Monday is Earth Day!!

Happy Earth Day everyone!  Hopefully you are able to get out into nature this weekend with your family.  Go on a hike, play some baseball, ride your bikes, visit a Science Museum, chase some butterflies, or just lay out in a field and look at the clouds.  Whatever your family likes to do together to celebrate all there is around us, enjoy it!

We will be focusing our learning goals around this holiday on Monday in the classroom.  We will discuss the origins of Earth Day and why we celebrate it.  We will learn about environmental practices like recycling and composting, things the kids can do themselves to help improve the world around them.  We will make a book and play some games centered around Earth Day.  It is sure to be a lot of fun!!

PROJECT REQUEST!!
As an added bonus, I would like to teach the students a little about the idea of composting.  I am asking for each child to bring in an empty shoe box that we can use to make a "Starter" Compost Bin.  The idea is to learn about composting, collect green and brown matter, then layer them in the shoe box as a starter to then transplant at home into a compost bin you can all do at home.  I have a 3-page handout that will be included with the project to help you all to better assist with the project.  This is an enrichment activity and not required, but I thought it would make for a fun and meaningful project to share with the class.

Thanks again for taking the time to read this message, and I wish you all a Happy Earth Day!!
-Mr. Linnet

Questions Regarding the Extra Assignment...

(Colorful Beetle Assortment)

Hello Families,

A few of you have emailed or talked to me with questions regarding the extra assignment I gave the class on Monday this week about Beetles.  Our Kindergarten class is focusing on Amazing Creatures this week in Language Arts, and our book focus was on Beetles.  Our First Grade Class is working on writing and answering questions this week for Writing.  I thought it would be a fun and creative project to blend the two skills and offer it to the entire class.  After reading the story on Beetles and watching a short video about them, we discussed what we learned, and brainstormed questions about things we wanted to know about beetles.  We looked at where they live around the world, what the largest and smallest types of beetles are, etc.  At the end of the lesson I gave each student a piece of paper and asked them to write their own question about something they would still like to know about these creatures.  Their task was to take the question home and research to find the answer with their family.  I was hoping to have everyone bring it back so we could put them together into a "Beetles: Questions and Answers Book".  That way the students could check it out and see what they were able to come up with on their own.  I got about 7 back today, so obviously the students didn't quite get it.  Hopefully you can help them out tonight or tomorrow, so that we can still make a book on Friday!

If your child lost their paper and need to start over, just have them write their name and question at the top of a piece of plain white paper.  Then draw a picture of their beetle under the question.  When they finish with their picture, help them research the answer to their question.  You can use books, magazines, internet, whatever you have available to search for the answer.  (Ask.com is great for research because you can simply type in the question and see what pops up!!)  When you find the answer, help your child write it down in their own words on the paper at the bottom.  If they return it to class this week we can include it with the others to make a book.

Researching an interesting topic and finding answers to questions you make yourself is much more fun than just doing the normal school work, not to mention it really motivates student learning and creates an authentic connection to the topic.  I've already seen the excitement on my student's faces today when they discovered a beetle walking around outside at P.E.  Thanks for your help and happy researching!!

(The Goliath Beetle)

COOKIE PARTY TOMORROW!

Due to the great work of all of you on the Cookie Dough Fundraiser, our class has earned a Cookie Party.  I was just informed that we will have our Party tomorrow, Friday, April 11, 2013, around 11am.  This will allow us to celebrate together as a class before the First Graders go to lunch and the Kinders go home.  This party is for the class (I do not need volunteers or extra goodies).  We will each get 2 cookies and a glass of milk.  I will play some music or show a short video.  It's nothing big, but a small way for our PTA to say thank you for the hard work you all put in collecting the cookie dough orders!!  Please try to have your children here tomorrow so they do not miss out on the fun!                                     -Mr. Linnet

Some information on National Parks

We read a little about National Parks this week in class.  I also presented the National Parks website and we viewed a couple short videos to learn more about them.  I thought it would be nice to share the websites with all of you so that your children can do some extended research on their own if they are interested.  I highlighted Sequoia National Park, The Everglades, Saguaro National Park, The Badlands, Yellowstone National Park, and Yosemite National Park.  Many students were also interested in learning about animals like alligators and bears that can be found at some of these parks; as well as interesting features like volcanoes and geysers.  I encourage you to check out the websites, preview some of the videos, or even sign your child up for the Web Rangers program under the Kids link.  It ties in nicely to our "Great Outdoors" theme for the Howl, so happy exploring everyone!!

U.S. National Park Service

Kid's Link - Web Rangers

Spring is Here! The Howl is Coming!!

I hope that you all had a terrific Spring Break.  It was nice to see all your happy faces again today.  Many of you seemed excited about the fresh, new look of our blog, as well as the fact that I have some videos on for you now.  Have fun practicing your numbers at home with a little "Math Dance Party"!!

I wanted to send out a reminder note that the Coyote Howl is coming up next month in May and that I still need some volunteers to help with the collection and organization of the Howl Basket.  Our theme is "The Great Outdoors/Camping".  I would like to try and make two baskets this year for the Silent Auction, one basket for a little boy's camp-out, and one for a little girl's camp-out.  I plan on getting the tents for our baskets, but would need your help with the rest of the items.  Sleeping bags, Camp Chairs, Flashlights, Camp Treats (S'mores), Camping Stories, etc.  would all make great items to include.  Some of the kids thought of other things like stuff to make a campfire or knife/axe to help with camping, but I want to stay away from those items.  The parents of the winning bids for our basket can take care of those items if they need.  My vision is really a "backyard camp-out" for children 4-12 years of age.  The ones who might get the most use out of these baskets.

I will be sending home a flyer later this week with some directions and ideas to get us started.  I would love to get everything collected by the end of the month or the first week of May, that way we can see what we have, and make a last pitch effort to get any items that our baskets may be lacking.  All items need to be new and unopened.  If you can give a receipt, or somehow mark how much the item is worth, that will be helpful when we inventory what is inside the basket.  During the auction, we always list the items inside each basket, as well as what the basket is worth.  I would love it if parents can email me or return the bottom of the flyer by next Friday (April 12th) with what their family wants to donate for the basket.  This will be a great help so that we don't end up with the "Sleeping Bags Basket" or the "Flashlights Basket".  Some items might be pricey for one family to purchase, so if you are friends with another family, you can definitely go in together to get an item.  Another alternative would be to donate a couple bucks for the Howl.  I take a collection each year and keep the money (and a list of who donated) in a locked cabinet in my classroom.  Then the week before the Howl, the Parent Volunteers and I can use the collection to purchase items our basket still needs.  Any extra money goes onto a Gift Card that we include in the basket.  Just a nice way to ensure we have a nice basket that people would like to buy.

I hope that you are getting excited for the Coyote Howl.  If you have been to one before then you know how much fun they are.  If you have never been, please make plans to come this year, you will not regret it.  I told the students today that we are bringing back the always popular "Pie in the Face" game, and I know that your children will be looking forward to smacking me in the face with a cream pie!!  Check your children's backpacks this week for the Howl Flyer, and have a wonderful week!
                                                                                                              -Mr. Linnet