Holiday Stations

Today after lunch and recess we had holiday celebrations. Many people sent in goodies and some adults were able to come in and help with a station.

Annika's mom taught us about the Dreidle...

And then students played the game with Ilana's mom...

At one station students cut out paper snowflakes...

And made ornaments at another station with Niskua's mom...

And learned about the Advent Wreath and read Christmas stories at a station with Michael's mom...

And decorated Winter Solstice cookies at a station with Bailey's parents!

Have a great break everyone, whatever you do or don't celebrate!!!

Word Work

Like the magnetic letters in our Daily Five's Word Work station? Then try this online game with 8 letters instead of 9!
Word Work Game

Longhouses

Don't forget to bring in your longhouse sometime next week if you're making one at home! They will go in the display case at school for the month of January!!!

Haudenosaunee Nations

In the days before break we have started a research project about each nation. Students are reading and taking notes in small groups and are later going to present the important information of each nation. Here's a clip of them working diligently!


And since I accidently ended the video clip before remembering that Bailey and Matt were behind the cubbies, here's a picture of them working diligently too!

Coffeyhouse Stories

What a great turnout for Coffeyhouse Stories! We had a nice variety of drinks and snacks but the best part was your stories! Everyone did so well reading them with expression and clarity! Thank you parents and guardians for making it out and supporting our class!

Trout Coloration

Today Bill Foster came in and did a presentation on trout coloration. We saw pictures of trout who live in different environments and saw that their coloration reflected their environment. For example, a trout that lives deep in Cayuga Lake tends to be darker, while a trout living in a clear stream in the fall tends to be colorful, reflecting the leaves. Then students colored their own trout and expressed what kind of environment their trout lives in.

Wampum Belts

Today we started to make Wampum Belts by coloring in squares on a grid. The Haudenosaunee use wampum (shells, beads) as a trade item, or to make beautiful belts to represent stories, history, and civilization. Often parts of the designs represent something. They are purple and white. The purple stands for civics while the white stands for peace.

Longhouse Project!

Yesterday I sent home the project packet for our longhouses. This is not mandatory, but a really fun project you might want to participate in if you have the materials and time! I did this when I was in fourth grade and I never forgot it.
For some inspiration or ideas, here are some pictures of the ones that were made last year:

Coffeyhouse Stories

Flyers were sent home yesterday... it has been decided that "Coffeyhouse Stories" will be Tuesday, December 15th at 6:30pm in Miss Coffey's classroom! Students will be reading the Native American stories they have been working on. Hopefully it won't go later than 7:30 or 8:00.
If you are able, it would be nice if you could bring any of the following:

-***we need someone with AED training to be present***
-hot chocolate
-tea
-coffee
-snacks (like baked goods), etc.

Metric Measurement

Today we started studying the Metric System in math. We discussed places we see things measured using the Metric System, like buying a 2-liter bottle of soda or seeing a temperature listed in degrees Celsius. We have really been concentrating on the fact that there are 10 millimeters (mm) in a centimeter (cm), 10 centimeters (cm) in a decimeter (dc), 100 centimeters in a meter (m) and 1,000 meters (m) in a kilometer (km). Below, Max finds things around the room to measure in centimeters.

Reading Buddies

We have paired up with Ms. Keating's kindergarten class for weekly reading buddies! Both groups love it and the 4th graders are helping the kindergartners learn to read by using the pictures, helping them sound out words, pausing to have them guess the next word, etc.