Tuesday August 22 updates

Hi All,
Sorry for the lack of pictures yesterday. We had a computer glitch. We are back on line with pictures from yesterday as well as today to share. In Literature we are reading Hans Christian Anderson, in Social Studies we are learning about India, and in Science we are working with Microscopes. We are also working on persuasive speeches and concrete poetry this week. Don't forget to write something everyday in your thinking log. I will collect those on Fridays.

Here we are in our science centers.

Amy and Maddie look at different fabric samples. Some fabric samples looked like waffles!

Students diligently work in their learning centers.

Clay examines his fingerprints and compares them to the common features of fingerprints.

Jake and Rachel also examine their fingerprints.

Raina checks out her fabric sample.

Rachell makes a magnifying glass out of a water drop.

Excited about microscopes!

Rachell, Cody, and Ilia look at all the dots on a magazine picture. It looks white to us but upon closer examination it is blue and green!!!

Joon gets messy with science.

Caleb and Crosby try to focus the microscope using the coarse focus knob and fine focus knob.

An 8th grade math lesson with Uncle Tom.

TODAY!


We gathered samples to explore under the microscope.
This is a sand sample from micro beach.

Labeled and packaged up.

Sugar Dock Beach

PIC beach

Tank Beach

Hunter collecting pond samples at the Lamar residence.

Sample source.

We were even lucky enough to find mosquito larva in the red bucket. We can't wait to look at all of these things under the microscope.

Homework August 21

6-7-8 Math Worksheet

Homework August 20

6-7-8 math worksheets
6-7-8 Social Study review questions

Exploring lenses and Reading, Running, and writing

How does a drop of water magnify things?

Yes Joon, the dome shape does bend the light!

We experimented with water drops on newsprint. We used wax paper as our barrier so that the newspaper wouldn't get ruined.

The larger the drop and less dome shaped the less the magnification. The higher the dome the more the print was magnified.

Reading Running and Writing!!

First Auntie Brenda read us a short story while we stretched.

Then we ran, jogged, or walked for 20 minutes while we pondered the meaning of the short stories.

After we finished running we recorded how many laps we each individually did, what we considered about our story, and how the general running went. We were excited to drip sweat in our running journals!!! :)

The outcome of this writing exercise was awesome!

Have a GREAT night and don't forget to write in your thinking journal every day Monday-Friday. You can write about absolutely anything...just write something!

Homework for 8-16-07

1) Maps of India. Students will need resource material for this. They can use internet, the library, an atlas, or reference books that are in our classroom before or after school in order to complete this assignment.
2) Math homework for 8th graders

Just for Fun: Two Moons August 27

I received this in my mailbox this morning and thought this was interesting. Have any of you heard about this?

*************************************************************************

Mark your calendar!

Two moons on 27th August 2007*; the day the Whole World is waiting for.
Planet Mars will be the brightest in the night sky starting August.
It will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. This will
cultivate on Aug. 27 when Mars comes within 34.65 Million miles of
earth.

Be sure to watch the sky on Aug. 27 12:30 am. It will look like the
earth has 2 moons.

The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287. NO ONE ALIVE TODAY will ever see it
again.

First Day of School!

Making banana pancakes on the first day of school is a WPS tradition! Unfortunately due to a misunderstanding we did not get every child through the cooking station. But while some were busy making pancakes the others were working on team building.

making banana pancakes with Uncle Tom
Clay, Hunter and Crosby build a "helicopter."

Joon, Ilia, and Min Joo make a "helicopter."

Rachell, Marin, and Raina make a "clock."

Caleb and Jake make a "computer."

Caleb, Ilia, and Clay make their "masks."

The students show off their "masks."

Eating banana pancakes, spam, and eggs.

Raina and Jake serve themselves up breakfast.

The great "sing down."

"The Sing Down."

Team building through the "Sing Down."

Make sure to fill out all of your forms and get those school supplies. We are off to a great start! We have good teamwork and positive attitudes! We are ready to learn!!!

Welcome to School Year 2007-2008!

Tomorrow is the big day and I can't wait to see each one of you again!

Here is a list of school supplies:
3- Composition notebooks (journals)
5-Single subject Notebooks (college rule)
5-double pocket folders (they were called PeeChees back in the day)
1 box- #2 pencils
1 box- black ball point pens
1- black fine tiopped sharpie pen
1-red pen
1-pair of scissors
1- protractor
1-scientific calculator
1-CD-RW
Erasers
1-August to August Calandar for homework and organizational skills.

School begins at 8AM.
We will have PE so wear something you can move around in!
See you tomorrow!!!

Write to Zoe!!

Auntie Brenda and all the students and staff,
how are you? I am fine.
I really miss you and I want to come back. Anybody reading this blog, email me. Im lonely. My email is chickamafricka@yahoo.com

Zoe

Going to miss you!

I am going to miss all of you!!!!! Have A safe and fun summer!

Auntie,
Brenda