Today was our first hangout with our Global Read Aloud partners in Canada!  The Global Read Aloud is a program "meant to make the world a little smaller, to open our eyes to the rest of the world and look at all of our shared experiences.  How phenomenal for a child to know that the same book they are reading is being read in classrooms across the globe". 

For more information please visit the the official website at:  http://www.globalreadaloud.com/

We are reading and sharing our thoughts about the book The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.  Even if your child has heard this book as a read aloud before, they can still find new and exciting things in it during this read aloud.  It is so wonderful to be able to share great books with others.  How lucky we are to share with each other and another class in a different country!

Challenge

Students were challenged to make a  finger rocket that actually worked.  They were given a straw, rubber band, paper clip, and cardstock.  I did not give them any directions and they were to do it at home if they wanted to participate.  Some students went online to figure out how to make their rockets and others winged it.  They came in on Monday and Tuesday last week with some wonderful rockets.  Then we discussed how to make them even better and some design flaws they found when making them.  It was a lot of fun for everyone (even Ms. Igoe!).

"That is so awesome!"

"I can't believe it hit the target!"

"Woa....did you see that?"

"I wonder why the paperclip fell off."










"That is sooooo cool!"

"How long did it take you to make?"

"Why did you make the tail pieces so big?  Does it fly farther that way?"

Planning and Design

  After learning about space we decided to show off our knowledge.  Students worked in teams to create scripts and props as if they were visitors to their planet.  They learned many speaking and listening skills and the fine art of compromise.  Love the final products!

Still more to come :-)

Skype with Mr. Campbell

  We had the pleasure of Skyping with Mr. Campbell at NASA.  He answered many of our questions about space and told us about a project he is working on right now.  Can't wait to read about the launch of the new satellite that will gather information about soil from around the world!  Thank you so much Mr. Campbell and to Mrs. Schaefer who made the connection for us!

Planets in Science

     Since we started out with our planet/space unit we decided to ask many questions we wanted to find answers for.  Then we chose some of the questions to begin researching.  Students quickly learned how to use their tablets and laptops to find useful information from credible sources.  We learned some of our questions do not have answers and that is okay.  Maybe we will learn more as space exploration continues. (Some of the students may even be the people to find those answers when they grow up!)

So it has sure been a busy start to the new school year! I wanted to share some of the great things we've been doing already.

We started the year just getting to know each other.  What a wonderful class!  We found out we all have a lot in common and are close to being experts in many different areas.

Port a Potties

Port a potties are important because when you’re at a place with no bathrooms

And you really need to go, you need a port a potty to go to the bathroom

Or else you would go in your pants.

That is why they are important.

-Dylan

                                                 

Things I Like Outside

Port a potty because you go to the bathroom

Grass because it’s nature and I like nature

Trees because it’s oxygen

American flag because it represents U.S.A. and me

Wild life because most of it’s natural

Ryan S. because he’s my friend

Otto because he’s my friend

Joey because he’s my friend

Houses because they are my shelter

Sun because it keeps you alive

Clouds because they block the sun if it’s too hot

School because it educates us

-Ava

One day me and my friend

Were going to get my dog Lucky

But when we were driving to get him

We saw a giant frog

I tried to catch it

It flew out of my hands because it was very slippery

-Michaela

What I smell:

Smoke

What I hear:

Birds, cars, quiet, planes, trains, talking, writing, walking, leaves, trucks, giggling, coughing

What I see:

School, trucks, cars, flag, friends, teacher, sticks, grass, people, houses, trees, doors, windows, sky, sun, benches, park, plants, sidewalk, fire hydrant, signs, roads, parking lots

-Emily

                                                  Outside

Green grass

Brown dirt

Yellow flowers

Seems like sun

But it’s SPRING

-Derek

                                                  Dew Drops

I love the sight of dew

Sitting there on the bright green leaf.

I love the sight.

It’s so beautiful, so peaceful.

Oh no, here comes a caterpillar!

-Mya

                                                  The Playground Kings

One day there were four playgrounds

Each one were next to each other.

They hated each other so much they started a war.

Then it got serious.

Their only gadgets were wood chips.

There was a red team, blue team, green team, and purple team.

Then each day a playground go taken over

Then Red team was the only playground standing.

So they said this game is boring.

Then they quit.

-Tommy

                                                  Clouds

They block the sun when you need shade.

They make shapes like arcades.

Oh-no they’re coming towards me.

Better run to my job or else I won’t get paid.

Too late!

Clouds they can be white and fluffy or they can be dark and horrifying.

Oh-no better run!

The clouds are spinning.

I want to take a look but then I got swooped up.

Ahhhh……

-Joey

                                                  Trees

Tress are fun to climb.

Trees help rid pollution.

Trees have roots to keep water in the soil.

Trees are beautiful.

Tress help grow plants.

-Levi

Flag

The flag is blue

And it is white

It is red as it wiggles in the air

As it flies in the sky

Showing its colors for everyone to see

And it has white stars

So many stars cool stars

-Caleb

Teen Titans Go

“Meatball party”, said Cyborg.

