Water Cycle

For access to our science lesson plans for this week and next, click here.

Back in the Saddle

I don't know about anyone else, but I was definitely ready to get back in the routine of school. The snow days were nice, but we have lots of work to do here!

The district website has a new feature that I am just learning to use, but that should be very handy because I can now attach assignments that are in the form of a word document.
Click here to see.

Rainforest Animals

We are reading The Great Kapok Tree and learning about rainforests. As part of our rainforest study, each student is researching a rainforest animal using encyclopedias and other resources. While computers will not be used at school, they may be used at home for more information.

anaconda armadillo army ant boa constrictor bushmaster snake chimpanzee cobra flying lemur harpy eagle howler monkey hummingbird jaguar kinkajou morpho butterfly ocelot paca poison dart frog sloth spider monkey tarantula toucan tree frog

Wikipedia is also a great source of information.

Snow Alert

The weather forecast is not looking good as far as school being in session over the next couple of days. If we are at school on Thursday, I will send home the Friday folder report tomorrow in the event that school is canceled on Friday. Just in case we are not in school either day, next week's important information was shared with students today so they could write the upcoming events in their planners. If we are not at school on Friday, the spelling test will be postponed until the next school day, and the science poster will be due on the next school day for those who have not already turned it in.

Next Week
1/11: Social Studies test (ch. 4); Practice Reading Ohio Achievement Test
1/12: Math test (multiplication)
1/13: Practice Math Ohio Achievement Test
1/14: Science test (processes that change the Earth)
1/15: Literature Project due (informational nonfiction); Reward Movie (for students with no behavior infractions and no missing work)

January 15 is the end of the grading period so all missing work needs to be turned in before that day.

Traveling Journals

Our journals are traveling in every direction! Some went east (Vicki's to the Sommers in Maine; Austin's to the Ficklen's in Suffolk, VA-home of Planter's Peanuts), some went south (Samson's visited the Moores in Corpus Christie, TX) while others went west (Sydne's to San Diego and Mikella's to Cary's in CA and Chris's in WA) or north (Jack's to Detroit, Michigan). Garrett's went overseas to the Ernsts in Germany and back. Now it's on its way to AZ!

The Great Kapok Tree

I hope everyone had a wonderful winter break! We are back to work on our erosion unit in science. We should have a test sometime next week.

We will be reading The Great Kapok Tree in reading for the next 2 weeks. Here are some fun activities to go along with our story.

Count the rainforest animals
Learn about rainforest animals
Label the rainforest animals
Life in the Strata information

Thanks to All for a Great 2009!

Our Christmas party was a great success! Thanks to all who sent in donations and/or attended the party to help with crowd control. I'd also like to thank all of you who shared warmest wishes for your thoughtfulness.

Things to work on over the holiday break:
Literature Project-The next project is due January 15; the genre is informational non-fiction.
Weathering, Erosion and Deposition Poster-This poster is due January 8, an extension from the original due date of December 18. Students have known about this project since the beginning of December! The requirements are on the back of the December 18 Friday Folder report.

See you next year!