We Have Arrived in the LAND DOWN UNDER!

Hard to believe, but we have arrived safely and soundly in the great country of AUSTRALIA! We have learned that it is the world's smallest continent and also the only continent that is an island.  Australia is full of rich history as well as many amazing, unique animals. Soon we will be painting, stuffing and studying all of these animals and they will fill our classroom. Take a look below at the AMAZING mural a former parent painted for us! WOW! THANK YOU SO MUCH, Michelle (Carmen and Wolfgang's mom).....we are truly visiting THE LAND DOWN UNDER! We can appreciate the beauty every day!

Take a look at the pictures below from our language arts block. The children reviewed their spelling words, completed a variety of Flat Stanley activities, created Aussie puppets and began their Australian journal..just to name a few of the activities they got to enjoy:

Australian ABC word order!

Guided Reading with Ms. Lorfing!

Flat Stanley extension activities....the kids were multiplying and they didn't even know it!

Making Words with Mrs. Waller...this week we focused on "sh" and "ch" as we made every single spelling word!

Our first Australian journal activity!

More FLAT STANLEY activities!

In math this week we have started our study of time!  The children are learning to read an analog clock and also how to write the time the digital way.  They know that: hour is the short word, so hour is the short hand.....minute is the long word, so minute is the long hand! A chant we do to help us remember! This can be a very hard concept for many! Thursday we went out into the commons to make an life-sized clock. We used a yard stick for the short hand and a broom for the minute hand. Each child had their own little clocks to create the time while two friends made the time on the clock in our commons. See the pictures below!  If your child has an analog watch, it would be great to have them start wearing it.....ask them the time when the minute hand is on the 12 or the 6! Take it further if you can! 
Wednesday, Ms. Lorfing reviewed basic addition facts 0-20 with the children and they took part in their very first timed test. We don't do many...but this helps them begin to recall their facts more quickly as we prepare for second grade! 

The kids are showing the time 3:30!

Reviewing math facts before the timed test!

Math Facts!

Alex places the number 6 on the clock!

Griffin and Maddie in the middle of making the time! What time will it be?

In social studies the children have begun their study of Australia! They are already learning about the many different animals that are unique to Australia. Thursday, Ms. Lorfing introduced the children to the Australian flag and its history. Your children are soaking it all in!

In TNT on Wednesday we had our big animal reveal....similar to our famous American reveal, the students received a brief summary of the unique Australian animal and then we announced which student would study that animal.  The children were so excited!

THE BLUE-TONGUED SKINK

THE BLACK SWAN

So happy for our FRIENDS!

THE DINGO!

THE GALAH!

MORE EXCITEMENT!

THE GREAT WHITE SHARK!

THE RED KANGAROO!

DRAWING AT INDOOR RECESS!
....some children could not wait to start drawing their animals!

THE FAIRY PENGUIN!

THE KOOKABURRA!

In Hands-on Science this week we took a further look at water and oil.  Last week we discovered that the two liquids do not mix as we created our Lava Love Lamps. This week we combined the two liquids and then dipped a feather in the mixture to discover what would  happen to the feather. How hard is it to clean? What would happen to an animal if it was covered in oil? Could it still swim? Could it still fly? Would it survive? 

Pouring the oil into the water...the oil spill!

Dipping the feather in the mixture.....

Attempting to clean the feather off in a cup of clean water....????

SPELLING
Focus skill: Variant Vowel /o^/a

1. wall

2. walk

3. talk

4. draw

5. claw

6. seesaw

7. pause

8. author

9. hall

10.straw

Challenge Words

11. Sydney

12. rainforest

13. March

14. coral

“Surprise the Teacher Word”

15. your Australian animal

REMINDERS

Monday, February 23rd Australian animal painting....if you have volunteered, come with your painting clothes on! We will see you at 9:15! 
****Please also send your children in painting clothes on Monday. We have shirts they can wear over their clothes and we will try our best, but we can't promise a paint free child at the end of the day!
Thursday/Friday March 5th & 6th Parent/Teacher conferences-NO SCHOOL for students

*****Please note that your child's Australian animal will come home painted either Monday (2/23) or Tuesday (2/24).....we have to wait for them to dry and get them prepared to come home! They will then be due back to school by Monday, March 9th!

We have had a great week!  See you soon. Have a great weekend!
Sara and Carey