Happy Holidays!

 Please watch the latest video documenting all of our holiday fun!
Love,
Ms. Clark

Thank You Parent Visitors

6-B was lucky to enjoy a parent visitor read us a version of the Nutcracker.  This was a nice connection to our recent field trip to the BSO.

We also enjoyed a fascinating presentation about Mars!

Thank you, parents, for visiting 6-B

9-1 Buddies

We spent time with our 9-1 character class buddies yesterday. We read stories that taught us about snowflakes, and how each flake is unique, just like us! The friends then worked in pairs to make snowflakes to celebrate the winter season. Perhaps making virtual snowflakes would have be less messy, but we certainly had a great time with our buddies!

A special thank you to the 9-1 boys for helping us with this fun project.

Also, to Ms. Gentry for creating the above video.

Our current discovery unit is on mittens. We recently read "The Mitten Tree", by Candice Christiansen. Before reading the story I told 6-B that there was a mystery in the book! Someone was placing mittens on the spruce tree for the children but they did not know who? Above you can see our pre-reading predictions about who may have been leaving the mystery mittens?

Then we read the book and realized that the story is about kindness and generosity. An elderly woman, Sarah, watches children as they play and wait for their school bus to arrive. Sarah notices that one small boy is not playing with the cold snow because he did not have any mittens. She kindly knits a pair for him, and anonymously places them on the blue spruce tree next to the bus stop. Soon this becomes a game and the children eagerly check the mysterious mitten tree each morning to see if there are any new pairs of mittens?  

After we discussed mittens in general 6-B took their very own mittens (brought in from home) and did a copy cat drawing to add to our class mitten tree.

As an extension to the lesson 6-B gathered on the rug and received one mitten each. We faced away from one another and closed our eyes as each friend took a turn to describe how the mitten felt (eyes closed) and looked (eyes open). A great experience for visual, auditory, and kinesthetic/tactile learning styles. As we listened to the descriptions, the person who owned that mitten had to raise their hand the moment they knew that it was theirs. We each did a wonderful job, and properly identified our own mittens brought in from home! 

Our next lesson will be to complete a portfolio page where we choose two describing words about or mittens. We want to share how they feel and look. Below are a few words we have started to brainstorm.

Of course we didn't forget to have some good old fashion fun while wearing our mittens indoors- so silly!

Trip to the BSO

We were so lucky to spend the morning at the BSO listening to beautiful music accompanied by dancers from a local performing art school. 6-B used beautiful manners and were a wonderful audience! We recognized many of the songs from the Nutcracker!

Tally Marks!

As part of our graphing unit we learned to record data using tally marks. One great way to work with tally marks is by using Popsicle sticks! This hands on activity helps us learn how to create marks, and to work from left to write. We made sure our Popsicle sticks were straight up and down and converted numerals into tally mark representations. You can try this at home too! Use the Popsicle sticks as a warm up activity before you move to paper and pencil work. Then have you child help you with real life application. Perhaps they could poll what everyone in the family would like for dinner? 

Have fun with it! Ten Popsicle sticks were sent home with your child today in their backpack. Perhaps they can teach you how to show the number 4 with tally marks? Then ask them other numbers too! It becomes pretty tricky after five! Make sure your child continues their tally marks on the right (just like reading)

Grandparents Day at Calvert

6-B had so much fun preparing for our role as Native Americans from the Wampanoag tribe.  Our performance took place on Grandparents Day.  We partnered with current Pilot friends who were Pilgrims.  Unfortunately, not all grandparents could could attend, and I'm sure that some parents would love to see the behind the scenes preparation leading up to our big moment.  Please enjoy the short video above.  The song you hear paired with the images is taped from the performance! Everyone did such a nice job singing to the audience. 
BRAVO 6-B

Thank you so much to our 6-B parent volunteers for helping us get ready. I also loved having the opportunity to meet so many grandparents! Next year I will try to remember to take pictures of the students with their Grandparents after the show!

Wishing you all a happy and healthy break.

Love,

Ms. Clark

Happy Thanksgiving from 6-B!

