Snowflake Symmetry

In math we explored the symmetry of snowflakes. 
http://www.explorelearning.com/index.cfm?method=cResource.dspView&ResourceID=401

Progress Reports

Progress reports went home in Friday folders today.  We have about a month until the end of the quarter. There are two more extra credit opportunities out there.  If there are any missing assignments there is still time to turn those assignments in by January 17. 

Winter Party - December 20

Reminder to all parent/guardians joining us tomorrow, the party will begin at 12:20.  Set up for the festivities can begin by noon.

Thank you, and best wishes for the holiday!

Important Emails

This message goes out to parents. 

Lately, a lot of emails have been coming in during the day that are important and pertain to how the students are getting home or detailing changes to their normal schedule.

I usually get to school pretty early in the morning and use some of that time for checking email.  By 8:45, I am usually setting up the classroom and turning on the Smart Board to prepare for the day.  I pick the Monkeys up at 8:50 and our day begins. While the students are at specials I am attending meetings or planning for instruction to challenge and excite our wonderful learners.  I don't get an opportunity to check email again until the students leave.

If something arises that is time sensitive, please call the front office and they will connect you my way or take a message. 

I want to assure that my Monkeys make it home safely and make it to all of their after school activities without issue. 

Planetarium

On Tuesday the monkeys went to the David M. Brown Planetarium.  Everyone wrote a short passage about their learning experience. We chose four, that we thought were exceptional.

"The field trip to  the planetarium... Returns!
Last year the planetarium field trip was close to being canceled! But this year the students of Nottingham elementary, return for another visit! Mr. John is back to teach the students of  Nottingham about planet Earth! We watched a cool video that featured different kinds of rays. This video also features Isaac Newton.The video video was funny, but still taught us what we needed. All in all, the field trip was very enjoyable."
 ~ Joey Pickel

"One thing that I enjoyed about the planetarium was learning about the electromagnetic spectrum, especially infrared. Mr. John showed it to us by turning on a television remote on, and pointing it to the camera screen on his iPhone.  The light flashed on the screen, but you couldn't see the flashing light when he pointed it at us." That happens because our eyes cannot see infrared light.
~ Emma Sather

Bloggers: Laila & Emma

 
 

Pajama day

Today was pajama day! We all wore are coziest pajamas and felt very tired by the end of the day. By Jennifer Overdahl

An Inky Mixture

This week we did an experiment called An Inky Mixture.  We put a black dot on the coffee filter and this is what happened. Now we know that black is a mixture of all of the colors.

Cool Water to Ice video

In our Matter unit, we have been talking about the changes in states of matter.  We talked about interesting changes such as sublimation, when a solid turns directly to a gas without first turning into water. Dry ice is an example of this change. 

We have also been discussing how fast the change between phases can occur.  We completed a virtual lab and created graphs to represent our data.

I have included a great video link to show just how fast that change can occur (if the temperature is cold enough).  I wouldn't want to be in Great Falls, Montana.  Too cold!!

http://www.usatoday.com/search/man%20turns%20boiling%20water%20to%20dust/

Technology

Hi Monkeys,

I am so glad to be back from the technology conference.  I missed the fun of snow days, but I am so excited to share the new, fun tech toys that I learned about. 

Enjoy your Wednesday!

December Calendar

Writing

We have been working on our fractured fairy tales this week. The students are in the revising and editing stage.

By Laila Fitz

Contest

The bloggers held a contest. If you could find a pink string in the past week, you got your picture on the blog. This helped students learn how to be resourceful and observant.

This weeks winner:

Mackenzie Keely

By Laila Fitz

Science

Mrs. Hoska came into our class and talked about the water cycle. 
We had a choice to write a story about the water cycle, or do a comic. It was so fun!

By Laila F