I really should be heading to bed...

OK...so here is how proud I am of your kids...I have to get up at SIX am tomorrow to be on a baseball field very far away for an 8:30 am game...I SHOULD be sleeping...but I cannot go to sleep without posting about our week...

Ladies and gentlemen...sign your kids up for acting camp...call Hollywood...do something...they are AMAZING actors and actresses! I am so incredibly proud of the work they did on their plays...can you believe they memorized all of that?! And delivered it with such dramatic talent?! WOW.

So...you're probably wondering what else we did this week...I'm sort of wondering that too...just kidding...here goes...

Language Arts...plays, plays, plays...

Science...we are finishing up our Populations unit...look for a unit test sometime soon...I'll let the kids know and it will be written on their agendas. This past week we observed and discussed the anatomy of daphnia. The students read a non-fiction article about daphnia and labeled a scientific drawing. Byputting the daphnia in a large drop of water and using the small circle in the hands lens, the students could see all of the parts that we had read about and discussed...it was so cool! They could count the eggs in the brood pouch! We are doing an experiment to see how fast daphnia reproduce...we put a few daphnia in a vial and recorded the exact number in our science composition books...we'll be checking in on those daphnia regularly to see what the biotic potential of daphnia are in our classroom! On a sad note, our friendly anoles went back to the science center, but it sure was fun caring for them and watching them partake in a real live food chain!

In Math this week we completed a project using our knowledge of perimeter and area. The students designed a garden with at least 5 different vegetables and fruits sections. They had to find the perimeter and area of their gardens and some of the veg/fruit sections. They also had to write a question for another student to solve pertaining to their garden. It was a fun way to review and extend our area/perimeter skills. We will be solving these problems on Tuesday and then heading into something new (that's what I say when I haven't figured out what we're doing next...please forgive me, it was a long week!)

This week we also started the Personal Body Safety Unit. We are piloting this new curriculum and I personally think it is very well written. Your children are doing such a nice job listening, discussing, and respecting each other during this unit. We will finish the five lessons next week and we have a Kids on the Block program this Friday as a culmination of this unit.

As I'm sure you know by now, we have a field trip scheduled for Monday, June 1st to Rose Hill Manor. This field trip ties directly to our Social Studies indicators...

SS.300.50 History
Students will use historical thinking skills to understand how individuals and events have changed society over time.
SS.300.50.01.b Investigate how people lived in the past using a variety
of primary and secondary sources.
SS.300.50.01.b.1 Collect and examine information about people,
places, or events of the past using pictures, photographs, maps, audio or
visual tapes, and/or documents.

This is a fun field trip and we're looking forward to going. If you would like to accompany your child, please send an extra $5 with your child's money and field trip permission slip. I will contact you toward the end of next week to firm up details.

I hope you enjoy this extra long weekend...it's going to be beautiful weather!