Bell Choir

I have been ringing bells for my church handbell choir for nearly 15 years.  I love these instruments!  I was super excited when I discovered that Mr. Bedgood purchased a children's handbell set.  The notes are by color, which makes it super easy and fun for the kids to work together to play a piece of music.  They really tried hard to listen to each other and work as a team.  Hooray for musical instruments! 

Fossils

Last week, during STREAM, we created fossils using plastic dinosaurs and an air-drying clay.  Our fossils spent the week drying, and they were ready for an "antiqued" paint finish.  To create this paint finish, a metallic gold acrylic paint was mixed with Modge Podge glue.  Students brushed the finish over their entire fossil creation.  They turned out amazing!!   

Thanksgiving Lunch

Happy Thanksgiving!  We are so thankful that we were able to enjoy a delicious dinner of turkey and trimmings for our Wednesday lunch.  We ate lunch in our classroom!!  Everyone chose a school lunch today!  We prayed a special Thanksgiving prayer and created pilgrim and Indian table decorations.  We watched a virtual tour of the Mayflower and what life was like for the Pilgrims.  We compared life for the Pilgrims to our life today.  We discovered that many things have changed, and we are all thankful for our blessings.

Fr. Coady Visits

Our special Sacrament day for Reconciliation is nearly here!  In anticipation for our day, we had a visit from Fr. Coady.  Fr. discussed questions about what to expect when we receive this Sacrament, and what the day will look like when our class receives this Sacrament.  Students have been working on their books at home.  We have also been praying our Act of Contrition each day, following lunch.   

Thank YOU Veterans

While the weather was definitely fall-like, we enjoyed wonderful parade weather.  The wind was calm, and we were able to social distance with only our MCS friends.  We enjoyed some fabulous music, many flags, veteran floats, and "classic" cars.  Enjoy the photos from this special day.

In addition, thank YOU to our parents out there who are OUR veteran heroes.  We talked a great deal about you today, and are grateful for your sacrifice.  Each student has a flag, and we waved them proudly, in honor of the work you do! 

Lots of Leaves!

The weekend of wind has really encouraged the leaves to fall off the trees.  The Oak and Sycamore leaves have fallen, which means GIANT leaves are everywhere!!  We enjoyed crunching, jumping, and playing in the newly fallen leaves.  Friends created piles on the playground, and each grade is enjoying this fall treat.  I have decided that it is like free leaf raking. :)  I love watching the excitement and hearing the squeals of delight as they jump in the leaf piles.

Birthday Fun

We had a birthday today!  It is super fun to start off the week with a birthday!  Cookie Monster donuts were the treat, and everyone gobbled them up!

We learned a bit about our birthday girl's favorite things.  We also enjoyed a show-and-tell story and necklace.  We had fun celebrating this special girl today! 

Solar Balloon

We had quite the surprising treat today: a solar balloon launch!  The middle school science students were exploring solar energy, and invited us to view their solar balloon launch.  The launch occurred around 11:15 a.m., which happened to be during our lunch.  We grabbed our pepperoni pizza lunches and found a spot to view the launch.  It was so fun!

What is a solar balloon?  Glad you asked!  It looks a bit like a giant "trashbag," as a number of students commented.  The balloon is made out of long, thin plastic.  The balloon is filled with air, and tethered with a string - similar to a kite.  Then, the sun begins the work.  As the air molecules heat, the balloon expands and rises.  This is the science behind how, and why, the balloon floats.  Check out this explanation video to learn more https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JzdERxpzes

 

Dinosaur Dig!

The plants in our garden have disappeared.  This happens in the fall, after a freeze occurs.  :)  The kids have kept asking to go to the garden, but there are not any more vegetables left to pick.  So, Mrs. Johnson, and some helpful middle school students, turned our garden into a dinosaur fossil excavation site!

We visited the dinosaur excavation site, and unearthed some fossils.  Students used their classification guides to match up the fossils they found with the pictures.  Scoops and brushes were even available for digging and cleaning the fossils.  We were all successful in finding some fantastic dino fossils! 

Animal Classification

How do scientists classify animals?  Can you sort this envelope of animals into 5 different groups, or categories?  How did you decide which animal belongs to which group?  The items that you used to sort your animals into groups are called characteristics.  

We discovered that some animals have fur, and others have feathers.  Some animals have scales and some have smooth, wet skin.  Some animals live in the water, and some live on land.  Some animals have live babies, and other animals lay eggs.  The animal world is diverse!

Math Problem Solving

One of the foundational skills kids need for success as adults is the ability to problem solve.  Most do not list problem solving as one of their favorite things to do, but practice helps us "exercise" these muscles and feel more comfortable solving problems.  Today, we completed a problem solving activity in groups, by using addition, subtraction, and logic.  Our brains grew!