The Longhorn Special
News From Your Longfellow Specials Classes
FALL 2016
Michelle Morey, Beth Ackerson, Buffy Quintero, and Michael Prunty
THE SPECIALS TEAM!
News from the Library!
Kinders
First Grade
Second Grade
Third Grade
Fourth Grade
Fifth and Sixth Grades
Scholastic Book Fair
Thursday, Dec 1, 2016, 05:00 PM
Longfellow Elementary School, Seymour Avenue, Iowa City, IA, United States
News From the Music Room!
Getting Into the Groove
Fun with Kinders and First Grade
4th, 5th, and 6th Grade Projects
Kindergarten and 1st Grade Music Informance
Come join us as the kindergartners and first graders share some of the singing, moving, and playing they are doing in music class!
Friday, Dec 16, 2016, 12:45 PM
Longfellow Elementary School, Seymour Avenue, Iowa City, IA, United States
The end of October brought us to many fun, creative, and spooky songs, stories and chants all about our favorite Halloween characters. Ghosts, pumpkins, skeletons, you name it – we’ve done it. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you want to chat about music or your child’s experience in my classroom. We are having so much fun this year and I look forward to what’s next!
Beth Ackerson
Longfellow General Music (K, 1, 4-6)
News From the Art Room!
2nd Grade Monarch Butterflies on Display
Second grade students’ monarch butterfly paintings have been on display the months of October and November at the Educational Services Building (ESC). If you miss them at the ESC, they will also be on display at the Longfellow Art Show on March 30th.
We began our unit of study by talking about what students already knew about monarchs. Students were inspired in learning about the annual of over 2,000 miles from North America to Michoacán, Mexico by monarch butterflies.
Next we looked closely at an image of a monarch. Students noticed the warm colors in the wings: oranges, yellows, and reds. We discussed the symmetry of the wings and the strong black lines that looked like leaves and the beautiful white dots. Then students drew their butterflies trying their best to make the wings symmetrical. During this project students had the chance to hone many technical skills including painting skills: carefully wiping the brush when loading it with color; mixing colors; how to control the brush, and proper cleaning and storage. Students also experimented with oil pastels on top of paint, using a Q-tip to create dot, and also careful cutting skills.
Fall Trees
The Kindergartners completed an interdisciplinary lesson with trees as the subject matter. Trees served as a source of inspiration for drawing and printmaking. The students talked about what they know about trees, and we discussed that soon leaves would begin changing colors. Then students drew trees with oil pastels and some chose to draw themselves, friends, grass, flowers, and other things under the trees. We also learned a song and movement piece about trees.
Next art class the kindergartners had a chance to try out printmaking with fall colors. Students used sponge brushes to print leaves on their trees. We ended class by reading The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. I hope you enjoy their beautiful pieces on display by the Kindergarten rooms!
Zentangles
1st Grade Owls
First grade students created whimsical owls using a crayon resist method and liquid watercolors. Many students who live close to Longfellow School have had a chance to hear or see the neighborhood barred owls. We told stories about our experiences with owls. Next students discussed charateristics of owls: big eyes, feathers, and large wings. Students were encouraged to incorporate pattern and design in their drawings. At the end of art class, my large owl puppet, made an appearance! These works of art were sent home as part of the PTA “Original Artworks” fundraiser.
It is truly a pleasure to work with such creative and inspiring students! Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have questions about your student’s progress in Art this year. The majority of your student’s artwork will be sent home at the end of the year in a portfolio. Also, save the date for the Longfellow Art Show on Thursday, March 30!
News From Physical Education!
For the 3rd through 6th grades the year started very similarly, but moved towards sport units. Classes learned skills and games connected to football, soccer, and recently volleyball.
All grades are enjoying our rhythm unit at the moment. It is great to see students demonstrate their varied talents and how many of them are able to express themselves and have fun through dancing (and get a good workout)!