Target

We missed our fifth graders this week, but we know they are having so much fun in Jekyll!  Kids, please take good care of Ms. Boucher and Mrs. Goldstein, who must be enjoying spending some quality time at the beach with you.

Fourth graders concentrated on our projects.  Some students did their final presentations in their classes, while others did "dry runs" and will present in costume next week.  We cannot wait to see the exciting projects you have been creating!

Fourth graders also participated in a simulation about trade and the economic system of the Middle Ages.  We learned about bartering and trade routes and the surprises and hazards of trading.  Our day ended with a video about "The Merchant in the Middle Ages."

Fifth graders will participate in a Medieval Fair by presenting their projects to the entire fifth grade class on Thursday, Dec. 8.  The cafeteria will be available for you to drop off your tri-fold boards from 7:15, so bring them there when you get to school on Fair Day.

Homework:  Be sure to bring your project and costume!

Week of November 28, 2011 (11/30)

We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. The students caught up with some unfinished tasks due to our shortened tornado day during our last class meeting.

Mrs. Bullard's class enjoyed sharing their mystery research projects. Mrs. Goldstein's and Mrs. Boucher's classes will finish sharing their projects next Wednesday.

Our mystery Chasing Vermeer is building to a final climax. Students had fun using their pentomino letters like Calder and Mrs. Sharp to form words. Vocabulary words were: rational, decades, frayed, accommodation.

Week of November 28th, 2011

We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving break. Monday was an exciting day with the sharing of many wonderful mystery projects. The students were enthralled listening to their peer's research and exciting mystery book reports. We are close to discovering who stole our recipes. We are waiting for some important evidence to identify our suspect.

Week of Nov. 28, 2011

Our fourth graders did a phenomenal job on their visual presentations! All of the Target teachers are looking forward to seeing the students' costumes and hearing their formal presentations next week (Dec. 6) in our Target classrooms!

This week the Fifth Grade students will be going to Jekyll Island, as will Ms. Boucher and Mrs. Goldstein, therefore, Target will resume next Thursday, Dec. 8. This is the day the Fifth Graders will participate in our Medieval Festival in the Sope Creek cafeteria. They should bring their costumes and be prepared to present what they've learned. We are looking forward to it!

Week of November 14, 2011 (11/16/11)

The day began with some marvelous sharing of mystery projects from the early bird presenters. Some exciting mystery book reports and amazing information on "unexplained" real life mysteries were creatively presented.

The day continued with some convergent and divergent thinking skills with a Number Junction puzzle and a Gotta Think-Let's Eat, as well as a Thanksgiving logic problem. Chapter 17 and 18 in Chasing Vermeer was read. Today's vocabulary words were: forger, brusque, confide. The day was shorten due to the severe weather warning after lunch. Therefore, many planned activities will be completed after the Thanksgiving break.

*Mrs. Goldstein's and Mrs. Boucher's classes please note the pink note. Mrs. Goldstein and Mrs. Boucher have been asked to join the 5th graders on their field trip to Jekyll Island (11/30-12/2). We do not want to miss our students wonderful presentations, so those who did not share this week, presentation are due Wed. 12/7. We will have class on Wednesday 11/30. Mrs. Verduci will return to substitute in Mrs. Goldstein's class and Mrs. DeVane will substitute in Mrs. Boucher's class.

Best wishes for a happy Thanksgiving full of great food and family fun.

Week of November 14, 2011

Students had a good brain warm up with some independent logic puzzles and Number Junction puzzles. They are getting quicker and quicker at solving them. They also warmed up their divergent thinking skills with a Waker Upper- Art Marks and Elephants. Now they were ready to take on the secret message that Elbarno Farnsworth discovered. Before students could break the code, time was spent on learning about cryptology and the difference between codes and ciphers. Students realized it takes many different thinking skills to crack a code. The student detectives determined what unaswered questions needs to be investigated from this new evidence.

