West Elementary News
April 2022
Kinder Spotlight
First Grade Spotlight
Kindergarten Readiness Spotlight
Explore congruent parts
Congruent or not?
Let your child look around the house for different pairs of congruent shapes. How can he show that they’re congruent? He could lay one square coaster on top of another square coaster or one round throw pillow on a second one. Or encourage him to search for things that are divided into congruent shapes, like a window with six congruent rectangular panes.
How many parts?
Let your child create geometric shapes (square, triangle, rectangle, hexagon) out of play dough. Which ones can he cut into two congruent shapes? He might cut two congruent squares from a rectangle or two congruent rectangles from a square. Does he have a triangle that can be divided into two congruent triangles?
Math+Science Connection April 2020 Edition
Preschool Spotlight
Second Grade Spotlight
Third Grade Spotlight
10:00 National Anthem and Opening Ceremonies
10:15 A.M. RUNNING EVENTS
12:00 NOON LUNCH OR BEFORE
12:45 P.M. FIELD EVENTS
News From Mr. Bjustrom
4th Grade Spotlight
Breakfast Buddies
After School STEM Camp
3rd and 4th Graders used everyday materials to create Paper Plate Racers. Testing was done and modifications were made to the original design.
Reading Tip- Ask Questions Throughout the Reading Process
How can you help your child with this strategy at home?
1. Model this questioning process by reading to your child and stopping during the reading to question what is going on in the text. Use questions such as: What does this mean? Is this important? How do I think this story will end? What does this word mean? Do I need to read this again? Then have your child practice asking questions independently.
2. Pre-select several stopping points in a text to stop and ask questions. Have your child verbalize questions he/she has at each stopping point.
3. Encourage your child to write down their questions as they read. Be sure the focus is not about finding correct answers but that it is on curiosity, wonder, and asking thought provoking questions.
Allison Behne 2009 The CAFE Book
PBIS/ SEL (Social Emotional Learning)
Our PBIS focus in March and April was communication. We wanted our students to learn how to be communicators in a way that was respectful and had clarity. We focused on using our words to solve a problem or ask for help. We emphasized using manners when talking with both peers and adults. Students learned that there is something called nonverbal communication and it plays a big role in how we interact with others. Encourage your children to continue using these skills throughout the day to carry over the lessons taught at school.
Thank you to Hughes Brennan & Wirtz for sponsoring our PBIS student of the week donuts. We appreciate your support.
EL
On April 20 and 21 Staff and students of Emmetsburg Schools attended an engaging presentation by Joe Beckman. Joe spoke on the importance of human connection and how each of us can be a difference maker. In his story based way, Joe challenged the students to think about how small actions can lead to incredible impact. West students were engaged in the entire presentation learning that human connection matters and there is greatness in each of us. This is a link that Joe shared with us before his presentation about himself and his message. So ask your students "How have you been a difference maker today?"
STEM
April STEM Activity - Color Changing Flowers
This is a simple color changing experiment with carnations to help your child learn about how
water moves through plants and how the plant’s petals can change color.
YOU WILL NEED: White flowers (experiment with different varieties) Vases or mason jars Food coloring HOW TO MAKE COLOR CHANGING CARNATIONS: STEP 1: Trim the stems of the white flowers (carnations work really well but these are what our local store had at the time) at an angle under water. STEP 2: Squirt several drops of each color food into different glasses and fill halfway with water. STEP 3: Place the stems into the vase. STEP 4: Watch your carnations turn colors. MAKE IT AN EXPERIMENT! Ask questions! Try different approaches! Test and explore! What if you cut the stems shorter instead? What if you change the type of flower? How long do you think it will take for the flowers to start to change color? Does one color come through faster than the others? *Info from: littlebinsforlittlehands.com
Upcoming Events
April 29 4th Grade Field Trip
May 4 2 Hr Early Dismissal
May 6 Elementary Track and Field DayMay 11 2nd Grade Field Trip to Nature Center
May 12 3rd Grade Field Trip
May 17 2nd Grade Field Trip
May 118 2 Hr Early Dismissal
May 25 LAST Day of School