Friday, December 18, 2009

Last Day Before Break


What a fun day!  The students did a great job following directions on such a packed day!  We started our day with hot chocolate and watching the Polar Express. 

Then we made jingle bell necklaces.  After lunch we finished up the movie and completed a Venn Diagram about how the movie and the book were alike and different. 


Finally we ended our day creating gingerbread houses.  Thanks to the many parents that came to help set up, create, and clean up.  And thank you to everyone that sent in items - the students had a blast!

Have a restful, relaxing, and fun winter break.  See you all in 2010!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Simple Machines


I apologize for having such a long time in between blog posts.  I have been too busy and I need to make more time to blog.

So...here is a quick update on our study of Simple Machines:

We have been focusing on learning about 3 simple machines: lever, incline plane, and pulley.  Some of the ways we have been studying include:
  • reading books about these simple machines
  • writing in our simple machine journals about what we are learning
  • watching videos illustrating how simple machines working
  • performing experiments in the class using each simple machine
One of our favorite ways to learn has been singing our simple machine song.  I have included the lyrics here so your child can sing it to you.
CHORUS: 
Simple machines are all around us,
And they help to get work done.
Reducing the force to life and move things
Let's sing a verse about each one.

Had a lever, with a fulcrum
And I pushed down on one end
Dug some dirt up with my shovel
Rode a seasaw with a friend.

CHORUS

Had a pulley with a grooved wheel
And a rope went round and round
Lifted cars up on a tow truck
Pulled a flag up from the ground.

CHORUS

Had a ramp that slanted upward,
And I called it an incline plane
Rode an escalator to the top floor
Rode a slide with my friend Jane.

CHORUS

Here are a couple of good websites to visit that have games and other activities relating to simple machines.  Enjoy!
http://edheads.org/activities/simple-machines/index.htm
http://www.mos.org/sln/leonardo/inventorstoolbox.html