A Sno-tastic Week

Third graders had a fantastic time enjoying the snow this week.  We sledded, built snow sculptures, buried each other in the snow, and loved every minute of it!

The Rating System

Even though it is not yet February, in the library we are already assessing what we have in terms of books and magazines.  Although we always seek and encourage input and suggestions from our students, this year we are being a little more methodical about how we order our magazines. Our first graders are using a simple rating system to look over some of our current titles such as Zootles, Zoobooks, National Geographic for Kids and Ranger Rick, Jr. Each magazine was evaluated on a scale from one to three, with one being the lowest score and three being the best. Working in groups of three, the children discussed the photos, the writing and the cover. They then tallied their stars, smiley faces or whatever symbol they chose to see which rated the best.  This induced much discussion, some arguing and a lot of laughter as the first graders proved themselves more than ready for this challenge.

Second Grade & Egypt

Second grade is becoming all about ancient Egypt!

In half groups, we have started reading non-fiction reference books about Egypt, both present day and ancient times.  We also learned about hieroglyphs and the scribe profession.  Everyone enjoyed creating a cartouche of their name, which will soon be on display.

Last week each student picked a photograph of an artifact that they found intriguing.  Using classroom resources and books children have brought from home, students are looking for clues to their artifact.  Throughout this lengthy study, they will continue to gather information and present their findings on Egypt Night, March 22.

This week we will start a new read aloud book, The Boy of the Pyramids.
The setting of this historical fiction novel is 5000 years ago in Egypt. It is quite a contrast to the much more recent historical fiction and biographies we have read lately.  To help 2nd graders have an understanding of just how long ago 5000 years was we looked at a timeline where each little square represents 1 year. It stretched across the room! 

We also took a look maps of Egypt, locating where in the world this country is today.
In the coming weeks, Egypt will be the subject of several homework assignments. We hope you look forward to learning right along with your child.

Second Grade Collaborative Compositions

As part of our rhythmic study, the second grade was given the following assignment:

Compose a three-measure rhythmic composition using 1/4 notes, 1/8 notes and/or 1/4 rests. Your time signature is 4/4 (four beats to a measure). 

Students created individual compositions and we clapped a few of them together as a class. They were then put into small groups and were asked to create on collaborative pieces combining their compositions. They were given the option to use drums, shaker eggs or rhythmic sticks and were encouraged to incorporate other elements including movement, melodic interludes or postludes, other rhythmic patters as "fills" or as an alternate section to their pieces. Below are a few images of their collaborative and creative hard work. 

Enjoy!

Fantastic Fantasy Books in Fourth Grade

Fourth grade students have leaped into the genre of fantasy this January. Fantasy books require in the reader a leap of faith as the reader jumps into the world created by the author. The Castle in the Attic by Elizabeth Winthrop and Into the Land of the Unicorns by Bruce Coville are the two books being read in small book groups.

Both books creative a vivid fantasy environment, carefully crafted so that the reader feels that it actually makes sense to be in this world. The main characters in both books have a quest to achieve that will enable a better life for the inhabitants of that particular world. Another aspect that both books share are characters that have distinctive personalities, ages similar to our fourth grade students, and the opportunity to develop and show growth as they progress through the plot of their book.

Our students are becoming adept at detecting the personality trait of each character and how they can tell from the description in the book. The genre of fantasy is also the perfect time for students to practice generating meaningful questions.  The strategy of making connections to the text to their own life, other books, and the world is also another strategy that students are using during discussions. Even though the fantasy world is unlike the student's world, the way characters feel, treat each other and face challenges are universal to all of our students' experiences.

Español en el jardín de infancia: el cuerpo / Spanish in Kindergarten: The Body

When are the kindergarteners most receptive to new Spanish language learning? When they can connect it to what they already know of course! Therefore, it made great sense to link their classroom’s theme of study of the human body with their Spanish language class experience. Many games, activities and songs were introduced that helped the students practice and reinforce the Spanish vocabulary of body parts through labeling, matching, crossword and identification exercises.

