A few classes need to finish this up, and then it's on to our next unit: the Oregon Trail. Students will first see artifacts that would have been brought on the journey and discuss what they could have been used for. Then, they will be researching web sites with information on life on the trail. Finally, they'll be able to play the computer game Oregon Trail. This simulation has come a long way since the Apple ][ days, and is now a fairly accurate representation of life on the trail.
5th Grade: The fifth graders have been working on a project that's all about them: an iMovie slide show with pictures of themselves. They have created a title for this using PowerPoint and their school pictures, and a few students who have brought in pictures are working on the rest of it. The rest of the students need to bring in pictures. I'm hoping for at least 10 per student, of themselves, friends, family, pets, etc.
P.E.
There have been quite a few game days lately with testing going on, and we've also learned a few new games. Most popular of these has been Capture the Frisbee, a variation of the game we've already played titled Capture the Cone. We've also had a bit more running outside to gear ourselves up for our trip to the track, which is coming up the week of the 31st-3rd. Look for permission slips to be sent home this week. Other upcoming events are the second round of fitness tests, and after that it'll mostly be cooperative games and activities as the year winds down.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
April 11 - April 15
Hope everyone enjoyed Spring Break!
Media Literacy
We'll be spending some more time this week on practicing the format of the new MSP test, learning how to answer the questions and use the available tools to do as well as possible.
P.E.
We'll be running again this week. Outside if weather permits, otherwise we'll play continuous tag again indoors. This game requires students to run past fixed students who are "it"; successfully passing these students earns you a token. Students try to gather as many tokens as possible-but if they get tagged, the tagger gets all their tokens.
Media Literacy
We'll be spending some more time this week on practicing the format of the new MSP test, learning how to answer the questions and use the available tools to do as well as possible.
P.E.
We'll be running again this week. Outside if weather permits, otherwise we'll play continuous tag again indoors. This game requires students to run past fixed students who are "it"; successfully passing these students earns you a token. Students try to gather as many tokens as possible-but if they get tagged, the tagger gets all their tokens.
Friday, March 25, 2011
March 28 - April 1
Media Literacy
With Spring Break on the way, we're finishing up past projects so we can start fresh after the break. Third grade is finishing their Microsoft Word formatting projects, as well as polishing their keyboarding skills. Fourth graders are finishing up their dictionary assignments, and are also working on their typing. Fifth graders are nearly all completed with their iMovie projects on a favorite animal.
PE
We'll have fewer PE classes this week, with the early release days for conferences. For the classes that we have, students will continue what they started last week: running laps on the field. Students are training to improve their endurance and speed in preparation for going to the high school track later in the year.
With Spring Break on the way, we're finishing up past projects so we can start fresh after the break. Third grade is finishing their Microsoft Word formatting projects, as well as polishing their keyboarding skills. Fourth graders are finishing up their dictionary assignments, and are also working on their typing. Fifth graders are nearly all completed with their iMovie projects on a favorite animal.
PE
We'll have fewer PE classes this week, with the early release days for conferences. For the classes that we have, students will continue what they started last week: running laps on the field. Students are training to improve their endurance and speed in preparation for going to the high school track later in the year.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
March 14 - March 18
Media Literacy
Since the last update, 3rd grade has worked more on their keyboarding skills, as well as their general computer skills (switching between programs, using menu commands, etc.). They are also learning more about formatting text in Microsoft Word, a project that they will continue this week. They are learning how to change the appearance of their typing, as well as add elements such as clip art.
Fourth graders have been learning more about how to use dictionaries quickly and easily. They have also had a basic introduction to the computer program they will use to take the MSP. This week, they are continuing to work on dictionary skills, as well as using other reference books such as encyclopedias.
Fifth graders have been working on their iMovie projects, downloading pictures of a favorite animal and arranging them with sounds, titles, and effects to create a multimedia presentation. They will hopefully complete these this week or early next week.
P.E.
