Specials Update
3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade & 6th Grade Fall 2019
5th grade started out the year making a Visual Journal or sketchbooks. Then we did the fundraiser with the PTO, of an animal in its habitat. Next we learned about the coral reef, and did a watercolor painting. We are currently finishing up a one point perspective drawing of a farm ,inspired by Iowa artist, Grant Wood. We will also doing some art work of what it is that we are Thankful for.
Third Grade worked really hard on listening skills for the start of school this year. They are now revisiting the "Zones" and expanding on what was done in second grade. They are learning about how emotions work in our brains and bodies, and they will be exploring new tools and strategies for handling feelings appropriately.
Fourth Grade reviewed and expanding their learning about the skills involved in good listening. They also learned more about themselves by investigating their preferred learning style and thinking about times that when they could choose to use it to learn more easily. We are just starting our unit on emotional regulation, and will be digging really deeply into learning strategies to help us manage our feelings.
Fifth Grade spent their first few lessons creating a "Study Tips Slideshow". Each student contributed a slide with their best study tips. Some students came up with their own, others did some Internet research to find good ideas. We are beginning to explore emotional regulation, looking more closely into how the brain processes emotions and how we can think about our emotions and create healthy habits to further future emotional health.
Sixth Grade started the year with creating a report on a career that they are interested in pursuing in the future. They can share it with parents, because it's on Google Classroom! We are now relating career ideals to current study habits, and figuring out what needs to happen so that their educational choices support their future aspirations and so that they have many choices of career fields when the time comes.
4th Grade: Students started the year by learning the new note high do from our music ladder (a.k.a. major scale). We also have been learning the rhythm "syncopa" which is a nick name for syncopation. We explored these concepts through singing songs, playing singing games, dancing, playing instruments and recognizing notation on the music staff. We recently started "Recorder Karate". Students learn 9 songs throughout the year on the recorder and earn a colored "belt" (a piece of embroidery thread tied to the bell of the instrument) each time they pass a song. It is a fun and highly motivating way to learn recorder! We hope you can join us for the Fourth Grade Music Sharing on Friday, April 10 at 2:00 p.m. in the Garner gym.
5th Grade: We began the year by reviewing rhythms learned in previous years by playing a game called "rhythm relay game". Next, we began digging into our songs for the upcoming Fifth Grade Music Sharing on Friday, November 15 at 2:00 p.m. in the Garner gym. We have been practicing instrument parts and working hard to learn song lyrics. The students are sounding great and we are excited to share our songs with all of you!
6th Grade: Students have already been working hard on songs for the Sixth Grade Music Sharing which will be on Wednesday, December 11 at 8:15 a.m. in the Garner gym. We have been learning three STOMP songs using basketballs, brooms, poles and sticks to create some interesting rhythms. The sixth graders are also singing three songs for the program and they sound amazing! We've had a great start to the school year and they are a wonderful, kind and caring bunch of students to work with.
4th Grade:The activities that the each class focuses on are fun for students and are developed to improve each student’s individual skills, fitness levels, and to help them develop an understanding of playing games with good sportsmanship. Recent units have included games and activities played throughout the school year, cooperative games and activities, fire safety, football skills and lead-up activities, whirlyball skills and games using scoops, as well as volleyball skills and lead-up activities. Mr. Hines was their student teacher for many of these activities. As the weather changes please remind your child to always bring his/her P.E. shoes (tennis shoes).
5th Grade:Students continue to demonstrate teamwork, kindness, and great effort in all activities. They have participated in the following units: games and activities played throughout the school year, cooperative games and activities, fire safety, soccer skills and lead-up activities, whirlyball skills and games using scoops, and volleyball skills and lead-up activities. Mr. Hines was their student teacher for many of these activities. As the weather changes please remind your child to always bring his/her P.E. shoes (tennis shoes)
6th Grade: Students continue to demonstrate teamwork, kindness, and great effort in all activities. They have participated in the following units: games and activities played throughout the school year, cooperative games and activities, fire safety, soccer skills and lead-up activities, whirlyball skills and games using scoops, and volleyball skills and lead-up activities. Mr. Hines was their student teacher for many of these activities. The 6th grade also has Mr. Tower as their teacher on Mondays and Fridays. As the weather changes please remind your child to always bring his/her P.E. shoes (tennis shoes)
5th & 6th Grade have focused predominately on digital citizenship to start the year. We have done several lessons using Google's Be Internet Awesome which pairs interactive lessons using Pear Deck and then reinforces the skills taught with a game based activity focused on each of the five main categories, Share with Care, Don't Fall for Fake, Secure your Secrets, It's Cool to Be Kind and When in Doubt Talk it Out. All students also had the opportunity to participate in virtual reality using Google Expeditions and VR headsets. We have also had a makerspace day and will be focusing on computer science and coding to round out 2019!