December 19th-January 2nd- Winter break: NO SCHOOL
Class Business: Puffins will be selling terrariums over the break
Happy Holidays Everyone!
Tuesday, January 3rd- 1st day of school after winter break
Welcome Back!
Wednesday, January 4th- Puffin Class Business ORDERS DUE
Class Business Donations
Do you have an old glass container you want to donate? We will take it!
Terrarium Treasures: Students are encouraged to go on nature walks, hunting for miniature treasures for our class business. Ideas: special rocks, crystals, unique twigs, and beach glass.
Level 2 Weekly homework
1. Typing Homework: This year, Level 2 students will have typing homework to develop and support important keyboarding skills.
Please practice at least 20 minutes per week on: Typing.com
2. Reading: Spend at least 20 minutes reading (outside of school) every day.
When you finish a book, add it to your Tower of Books!
3. Math homework: Students should log on to either Dream Box or Khan Academy (see below) and complete 30 minutes (minimum) of math practice.
Current 4th grade math topics:
- Multiply 1 digit by 2 digits and Multiply 2 digits by 2 digits using an area model
- Divide 1 digit by 2 and 3 digits using an area model
- Justify your answer! Students are working on explaining their thinking outloud and in writing.
All 4th grade math students should be practicing their multiples DAILY (They know how to do this- ask your kiddo to show you!)
Third Grade Math Parent Info
Last week, the third graders began a new math unit on geometry, perimeter and area. Below you can find 2 handouts with more information on benchmarks for these new topics and ways to practice at home.
Family Letter
Activities To Try At Home
HOUR OF CODE
In December, level 2 students had the opportunity to participate in the "Hour of Code" which is a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify "code", to show that anybody can learn the basics, and to broaden participation in the field of computer science.
They can continue to explore at home! Visit: Code.org
Stephanie's News From Art Room
Students will be creating holiday cards in art class to accompany donations to the Forest Grove Senior Center. You can find a list of needed items and donate a gift at Bi-Mart. There will be a holiday gift wrapping party on December 19th from 9am - 10:30am. They would like volunteers to come wrap the gifts they collect. If you have any questions about ways to volunteer in this project or with seniors, you can contact Joni at 503-530-1527. Annually they collect collect 500 gifts for seniors in need, that is a lot of wrapping!
What's Happening in the Puffin Nest?
Toy Take-Apart Day
On Wednesday, level 2 students continued their study of electricity with a "Toy Take Apart" day! Students worked with partners to open up and learn about the "guts" of their toys.
Students discussed why they were doing this, and came up with the following reasons:
- We want to learn how circuits work inside toys
- We want to see how designers and inventors put things together
- We want to find out what controls the sound, light and motion
Before dismantling the toys and electronic devices, students drew a diagram, labeling what they could observe from the outside, and making predictions about what was inside. Next, they began carefully removing parts so that they could see the circuits in action. Students added their findings to their diagrams. Finally, they all worked together to sort the parts into re-use and recycle bins. A big thank you to Marcus Roberts (Gizmotics Guru) for his help and expertise with this fun project!
Class Business Sales Pitch
Also this week, students constructed a sales pitch to use when selling terrariums over winter break. Please ask your kiddo to pratice their pitch with you. Give them feedback!
Students used this template to create their pitch:
Remember: Smile! Be friendly & enthusiastic! Ask, “Can I tell you a story?”
1) Who (Tell who we are with the PIXAR story introduction formula…)
Once upon a time....
Every day, we...
One day, we...
Because of that, we...
Until finally...
2) What: Describe what the business offers (show and describe pictures and prices)
3) Why: Describe why our business is special, what makes it sustainable and unique
4) When & Where:
Terrarium pick up is at Celebrations of Learning on Feb. 15th, 5-6:30pm
NOTE: delivery involves parents and a $1.00 fee
5) Call to Action! Tell what you want & Ask a Question
Example: I hope you will consider supporting our class business!
Example: Is there a place in your home that could be brightened by a terrarium?
Example: Are you a Leafy Landscape or Faux Foliage person?
Check out our student blog to discover more about the work students are doing to support their class business!
With the help of a special guest business consultant, the puffins develped the following buisness model...
Value proposition:
Our passion, what we want to do, and WHY we do it
Handmade by students- unique-crafted with care & love
Environmentally friendly
Reused materials- good for the planet (less trash)
Money raised supports the school
Brings the beauty of nature to your home
Customers:
Who are they? (We will be thinking about what they want and need.)
Parents (Friends, Co-workers)
Teachers
Relatives (Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents)
Neighbors
Relationships:
Make it personal & emotional, a story that captures the heart of our customer
How are we going to connect with our customers during our sales pitch?
Pictures on the order form showing the product
Personal presence & eye contact
Be calm, talk slowly & clearly
Be enthusiastic & be passionate about what we are doing
Be nice and make a connection with our customers
Channel:
How will we physically get the product to the customer?
Pick-up @ Celebrations of Learning
Delivery (charge a fee)
Design Team to create easy, cost effective, environmentally friendly packaging
Activities:
What are we going to DO in the business? What actions/ steps make it happen?
Research the materials, design, and assembly of decorative terrariums
Get re-use containers, decorations and substrate materials
Make prototypes for two categories: live plant & faux plant
Create an order form & sales pitch. Use the pitch and work to sell the product
Count sales and plan production
Gather materials needed to fill orders & assemble the product
Research plant care and create a plant care booklet to go with the product
Create sign and display for "Celebrations of Learning" pick-up event
Decide on a responsible way to spend the profits
Resources:
What do we need to put it together?
Re-used containers: jars, old lamp covers, donated glass
Substrate materials: rocks, gravel, pebbles, sand, soil
Decorative items: crystals, stones, twigs, moss, figurines
Plants: air, succulents, felt
Packaging materials: re-used cardboard, paper
Buisness partners:
Community parnters, contacts, helpers- who will we connect with in the outside world to help us?
ReBuilding Center- containers
SCRAP- decorations
Local Nursery- plants
State Forest to gather materials
Parents (possible delivery channel)
Business Consultant
Cost:
Outgoing money we spend on materials
Revenue:
Incoming money that we get from customers
Read Aloud: Up Next...
In January, we will explore a new genre: Science Fiction!