 Wishing everyone a happy and healthy Thanksgiving Day with friends and family! 

gobble gobble

A Special Assembly

We were so lucky to have a special assembly with the "Native Pride Dancers".  We are currently studying Native Americans in homeroom (specifically the Wompanoag tribe).  The performers gorgeous regalia illustrated their native pride as they performed dance, drum, and song.

What a treat!

Our Multicultural Festival

On Friday, we celebrated our first multicultural festival. We came together as an entire school community to celebrate our differences and similarities.  The morning began on the middle school Krongard field. The entire student body and faculty were positioned to create a giant "CS".  Pictures were taken from the middle school roof and fun was had by all.  Next we went to the middle school gym where we heard from Dr. Martire and enjoyed an African dance recital performed by seventh and eighth grade girls. 

Afterwards the Fifth and Sixth Agers traveled to the lower school auditorium for a presentation by myself and Mrs. Reinhardt.  We discussed what the big work, "multiculturalism" meant.  We talked about similarities and differences, and we even had a few friends share with the large group something that made them special.  I read aloud an age appropriate unity poem pictured below:

Unity Poem

I have a dream, said Martin Luther King
We're gonna make that dream come true.

Let freedom ring, said Martin Luther King, 

It's up to me and you.

It's not the color of your hair,

It's not the color of your skin, 

It doesn't matter what you wear, 

It's the character within.

 Next, The Crayon Box That Talked by Shane Derolf was projected and read aloud by Mrs. Reinhardt. The story is about a young girl who overhears a box of  crayons that are not getting along at all! 

The little girl takes the crayons home and helps them learn their full potential by having them work together and appreciate their differences. 

The crayons all worked together to make a beautiful picture. Without each color the picture would have been incomplete!

After the presentation, everyone went back to their homerooms to create their very own crayon box!

Members of 6-B were given an outline of a crayon to draw a self-portrait on.

Then, each friend gave a reason that they are special. 

A few examples:

I am special because...

"I'm from Florida"

"I am a big brother"

"I am from Greece"

"My mom wanted to have another girl baby-that's me!"

"I play with my friends so nicely"

"I am adopted, I speak two languages, and because I am Chinese"

"I am the littlest person in my family"

"my dad's family is Irish and it makes me half Irish"

*Take a look at all of our reasons for being special on our hallway bulletin board.

We ended the afternoon with a Native American tradition called "The Talking Stone".  Often during group discussions students want to talk at once.  This tradition allows only the person that is holding the "talking" stone/stick to speak and share thoughts.  This techniques encouraged students to respect the speaker, listen to their thoughts, and wait patiently for their own turn.  We reviewed our favorite part of the day's experiences using this tradition.

Bravo 6-B!

Happy Halloween!

Sight Word Practice

In reading we are ready to begin our first set of sight words: color words! Of course you can use flashcards, but here are some other fun ideas to try:
Use coins or buttons to form your words
Print your words on someones back using your finger. Have the person guess the word
Use yarn or string to form your words.
Record yourself saying and spelling your words
Use cooked spaghetti to form your words
Play BINGO with your words
Spread peanut butter or jelly on bread then use raisins to form your words
Use colored crayons or pencils to copy your words in as many different color combinations as possible.
Paint your words using water color or finger paint
Read a story. See how many times you can find your words
Write three or more sentences using each word
See how many times you can write your words in 1 minute
Use colored chalk to write your words on the sidewalk
Write your words in shaving cream
Fold a sheet of paper in fourths. Write your words one time in each square and decorate the squares with art supplies, stickers, etc.
Use cookie dough to shape your words and bake them
Write three or more words that rhyme with each of your word
Play Tic-Tac-Toe using your words
Create a game of "Memory" with your sight words
Create flashcards to review your words

Most importantly, HAVE FUN!!

Wiggle Time!

It's important for us to allow time to get out all of our wiggles! Dance Parties are a quick effective way to let go of extra energy! 6-B seems to have a real affinity for break-dancing. 

Check us out in action!

6-B Prepares And Enjoys A Delicious Apple Treat

Wow great work 6-B! Now it's time to season!

