PRE Specials Newsletter
January 2023
PE
We had so much fun in the gym during 2nd quarter! I just love seeing the energy and excitement the kids bring every day! We started the quarter with striking stations. At each station students had different paddles or striking objects to use. I gave a challenge for each station and each one of them completed at least one station challenge!! It was great! I love seeing students face challenges with determination and confidence.
We also used this quarter to review scooter safety and students were able to demonstrate their understanding of scooter safety in a few new games we played. I am happy to report, no fingers were lost! đ
We ended the quarter with Santaâs Workshop in the gym! Students completed challenges to earn an ornament for their tree to help Santa decorate. Thank you so much for all of the donated items to help decorate the gym. Also, thank you to all of those who were able to volunteer, I couldnât have done it without you!
We had such a great quarter and I canât believe we are halfway through the year! I am excited for another great quarter in the gym!
Tech Time
Second quarter in tech time was spent doing a lot of coding, designing and robotics! See below for a more detailed description of each grade level:
Kindergarten: I am SO PROUD of our Kinder Cougars for learning some key coding vocabulary (algorithm, sequence, decomposition, persevere) and learning about the problem solving it takes to solve coding puzzles. They have been introduced to a PRE favorite coding app: Code Spark and worked to complete puzzles to earn stars and earn the right to sign our âCode Spark Hall of Fameâ wall! Students also explored Tynker Jr. which introduces students to a blockly code format. In addition to learning about coding basics, weâve applied them to two robots: Code and Go Mouse and Blockly!
1st Grade: First graders worked on the same coding vocabulary as Kindergarten and built on that with the word debug. I really enjoyed seeing first graders step up to the challenge of solving harder and harder puzzles in Code Spark. We have MORE first graders who have signed our Hall of Fame wall than ANY other grade at PRE! Woohoo! We also worked on Tynker Jr to see the blockly code format. Students were able to use what they learned about coding to code our Blockly Robot to push âSnowballsâ and âRock around the Christmas Tree!â
2nd Grade: Second graders also learned the coding vocabulary words (building consistency throughout all grades), and worked to persevere and problem solve through Code Spark levels. They were also introduced to another coding app called Kodable which they really enjoyed! Second graders got to apply their coding and problem-solving skills to some of our robots: Blockly and Dash!
3rd Grade: Third graders reviewed coding vocabulary and some favorite coding apps: Code Spark and Kodable. They were also introduced to Ozobot robots and line coding. We learned about symmetric and asymmetric codes and practiced making our own line codes! Towards the end of the semester our BRAND NEW OZOBOTS arrived, and we were SO EXCITED to use them! Thank you SO MUCH to our amazing PTO for purchasing a new set for us!!
4th Grade: Fourth graders took their coding to the next level and worked on a blockly code program on Code.org. Students had to debug, figure out correct sequences and complete a program. They also used blockly coding to code our Dash robots! At the end of the quarter, we programmed all the robots to have the same moves in a holiday parade! They also completed the Grinch Hour of Code!
5th Grade: Fifth graders were able to log in to TinkerCAD which is an online computer aided design program where they are able to manipulate shapes & objects. They were able to design an object that they deemed purposeful and useful. I am working to print their designs on our 3D printers! Students were also able to use blockly code language to complete the Grinch Hour of Code!
Music
Kindergarten:
Kindergarten music has been a flurry of instruments, rhythms, books, puppets, and giggles. Weâve continued working on keeping a steady beat â a truly important concept that will affect everything else we do in music. Weâve patted, clapped, and stomped the steady beat. Weâve walked, tiptoed, jumped, and moved with the steady beat. Weâve played instruments to the steady beat and weâve even taught others (our beanie baby buddies) how to keep the steady beat. One day we looked for form in music by exploring Edward Elgarâs famous song âFaeries and Giantsâ and we added a little movement to go with each section. Weâve been counting like crazy as we helped âJohnnyâ with his one hammer, counted the âFive Little Pumpkinsâ and read about the âTen Fat Turkeysâ sitting in a tree. Most exciting of all, weâve been exploring and playing instruments like the xylophone with inspirational books like âUp, Up, Downâ by Robert Munsch.
Here are a few songs and poems weâve learned that you can ask your child to teach you: Five Little Pumpkins, Johnny Works With One Hammer, Jack and Jill, Highway No. 1, and No More Pie.
