Quote of the Week: “Can butterflies change their color to match their surroundings?”- Zoey

This week we continued to learn about animals in the rainforest and how dangers to the rainforest affect the animals living there. We learned that there are over 1300 different species of birds living in the Amazon rainforest and students made bird masks to represent all of the unique types of birds living there. Student began to collect facts about an animal that they are interested in studying that lives in the rainforest. They got to know about their animal and drew pictures of it. This weekend for homework, student will take what they have learned about their animal and turn it into a fun oral report as if they were the animal (directions to come.) As a special treat this week, forest ecologist (and classroom dad) Jeff Morton came in to speak about plants in the rainforest. He brought in a variety of rainforest plants from the CU greenhouse to show the students and answered all of their burning questions about plants. Jeff also shared stories with the students about his own travel experiences in the rainforest and all of the unique animals he encountered there. Students initiated discussion around ways that we could help save the rainforests and protect the animals living there. These are wonderful conversations that will continue over the coming weeks and be followed by student led actions.

Photos (front page top to bottom): students explore a bromeliad plant native to rainforests that our visiting forest ecologist brought in, students use telescopes to view a mother owl and her three babies that are nesting on our campus, students make bird masks

Photos (back page top to bottom): Trevianna wearing our classroom warm fuzzy which she earned for getting caught in a caring deed, Zoey wearing Spanish moss from the rainforest on her head (neither Spanish, nor moss), students learning about Thailand in our passport program

K/1 Weekly Newsletter - April 27, 2012

Unit of Inquiry Updates

Math Minds at WorkBlue Math:This week the Blue Math Group worked with 2-D pattern blocks creating an animal of their choice. The students recorded their numbers of shapes they used on their data table and as a group we created a graph to help us figure out what shapes we used the most of.  We also explored coins and got to go 'shopping' for various items to purchase with our money.  The students used addition and subtraction to problem solveduring their trip to the store!

Yellow Math Group: The yellow math group focused on doubles and halves this week. We learned what it means to double and half numbers and strategies that we can use to determine solutions, even for large numbers. Students applied their knowledge in a fun game called Doubles Railroad!

Green Math:Our green group explored the concept of area this week, working with square centimeters both whole and part. Next week, we look forward to some exciting work with perimeter and other geometric/measurement concepts!

Red math group:This week the red math group practiced our time telling skills and worked on the concept of elapsed time.  We then moved into a mini-research project which used a survey as a tool to collect data.  Students chose a variable to survey, collected, organized and graphed their data.  We finished out the week with each student analyzing and presenting their data before our Fun Friday math game of Farkle.  Last week, students were able to play a math game for the opportunity to earn one get out of (math) homework free card.  It was a big hit and will continue through the rest of the school year.  Thank you for being supporters of your children and their love of math!

Dates to Remember

May 9th- Thorne Ecological Institute Field Trip (K/1 and 2nd graders)

May 14th- The K/1 play performance of The Great Kapok Tree

Junior Passport ProgramThis week Martha Lanaghen came in to present on Thailand. She shared photos, maps, and stories from her trips there. Martha also taught students some common phrases in Thailand and what they look like in Thai writing. She explained what Thai money was like and how is was different from money in the US. Students learned about the elephant which represents Thailand, as well as the meanings for the different colors on their flag. Martha beautifully tied in her presentation to the K/1 unit of study by talking about the rainforest in Thailand and how it is in danger from deforestation due to logging.