4.18.12 Fifth grade visits Litzsinger Road Ecology Center

Yesterday, the fifth graders spent the morning exploring the creek, woods, and prairies of LREC. They also studied a mounted red tailed hawk that died on the grounds and identified and counted birds at the bird feeders. We’ll compare the types and number of birds we saw today to our bird data that we’ve collected at our school feeders. We certainly haven’t seen wild turkeys at our school feeders!

Litzsinger is an important community resource for us. It is a nearby pocket of natural diversity in our urban/suburban area. It gives students a chance to see/hear/smell/touch/sometimes taste, experience and connect with nature. Students also have the chance to meet and work with naturalists of different generations who have lots to share. Furthermore, these naturalists often compliment our students on their interest, knowledge and level of engagement. Yesterday, one naturalist told me he always signs up when The St. Michael School of Clayton is visiting!

4.18.12 Third grade visits Litzsinger Road Ecology Center

It was a beautiful day for third grade to visit LREC! The students were able to spend time exploring the creek, woods, and prairies, studied a mounted red tailed hawk that died on the grounds, and identified and counted birds at the feeders. We’ll compare the types and number of birds we saw today to our bird data that we’ve collected at our school feeders. We certainly didn’t see wild turkeys at our school feeders!

Litzsinger is an important community resource for us. It is a nearby pocket of natural diversity in our urban/suburban area. It gives students a chance to see/hear/smell/touch/taste (sometimes!), experience and connect with nature. Students also have the chance to meet and work with naturalists of different generations who have lots to share.

3rd and 4th Grade Homework 4.18.12

*Reminder: Tomorrow (Thursday) is a SWIM DAY!  Please come to school with all of your swimming gear. (towel, flippers, goggles, swimsuit, DRY clothing)

Richardson

Math:  A- please finish your chapter 8 review.  It is due tomorrow.

3rd LA:  Spelling day 3 and 4 or 5, due Friday

4th LA:  Please finish reading chapter 4 and 5 in The Reptile Room.  Don’t forget, spelling is due Friday.

Ruzicka

3rd LA:  Choose one day to complete for spelling.

4th LA:  Finish your paragraph for class. Due tomorrow.

4.18.12, 6th Grade Homework

Due Tomorrow:

• Swimming!

Math:

• Math (Sanders)- workbook pages 113-114
• Math (Bailey)- text book pg 273 #5-8, pg 403 #7-9, pg 409 #10-13

Language Arts:

• C Group: Literature Circle- Read and complete discussion questions
• The Devil’s Arithmetic: Chapters 6-8
• Tuck Everlasting: Chapters 6-8
• The Silent Boy: Chapters 5-6

Studio:

• D Group: Studio

1. Read the three websites especially the Princeton gargoyle stories.
2. Do a small drawing developing your own gargoyle, grotesque, or boss.
3. Write a paragraph describing your drawing.
4. The next step in this project will be to make a 3D model in clay from your drawing.
5. These sites should be bookmarked on student ipads.

• http://www.princeton.edu/Mapfiles/gargoyles/
• http://library.wustl.edu/units/spec/archives/gargoyle/
• http://wustl.edu/about/facts/bosses/

Due Friday:

Language Arts:

• D Group: Literature Circle- Read and complete discussion questions
• The Devil’s Arithmetic: Chapters9-11
• Tuck Everlasting: Chapters 9-12

4/18/12-7th/8th grade

Math

7th

No Homework

8th

WB. p.49/1-12, 17, 18

Humanities

Finish conflict paper

The Outsiders- read chapter 10

4.17.12- 2nd Grade Shares During Outdoor Snack

Second Grade enjoyed snack time out on the playground today! The weather was gorgeous and we shared our “When I Grow Up…” paragraphs with each other. After each share, classmates had the opportunity to ask the sharing student 3 questions. Our Second Graders have a wide range of aspirations from scientist to biker to teacher to inventor! Questions included: ” Do you think you will make a good amount of money in that job?” provoking a discussion on salary, minimum wage, sponsors, and hourly pay; “Why do you want to teach Kindergarten?”; “What is dark matter?”; “How long have you played this sport?”; “Will you work with large animals or small animals?”; “Will this job make you famous?” This fun activity coincides with our community unit and gave students the time to think about how they will be involved in their communities when they grow up!

4.18.12 DEVELOPING BODY-MIND-SPIRIT: A “DANCE-OFF” IN 3RD PERFORMING ARTS WHERE EVERYONE’S A WINNER!

Today in performing arts the students organized a fun and highly energetic “Dance-Off” which inspired Rose to try more cartwheels than she ever has and to leap for joy! Dance is one method of cultivating happiness, and is an important part of the St. Michael School community.

4.18.12 5th Grade Homework

Due Tomorrow:

- Math: protractor worksheet. Remember to measure the angles (that wasn’t in the directions on the sheet, but we added it in class)

- Group A: literature circle assignments

- Swimming tomorrow

Due Friday:

- Group B: literature circle assignments

4.18.12 Learning “The Jerk” In 3rd Grade Performing Arts Encourages Expression Through Movement

Drew and the other students in class learned “The Jerk” step from Kendall and Imani today, and then continued to teach other moves and create new ones in an atmosphere of creativity and free expression, before working on a tongue twister for speaking skills practice and doing improv scenes.

4.18.12 An Outside Expert & Family Member Collaborates To Build Sets With The 5th Grade!

Jef is the stepfather of 5th grader Truman, and has volunteered his expertise to help the class create, among other things, a blue whale for one the 5th grade’s plays, “Jonah and the Whale.” The students brainstormed with Jef today and came up with great ideas. Thank you Jef!