We've finished up with hockey, and since then students have had a chance to practice some pitching and kicking skills for kickball, and pitching and hitting skills for Swedish Baseball (like kickball, but you hit a volleyball with your hand instead of kicking a playground ball). Most classes have also had a chance to play both games. If they haven't, they will this week.
After kickball, we're working on building students' cardio-respiratory endurance. They can run fast, but hopefully they'll be able to run farther after doing some intense workouts with jump ropes and interval running, where they must cover a set distance in times that get progressively shorter.
Since the last update, 3rd grade has worked more on their keyboarding skills, as well as their general computer skills (switching between programs, using menu commands, etc.). They are also learning more about formatting text in Microsoft Word, a project that they will continue this week. They are learning how to change the appearance of their typing, as well as add elements such as clip art.
Fourth graders have been learning more about how to use dictionaries quickly and easily. They have also had a basic introduction to the computer program they will use to take the MSP. This week, they are continuing to work on dictionary skills, as well as using other reference books such as encyclopedias.
Fifth graders have been working on their iMovie projects, downloading pictures of a favorite animal and arranging them with sounds, titles, and effects to create a multimedia presentation. They will hopefully complete these this week or early next week.
P.E.
We've finished up with hockey, and since then students have had a chance to practice some pitching and kicking skills for kickball, and pitching and hitting skills for Swedish Baseball (like kickball, but you hit a volleyball with your hand instead of kicking a playground ball). Most classes have also had a chance to play both games. If they haven't, they will this week.
After kickball, we're working on building students' cardio-respiratory endurance. They can run fast, but hopefully they'll be able to run farther after doing some intense workouts with jump ropes and interval running, where they must cover a set distance in times that get progressively shorter.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
February 21 - February 25
Hope everyone enjoyed the 4-day weekend! Media Literacy Third grade is working on keyboarding again this week, building their speed and accuracy. Fourth graders will be continuing their library unit on Non-Fiction books. Since they learned about text features last week, this week they will be applying that knowledge through a scavenger hunt activity where they must find the correct information they are looking for. Fifth graders are putting the pictures they collected last week into their iMovie projects, adding titles and effects in the process. P.E. We'll be wrapping up our Hockey unit this week. After that, each class will have a game day where they can choose a favorite game that they've already played. Our next unit will be kickball, and some classes will begin that this week, starting with a bit of skills practice and a quick game.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
February 14 - February 18
Happy Valentine's Day! A reminder that Mid-Winter break and President's day are coming up, so there's no school on Friday the 18th or Monday the 21st. Have a great 4-day weekend!
Media Literacy
Third grade will be putting the final finishing touches on their All About Me PowerPoints this week. After that, they will be doing a review of some important computer skills such as managing multiple open programs and manipulating files (moving, renaming, saving, copying).
Fourth grade is beginning a library unit on using Non-Fiction books. This week, they're learning more about "text features" found in these books and how to use them. For example, they will learn how to pinpoint the exact information they need in a reference book using the index, how to find unknown words in a glossary, and how to use headings to find specific information on a page.
Fifth grade is collecting pictures to use in their upcoming iMovie projects. The iMovie program (similar to Movie Maker on a PC) allows them to create multimedia slide shows with pictures, sounds, and video clips. For this introductory project, they will collect photos of a favorite animal, and arrange them with sounds and captions to create a short slide show.
P.E.
Third and fourth grades will be moving on to hockey games this week, using the shooting, passing, and other skills they practiced last week. Fifth grade is joining in this week as well, beginning with the same skills that the lower grades practiced last week.
Media Literacy
Third grade will be putting the final finishing touches on their All About Me PowerPoints this week. After that, they will be doing a review of some important computer skills such as managing multiple open programs and manipulating files (moving, renaming, saving, copying).
Fourth grade is beginning a library unit on using Non-Fiction books. This week, they're learning more about "text features" found in these books and how to use them. For example, they will learn how to pinpoint the exact information they need in a reference book using the index, how to find unknown words in a glossary, and how to use headings to find specific information on a page.