The class enjoyed the "early bird" mystery presentations from their peers. Students did a fine job with their research and presentation. Remember all projects are due after Thanksgiving break on November 28th.

Best wishes for a happy Thanksgiving holiday full or great food and family fun.

Week of November 7, 2011 (11/9/11)

Students' brains warmed up by working on their convergent and divergent thinking skills with a Number Junction puzzle, a 'Gotta Think-Let's Eat", as well as an independent logic puzzle. The class closely examined "cryptology" today. They went to the computer lab to research the history of cryptanalysis and the differences between a code and a cipher. Students determined what kind of cipher pattern Calder's and Tommy's followed. They then challenged themselves by creating their own codes and ciphers. Students came to the conclusion that to write and crack a code takes various different thinking strategies and skills.

The class was on pins and needles during the reading of our next two chapters in Chasing Vermeer. Their excitement climbed thinking Calder and Petra had located the missing painting, only to find it was a child's illustration of "The Lady Writing." Today's vocabulary words were: glower, dismal, plod, reminisce. Students used their creative talents to act out the definitions and review the vocabulary list.

Homework: Work on mystery project. Early finishers can share next week. Project due after Thanksgiving break.

Week of November 7, 2011

After a nice restful weekend, second graders got their brains cranking with some great cognitive activities that challenged their logical and divergent thinking skills. Students worked on their first "Math Balance Bender", and a "Waker Upper, Robot Writing." Once their brains were warmed up, students headed into some heavy detective work. The junior detectives reviewed the suspects' alibis from last week. New information sent from Mr. Van Feisty made the detectives go back and review one suspect's alibi. By solving a difficult logic grid puzzle, the detectives were surprised to find out that Salty the Cracker's alibi was substantiated. New evidence on the remaining suspects and their second alibis, substantiated Ms. Johnson's alibi. Detectives are down to three suspects for further investigations. Students ended the day submitting their detective report on who of the remaining suspects they felt stole the recipes, and had to support their reasoning with the current gathered evidence.

Homework: Work on your mystery project. Early project finishers can come in next week 11/14 ready to share. Final due date: 11/28 (after the Thanksgiving break).

Week of October 31, 2011

Fourth and Fifth Grades: We gave class time and computer lab time this week to work on our students' research papers, and we also did Hands-On Equations and logic puzzles to sharpen their thinking.

Fourth Grade: Unfortunately, we will not see our fourth graders in class much in November because of election day (no school for students), the field trip to Medieval Times (4th grade will have Target on Thursday, Nov. 17, that week), and Thanksgiving Break. You should have your project completed for your teacher to check on November 29. Presentations of your FINAL project will be on December 6 in your Target classroom, and you should come dressed in your Medieval costume.  Since Target class time is so limited, the rest of the project must be completed at home. Target teachers are available if our students have ANY questions, and parents, please email or call us if you need clarifications.

Fifth Grade: Next week, we will have class on Friday, November 11 because your Target teachers will be at a meeting on 11/10. You should have your project completed for your teacher to check on the date she tells you.Your FINAL project will be presented on December 8 in the Sope Creek Cafe at our Medieval Festival, and you should come dressed in costume.

Week of October 31, 2011 (11/2/11)

Third grade had a wonderful (full day) Wednesday in Target. The day began working with our cognitive thinking skills. We reviewed "Number Junctions", a numbers strategies puzzle. Students were excited to see their return. Students are eagerly waiting to move to more complex puzzles. The class had fun using their divergent skills to complete a "Gotta Think" activity on "Pumpkins." Our young art detectives prepared themselves for the upcoming chapters in Chasing Vermeer by using their discriminating eyes on an on-line art mystery. We now know who was one recipient of the mysterious letters. Who are the others? Our vocabulary words this week were "elderly" and "fumbling." Students tested their vocabulary knowledge with the game "I have....Who has?" The day ended with a fun listening activity to complete a scary picture. Homework: Work on your mystery project.