This week is UES Spirit Week! 
Today, students dressed and/or acted like someone who inspires them. This provided our class with a wonderful opportunity to explore the meaning of the word inspire, as well as a variety of well-known and inspiring figures such as scientist Marie Curie, runner Wilma Rudolph, the Wright Brothers and President Washington among others we learned about through literacy this morning. Also, talk with  your child about who inspires them, and why. We did a bit of writing on this topic today... 


Tomorrow, Wednesday is Mismatch Day
Thursday is Crazy Hair Day
Friday is Stripes vs. Polka Dots 
(wear one or the other but not both. We will see which is more popular at the assembly)

Delightful Dandelions

Monday's 4Winds lesson helped students learn many interesting facts about the common dandelion. Such as, did you know the dandelion actually has up to 300 individual flowers that make up it's blossom? 
Most importantly, students learned about the parts and characteristics of a dandelion that help it survive in Vermont. Ask your child about the dandelion leaves, its taste, how its seeds travel and root system. They're a tough plant, as those of us who keep and mow a lawn know! 

Seed Survival, Plant Parts Experiments Update

My, my all that students have been learning about seed parts. and how those parts help a seed survive and grow into a plant really is true! Here's an update on the latest plant science experiments happening in room 6: 



Our celery stalks did their job - the stems brought the colored water to the leaves and we witnessed the leaved turn either, red, blue or green

The sunflower seeds planted in the egg shells have germinated, and are beginning to sprout. Students have noticed new cracks in the bottom of the shells. We're wondering if the roots of the plant will be strong enough to crack through the shell?

The sunflower seeds planted in the soil cups have germinated, and are beginning to shed their seed coats














 The sunflower seeds planted in just water and a paper towel have grown roots and the seeds coats are just beginning to crack. Why do you think they are further behind the germination process than the other seeds?

Suffix

Students are learning more about word meaning, and how the meaning of a word can change when a consonant suffix (-s) is added or vowel consonant suffix is added (-es). Students are also learning the rules of spelling words with suffix, and when to use -s or -es. The suffix rule is: use -es at the end of a word when the word ends in ch, sh, x, s, or z. For example: watch - watches, dish - dishes, mix - mixes. We played a fun guessing game today where children needed to choose which suffix to add at the end of a word... we used reporter's notebooks to write our guesses, which was especially important since what the word looks like helps students remember the suffix rule! 

Planting Time!

Students have enjoyed learning a fun song by The Banana Slug Band, called Plants Have Six Parts (google it and enjoy singing it together at home!) to help them identify and label the parts of plants. Also, a group sorting activity helped students learn which parts of plants people eat, some were tricky like tomatoes - fruit or vegetable and do you eat the seeds?



Today, I introduced the class to a new service learning project. We will be planting a sunflower garden as part of the Harrison Field UES gardens - our garden will grow Mammoth Sunflowers. The best part of the project, students agreed, is the new Kindergarten class will visit the garden several times in the fall, and collect the flower heads for their first science unit on sunflowers. Students are very excited to give back, since they remember what it was like being a kindergartner and how much fun it was to collect and study the sunflower seeds! 


Students also became teachers today - 
running three science centers. 
1. Planting sunflower seeds in soil. 
2. Planting sunflower seeds in goose/chicken eggshells as an experiment to test the strength of plants' roots - will the roots crack the shells open? 
3. Planting sunflower seeds in a clear jar with only a wet paper towel - will they grow and will we be able to see the roots?

Grade One Independent Projects

We all enjoy the opportunity to learn what we are most interested in. This Friday marked the launch of Independent Learning Projects for students in our class. Based on what your child shared s/he was most interested in learning about for the remainder of the school year (yep, remember this discussion from waaaay back in March during our conference?) I have been able to rally up a variety of volunteers, community  members and resources to engage each child in his/her own independent learning project. Student interests range from robotics and legos to art and frogs. Please chat with your child about their area of interest and how they are going about learning more. We will continue to develop outcomes for this learning as students explore their subject area... enjoy! 

Learning about varieties, behaviors and unique dogs

Learning about interesting places in the world - Indonesia and the Kumodo Dragon

Checking in on the Tadpoles and doing Frog research

Art

Lego Robotics Teams

Our next Nature Adventure/ECO outing is coming

right up on MONDAY, May 14th.

We will be travelling along the waterways in our community to learn where our local rivers go for a whole day learning experience. (9:00-12:40) We will be spending most of the day outside Please make sure your child is prepared for the outdoors with the following:

· Sturdy Shoes- no flip flops

· Layers of clothing · A sun hat/sunscreen · Lunch

· Water bottle

We will be bringing backpacks with lunches from home (unless we hear you would like us to order a school lunch- let us know ASAP) Chaperones are welcome for the whole day, or even a portion. Please let us know if you

are planning to join us for this adventure. We will be in a variety of locations through town between the rotary on Spring Street and the Rt. 2 footbridge, with a variety of stops along the way for some mapping and science activities. Lunch will be on the Statehouse lawn.

Ways to help:

Walk with class Lead a small group (bring or send your child in with a pedometer) Be a lunch angel Bring extra water Contact a downtown business owner who has been affected by the river - floods, Irene, etc. - who would be willing to share their experience with our class on this outing

Thanks for all you do to support this outdoor learning experience.