February 2015 Happenings
Searingtown School-Herricks UFSD
welcome to the february edition of the searingtown happenings!
Kindergarten
What a busy month February is! In kindergarten, we counted up all the way to 100, for the 100th day of school! We had wonderful activities for the whole grade, with kind parent volunteers who came to work at the many hundred activity centers. We made 100 crowns, learned which weighed more – 100 counters or 100 pegs- at the weighing center, made projects of 100 stamps and built with 100 cubes. Counting by tens, we labeled our work and enjoyed our special day. In other math we have compared shapes and used geometry to begin thinking about fractions (how many small triangles fit inside a trapezoid?). We have also learned positional words and reviewed our left and right!
As writers, we are working on our How – To books, teaching each other how-to- jump rope, swim, and how to go to the beach! We are working on sounding out our words as we write and reading our own writing to ourselves and our writing partners. When we read to our partners, we are retelling stories, sharing strategies, and finding sight words in our books. The kindergarteners are reading more than ever before!
We were very lucky this month to learn about the importance of leaders such as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Booker T. Washington. They all persevered as they worked for their goals and they never gave up! We were also fortunate to see the author and illustrator Bryan Collier as a visiting author to Searingtown. He was inspiring as was his artwork. The students really enjoyed his visit!
Grade 1
What's Happening in First Grade?
It was a FANTASTIC SNOWY FEBRUARY for the FIRST GRADERS at Searingtown School. We were so busy celebrating so many exciting events (in between snow storms). This month, we learned about two very famous presidents, Abraham Lincoln and George Washington and why we celebrate their birthdays in February. We also celebrated Valentine’s Day and shared special Valentine’s Day cards with each other. Most importantly we celebrated the 100th Day of School on Wednesday, February 25, 2015. We had been waiting very long for this big day by counting each of our school days. We did 100 exercises, estimated what 100 objects looks like, made 100 cheerio necklaces, and read great 100th day stories.
In Writing Workshop, we completed our nonfiction “expert” books and we will begin our new unit writing our very own “reviews” of things we love. In Reading Workshop we continue to talk about the great fiction characters we love so much. We are also continuing to add to the many strategies we already have to help us figure our tricky words. In math we continue to talk about place value and counting and adding two-digit numbers. We can’t wait to see what March brings us!
Grade 2
Searingtown School’s Second Graders held their annual Heritage Celebration as a culminating activity of their unit of study of Families, Traditions, and Cultures. The celebration included a wonderful concert that included such songs as “Places in the World,” “Teaching Peace,” “Hooray for the World,” and “Four Hugs a Day,” “May All Children.” After the concert students and parents alike feasted on an incredible spread of favorite and traditional foods.
Through their study students learned geography and history through songs, stories, map work, and creating books their All About Me Books. They learned that America is a nation made up of many different heritages and family traditions with the same goals and dreams. They learned that by understanding others and accepting differences that they are messengers of peace.
Click on the Grade 2 Heritage Day link below to view a slideshow!
Grade 3
February was a very busy month in third grade. In addition to snow and frigid temperatures, the third grade enjoyed many exciting things! We had a lot of fun during Jump Rope for Heart. We learned how important it is to have a healthy heart and raised money to help support the American Heart Association. We practiced diligently for our first concert, and celebrated the 100th day of school by doing 100 exercises. We travelled to the theater and saw a play for Black History month, and we met author/illustrator Bryan Collier thanks to our PTA! Of course we are also working very hard on our Math, Reading, Writing, Science, and Social Studies skills!
Today and everyday we are working together to support and encourage each other to always do our best.
grade 4
Our fourth graders have had many exciting experiences this February. We have participated in Jump Rope for Heart, bought goodies at the Valentine’s Day Bake sale, and adventured out to Northport to see the theatrical presentation of “Schoolhouse Rocks”. We have finished our reading unit in historical fiction, and wrapped up our study of Native Americans. Explorers here we come.
Fourth grade also investigated the complex world of fractions and have enjoyed the whole thing. We began to explore the world of fractions and how to utilize more complex computations and problem solving skills to help understand more sophisticated concepts.
Fourth graders are looking forward to the warmer weather of March!
Grade 5
February’s cold and snowy weather didn’t stop our fifth graders from working hard. Students continued their investigation of addition and subtraction of fractions and then dove deep into the investigation of the multiplication of fractions. Our fifth grade mathematicians learned how to multiply whole numbers by a fraction, multiply a fraction by a fraction, find a fraction of a measurement, and solve problems using addition, subtraction and multiplication of fractions. Students did a fine job representing their work using tape diagrams and area models.
Our historical fiction readers have gained perspective and respect for the courageous characters they’ve met in our historical fiction stories. Examining westward expansion, immigration, slavery, Civil War, World War II time periods, our students were able to see how characters’ choices impacted history. Viewing theme and characters’ lessons across multiple texts and time periods led our students to the realization that ultimately the human spirit holds more power than any of the oppressive factors throughout history.
