Our Backyard Building Begins

On Friday, students joined groups and started off on the building phase of our backyard project.  So far we have decided that we will have a pond, garden, shaded area, stage, cafe, a new gate, and all while using energy efficient technologies!  We also have a group of general contractors to keep the project focused and moving forward on time. As you can see from the photos, the students worked very hard on Friday and will continue doing so for several more weeks until the final product is complete.  Also, in other class work this week students will continue working with Junior Achievement learning about our global economy.  We will also be giving presentations about vermicomposting and worm biology.   One final note, we are having our field trip this Wednesday and could still use some parent drivers.  If you can drive, please scroll down and click the link to sign-up in my previous post.  Thanks

Field Trip Postponed Until Nov. 2

Hello Families,

For many reasons, the students decided yesterday afternoon to postpone our Museum of Man and Japanese Friendship Garden Fieldtrip until next Wednesday Nov. 2.  Some of the reasons included that many students had not paid, we were short on drivers, and I would not be able to go with them, as I have just had stitches in my foot.  For all parents who offered to drive, thank you.  We are still looking for drivers for next weeks field trip, so please sign back up if you can.The times of departure and arrival back remain the same.

Student Led Conferences This Week

Hello Families,

Just a quick reminder that student led conferences are this week.  If you have not yet signed up for a time, please stop by Michael's room today and fill out the sign up sheet.  Since we will be having conferences this week, school will end at 12:00pm on Wednesday Oct. 12, Thursday Oct.20, and Friday Oct. 21.

Student Led Conferences are an amazing event.  When you arrive for your conference your student will begin taking you around and showing your their work.  You will then find a comfortable place to sit and work on goal setting with your child.  For the last part, Michael and I join in the hear about your student's goal, answer questions, and provide feedback.  Student Led Conferences start every 10 minutes, but will last around 25-30 minutes.  Having parents and students walk through various steps and stations allows for the overlap.  This makes it of the utmost importance to be on time.  Thank you in advance for you help with this.

 Today, and for the next 6 Mondays, we will be joined in the afternoon by guest speakers from junior achievement.  They will be doing some lessons with the kids about domestic and international trade.  Stay tuned for more on these lessons.  Also, this week in class, groups will finish up working on their presentations, 3-D models, and advertising campaign for the backyard.  They will be presenting their work on Thursday and Friday of this week.   I can't wait to see it!

Field Trip on October 26

Hello Families,

On October 26 we are taking our first field trip.  The field trip will be $5.  Please have your student bring the $5 as soon as possible.  We are going to The Museum of Man and The Japanese Friendship Garden.  We are leaving around 9:15am, and will do a self guided tour through the Museum of Man at 10:00am.  We will then have lunch and walk through the Japanese Friendship Garden.  We will leave Balboa park around 2:15pm, returning to school by 3:00pm. 

If you can drive for this field trip, please fill out the form in the link below.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AqaZpuzWQjxDdGZTMHN1TzVOZ3d5cG8zMzN1UHFWdnc&hl=en_US

Our Project is Underway

Hello All,

Last week was amazing.  We began full stream ahead on our Garden Project.  Students worked individually to create 2-D architectural plans for our backyard space.  Then they wrote a persuasive essay explaining why their plans are the best use of our school's space.  We also learned about all types of angles and the proper use of a protractor.

This week, students will begin joining groups and making 3-D plans and a presentation to the class.  I can't wait to see their ideas in action.

Earth Science and The Cycles

I am so excited about our upcoming week.  Last week we entered into the beginning phase of our outdoor project.  The essential question for part one of this project is, "How can we use the land behind our classrooms as effectively as possible."  Students will be grappling with this question while they begin planning and designing an outdoor space.  The students have been learning all about area, perimeter, and architectural scale, all of which they will be using when sketching out their 2-D design plans.

In addition to all of the math elements in this project, we began on Friday discussing the energy, water, carbon, and nitrogen cycles.  Students are evaluating what to put in the outdoor space through a lens of sustainment and maintenance.  Their are already some amazing ideas on how to use the earth's natural cycles to maintain our land!

On a different note, I am looking for volunteer parents who would be willing to come in to help put together some new chairs.  I have 9 new chairs for our students, but they are currently in boxes awaiting a handy volunteer to assemble.  If you would be able to help, simply drop by the room whenever is convenient.

Also, thank you so very much to the parents who donated the book, "The Number Devil".  We had a very generous large donation, and I am now set for books!