Who wants meat balls?

I want meatballs!

Then you get meatballs!

Pow pow pow pow pow pow.

“I want meatballs,” said Beast Boy “but I’m a vegetarian”.

Then you get tofu meatball!

“Oh what are the meatballs?”  Said Staffre.

Your about to find out.

Boink!

Meatball party!

Do you know what time it is?

Mystery meatball time!

And the winner is….Raven.

Why do you make everyone do what you think is fun?

Because everybody loves meatballs!

Eat, eat the meatballs!!!

-Austin

                                                         Bench

Hard

Solid

Pebbly

Sometimes comfortable

Sometimes uncomfortable

Old

Sometimes ugly

Sometimes pretty

Sometimes dirty

Sturdy

Still

Heavy

Sometimes clean

Colorful

Strong

School appropriate

Not a good drawing material

Okay bed material

Good sunbathing material

Good for sitting on

Good hold on material

Smooth bottom

Good jumping off material

bumpy

                                                  List

sunny

quiet

windy

cans

trains

flag

grass

sky

birds

school

water

-Blake

School

Beautiful

Where I learn

Have fun

Meet mean people

I say the Pledge of Allegiance

Meet nice people

Have fun lunch

Play with friends

Go home with friends and

Switch classes

-Camille

Spring is Here

Green trees

Brown dirt and grass

Seems so nice after a long winter’s snow

Spring is here

It’s time to play outside

Bunnies come out from hibernation

Birds come back from South

Spring is here!

-Wyatt

                                                        

                                                         One Big Poem

Green grass is very, very, green

As green as leaves on a summer tree

The very green grass is a sign of spring and summer

And so is a bee!

I love summer and spring

It makes me want to sing

Do you like spring and summer?

I do!

Spring and summer are both warm seasons.

I don’t like when it’s hot but I do like when it’s warm

But not too hot!

Make sure when you play outside and it’s hot or warm

You drink water so you don’t get dehydrated!

-Lucia

Otto

Funny awesome fast fun nice

Blake

Nice cool awesome

Levi

funny cool nice helpful fun

Joey

Nice fun fast cool awesome

Dylan

Funny nice cool   awesome

Ryan A.

Nice fun awesome cool

-Ryan

                                                                        List

Grass

Trees

Caleb

Levi

Dylan

Blake

Cars

Branches

-Alex

Flowers

Flowers come in many different colors like pink green blue yellow

Grass

Green beautiful sometimes soft

Beach

Beautiful

Good for sun tanning

Sandy

Rocky

Watery

Sand is soft

Good volley ball

-Gabriella

The Port a Potty is green and has a white roof.

It has a door.

The door locks, also it has lines.

It’s close by a shed.

The shed is brown.

That’s the Port a Potty.

I really got to go.

The grass is green the sky is blue.

It is very leafy.

It is all different sizes-tall, short, large.

In different ways every piece of grass is different.

Oh wind.

Wind so cold

So soft

Please oh please

Stop blowing along.

Stop blowing my pages.

Stop being so cold.

Oh wind oh wind

Please go back home.

-Isabella

Wow! We've been so busy we haven't had time to post all the wonderful things we've been learning.
National Poetry month is April so we've been reading and writing poetry a bit more than usual.  We love the way poetry breaks rules and can sound like music.  I promised I would include some poems from yesterday when we went outside for inspiration.  So....

This week we started using imovie app to create book trailers.  Check out the first one published!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-hAEZiganU

   This past Saturday, some of the Kaneland teachers went to a "playdate" in Chicago.  It was awesome! We learned some great new things right alongside many other teachers from other school districts. There was even a teacher from Sweden!
  Coming this week...we will be starting to use imovie trailers to create book trailers for our books we love! We will have some on display at open house so make sure to check them out! After spring break we will begin using some other awesome apps and some gadgets and gizmos I saw and thought would be exciting to use in class.

State testing begins next week.  We will be testing Tuesday through Thursday.  We have talked a little about what the test set-up should be like so the students feel more comfortable.  Please remember this is one test at one point in time.  The scores do not necessarily represent all the wonderful things your children are capable of.

The Iditarod is here!!
The race starts this Saturday, March 1.  We're learning about Alaska, the mushers, and the dogs.  This is a wonderful opportunity to see courage and determination in action!  If you would like to follow the race at home please visit the official site at:  http://iditarod.com/

exploding volcano

AWESOME MOUNTAIN/VOLCANO PROJECTS!!

Homemade Volcano

Things you need:

2 brown papers, spoon, water bottle, vinegar, empty water bottle and baking soda.

Step 1: Tape brown paper to empty water bottle and wrap it around.  Then, tape another piece to the bottom.  Don’t wrap around the bottom.

Step 2: Pour a little water into the empty water bottle.

Step 3: Pour some vinegar into the bottle you just poured water into.

Step 4:  Take a spoon full of baking soda and dump it in the brown water bottle.  Wait 1 to 10 seconds and the volcano will explode!!!!!!

Check out the video:

http://youtu.be/pLgc2S5jDsI

Finally, the pictures!