Camp Pendalouan and Sturgeon Release Video

 Click this link to see our classroom sturgeon release!
SRCN Outdoors: Guided Sturgeon Viewing Tour 2016
 

I can’t believe it’s time for camp already.  It sure feels like summer out there now.  It’s hard to believe it was snowing at our Sturgeon Guard Weekend just two weeks ago.  I guess that’s life in Michigan. 

Speaking of life in Michigan, check those packing lists for camp.  Camp is a blast, but it looks like it will be pretty warm this year.  Bug spray is totally acceptable, head nets for some of the woods hikes can be nice too.  With this weather, swimming will most likely be an elective, and we will spend a little more time on the water in the kayaks and canoes.  So, swim suits and water shoes are another good option.

Please make sure medications are in their original bottles and zip locked in a baggie with the students name on it.

When kids show up Tuesday morning, they can bring their bags down the room, place them on their desk and head down to the Multi-Purpose room for breakfast.

  I can…in the coming week.

Have a lot of fun with my classmates while enjoying the outdoors, and celebrating my time at Quincy Elementary!

Eclipses, Planet Size, Tide Investigations / Camp Packets

This week we investigated partial / total solar and lunar eclipses.  We also did some investigations with tides and drawing models of planet sizes compared to Earth.

Next week we will look at planet heat, asteroids, dwarf planets, and comets as well as reviewing for the Objects in the Sky Test.  We will also be finishing our last novel in our ReadyGen Series “George’s Secret Key to the Universe” the kids and I are definitely enjoying the book.  It will also be our last week of Reading Log.

Camp packets will also come home on Monday.  The schedules and menus are sometimes subject to change once we arrive at camp, but it should give the kids a good idea of what will be happening.  Camp is a blast, and I look forward to it every year! 

I can…in the coming week.

Compare comets, dwarf planets, asteroids.

Compare Earth to other planets in terms of supporting life.

Determine the theme of a story from details in the text and how characters respond to challenges.

Explain how a series of chapters fit together to provide overall structure of a story.

Tilt of the Earth Investigations / Sturgeon Release

This week was a short week with all the half days.  We did some specific investigations of day and night, as well as how the tilt of the Earth causes our seasons. 

We are heading up north this weekend to release our classroom sturgeon “Mickey” in The Black River, Onaway Michigan.  There are a group of families coming along, so I’ll share photos and videos sometime next week for those that can’t make it.  This is our third year of raising a sturgeon and releasing it. 

www.sturgeonfortomorrow.org/guarding-program.php

Keep those camp forms coming in!  We’ll give the kids their packets containing activity groups and cabin assignments as camp gets closer. 

A small note asking some donations for our annual 2 liter bottle rocket launching event should be coming home Friday.

I can…

Explain how the motion of the Earth, Moon, and Sun is related to the phases of the moon.

Describe a lunar and solar eclipse.

Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

Compare and Contrast two or more specific events in a story, drawing on specific details in the text.

Poetry Project / Enjoy Spring Break

This week the kids did a poetry project called Aurora Borealis Concrete Poems in celebration of national poetry month.  The kids used watercolors to make their best impression of a silhouette with the northern lights.  It’s a nice segway into our next science unit “Under The Night Sky” shortly after break. 

We had a great time at the “Thrilla in McMilla” dog sled race this past weekend.  Seeing the kids drive their own team and live out what we’ve studied is always such a treat.  Keep in mind you are welcome to join us for the race in future years if you couldn’t make it up this year.  Just shoot me an email and I can include you in the details.

  

 I can…

Read and comprehend literature including stories, dramas, poetry at the high end of  4-5 text complexity independently and proficiently.

Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences.

Writers include text features to make their chapters more clear and interesting.

Informational Writing / Spring Break

I will make sure to send some photos along of our Thrilla in McMilla race this weekend! 

This week we worked on writing informational biographies of our mushers.  The kids worked hard and did a great job.  They really had an interest in their musher after moving them down the halls over the past couple weeks.  They taught me a ton about the Iditarod mushers this year!  The bibs they made were also very cool!  We will have our final bib signing early next week.  Another dog sled racing tradition. 

Next week we will continue working on informational writing, finish up a few things and get ready to enjoy some time off for spring break.  Have a great weekend!

 I can…

Explain the relationships and interactions between two or more individuals, events, ideas, or concepts in a historical text based on specific information in the text.

Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences.

Writers include text features to make their chapters more clear and interesting.

Finishing Iditarod and it’s Enduring Themes

Well almost all of our mushers have finished the race.  By the end of weekend they all should be into Nome.  It’s been fun moving our mushers down the hallways each morning and following the updates when we come to school.  I hope the kids enjoyed learning about it, but more importantly the themes’ we talked about each day.  Determination, dedication, perseverance, and team work.  Not to mention having the courage to try something hard even if you fail.  When we get out of our comfort zone we grow and learn.  Those are the big ideas we talked about time and time again while reading and writing about this “Last Great Race!”

Next week, we will continue with our informational writing and reading from our ReadyGen Series.  I hope to see some of you at Spring Fling tonight! 

REMEMBER:  Thrilla in McMilla dog sled race next weekend March 26th.  If you have any questions let me know.  There are a few families I know for sure that are coming.  It will be a weekend they’ll remember for a long time.

 I can…

Determine meaning of the general academic and domain specific words and phrases in a text.

Writers analyze the style and structure of informational texts to determine what makes them interesting.

Writers use precise language to convey information clearly using facts, concrete details, and examples.

Following the Iditarod and Informational Writing!

We were so fortunate to have a beautiful day for our 3rd annual Ikidarod last Friday!  We were on the front page of the Holland Sentinel last Saturday and the article was quite accurate.  Great times with these kids!

That really fueled our desire to follow the race this week/ next week and read all the updates and articles that are posted on www.iditarod.com.  The race usually takes about 10 days for the leaders to finish and 15 to 20 days for all the teams to come into Nome AK.  Thrilla in McMilla note will becoming home this week.

Spring Fling is coming up next Friday March 18th.  If anyone else would like to donate our theme basket is “Animal Lover.”  We could use more items.  Anything pet related would be great!

I will be teaching the three classes informational writing for the next few weeks and we will return to science right after Spring Break.  Have a great weekend everyone!

 I can…

Compare and Contrast the overall structure in two or more texts.

Writers analyze, plan, and write informational texts.

Analyze how visual and multimedia elements contribute to the meaning, tone, or beauty of text.