Thursday and Friday

Howdy all, and thanks for checking in. Before I forget tomorrow is a school-wide spirit day. The kids are allowed to wear pajamas. Hopefully we can just sleep the day away!

We are having a good time in the fifth grad constructing our model of the solar system. As they start the final touches of their planets, the fourth grade will begin constructing their landform models. We'll be constructing a papier-mache volcano to start with, and it just might erupt in the near future. We'll keep you posted.

Kids should be diligently working with their science experiments over the next two weeks, as the due date will creep up on us very quickly. Next Tuesday the kids will need to submit an update as to how far they have progressed with their overall effort. On Monday, I will provide the kids with poster board for their reports. Under no circumstances should kids buy those giant white tri-fold boards for this project.

Tonight, the kids are responsible for the following:

fourth-

- Saxon 108
- Stars vocabulary
- Stars chapter 7
- finish penpal letters if you have not done so

fifth-

- Saxon 108
- Willy vocabulary
- Willy chapter 7

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant

appeasing a student request

Wednesday

Howdy all, and thanks for checking in. I'd like to again extend a hearty thanks to Melina Dames, Linda Moore and Ellen Abelar for coming along with the fifth grade to NASA yesterday. We had a very interesting afternoon. And we'd also like to thank Grace Nigh for making herself available to stay with the fourth grade.

The kids are getting a little flustered with their science projects, partly because I am asking them to be extremely meticulous with their effort. Tomorrow, each student will need to submit the following information on lined paper:

1. a hypothesis that explains what they feel the results of their experiment will be, and WHY they are expecting said results. Don't skimp on details.

2. a materials list that details all supplies that will be used during the course of the experiment.

3. a step-by-step account of how the experiment will be carried out.

Other than the hypothesis, each student is responsible for Saxon 107 and should be continuing their effort with this week's vocabulary.

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant

Monday & Tuesday

Howdy all, and thanks for checking in. We have a hectic week in front of us as we juggle readings and projects. The kids should be working on their science projects with the goal of drafting a hypothesis and procedures list for Thursday of this week.

I'll be out with the fifth grade tomorrow at NASA, and Grace Nigh will be here with the fourth grade. The kids will be working with her on their new science unit; changes to the earth's surface.

Since I won't be back on campus until Tuesday evening, I am posting Monday's and Wednesday's work here:

Fourth-

- Monday Folder
- Number the Stars vocabulary
- Number the Stars chapters 4 (Monday) and 5 (Tuesday)
- Saxon 105 (Monday) 106 (Tuesday)
- Science hypothesis

Fifth-

- Monday Folder
- Willy Freeman vocabulary
- Willy Freeman chapters 4 (Monday) and 5 (Tuesday)
- Saxon 105 (Monday) 106 (Tuesday)
- Science hypothesis
- must bring sack lunch on Tuesday

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant

Thursday & Friday

Howdy all, and thanks for checking in. We had a very nice day. The fourth grade was able to hear from and correspond with their pen pals in Spain, while the fifth grade began their work on our replica of the solar system. Papier mache is a blast! We had a good laugh when we realized that if we were to recreate the planets to scale that Jupiter would be 12 feet across in comparison to our little 14 inch Earth. At least we aimed high! The kids are getting psyched for NASA next Tuesday, and we are nearly set to launch. Bad pun day, eh?

The Investigative Questions for the upcoming science experiments are looking promising. Each student got their question back from me today with leading questions and concerns as to how best approach their next steps.

The kids are responsible for the following tonight:

Fourth-

- Saxon 103
- Number the Stars vocab
- study biomes for tomorrow's quiz
- read chapter 3 of Number the Stars

Fifth-

- Saxon 103
- Willy Freeman vocab
- read chapter 3 of Willy Freeman

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant

Wednesday

Howdy all, and thanks for checking in. The kids are responsible for the following tonight:

Fourth-

- Saxon 102
- Number the Stars vocabulary
- science investigative question
- book report
- continue studying for Friday's biome quiz

Fifth-

- Saxon 102
- Willy Freeman vocabulary
- science investigative question
- book report

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant

Spring Fever has Sprung!

Howdy, and thanks for checking in. With the Break looming and warm weather on the horizon, your children have gone a bit batty. We had a lovely discussion this afternoon about respect and responsibility for one's self on campus, as the good traits we've modeled throughout the year seem to be less important these days. The kids might accuse me of "turning to the dark side" in the next few days, but I'll be cracking the proverbial whip until we are back up to par.

Yes, the assignments do seem to be piling on as the year winds down, but I am only introducing projects incrementally. Still, the monthly book report and investigative question for the science project are both due on Thursday. Beyond that, the kids are responsible for the following:

Fourth-

- Saxon 101
- Number the Stars chapter 2
- Number the Stars vocabulary
- study for Friday's biome quiz

Fifth-

- Saxon 101
- Willy Freeman chapter 2
- Willy Freeman vocabulary

Respectfully, Mr. Bryant