Thursday, May 19th:
Biography Bottle Project:Donations Needed (see details below)
Friday, May 20th: NO SCHOOL for students
Teacher grading day
Monday, May 30th: NO SCHOOL Memorial Day
Friday, June 3rd:
Links to music/videos for student talent show due to Karen Torry (see details below)
2021-22 School Year Calendar
Level 2 Student Talent Show Out & About
At level 2, our kiddos will have the opportunity to share a talent at our small Talent Show Out & About on Wednesday, June 8th.
Because this is a much smaller event (and because many of our students have expressed an interest in not having a large audience) this year it will be a student-only event (no family/caregivers). We appreciate your understanding and will look forward to getting our entire community back together for the FGCS talent show next year!
If your kiddo would like to participate, please support them at home as they practice. NOTE: Links to music or videos needed to accompany performances must be provided to Karen Torry by 3 p.m. Friday, June 3rd. [email protected]
Biography Bottle Project : Donations Needed by Thursday May 19th
Our Level 2 kiddos are working diligently to read, research and write about an important change maker for our biography unit. To bring our project to life, we are excited about our Biography Bottle Project. A biography bottle is a recycled bottle made to look like a historical figure, past or present, who made an important contribution to our world. We will be making our biography bottles the end of May. To make this happen, we need your help!
Bottles: Please take a look in your recycle bin and find a bottle (2 liter works best) to send in with your child. If you have extras, please send them in! Please empty, wash and remove labels/stickers. Thank you!
Other donations we need: fabric, felt, yarn, buttons, and mini hot-glue sticks
Daily class snack for recess
A BIG Thank you to all of our amazing families who provide daily snacks for the class. Your support is amazing!!
There are many kids who need a healthy snack each day at second recess, and our classroom supply is again running out.
If you are able, please consider donating a box of individually wrapped snacks to the Puffin nest.
What works best? Granola bars or fruit leather make great individually wrapped snacks.
Just send your class donation in with your kiddo. Our Puffins thank you!!
A message from Art Teacher Stephanie:
Yearbook is on sale now for $20.
To purchase a yearbook please go to www.treering.com/validate and enter the number 1016052158063632. Students are now creating the cover of the yearbook. A yearbook is a great way to remember their time this year. If you have any questions please email Stephanie at [email protected]. Thanks for all your support!
What’s happening in the Puffin Nest?
Our current science weather unit: Stormy Skies
This week in science began as we 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. Your child learned how there are five basic climate zones: polar, temperate, mild, desert, and tropical. You can continue to support your child’s curiosity by talking about a friend or family member who lives in a different climate, and discussing how that climate affects their life. Or look for aspects of our local environment which show what kind of climate we live in.
Next, we solved the Mystery, “How can you protect a house from blowing away in a windstorm?” Students invented creative ways to protect their paper houses from the wind.
You can encourage your child to make personal connections at home! Discuss any wind-related hazards that may happen near where you live: Are there any tornadoes, hurricanes, or dust storms? How do people prepare for them?
Out & About
This week during our O&A, we extended our learning of weather and storms with an engineering challenge in the garden. Students were challenged to build a house out of natural materials that can withstand "rain, wind and a flood" in the form of a watering can, fan, and the rush of water from a garden hose. Students had to make sure that the house they built was at least 6 inches tall, had one doorway and a window, and could house a small figurine inside. Students were encouraged to use strategies from past engineering challenges, and their prior knowledge of severe weather to build the most sturdy, functional home.
Change Makers Biography Unit
Who are change makers and why are they important? Change makers have the courage to see and do things differently. Change makers are inquisitive, open-minded, creative, determined, and resourceful. They inspire us by demonstrating how anyone, young or old, can overcome obstacles and make a difference in the world.
Students begin their informational writing journey by choosing an inspirational change maker to learn about. As they read a biography about this person, they will be locating information in the text and taking notes to use in their own informational writing. As they research, they will focus on:
- Childhood: It is important for students to think about how this person's life began, as well as make connections about this person's childhood and their own.
- Overcoming Obstacles: Every great success comes from some sort of preceding failures. Students will write about some of the obstacles this person faced (big and small) and how they worked through those struggles.
- Amazing Accomplishments: Students will write about the major accomplishments this person contributed to our world.
Read Aloud
Our storytelling adventure continues with our current read-aloud:
The Wanderer by Sharon Creech
The Wanderer combines storytelling, adventure, family relationships, and compelling characterization to tell a tale of a difficult journey to another land and to a sense of self-awareness.
A Reminder about Level 2 Homework:
In Level 2, our homework is on the honor system. We ask families to develop and sustain this important practice at home in a way that works best for you. Having a regular routine (time/place/materials) will ensure that your child will be prepared to tackle their required homework in Level 3 more easily.
Math: at least 30 minutes (or more) of math practice each week.
Practicing multiplication math facts at home is a GREAT way to support your kiddo!
- 3rd graders should work on: 2's, 3's, 4's, 5's and 6's
- 4th graders should work on all multiplication facts for 2-12's.
We also recommend that students engage in 10-15 minutes of a math activity (math website or game) and then complete one page in their math workbook at least 2 days per week.
All level 2 kiddos brought home a math workbook (or packet) for homework practice in November. Let us know if they are ready for a new book!
For computer practice, take a moment to set up a free account for your child:
- Khan Academy: instructional videos and problem solving practice
- Prodigy: answer math questions, complete quests, earn rewards
- SumDog: solve math problems while playing video games
- Math Game Time: no account set-up required, select grade level & play!
- The public library is a great resource. Make sure your kiddo has access to lots of “good fit” books that they are excited to read. Check out our Level 2 Book Recommendations HERE.
- Read-alouds and audio books work too! Also, listen to your child read out loud, and ask them questions about their reading & thinking.