2^nd, 3^rd, & 5^th Grade Experiments for May “in summary:”

5-16-12 (NOT 5-9-12) W, 1:00-2:00, 3^rd Grade, Solar Systems:

Students learned about our solar system.  Did you know it has no name?  We live in a nameless solar system in a spiral arm of the Milky Way Galaxy.  Concepts of size and unique features of the eight planets were examined.  Students created a scale model of the solar system placing planets along a path from the sun.  It’s amazing how far apart the planets really are and how different they are in size and characteristics.  A smaller model of our solar system was also created noting elliptical orbits. On August 24, 2006, Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet, or planetoid.  Out of the three criteria for being classified as a planet, Pluto only met one.  Pluto does rotate on a fixed axis, but it does not have a hard rigid surface (it is smooth and cloudy), and it does not clear its surroundings (it is among a lot of other large bodies).

5-16-12 W (Coduto, 2B) & 5-18-12 F (Bradburn, 2A), 1:00-2:00, 2^nd grade, Microscopes:

Students learned about microscopes and were given the opportunity to use three different types.  The first was the common “simple microscope,” a magnifying lens that orientates objects right side up and larger.  The second two were “compound microscopes” that provide greater magnification, but turn objects upside down and backwards.  The two used were 30X Hand-Held Microscopes, and the Boreal Light Microscope.  Various objects were looked at with the hand-held microscope including textiles (fabrics), rocks & minerals, photos, and various objects in real life.  Through the Light-Microscope, they viewed plant cells, animal cells, insects, sea life, textiles, pollens and pores, tiny creatures, and bacteria.

5-17-12 Th, 12:00-2:00, 5^th Grade, Sound:

Students learned about sound.  The general concept is that sound travels via a wave.  It is the “energy” from a vibrating object that travels through a wave (analogous to water waves) creating a sound wave that is received by our ears. Sound waves need a medium to travel through (solid, liquid, or gas) as the energy is transferred from one particle to another.  This is why we cannot hear sound in space:  there are no molecules to transfer the energy of the vibration. Various stations were set up to observe sound.  Slinky sound waves were produced and compared to concentric waves in water.  The concept of pitch was observed by making sounds with nails and tubes, and rubber bands.  Sounds were conducted through various mediums of solids, liquids, and gas where it was observed that each produced a unique type of sound.  Paper towel tubes were used to focus and amplify sounds in the same way a stethoscope does.  Origination of sounds was observed by observing the ears and brain in action and then by tricking it.  Our brains can discern where a sound comes from because it compares arrival times of the sound at each ear.  Using a tube over one ear can trick the brain into thinking the sound came from somewhere else.  Pressing a string against the outer ear to which various sized spoons and a clothes hangar can be tied showed students how to create a different types of chime…  some with higher pitches (spoons) and some with lower pitches (hangar).

THANK YOU!  Volunteers make this program great!!!

Questions? Please e-mail Meredith at lisleburkes@comcast.net, or call 853-4831.

We are coming closer to the end of the year. It seems to be coming all too fast for me!

Last week in Religion, we thought about the things God commands of us. Even though the children cannot say the Ten Commandments verbatim in order, they are well aware of the things they tell us we must do to remain close to God. The children also know that Jesus commands us to love one another.

I math, we have been doing some reviewing and finishing up some last few concepts.

I will have the portal remain open all summer. I will be working on it and adding some new things. You can use it to help your child review all summer long. Then, your child will be better prepared to return to school in September.

On Wednesday, we will be seeing our buddies to share some time and a treat. You may wish for your child to bring a little gift or homemade card to thank them for helping to care for your child this past year. Our fifth grade buddies are a true blessing to the kindergarten!

High frequency words for this week are how and where.

If your child has not brought back the bag of books or ring words, please have him/her bring these to school as soon as possible.

On Friday, the children will be performing first in the gym and then proceeding to the PAR for refreshments. The children should wear dress up clothing fitting for a tea.  You may wish to send a change of clothing for outdoor play.                                                                                                                                                                                      

Have a wonderful week!

I hope all of you enjoyed the great week-end.

Monday- Gym this morning. The rest of the day is normal.

Tuesday- The Lisle library will be talking to the students about the programs it has during the summer. We also will have Music and MMc this morning.

Wednesday- During Reading the students will be creating commercials in groups. This is a project I do every year. They will practice during class. I will film these next week so the class can see the other students commercials. I save these tapes so they can see them in eighth grade.