Fifth grade is collecting pictures to use in their upcoming iMovie projects. The iMovie program (similar to Movie Maker on a PC) allows them to create multimedia slide shows with pictures, sounds, and video clips. For this introductory project, they will collect photos of a favorite animal, and arrange them with sounds and captions to create a short slide show.
P.E.
Third and fourth grades will be moving on to hockey games this week, using the shooting, passing, and other skills they practiced last week. Fifth grade is joining in this week as well, beginning with the same skills that the lower grades practiced last week.
Monday, February 7, 2011
February 7 - February 11
Hope to see everyone at our Art Show & Auction this Wednesday at 6:00. There should be lots of great baskets, and the halls are covered with the students' amazing artwork. Wednesday is also a late start day.
Media Literacy
This is the last week for 4th and 5th graders to finish their sports PowerPoint projects. Third grade is also finishing up their All About Me PowerPoints. Remember that 3rd graders can bring in pictures from home for this, they really do help to liven things up.
P.E.
5th graders are finishing their dance CBA this week, where they must choreograph and perform their own (short) dance. 3rd and 4th graders are starting the hockey unit, learning how to safely handle the hockey stick, as well as practicing passing, wrist shots, and slap shots. 5th graders will also be starting on Hockey, next week when they're done dancing.
Media Literacy
This is the last week for 4th and 5th graders to finish their sports PowerPoint projects. Third grade is also finishing up their All About Me PowerPoints. Remember that 3rd graders can bring in pictures from home for this, they really do help to liven things up.
P.E.
5th graders are finishing their dance CBA this week, where they must choreograph and perform their own (short) dance. 3rd and 4th graders are starting the hockey unit, learning how to safely handle the hockey stick, as well as practicing passing, wrist shots, and slap shots. 5th graders will also be starting on Hockey, next week when they're done dancing.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
January 31 - February 4
Media Literacy
Our projects from last week will continue this week. Third-graders are making excellent progress with their All About Me PowerPoint projects! They have already learned how to add slides, change backgrounds, and add pictures. This week, they'll be learning how to further customize their presentation with different fonts, custom color schemes, and animations.
Fourth- and fifth-graders are continuing their sports research projects, finishing up their notes and starting their PowerPoints this week if they haven't yet. Once started, they will have a chance to add pictures, backgrounds, and other elements to their PowerPoints.
P.E.
Our dance unit is coming to a close this week. Third and fourth grade students will be working on group activities to come up with dance steps for certain songs. Fifth grade students are completing a state dance assessment (known as a CBA, or Curriculum-Based Assessment) where they must choreograph and perform a short dance based on 2 different types of weather. Their performances will be graded according to a rubric that is reviewed with the students. Both of these activities will give students a chance to show their creativity and ingenuity in coming up with different ways to move to suit a specific song or theme.
Our projects from last week will continue this week. Third-graders are making excellent progress with their All About Me PowerPoint projects! They have already learned how to add slides, change backgrounds, and add pictures. This week, they'll be learning how to further customize their presentation with different fonts, custom color schemes, and animations.
Fourth- and fifth-graders are continuing their sports research projects, finishing up their notes and starting their PowerPoints this week if they haven't yet. Once started, they will have a chance to add pictures, backgrounds, and other elements to their PowerPoints.
P.E.
Our dance unit is coming to a close this week. Third and fourth grade students will be working on group activities to come up with dance steps for certain songs. Fifth grade students are completing a state dance assessment (known as a CBA, or Curriculum-Based Assessment) where they must choreograph and perform a short dance based on 2 different types of weather. Their performances will be graded according to a rubric that is reviewed with the students. Both of these activities will give students a chance to show their creativity and ingenuity in coming up with different ways to move to suit a specific song or theme.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
January 24-January 28
Media Literacy
Third grade students are diving in to Microsoft PowerPoint this week. They learned how to open the program last week, and saved a file with their name on it. This week, they will begin turning that file into an "All About Me" PowerPoint, with pictures of themselves and information on what they like to do. For this week, they will be putting in a picture of themselves, as well as writing an acrostic poem for their name (with a word for each letter). If you have any good pictures (digital is preferred, but prints work), please send them in so they can put them into their presentation!