Our journey began with learning and investigating los cinco sentidos, the five senses, and related body parts…

Veo con mis ojos – I see with my eyes

Huelo con mi nariz – I smell with my nose

Oigo con mis oidos – I hear with my ears

Saboreo con mi boca – I taste with my mouth

Toco con mis manos – I touch with my hands

One of the many fun games the Kindergarteners enjoyed was drawing the body part to its dictated purpose. For example, upon hearing veo con mis _____ the students drew an eye (or two) and toco con mis _____ they would draw a hand.

Singing “Head and Shoulders” in Spanish helped us learn the words for the body parts included in the song. And, to help us learn the Spanish vocabulary for other body parts, we listened (many times) to the hilarious video of Rockalingua and played various games to help us reinforce our comprehension. This song introduced us to other parts such as…

pelo - hair

cuello - neck

garganta - throat

espalda - back

barriga - belly

pierna - leg

dedos de los pies - toes

labios - lips

dientes - teeth

lengua - tongue

frente – forehead

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOg6y-Q59eM

The kindergarteners had a fabulous time learning and exploring the Spanish vocabulary for the human anatomy. Stay tuned to see where our next interest leads us.

Números, formas y colores en 1º, ¡Ay! / Numbers, Shapes & Colors in 1st, Oh My!

In my continuous commitment to connect the Spanish language experience to their curricular studies, opportunities have been provided for the first graders to practice their mathematics focus on números (numbers) and formas geométricas (geometric shapes).

To reinforce their numeral skills, the students were presented with lots of fun games and songs to practice counting cero (zero) to veinte (twenty). Afterwards, they were introduced to the concept of counting to cien (one hundred) by diez (tens).

Vocabulary:

diez - ten

veinte - twenty

treinta- thirty

cuarenta - fourty

cincuenta - fifty

sesenta - sixty

setenta - seventy

ochenta - eighty

noventa - ninety

cien - one hundred

Using flashcards to reinforce the learning, the students played the all time favorite, el juego de los matamoscas (the fly swatter game) followed with a brief Bingo game. What fun they had as they heard the number and looked to match the verbal with the symbol!

To connect with their recent “shape hunt” during their math class experience, in Spanish class the first graders learned the Spanish vocabulary for some basic geometric shapes.

Vocabulary:

círculo - circle

óvalo - oval

triángulo - triangle

rectángulo - rectangle

 cuadrado - square

 rombo - rhombus

 estrella - star

 corazón - heart

Once again, the students got the chance to play with the swatters but, instead of using the standard sized swatters they got the chance to use the extra large, and extra fun, BIG swatters.

To add fun to the mix, a game of “Shape and Color” Bingo was played. This Bingo game enabled the students to practice recognizing not only shapes but colors too. 

There is an enormous amount of satisfaction that comes with yelling (or silently demonstrating) the word, “BINGO!” and every student got the opportunity to do just that. ¡Divertido!  

Movie Night is this Friday!

AFS Lower School Book Club

The Lower School Book Club for adults was cancelled due to weather, but we have a plan in place! We will discuss both books at our next meeting on February 23 at 8:00 a.m. in the Lower School library. We will spend the first 20 minutes on The Visionist and then move to the current book In the Unlikely Event. It will be interesting to discuss them together. We hope to see you all then!

Conversation will be lively and engaging as we discuss The Visionist and In the Unlikely Event and enjoy a light breakfast.

The list below includes the two books discussed in the fall and the rest of the books to be discussed this year. Feel free to join us for any of the book discussions that fit your schedule.

A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler Tuesday October 20 at 8:00 (short listed for the 2015 Mann Booker prize)

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel -Winner of the Arthur C. Clarke Award, Finalist for the 2014 National Book Award and the Pen/Faulkner Award. Tuesday December 1, 2015

The Visionist by Rachel Urquhart Tuesday January 26, 2016

In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume Tuesday February 23, 2016

10:04 by Ben Lerner  March 22, 2016 Tuesday March 22, 2016

Language Arts by Stephanie Kallos Tuesday April 26, 2016

Skyscraping A Novel by Cordelia Jensen Tuesday May 24, 2016 (the author will be attending)

First Grade Visits Robotics Class

Kathy and Caroline's first grade had the opportunity to visit the US robotics class and loved what they saw! The US students explained how they built their robots and programed them. We even got to see the programs on the computer screens and ask questions. Then we saw the robots in action. The robots were being programmed to complete four missions, one in each corner of the arena. We especially loved the rescue of the miniature person, even when the attempt failed and the little character was run over!