Thursday- Gym this morning. There will be no Spelling test this week.

Friday- Mass this morning, then we are having Arts Alive. The class will have an open book Religion quiz.

Wow! This is our last full week of kindergarten! Can you believe how fast it went? Each and every student has shown ENORMOUS growth this year, and I am continually in awe each day.  Thank you for giving me the pleasure of watching your children grow emotionally, socially, and academically.

We have lots going on this week…

Special Events:

Tuesday

• We will attend a presentation given by the Lisle Public Library about their summer reading incentive program.  I hope that each child continues to read throughout the summer and this is a great way to continue building their interest and motivation in reading.
• We will visit the first grade classrooms in the afternoon.  The current first graders and teachers will give our students a brief overview of what to expect next year.  Each student will have the chance to attend both 1A and 1B.

Wednesday

• We will have ice-cream with our buddies today! Thank you to our parents who volunteered to donate this special treat. This will be our last activity with our buddies this year.  If your child wishes to bring a card or small gift for his/her buddy, this would be a great day to do so.

Friday

• Mother’s Tea Party!!! Please be in the GYM at 8:15.  We will perform our program in the gym and then proceed to the PAR for our cookies/juice.  The children have been practicing so hard, and are excited for their debut! Bring some tissues, it’s a tear-jerker!

In Reading this week, we will be wrapping up some odds and ends.  This is the last week I will meet with all three classes for reading.  I will be incorporating some of the student’s favorite activities from throughout the year.  Keep Reading!!

In Religion, we will be reflecting on and completing our last Diocesan assessment.

Word Wall Words: how, where

These are our last two words for the year! Wow, we’ve learned 80 words!!!

***I will be collecting word rings this week, and keeping them for next year’s students.  Please be sure to send them in. ***

IMPORTANT NOTICE!!!

• I am working on completing our End of the Year K3 DVD.  I will do a showing for the students/families on June 6th first thing in the morning.  More details will follow soon.  I will also be sending home a form this week for you to order your own copy of the DVD.

I hope everyone enjoyed this summer weather this weekend!

Can not believe that this is our last full week in school!

We will be finishing up assessments, putting our ABC books together and visiting with the kindergarten teachers.

The Toads will be attending MASS on Wednesday, May 30th with the 4th graders.
Both the Toads and the Tad Poles last day of school is Friday, June 1st! Both classes will be having their end of the year party on this day.

Have a wonderful week,

Mrs. C

REMINDERS:

• Tuesday: No spelling test – new list will be given
• Thursday: Hot Lunch

 
RELIGION: The students will be working in small groups to create a Christian music video using Windows Movie Maker.

 
READING: The students will be finishing up their book projects and begin presenting them to the class.
Accelerated Reader: Please be sure your child is working toward attaining his/her point goal; he/she must meet or exceed it to receive a passing AR grade for the third trimester. Parents can access their child’s goal at https://hosted268.renlearn.com/177005/HomeConnect.
No Reading Log this week!!

ENGLISH: We will continue on with adverbs. The students will have a quiz on Friday in which they will have to identify adverbs in sentences. Please be sure they review the adverb lists in their English notebook- they should have 3 lists: adverbs that tell how, adverbs that tell when, and adverbs that tell where.
WRITER’S WORKSHOP: In the next two weeks, the students will be learning about different types of poetry. Directions for the poetry unit will be sent home on Monday (parent signature required).

SPELLING: No spelling test or homework. A new spelling list will be given on Tuesday.

We are on the final countdown to our Mothers’ Tea Party. The children have been working hard on the program and look forward to performing for Mom. The children may wear dress up clothing on Friday. Feel free to send a change of clothing as we will still have recess.

The final two high frequency words for the year are: “how” and “where”. This brings the total to 80. I am so pleased at the children’s reading this year!

Thanks to our wonderful PSO for the flowers and breakfast retirement recognition on Friday. St. Joan of Arc is truly a very special school and will always hold a dear place in my heart.

6th grade–we continue work on punctuation.

7th grade–test Monday on capitalization. There will be a few questions on types of sentences.

8th grade–continue with Buddy Books.

Vocab. unit 14 if students would like extra credit.

8th graders must be in school by 6:45 Tuesday for 7:00 field trip departure. We pray for good weather!