Friday, October 4th: NO SCHOOL for students
Professional Development/Grading Day
Wednesday, October 9th All Day O&A to Stub Stewart State Park
10:30-2:30pm
Parent Chaperones are needed!
If you would like to join us, please email Ginny:
[email protected]
Friday, October 11th: NO SCHOOL for students
Statewide Teacher In-service Day
Thursday, October 17th: NO SCHOOL for students
Goal-Setting Student Conferences
Friday, October 18th: NO SCHOOL for students
Goal-Setting Student Conferences
Thursday, November 7th O&A to Washington County Museum. 9am to 11:30am
NOTE: This is a Thursday! (Not our usual O&A day)
Parent Chaperones are needed!
If you would like to join us, please email Ginny:
[email protected]
What’s happening in the Puffin Nest?
This week, we began wrapping up our “Stormy Skies” weather unit. First, we explored the mystery, “Why are some places always hot?” We learned about the idea of ‘climate’--that in every place on earth, the weather tends to act a certain way over the year.
On Wednesday, we walked to Roger’s Park for our O&A. Students rotated through 3 weather related stations. At the first station, students worked together to solve a simple design problem by building a miniature house that could withstand a particular season’s severe weather. Next, they studied climate maps and worked in groups to create a weather report for 4 distinct locations representing different climate zones (polar, temperate, mild and tropical). At the third station, students gathered and recorded local weather data in their science notebooks.
Our outdoor observations and field studies were geared to help students formulate answers to questions such as:
- How can the impact of weather-related hazards be reduced through engineering/design?
- What is typical weather in different parts of the world and during different times of the year?
- How can we organize and use data to describe typical weather conditions expected during a particular season?
What is Storypath?
Storypath is an instructional strategy for developing and organizing social studies units which incorporate math, reading and writing. It uses a narrative structure to give a sense of context and connection to the information that is being taught. Students are engaged with investigations framed as stories in which characters experience certain events and are affected by them.
Our current Storypath: “Early Northwest Coast People”
Students will explore the history of early NW coastal people through the creation of a story that centers around a community living on the Pacific Northwest Coast in the 1800s.
Students have begun their study of the people of the Northwest Coast by creating the setting.
How's your weekly homework routine going?
Level 2 Suggested Weekly Homework:
Reading Homework
Spend at least 20 minutes reading (outside of school) every day.
Reading is on the "honor system" and we ask that you help your kiddo to develop a daily reading routine with good-fit books and a well-lit, comfy reading spot away from distractions. We will talk more about how to encourage and track reading at our "Goal-Setting" conferences in October.
Math homework
It is strongly recommended that your student practice math skills at least 30 minutes (or more) per week.
Ideas for math practice:
- Online Math Game Sites: Khan Academy, ZapZap Math or Prodigy- create your own account!
- Multiplication Facts Practice with a simple dice game. How to Play: Each player takes turns rolling 3 dice. First to break 200 (or 500, etc.) wins. On your turn, you get to choose two dice to add together, then you multiply the sum by the final die. That’s your score for that turn.
- Facts Practice with Free Math Apps: Sushi Monster & Math Hero
- Facts Practice with Purchased Math Apps: Operation Math & Math Vs. Zombies
- Math workbooks: find grade level workbooks at Learning Palace or Amazon