First Grade:
Weâve been busy bees in first grade music singing songs, playing instruments, creating new variations, and dancing up a storm. One of our favorite books/songs this year was âThere Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.â We first experienced this song back in October but since then weâve learned about the old lady who⌠swallowed a pie, swallowed a dreidel, swallowed some leaves, and lots more. And did you know that there was a âShy Fellow who Swallowed a Celloâ or an âOld Dragon Who Swallowed a Knightâ or âA Cowpoke who Swallowed a Fly.â? So many variations!
Weâve seen a lot of favorite songs get a new twist. One day we learned âWhoâs That Tapping At the Windowâ and for a week or two we came up with all sorts of variations of the song (zoo animals, aquatic creatures, superheroes, and bugs all came knocking at the music room door according to our song). We played instruments with the âNaughty Kitty Cat,â we helped the Turkey escape with âRun Turkey, Run,â we marched with the Nutcrackers, and we even kept a steady beat with sleigh bells. Itâs been a busy semester!
Here are a few songs and poems weâve learned that you can ask your child to teach you: Whoâs That Tapping at the Window?, Naughty Kitty Cat, Shoo Turkey, Five Fat Turkeys, Mrs. Foggartyâs Christmas Cake, and Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush.
Second Grade:
Weâve been splashing around the musical ocean in second grade music. We took our first plunge into the deep blue sea when we learned the song âBickle Bockle, Blue Bottle.â That first little song taught us about musical form, took us to the barred percussion instruments (like xylophones and glockenspiels), and even gave us a chance to break out our ribbon wands. After that we explored ostinati (short repeating patterns) through the book âWendell the Narwhalâ by Emily Dove. Wendell also taught us about the role of the conductor and each kid was able to control and conduct the class as we played the barred percussion instruments.
In October we took one virtual trip in every class to the Sydney Opera House to see âWhoâs in the Lift!â These 3-4 minute video interviews gave us a window into the many jobs that are related to the performing arts including performers, lighting designers, stage managers, dancers, instrument repair technicians, and more. Other highlights from the quarter include creating our own crazy creations with the folk song âAiken Drumâ and waving ribbon wands with the âTrepakâ from Tchaikovskyâs âNutcrackerâ. Here are a few songs and poems weâve learned that you can ask your child to teach you: Little Miss Muffet, Bickle Bockle, BINGO (non-traditional melody), Aiken Drum, Frosty the Snowman, and Mrs. Murphyâs Chowder.
Mark your calendars! The second grade musical performance is on February 23rd at 6:30.
Third Grade:
In third grade music weâve been creating and moving nonstop! Weâve been playing the barred percussion instruments (xylophones, metallophones, and glockenspiels) almost every day and weâve used them to create quiet and slow accompaniments with songs like âSkin and Boneâ and weâve quicker more excited accompaniments with songs like âTideo.â
This has been an amazing year for musical performances! What an amazing trip we had to see the Kansas City Symphony last November. We learned about all the different music makers in the symphony like the conductor, composers, performers, principals, soloists, concertmaster, and a lot more. We even had a couple chances to sing or play along with the Symphony. Thanks to PTO for making this field trip possible! Weâve also been learning the legend of the Nutcracker, have listened to Tchaikovskyâs famous Nutcracker suite, and have watched portions of âThe Nutcrackerâ ballet. Through this process weâve spent some time learning about ballet, how it works, whatâs required of a ballet dancer, and how musicians are involved.
Here are a few songs and poems weâve learned that you can ask your child to teach you: Skin & Bone, O Tannenbaum, Tideo, Sansa Kroma, and Lilâ Liza Jane.
Mark your calendars! The third grade musical performance is on March 9th at 6:30.
Fourth Grade:
Fourth grade had an amazing semester filled with singing and creating. In November we had our big concert called âEvery State is Greatâ which featured songs like Hats Off to America, The Lights of Freedom, What Did Delaware?, Home on the Range, and The Fifty Nifty United States. Since the concert weâve been taking time to get back to basics like singing, dancing, playing instruments, and improvising. We took a song called âThe Farmerâs Dairy Keyâ and we added several different instrument accompaniments. We also created new, student-created variations to the song using the elemental forms (AABA, ABBA, AABB) as an inspiration.
