Tippy- tap! Today we ended our water project we have been engaged in all year throughout all our academic areas! We decided we wanted to create our very own method of washing our hands and conserving water as we have learned people from other countries have to do on a daily basis. While we had a lot of fun creating 2D sketches and bringing our sketch to life building one on our own... With help from Mrs. Ferrell, we discussed how this is a way of life for children and families in areas of Africa and India. The class exclaimed how lucky they are to have sinks and running water anytime they need it!

We concluded our learning singing songs about handwashing and reviewing some facts about conserving water.

To read more at home check out these websites:

http://www.tippytap.org
http://water.org/

This week we have been learning that stories are like fortune cookies. When you open up a story, you find there’s a little life lesson inside! We discussed how stories are like adventures… they are the MOST special, the MOST memorable adventures you have in real life. It makes sense when a story is over, to think about the life lesson, putting in your pocket. We have been doing just that with our partners! We talked about the following books and MORE! 

This week in science we explored the mystery, “Where do clouds come from?” Your child observed important clues, such as the fact that water changes from a liquid to a gas (even without boiling!). In this Mystery, students examined clues about how clouds look and feel to discover what they’re made of and how they form. In the activity, students observed what happens when water changes from liquid to gas. They 

They also explored the mystery, “How can you predict when it’s going to storm?” In this Mystery, students learned how to make predictions about the weather by observing clouds and their changes. In the activity, students created a small book to record their notes and use it to practice storm prediction. We learned about differences between fair weather clouds and storm clouds, and the role of wind direction in determining whether a rain cloud will pass overhead.

You can continue to support your child’s curiosity by looking at clouds together and asking, “What kind of clouds do you think those are?  I wonder if it will rain…”  Ask your child if they’d like to show you their Storm Spotter’s Guide, a small book they made to help them remember how to use the clouds to predict the weather.

This past Saturday evening I was able to share a very special moment with one of our students and her family. In April, a classroom parent came to me with a special opportunity for our students... to enter their writing pieces to ASAP in Washington, CT... a non-profit organization dedicated to providing young people with opportunities to create beautiful and meaningful works of art in a creative and collaborative environment. As mentioned in Mrs. Keilty's E-blast and prior Blog posts... one of our students was chosen. Francesca!
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As I celebrated the talented Young Writers of 2016,  I was able to experience the readings of exceptional poetry and prose from students as young as Francesca- to young adults! The night concluded with the honoree Ellen McCourt presenting the Frank McCourt Prize for Excellence in Teaching to an outstanding teacher. It was a very special evening!