Target

Second and Third Grades "Mystery Unit" Week of August 22

We're so excited about our new unit on Mystery!We began our day with some "welcome back" activities and then got down to the business of mysteries. 

 Second graders were given "mystery capsules" which they placed in water.  After lunch, the capsules had bloomed into sponge animals.  The students were allowed to choose one of their animals and then compared and contrasted themselves with their animal of choice.  Due to a rotation activity in their homerooms, students had their Target day cut short.

Third graders then did an observation activity with a partner, followed by a "bottoms up brainstorm" activity with their learning clubs.  We shared our ideas and then read a poem about "What is a Mystery," examining some words which will be part of our unit vocabulary.

After this, we read Harris Burdick by Chris VanAllsberg.  We selected a picture from the book and as a class planned out a story we would write about the picture.  Next week, we will finish our stories and then write some stories individually.

Fourth and Fifth Grade: Medieval Times Week of August 22

We're off to a great start and already having fun learning about the Middle Ages.

This week, after "welcome back" activities, our class worked together as a team of "knights," who were responsible for fording a moat and storming a castle.  Our only tools were two wooden boards.  We had to work together to get our whole class across  the moat (gravel driveway) safely without anyone falling into the moat.  It was a lot harder than we thought!  We had to band together as a team and keep revising our strategies to accomplish the task.  It took lots of critical and creative thinking.  After this activity, we returned to our own "castle," and reflected upon our experience.

We also took a pretest about the Middle Ages.  Because of the "Boosterthon Pep Rally," fourth grade Target class was shortened, but fifth graders  then played "Chain Reaction," making synectic connections to get from the word "summer" to "castle."  We also brainstormed and began our study of the times by listening to a book about the Middle Ages.

We are working on an exciting field trip for this unit.  If and when we have details, we will send them home.

Homework: 5TH GRADERS ONLY:  DRAGON SLAYER AD DUE NEXT WEEK!

Welcome Back!

We hope you have had a relaxing summer break and are ready for the 2011/2012 school year to begin. We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of our students, and cannot wait to see their faces again! Your children will receive information next week on who their Target teacher is and on which day of the week they will attend Target.

Please mark your calendar and plan to attend the Target Open House for parents of Target students on August 29, 2011 at 7:15 a.m. in the Cafeteria.

See you soon!!