There is lots of tweaking that happens and each mission undergoes many adjustments as you can see in the short video clips. We were delighted to have this chance to meet with the class in anticipation of our upcoming collaboration with them and the other first grade as they launch into an animal robotic unit. The first graders will help brainstorm ideas about animals, behaviors and habitats. Then, we are hoping that in small groups, actual habitats will be designed for each robotic animal. It sounds incredible! We'll keep you posted!

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Ned Hector Revolutionary War Hero and Time Traveler Surprises 4th Grade

Fourth grade had an unexpected visit last week from Ned Hector, an African American soldier who fought in the Revolutionary War. The students learned of the Battle of Brandywine and the important role Hector played in that battle. Ned Hector's job when he was not a soldier was that of a wagoneer. He sold his services to local people to transport their goods and represent their best interests selling their merchandise in nearby towns and cities.

Noah Lewis, the man portraying Ned Hector, shared stories about life in the 18th century and brought the time period alive for the students. They participated in several re-enactment situations.  From selling goods and services, to working as a group, to learning the importance of team work and good directions, students discovered the range of skillful leadership necessary when under siege in battle. In 1775 about 20% of the American colonial population was black, yet only 5% of the Continental Army were African Americans. Noah talked to the students about the role that Black people played in the Revolutionary War and the importance of knowing that African American history and American history is one in the same.

Sharing Stories

Talking to the Commanding Officer

 Working as a team to load a cannon

Showing respect for a fallen soldier

Kindergarten Visits the Arden Theatre

"This is the bestest field trip ever!" exclaimed an excited kindergarten student as we left the F. Otto Haas Stage at the Arden Theatre to see the play Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates. 

The kindergarten classes have been writing their own classroom plays and realized they needed more information about how a play works so what better way to investigate then to go and see a play!                                                                  
Our kindergarten plays have been focused on the topic of "inner light" that we have also been looking at school-wide. By chance, the play Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates also explored that topic as several characters in the play dealt with unkindness and exclusion. Please be sure to ask your child about the characters whose "inner lights" were definitely shining as they extended help, hope and love to those who needed it most in the story. While there were some definite serious and sad moments, the play was also well-balanced with humor and fun. The skating races were amazing and the slow-motion scene was hilarious. The children were very curious about how the actors "skated" on the ice and were eager to feel the stage to see how it worked. Actually special slipper socks and smooth paint helped the skaters "move" along the ice! The children learned more about the skills of the actors at an end of the show question and answer session with the cast.

Our kindergarten children were an appreciative audience and were attentive and engaged during this interactive play. The story certainly held their attention, and we believe the budding thespians also gained valuable insight about acting, voice projection, how to use props and different ways to change scenery- all skills they will be practicing as they rehearse for next week's kindergarten "inner light" play performances at 8:30 am in the Muller Auditorium. We look forward to seeing you there!

                                          

Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates was a first play for many of the kindergarten children and they were eager to return to the Arden Theatre. Please click on the link below if you would like to view more opportunities for your family to experience live play productions in an intimate and kid-friendly atmosphere at the Arden:

http://www.ardentheatre.org/

4th Grade Colonial Trade Signs

In preparation for the annual fourth grade colonial trade fair, the fourth graders have begun creating their own signs to advertise their trades. The fourth grade artists began by looking at images of traditional colonial trade signs. They observed that many of the signs relied heavily on imagery to communicate information. After some discussion, the students concluded that the images must have been important because many people at the time did not know how to read.

With this important information in mind, they began their projects by drawing a design on paper. Equipped with knowledge about their trades from their classroom research, the fourth grade artists decided how to visually communicate their trade.

After finalizing their drawings, the students traced their outline shapes on pine wood and cut them out using a coping saw. The fourth graders were able to build on the sawing skills that they have developed in woodworking projects using the straight saw and the coping saw in previous grades. and are now nearly experts!


Once their sawing was complete, they transferred their drawings onto their wood pieces and began to draw and paint the signs to finish them. To see the final results come check them out at the Colonial Trade Fair!