Fourth and fifth grades are also working with PowerPoint this week, using it to create a presentation on the information they researched about their favorite sport. They will create a short presentation about the history of their sport, how to play it, important people or places, and activities we could do in class.
P.E.
After finishing up the dances from last week, classes will be learning the final dance in our unit: the Cha-Cha slide. This popular dance incorporates many different steps, so it should be a challenge for students, while still enjoyable. After that, Fourth and Fifth grades will have a chance to create their own dances to a specific theme or song. I look forward to seeing their creativity!
Third grade students are diving in to Microsoft PowerPoint this week. They learned how to open the program last week, and saved a file with their name on it. This week, they will begin turning that file into an "All About Me" PowerPoint, with pictures of themselves and information on what they like to do. For this week, they will be putting in a picture of themselves, as well as writing an acrostic poem for their name (with a word for each letter). If you have any good pictures (digital is preferred, but prints work), please send them in so they can put them into their presentation!
Fourth and fifth grades are also working with PowerPoint this week, using it to create a presentation on the information they researched about their favorite sport. They will create a short presentation about the history of their sport, how to play it, important people or places, and activities we could do in class.
P.E.
After finishing up the dances from last week, classes will be learning the final dance in our unit: the Cha-Cha slide. This popular dance incorporates many different steps, so it should be a challenge for students, while still enjoyable. After that, Fourth and Fifth grades will have a chance to create their own dances to a specific theme or song. I look forward to seeing their creativity!
Monday, January 17, 2011
January 17 - January 21
Hope everyone enjoyed the 3-day weekend!
Media Literacy
Well, it's back to the grind now that MAP testing is completely finished. Students in 4th and 5th grades will finish organizing their server folder, learning how to create folders, rename files, and do other file-manipulation tasks. Then, it's back to the Sports Research projects that we started earlier in the school year. We'll finish out the research on those and summarize what they found.
Third-grade students, after getting in the last few fitness test results, will be learning how to use Microsoft PowerPoint. They will begin with a simple, one-slide presentation about themselves, later branching out to more-complex tasks.
Also, classes that did not have a chance earlier in the year to hear about some great books from Sara Wall, children's librarian at the Tenino library, will be doing that this Wednesday.
P.E.
We'll be doing more dancing this week! After finishing the dances from last week, we're moving on to the Electric Slide. So far, the students have turned out to be pretty good dancers!
Media Literacy
Well, it's back to the grind now that MAP testing is completely finished. Students in 4th and 5th grades will finish organizing their server folder, learning how to create folders, rename files, and do other file-manipulation tasks. Then, it's back to the Sports Research projects that we started earlier in the school year. We'll finish out the research on those and summarize what they found.
Third-grade students, after getting in the last few fitness test results, will be learning how to use Microsoft PowerPoint. They will begin with a simple, one-slide presentation about themselves, later branching out to more-complex tasks.
Also, classes that did not have a chance earlier in the year to hear about some great books from Sara Wall, children's librarian at the Tenino library, will be doing that this Wednesday.
P.E.
We'll be doing more dancing this week! After finishing the dances from last week, we're moving on to the Electric Slide. So far, the students have turned out to be pretty good dancers!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
January 10 - January 14
We have a late start this Wednesday the 12th. School opens at 10:00, and classes start at 10:20.
Media Literacy
Media Literacy will be cut a bit short this week, due to the late start and the last stage of MAP testing on Monday and Tuesday. Classes that meet will continue on prior projects: entering their fitness test results, organizing their server folders, and working on their sports research project.
P.E.
All three grade levels are beginning the dance unit this week in PE. Third graders are beginning with some simple, but fun dances: the Hamster Dance, and the Partner Slap dance (hopefully the kids aren't disappointed that they don't actually slap their partner :-), they just clap their hands together). Fourth graders will start with Mamma Maria, which is a basic line dance, and follow up with the Cupid Shuffle, which gets slightly more complicated. Fifth graders will also be doing the Cupid Shuffle, followed by the Butterfly Waltz. It should be fun! We'll most likely be continuing to practice these next week, as it takes time to master the steps.