Everyone added five "shakes"- great teamwork.

 Time to enjoy our treat!

What a fun day!

6-B Graphs Their Favorite Color Apple

What Color Apple is your favorite?

6-B students colored in an outline of an apple Red, Yellow, or Green to represent their favorite.

Next we sat together and created a class graph on the floor.  We had to remember that when creating our graph we must work from the bottom up. Each student took a turn to come up and place their apple on our graph.

 Visually, it was quite clear that red was our favorite, but we worked together to count the exact number of votes for each color. We found that eleven students like red apples best, two students preferred yellow apples, and one friend chose the a green apple.

Above: 6-B transfers the information from our class graph to our portfolio page. 

Below: A student's finished portfolio page. 

Learning The Parts Of an Apple: A Kinesthetic Approach

6B enjoyed a hands-on approach to learning the parts of an apple. We were able to explore with our hands- identifying each area before we completed the above portfolio page.

Bravo 6-B!

Apple Tasting Using Our Five Senses: A Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic, and Tactile Learning Experience

Before tasting apples, 6B reviewed our five senses.  Having learned about our senses in science, with Ms. Waters, we were quite knowledgeable. 

 We discussed how we could use our five senses to explore apples.

***

We used our eyes to identify different types of apples. Our noses helped us smell the apples.
Our hands helped us feel the apples. We noted the different textures of the apples skin and flesh.
Our mouths tasted the apples.
Our ears helped us hear the crunching sound as we bit into and chewed the apples.

***

To vote for our favorite apple we placed a small manipulative behind the plate. We then went to the carpet to discuss our experiences before we revealed the results of the apple tasting.

We created a web to describe the way the apples looked, felt, tasted, smelled, and sounded.

Honeycrisp was our favorite apple!

Thank you 6B friends for bringing in apples from home.

Chapter Two- A Kinesthetic Approach to Number Writing

In chapter two we learned to properly write the numbers zero to five.  

Above mathematicians practice writing numbers in the air and then on a partners back. As we form the number we recite the proper wording for correct number formation:

zero - Around we go, to make a zero

one- straight line down from the sun, that's the way we make a one

two- around and back on a railroad track

three- around a tree around a tree, that's the way we make a three

four- down and over, down some more, that's the way we make a four

five- fat old five goes down, around, put a hat on top

Next, we write the numbers on a partners back without reciting the verbiage aloud. Then, the person who had the number written on their back need to guess which number was written.

This was a great activity to get as read for pencil-to-paper practice.

September Fine Motor: Core Strength, Postural Controll, and Small Muscle Development

During our Fine Motor  schedule blocks this month we spent time getting ready to write!  We practiced a number of activities that promoted core strength, postural control, and small muscle development.  Did you know that core strength and postural control are needed for the development of fine motor skills in children? Development occurs from the trunk outward so it was important that we "exercised our bellies".

Above: Planks for core strength. It's really tricky to stay straight as a board with your belly off the ground!

Above: Partner sit-ups. This took effort and cooperation!

Other core exercises:

We loved doing the "crab walk" and the "inchworm walk"

Another great option is to "wheelbarrow" walk with a partner.  If you enjoy those try the "superman".  In this activity you lay on your tummy and then lift your head arms and legs up as if you are flying. Try to stay in that position as long as you can.

Your child also works on core strength each day on the playground as they climb, hang, and play.

An example of a small muscle development activity is sorting with tweezers.

We had to concentrate as we sorted various manipulatives by different attributes.  Many friends felt like working with the tweezers was similar to using chopsticks to eat! 

To take the activity a step farther we practiced creating letters in our names using manipulatives!

Bravo 6-B

We are ready to begin our formal writing curriculum this upcoming first week of October.

6-B Family Trees!

During our discovery unit on "Family", our sharing was to bring in a picture of your family. We loved having the opportunity to get to know one another a little better during this time. Our project for this unit was to paint our own family trees. We then cut out apples to represent each member of our family.  We did our best to write our family members names in pencil. 

Our trees are now on display in the hallway downstairs. We will make a special trip this week to visit them.
Our next discover unit is "Apples"!