Technology Time's Up!

As the end of the year races towards us, students are busying working to get their projects finished so we have had to resort to special measures! It turns out that we can squeeze two classes in the Tech Lab - here you can see the 4th Graders working on their Lego Animations and 3rd Graders continuing with their English Spanish Dictionaries, while Keyon auditions for the role of Tech Teacher. Meanwhile in 2nd Grade the students have pretty much finished their Butterfly Lifecycle PowerPoints - we just need the caterpillars to get a move on so that we can include photos of the Butterfly Release Party - and 5th Graders are busy building their Kodu games!

Last Chance!!

This week was the final opportunity for students to check out Library books.  Don't forget that all Library books are due Friday, May 30.  If your child doesn't return their book, your account will be billed.  Until payments are made, your report card is held.  Notices were sent home today (Thursday) for the books that were overdue.   Many students have books out, but they're not overdue -- yet!  Please contact me if you have questions at lduffina@chestnuthillacademy.com. Thank you!

4th grade- Rockin' the recorders!

It has been great working on the recorder/guitar unit with our 4th graders. They are a fun group! In recorder class, students have been working on The Lion Sleep Tonight, Shades of Blue, and the melody from "Party Rock Anthem." I've also heard some great solos to boot...Ode to Joy and Happy Birthday, in a minor key. Great job students!

My favorite time of year is here...

...and no I don't mean Teacher Appreciation, although that is AWESOME!, I mean 4th Grade Lego Animation time! This is such a fun project and the students look forward to it enormously. We started with a brainstorming session this week and we will be making our sets next week. Some students would like to bring their own Legos (or similar sized posable characters) in from home. This is fine with me, but I have explained that I do not want them to bring in big expensive models, and I do not expect you to go Lego shopping. I have a Lego supply at school that students who do not have their own Legos can use! The photo is nothing to do with the project - it is one of the lovely bouquets I was given for Teacher Appreciation week!

Feliz Cinco de mayo!!

iii CINCO DE MAYO !!!

This week K-5th grade celebrated Cinco de mayo in Spanish class. 

We learned about Cinco de mayo's history and how it is NOT Mexico's Independence Day!

This is a common misconception in the USA! Mexico’s Independence Day is on September 16th.  Cinco de mayo (May 5th) celebrates the unity, bravery, and pride of the Mexican people after winning the battle of Puebla against the French on May 5th(Cinco de mayo), 1862.

Fourth graders made pinatas in art class (gracias Mrs. Choi) and donated their pinatas to each homeroom class. Each class broke a pinata and ate chips and salsa to celebrate. Check out the pictures below of our fun FIESTA!

Overdue Library Books

As the end of the year approaches, please be on the lookout for overdue notices from the Library.  Many will be sent home on April 25 in Friday folders.  If you have questions, please contact Mrs. Duffina at lduffina@chestnuthillacademy.com.
Don't forget to look for books in lockers, under beds, and in cars.  When I remind most of the children that they have an overdue book, they usually know where it is.  A gentle reminder from home to bring it back to school is appreciated.  Thank you!

Working with Reference Materials

For the past few weeks, students have been working with dictionaries and atlases.  The older students have been using almanacs and encyclopedias as well. We've had scavenger hunts, quizzed one another, and taken assessments.  By far their favorite activity has been looking through the atlases to show their friends where they have been!

 

Birthday Books

If your child has had a recent birthday or will be celebrating one soon, why not think about donating a book to the CHA Library?  I have many students who love a certain book which is not already in our catalog, and they donate it to the Library.  We usually read it aloud, and then I catalog it for check out for others to read.  If you're interested in donating a book, please let me know, and I can give you a list of suggestions.  Thanks!

Ski Season -Spanish

 

 Fourth and fifth grade students had fun creating miniature skiing/snowboarding people during ski season. They described where they were on the mountain in both Spanish and English and created a ski person to go with it. Theses little skiers/snowboarders turned out wonderful!

Cloud Describing Maps in 4th grade

 Fourth graders finished up their Cloud Describing maps three weeks ago and completed a conversation circle asking each other "Como eres?"(What are you like?).

Read Across America Week

Thanks to CHA's Student Council, the students have enjoyed many activities focusing around "Read Across America Week."  In Library, students had the opportunity to hear books written by Dr. Seuss and vote on their favorite out of 9 popular titles.  The Lorax was the clear winner, followed by How the Grinch Stole Christmas, then Yertle the Turtle.  Results are posted outside the Library door. 
We also discussed the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award given each year for the best children's book for beginning readers.  This year's winner was The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli.  The students enjoy hearing these books, regardless of their age.  They make wonderful read-aloud books too!

 

Another Fun Week in Technology

This week the Second Grade students who had Technology with me had fun creating whacky experiments using the Crazy Machines. The students had to either make something move or blow up and most managed both. I believe there are versions available in the Apple and Android app stores.

Third Grade students have been working on their 'Rocks and Minerals' PowerPoints. The purpose of this project is to showcase what they have learned in their science lessons with Mrs. Box. Last week they made a bare bones skeleton comprising the seven slides they will need, this week they added their fact sentences, and when we get back from break we will be adding images, transitions and animations.