Media Literacy
Media Literacy will be cut a bit short this week, due to the late start and the last stage of MAP testing on Monday and Tuesday. Classes that meet will continue on prior projects: entering their fitness test results, organizing their server folders, and working on their sports research project.
P.E.
All three grade levels are beginning the dance unit this week in PE. Third graders are beginning with some simple, but fun dances: the Hamster Dance, and the Partner Slap dance (hopefully the kids aren't disappointed that they don't actually slap their partner :-), they just clap their hands together). Fourth graders will start with Mamma Maria, which is a basic line dance, and follow up with the Cupid Shuffle, which gets slightly more complicated. Fifth graders will also be doing the Cupid Shuffle, followed by the Butterfly Waltz. It should be fun! We'll most likely be continuing to practice these next week, as it takes time to master the steps.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
January 3 - January 7
Welcome back! Students will have extra PE this week, as the computer lab will be closed starting Wednesday for MAP testing.
Media Literacy
Classes that meet this week will be continuing to work on entering their fitness test results, and calculating their BMI and body fat percentage. If they have finished, they will practice their keyboarding skills.
P.E.
We'll be concluding our basketball unit this week with a set of team-based games that incorporate the basketball skills we have learned thus far. In addition to a couple more drills for shooting and passing, 3rd graders will work on the concept of positions by playing Lane Basketball, where each player has a "lane" they must remain in during the game. 4th graders will instead play Paperclip Basketball, where teams of 3 must pass the ball 3 times and shoot a basket. Successful shots lead to earning paperclips for their team; the team with the most paperclips at the end will win. 5th grade will play Freeze Out, which is similar to the game Horse. Pairs of students will compete to attempt shots from different areas. If a student misses, they receive a letter, and once they have spelled OUT, they are out. In addition to these games, all three grades will play 3-on-3 basketball, rotating through teams to give everyone a chance to play. Other team games, such as sideline basketball and the regulation version of basketball, will also be played to the extent that time allows.
Classes that have extra PE this week will be learning a few new games. Third graders will be introduced to Tucker's Land and Dino's Nest, both of which involve retrieving items from a guarded location. All three grades will learn a new tag game (continuous tag), and will participate in a relay race where they build a pattern of PE equipment based on an example at the front of the gym. Since only 1 piece can be moved at a time, and they cannot see the pattern from the place where they are creating it, they will have to make good use of their memory in order to be successful.
Media Literacy
Classes that meet this week will be continuing to work on entering their fitness test results, and calculating their BMI and body fat percentage. If they have finished, they will practice their keyboarding skills.
P.E.
We'll be concluding our basketball unit this week with a set of team-based games that incorporate the basketball skills we have learned thus far. In addition to a couple more drills for shooting and passing, 3rd graders will work on the concept of positions by playing Lane Basketball, where each player has a "lane" they must remain in during the game. 4th graders will instead play Paperclip Basketball, where teams of 3 must pass the ball 3 times and shoot a basket. Successful shots lead to earning paperclips for their team; the team with the most paperclips at the end will win. 5th grade will play Freeze Out, which is similar to the game Horse. Pairs of students will compete to attempt shots from different areas. If a student misses, they receive a letter, and once they have spelled OUT, they are out. In addition to these games, all three grades will play 3-on-3 basketball, rotating through teams to give everyone a chance to play. Other team games, such as sideline basketball and the regulation version of basketball, will also be played to the extent that time allows.
Classes that have extra PE this week will be learning a few new games. Third graders will be introduced to Tucker's Land and Dino's Nest, both of which involve retrieving items from a guarded location. All three grades will learn a new tag game (continuous tag), and will participate in a relay race where they build a pattern of PE equipment based on an example at the front of the gym. Since only 1 piece can be moved at a time, and they cannot see the pattern from the place where they are creating it, they will have to make good use of their memory in order to be successful.
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