Fifth graders are integrating their social studies investigations with their informational writing. Our learners are researching specific topics that have to do with the westward expansion era and are becoming experts on that topic. It’s been exciting to witness the students as they make connections between their independent research and the collective learning in social studies. In our informational writing, our research writers are learning note-taking skills, annotation, the skill of generating theories, making time lines, examining specific geography, the impact of cause and effect of events, primary sources and in addition specific authors’ styles.
Viewing the Lewis and Clark film at the IMAX Theater at the Cradle of Aviation in Garden City was a highlight for our fifth graders. They loved witnessing history come alive in 3D. Our students were impressed by the bravery and inquisitive nature of the explorers, as well as the strength and cooperation of Sacajawea. Who could believe that this brave Native American woman with infant child in hand played such an important role in America’s westward adventure?
Library
On February 24th award winning author/illustrator/artist BRYAN COLLIER visited Searingtown School. What an amazing and inspiring speaker! Bryan showed us his original artwork; read books to us; and gave us the DETAILS behind the stories. Most of all, he reminded us not to be so busy and consumed with our own lives that we miss the details right in front of us. We will always remember the superstars he discovered in the audience, his empathy and passion, and his reminder to make sure we know what the color of the day is! Thank you Bryan for touching our hearts and thank you to our amazing PTA for providing this wonderful experience!
mrs. renna's art world
All classes were invited to make a piece of art work for the upcoming Chinese American Association of North Hempstead Art Show which is being held this year in the Herricks Community Center on the 2nd floor from March 3rd- March 29th. The awards ceremony will be on March 16th.
5th Grade- All of the Fifth Graders will or have attended an art exhibit at the Hillwood Museum where they create their own recycled “bomb” installation in the museum. The term “bomb” refers to current Graffiti artists’ methods for reworking another artist’s already completed visual image or graffiti installation without permanently damaging or covering the existing art. The students observed and discussed the newly finished graffiti images that were commissioned by Hillwood for the walls of the museum itself. The students then had the wonderful opportunity to take their own recycled items (plastic bottles, towel rolls, plastic containers etc.) and recover them in brightly colored duct tape (red, violet, magenta, yellow, cyan, lime green) to make their “bombs”. The individual classes then had time to choose the location for the bomb inside the museum; they consulted with each other on how best to arrange the pieces together to visually effect a change in the space of the museum. These brightly colored items were a great addition each time inside the museum in various locations near and around the graffiti.
4th grade classes worked on creating black and white fractal designs out of paper. This project required that students learn how to mirror designs and shapes and how to repeat a design in a smaller and smaller format. It also required that the students learn how to create full symmetry- side to side and top to bottom.
3rd Grade finally completed their quotations in script on watercolor backgrounds. This was a long and painstaking process for all of the third graders but they persevered and completed some beautiful script quotations on uplifting colored backdrops. They were a perfect visual counter point to the snow we have had.
2nd Grade learned how to create patterns- both linear and all over. Their final projects for this are lovely bold designs surrounded by original linear borders.
1st Grade learned all about colors from primary, to secondary to learning the difference between warm and cool colors. They even had their first exploration with complementary colors.
Kindergarten is coming to the Art Room! Because of snow days and delayed openings we have not been able to complete our portfolios but we are well on our way and it is a pleasure to have them coming to the room!!
ESL
Kindergarten ESL students enjoyed reading the book, Snowman at Night, by Caralyn Buehner. We discussed various winter activities we enjoy, just like the snowmen in the story. We made snowmen with marshmallows and wrote about the snowmen. Kindergarteners also enjoyed reading the book, The Mitten, by Jan Brett. We sequenced the events in the story and retold the story. We also learned about opposites.
First Grade ESL students learned about presidents, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. We also read the books, The Mitten, and The Hat, by Jan Brett. We compared the two stories and learned about the author, illustrator, Jan Brett.
Ms. Vanore's second grade students wrote a recipe for a "Snazzy Snowman" snack! The children studied a photograph of the finished product. They tried to figure out the ingredients and utensils needed. Then they listed the steps, using precise vocabulary. As they excitedly made their snacks, the students discussed preparation tips. Their poster-size recipe is displayed in Room 14, along with photos and captions.
This month, the Searingtown ESL Department welcomed back Ms. Michelle Kaplan from maternity leave!
Music
Third Grade Debut Recital
The Third Graders had their first Recital on February 17, 2015. The young musicians did a wonderful job of showing their supportive audience the progression of skills that they've learned since September. Their performance included everything from Mary Had A Little Lamb to Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.
All County Music Festival
Congratulations to our fantastic 5th Grade students who participated in the All-County Band, Orchestra and Chorus Festival at Tilles Center. Each student did a great deal of work to prepare the challenging music for this festival and did a terrific job of representing Searingtown School. We had the special honor of Genesis Kang earning First Chair in the Orchestra at her seating audition. That is the top spot for all violins attending in our division.
4th and 5th Grade Orchestra
The 4th and 5th graders are working diligently to learn music with challenging notes and bowings. Students are working a great deal to focus on bow direction and articulation in addition to playing chromatic passages with new notes.