Fourth Graders have been working on their Solar System Spreadsheets. Students are using the Kids Astronomy website to gather all sorts of data about the planets in our solar system. Last week they created a data table and this week they learned how to create charts. When we get back from break they will output their worksheets to a printer or PowerPoint so that we can share them with you.


 
 

Finally, Fifth Graders have been working on the Dream Houses they are designing using the 3D drawing program Sketchup. When we get back from break they will be downloading accessories form the 3D warehouse to complete their designs, and the final step will be to use Screen-O-Matic to create animated presentations so that they can share their designs with you.

4th and 5th --Art Docent from Seattle Art Museum

                     

An Art docent came from Seattle Asian Art Museum and talked about 'Asian Art Yesterday and Today.'
4th and 5th grade students had a great time learning, creating art and playing game at the end.
Thank you CHAPTER for the great learning opportunity.

4th--Abstract painting inspired by Wassily Kandinsky

This lesson was inspired by Russian artist, Wassily Kandinsky. He is considered as the inventor and theorist of abstract painting in the 20th century.  4th Graders emulated Kandinsky's style.

We talked about the great influence music had on making his creations.We focused on using different types of lines, organic shapes, geometric shapes and the concept of composition.
We also discussed abstract art and how color can change a mood or express a feeling. 
The students had a great time creating colors that express their feeling by mixing primary colors.

"Color is the keyboard, the eyes are the harmonies, and the soul is the piano with many strings.  The artist is the hand that plays, touching one key or another, to cause vibrations in the soul."

                                  --Wassily Kandinsky

In Technology this week...

This week students said farewell to Type to Learn 3, next week everyone will be migrated to Type to Learn 4 as part of our campaign to make the new server happy! In Second Grade students also discussed different types of Simple Machines (technology without engines!) and played the EdHeads Simple Minds game which you can find on http://www.mrsmorlidge.com/Technology.htm

Third Grade students practiced their keyboarding and embarked on the Zoombinis Mountain Rescue Adventure - After the foundation of Zoombiniville, the Zoombinis live in peace until a small group of them get trapped inside a cave seeking shelter from a storm. They meet up with strange creatures called Boolies who occupy a city known as Booliewood. The students challenge is save the Zoombinis by overcoming various obstacles using their logic and problem solving skills.

Fourth Grade students have embarked on an adventure of a different sort - using Excel! This week we discussed the structure of a worksheet and how to navigate around one. One of our very well informed students just happened to know that the maximum column header is xfd - I set the students a little challenge to see if they could find the furthest extent of the rows! Students also decoded a mysterious  message from Harry the Hamster who has been on his travels.

Finally, Fifth Grade students started wrapping up their Guatemala web pages. They have been using Expression Web to generate the code required, although most of them would prefer to play with html! All will be revealed this time next week.

Miss Alaineus: A Vocabulary Disaster

In the upcoming week in Library, students will be hearing and discussing Miss Alaineus: A Vocabulary Disaster by Debra Frasier.  This book, written by the author of On the Day You Were Born, follows Sage, a fifth grader who has misheard and misunderstood her teacher's weekly vocabulary homework.  This "disaster" eventually turns into a triumph as it inspires a vocabulary parade.  CHA will be participating in a Top Hat Parade on Friday, January 31 and this book helps them prepare for the project.  Focused around Science vocabulary, the Top Hat Parade allows each child to create a top hat using a Science word that is grade appropriate.  More information about the project will be sent home soon by your child's science teacher.

CHA Joins the Hour of Code

More than 14 million people took part in this week's Hour of Code, including all our CHA students and a number of their parents by the sound of it! Organized by the Partovi brothers and sponsored by a wide range of tech companies as well as the President, the purpose was to show students that coding can be fun and rewarding. If you want to have a got at home you can find everything you need here http://mrsmorlidge.com/Technology.htm

Sharing Folktales

One way to learn about a country's culture is to read and share folktales.  This week in Library, students have been hearing stories and facts about the countries they are studying for the Multicultural Fair. Kindergarten heard Possum Magic by Mem Fox.  First graders heard two tales from South Africa while second graders heard some animal stories from Brazil.  I found a book written from a Singapore author called The Elephant and the Tree for third grade.  In fourth grade, students heard and shared Greek myths.

A bit of a mixed week in Technology!

As we all know, Technology is wonderful when it is working, but a little frustrating when it isn't! This weeks' plans had a to be a little flexible while we worked around a defunct network switch. Second graders are continuing to work on the KidPix Landform Slideshows that will reinforce what they have been learning in Social Studies. Third graders have been working on their 'All About Me' timelines. Using Microsoft Word and incorporating text boxes, shapes and word art students are creating a pictogram that will depict the main events in their lives so far. Fourth graders finished off their Islandwood movies and if you are a parent of a fourth grader you will be notified how you can share these videos at home. Fifth graders continued to work on their HTML pages. Usually html coding is something we only spend a little time on before I show the students how to use Expression Web to generate the code, but this class is really enjoying writing the code themselves so we are spending a bit longer on this topic! Here is a screenshot of the website Ethan and Mikio are working on!

4th Filed Trip to Chihuly Garden and Glass

4th grade students had a field trip to the Chihuly Garden and Glass at Seattle Center last Thursday!!
It was so much fun and a great learning experience!

A BIG Thank you to CHAPTER and our parent volunteers.