In December we took that idea of âvariations on a themeâ to the next level when we learned the song âThe Twelve Days of Christmasâ and made our own versions like the Twelves days of⌠Minecraft, basketball, shopping, Halloween, school, and cooking (just to name a few). Did your students sing on New Yearâs Eve because we learned the song âAuld Lang Syneâ and the traditional dance that goes along with it!
What do we have to look forward to these next few months? Weâll be playing recorders very soon! Keep an eye out for an email coming soon about how to order recorders, how much they cost, what your students will be playing, and more.
Fifth Grade:
In fifth grade music, much of the last quarter has been spent in preparation for our big winter concert called âTop Secret.â Each class learned lyrics, choreography, speaking parts, and instrumental parts for the different songs that went into the final performance. Someone sneaky had been leaving clues all around the school and it was our job to put all the clues together to solve the âWinter Mystery.â The performance was truly spectacular and so fun to share with our school community. If you have photos from the night of the show that youâd be willing to share with me Iâd really appreciate it. My email is drow@usd232.org.
What do we have to look forward to these next few months? Weâll be playing more with the pitched/barred percussion and soon weâll start a unit on ukulele! If you want to purchase a ukulele for students to play at home, I have a guide for what you might want to buy that Iâd be happy to send you.
Library
Weâve had a great second quarter in the library! Itâs hard to believe we are halfway through the year. Below are a few of the things we are working on throughout second quarter.
Kindergarten: Kindergarten is doing such a great job in the library! I love seeing what they want to check out and they are doing a fantastic job of being responsible with shelf markers while shopping for books! This quarter we did an author study on Lois Elhert, who has written and illustrated so many colorful and creative books for kids. We continue to talk about fiction vs nonfiction and read some fun books related to the holidays. They love doing the STEM stations during checkout and they amaze me with their creativity!
First Grade: We completed an author study on Gail Gibbons and started one on one of my favorites: Jan Brett! She has so many great books that have winter, snow and holidays as the main theme. We compared her books The Hat and The Mitten, and learned how to draw a hedge hog. We are continuing to work on responsibility with getting books turned in on time and checking out a variety of fiction and non-fiction. They also love doing the STEM stations during check out, and I love seeing them interact with each other and have time to create!
Second Grade: We completed an author study of Marc Brown, who is the creator of the Arthur series. We learned about how and why Marc Brown became an author and that he hides his childrenâs names in all of his booksâŚthey loved hunting for those! We even learned how draw Arthur from Marc Brown himself . This second grade group are such great readers and they are always excited about looking for books in the library!
Third Grade: Third grade focused on the different literary genres. We read, Joe Bright and the Seven Genre Dudes, where we learned about 7 different genres in the fiction and non-fiction section and then played a guessing game to see if they could identify a bookâs genre. We also learned how to use our online catalog, Destiny Discover. This is an app on our I-pads where they can look to see what they have checked out on their account and search for books in the library. We also briefly began learning about the Dewey Decimal system and how books are organized in the non-fiction section of our library. They are working to become independent during check out by being able to find books on their own with the bookâs call number.
Fourth Grade: Fourth graders started the quarter with a review of the different types of genres by doing a book order scavenger hunt. Identifying a bookâs genre can be tricky but they did an excellent job! We also reviewed call numbers and practiced locating books in the library by their call number. Finally, we reviewed the Dewey Decimal system and learned how the non-fiction books are organized. This is something we will continue next quarter as well. They are learning a lot about how to be independent in the library and this will serve them well moving forward!
Fifth Grade: This quarter we began by reviewing the literary genres by playing Genre Jeopardy. We also read an amazing book called, Twenty-One Steps about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The students were fascinated by this and they asked so many great questions! The last thing we focused on was the non-fiction section of our library and the Dewey Decimal system. You will have to ask your child about the Dewey Rap!
I love seeing your children in the library and sharing the joy of reading. My favorite question is, âMrs Ptacek, is there something you would recommend?â It is fun to see so many students enjoying books. As a reminder, your child should have their library books with them on library day each week. I will continue sending the email reminder the night before so hopefully that helps. Please donât hesitate to reach out with questions or concerns!
Kerri Ptacek- kptacek@usd232.org