The Building Continues...

This week we enjoyed using some new materials like Legos, balsa wood and modeling clay.  It was amazing to see some of the structures that were created!  We also continued using drinking straws and tape and rolled newspapers and tape.  Both of the items made with these objects were very strong and were even able to hold up Ms. Falls' "froggie"!  Several students worked on the computers using a program called "google sketchup" which enabled them to design their own buildings giving them shape, definition and depth.  You can download this program at home by going to: Google Sketchup download.  See the smilebox below for photos from our most recent meeting:

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February Holidays Book Club

The Third Grade Book Club met to celebrate the holidays in February - Groundhog Day, Valentine's Day, President's Day and Mardi Gras.  It was fun to see the variety of books that the girls chose and to be reminded of several books that they enjoyed reading when they were younger (like Arthur and Mallory books!).  Our library has a good selection of books on Presidents if your daughter is interested in checking them out.   Next week, I will be going into the classrooms to read one of my books on the traditions of Mardi Gras, laissez les bons temps rouler!

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Digital Citizenship Speaker to come to the St. Mary's Lower School

One of the most important discussions we can have with our children is about digital citizenship and online safety.  Assistant U. S. Attorney Debra Ireland, part of Project Safe Childhood, will speak at a parent coffee hosted by the Lower School on Thursday, February 9th, from 7:35 - 8:35 a.m.  She will discuss digital footprints, cyber bullying, online safety and more.  Following her presentation, she will meet with 3rd and 4th grade students for an age appropriate discussion on digital citizenship.  We hope you will join us for this important conversation.

Enrichment Cluster continued...

Here are some photos from last Friday's session -

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Calling All Architects, Artists and Tower Builders!

We enjoyed learning at our last Enrichment Cluster meeting with Mr. Rob Norcross an Architect with Looney, Ricks, Kiss Architects.  He shared photographs of projects that he has worked on here in Memphis like the FedEx Forum, Autozone Park,  and the Memphis Central Library.  Mr. Norcross also shared a new project that he is working on using buses as "mobile farmer's markets" to provide access to fresh vegetables and food to people throughout Memphis.  St. Mary's first grader Annie Gowan shared blueprints from a recent renovation that she had done at her house and Mr. Norcross pointed out different design elements that it contained.  We then had him give us tips about the structures that we built last week, discussing what made some of them stronger than others. 

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Enrichment Cluster Links:
http://www.math-kitecture.com/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/index.html
http://www.archkidecture.org/
http://www.sweethome3d.com/index.jsp

Welcome 2012

The new year is off to a fun start with lots of great activities including the gathering of the Third Grade Book Club and the continuation of our Enrichment Cluster groups that begin right before the Christmas break.  The Book Club met to discuss some of our favorite characters in books.  It is always such fun to share our thoughts about books and to give recommendations to our friends.  I have made a Smilebox of photos from our lunch meeting and from the Enrichment Cluster that Ms. Falls and I are collaborating on with budding artists, architects and tower builders in 1st-4th grades.  Enjoy!

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Measurement Fun!

We had fun in the Think Tank today doing measurement activities to support a Second grade collaborative project between special subjects and the classroom teachers constructing kites. Here is a link to some of the online games that we did (I will also put the link in the "math resources" folder you can find by clicking on the tab at the top of this blog).
Second Grade Measurement Activities