3rd, 4th and 5th Grade Newsletter October 26, 2009

3rd, 4th and 5th Grade Newsletter
October 26, 2009

Bartlett Cove Field Trip
We will be going to Bartlett Cove on Wednesday to learn about water quality testing. I will let students know tomorrow what time we will be leaving—we might be leaving before lunch. That would mean that students should bring a packed lunch. Stay tuned for more details.

350 Bags!
We did it! We sewed 350 bags last Friday. For some children (and adults!) it was the first time they had ever used a sewing machine! Tomorrow we will be talking about how to distribute them to the community. We will also be making than-you cards for all of our wonderful adult volunteers that came into the school on Friday to help us. Also—tonight on APRN there will be a news story about the entire project! You can listen to it on public radio or online!

Pumpkin Carving
Pumpkin carving will be on Friday—students can bring knives to school for this.

Paragraph a Week
The assignment this week is “Wonderful Word Choice.”

Word of the Week: condescending

Mrs. Brice's Mice

Rent a Third Grader

3rd, 4th and 5th Grade Newsletter
October 12, 2009

Last week we:
...had a community potluck and open-house...50% of us walked or biked to school for National Walk or Bike to School Day...we participated in an international reading celebration celebrating Eric Carle—(We made people out of paper painted at the open house on Tuesday and the 3rd-5th performed a reader’ theater for the K-2.)...our class was able to practice using fire extingusihers with Gus!

350 International Day of Climate Action
The K-5th grade decided that the entire school should make 350 t-shirt bags to give to the community to help to lessen the amount of plastic bags used! Wow! That is a lot of bags. We will have a sewing workshop on October 23rd at the school. We are already beginning to collect the t-shirt in a large box in the multi-purpose room. We are still looking for more! If you would like to come to school on that day to help sew (and bring your sewing machine) we would love to have your help.

3rd-5th Grade Blog
Check out our class blog! www.gustavus345.blogspot.com Students have started to post their video book reviews. Additionally, Emily and her family have been keeping a blog about their travels and adventures. It is www.vandenbergadventures.blogspot.com

Paragraph a Week
The paragraph assignment this week is “What Would You Do?” This paragraph assignment is an essay or letter written to the newly formed student council about what you would like to see happen or change in the school.

Word of the Week: radius

Boxcar Children #2

Diary of a Wimpy Kid 3

Mummies in the Morning

3rd, 4th and 5th Grade Newsletter
October 5, 2009

Science with Ice Cream
Last week we culminated our study of matter in science by making ice cream! It was a beautiful day (and Maní’s birthday!) so we were able to take it outside. Thanks to Marianne Chase for all of her help and wonderful goodies to top the ice cream with!

Community Potluck and Open-House
Tuesday, October 6th at 6pm join us at school for a potluck and open house. It is a great chance to see all of the work that students have been doing.

National Walk or Bike to School Day
On Wednesday, October 7th ride or bike to school or work! Ellie told us all this morning that if 50% of us walk or bike to school on Wednesday she will wear something outrageous to our morning assembly!

Reading Celebration!
On Thursday afternoon we will be joining other Alaskans in a worldwide reading of Eric Carle’s book The Very Hungry Caterpillar. All Gustavus youth (pre-schoolers, younger siblings, etc!) are invited for an afternoon of reading and art. Parents can come too! The 3rd-5th grade will perform a Reader’s Theater of the story and everyone will create collages in the style of Eric Carle. See you there!

350 International Day of Climate Action
On Friday we will be having a special meeting (along with the K-2) to talk about October 24, 2009. It is an International Day of Climate Action and we plan to participate. Check out the website: www.350.org and watch for more information in next week’s newsletter.

Book Orders
Book orders are due tomorrow (even if you order online)! Don’t forget that you can now place your orders online.

October Reading Goal
The reading goal for October is 600 minutes. Keep bringing in those signed planners!

Paragraph a Week
The paragraph assignment this week is “Imagination!”

Word of the Week: watershed

3rd, 4th and 5th Grade Newsletter
September 28, 2009


Glenn’s Ditch
Last week we had a blustery, but exciting, walk to the ocean along Glen’s Ditch! I do not think that anyone returned to the school completely dry. However, everyone returned with big smiles and good stories.

Language Arts
We finished reading The Chalk Box Kid and completed a final project based on the book. In the photographs above you can see the project as a work-in-progress. You will have to stop by the school to see it finished! This week we will be starting new books.

Science with Ice Cream
On Friday we will be making ice cream with the middle school students as a part of our study of the states of matter. We will be making vanilla ice cream and if your child would like to bring toppings they can. Please send enough with them to share with everyone.

Paragraph a Week
The paragraph assignment this week is “A Great Day.”

Word of the Week: torrent