Geometry

Two-dimensional.  Polygons.  Angles.  Sides.  Triangle.  Quadrilateral.  Pentagon.  Hexagon.  Attributes.  

These are a few of the geometry terms you may have heard your Smartie talking about this week.  Identifying, describing, and creating polygons was the main focus of this week’s lessons.  We are experts at recognizing and characterizing shapes by these attributes:  number of sides and number of angles (corners).   Everyone enjoyed using the geoboards to create polygons.  We even have a geobard app on our iPads.  Next week, we will build on these lessons to combine shapes and build composite shapes.  

PEF Grant

The Pickerington Education Foundation has informed me that my grant proposal was selected to be fully funded.  The grant, Digital Literacy:  Advancing Classroom Education, will provide our classroom with an additional iPad mini.  Digital literacy is an integral component to the Common Core Standards.  The skills of critically navigating, consuming, and producing digital text and media has increasingly significant influence on a student’s success as an adult.  Digital literacy in our classroom will help to provide an engaging, rigorous, and creative approach to traditional content.  Thank you to the Pickerington Education Foundation for supporting digital literacy.

May Dates

May 2nd – Leadership Team Meetings – 2:30PM

May 6th – Digital Danger – Free Parent Workshop – Heritage Auditorium – 7:00PM

May 7th – Scholastic Book Orders Due – Final Book Order of the Year

May 9th – Leadership Team Meetings – 2:45PM

May 13th – Lesson with Mrs. Gossett – 2:30PM

May 16th – Leadership Team Meetings – 9:30AM

May 16th – Mystery Reader – 3:00PM

May 18th – iRUN – 2:00PM at Pickerington Central High School – Please let me know if you are participating in the iRUN event.  We can all meet and walk together while supporting this wonderful community event.

May 19th – Last day to charge lunches in the Heritage Cafeteria

May 20^th – 2^nd Grade Breakfast with Art – 8:30AM-9:00AM

May 221st – PTO Meeting – 9:30AM

May 22nd – Mystery Reader – 3:00PM

May 23rd – Leader In Me Town Hall Meeting – 9:45AM

May 26th – Memorial Day – No School

May 29th – Fun Day

May 30th – Full Day of School

May 30th – Mystery Reader – 9:30AM

June 2nd – Last Day of School – Early Dismissal

Illustrator Visit

mrsbristle

Today we had the opportunity to spend two 45 minute sessions with visiting illustrators Jeanette and Christopher Canyon. This husband and wife duo live in German Village and have illustrated a ton of children’s books. They use totally different techniques and shared them with us today! The students were fascinated with hearing about how Jeanette uses Polymer clay to create her art pieces and then manipulates those pieces to create illustrations to go along with the books other authors have written. She even uses pasta makers and food processors as tools in her studio! The picture below was made for the book Over in the Rainforest and was made using all polymer clay. 

 

Here is Jeannette talking to the kids:

 

Christopher uses paint to illustrate his books, but they often look quilted when finished. He has illustrated several books to go along with John Denver songs and shared…

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Recycle and Reuse

Today, we earned our Right-to-Read Week /Earth Day recycling badge.  We brought different items from home that we knew could either be recycled or reused.  First, we categorized the items and then we graphed how many of each item we had in the classroom.  Categories included:  water bottles; aluminum cans; plastic bottles; cardboard; plastic bags; and newspaper.  The graph was used to create and solve math problems.  Then, it was time to write about these items.  Each of us picked an item and we described how we could reuse the item in a new way.  For example, Carter thought the cardboard boxes could be reused to store Pokemon cards; Rocco said the newspaper could be used to pack items when moving; and Jordyn thought the water bottles could be reused for Gatorade.  As we shared these new ways to use items, we talked about the importance of limiting trash.  Some Smarties suggested that by reusing items we could also save money.  We realized that recycling and reusing items is truly a WIN-WIN for us and for our planet.

Sharpening the Saw With Mrs. Gossett

Mrs. Gossett, our school counselor, taught a lesson that focused on Habit #7 – Sharpen the Saw.  We listened to Mrs. Gossett read “Sleepy Sophie” from The 7 Habits of Happy Kids by Sean Covey.  This story reminded us that when we sharpen the saw, we take care of our bodies by eating right, exercising, and getting sleep.  Habit #7 also focuses on spending time with family and friends; learning in lots of ways and lots of places, not just at school; and finding meaningful ways to help others.  After we listened to “Sleepy Sophie” it was time to categorize different activities such as doing a science experiment; playing a board game; and going for a walk.  We needed to determine if the activity helped our mind, body, heart, or soul.  With this activity we had a lot of meaningful conversations about the importance of Habit #7 and we synergized with our partner.  Thank you, Mrs. Gossett, for reminding us that balance is best!

 

Nature Walk and Nature Study

Our celebration of reading and nature continued today with a nature walk and a nature study.  The nature walk was a scavenger hunt and required us to search for twelve different nature items.  These items included pine cones, flowers, rocks, and animal tracks.  After the nature walk everyone participated in a nature study.  Using a piece of yarn each Smartie studied an area of the grassy field and then we recorded what we saw in the small area.  We concluded by discussing how much nature is all around us if we take the time to look closely.  Now, we have earned two more Right-to-Read badges!

Today, we also previewed the Book Fair Fiesta.  The Family Night is tomorrow from 5-8PM and we will be shopping from 12:50-1:10 on Thursday.  

 

Litter Pick-Up

Yesterday, we kicked off Right to Read Week! Our theme this week is Earth Fiesta, in honor of Earth Day and our Fiesta Book Fair! All week long students have the chance to earn patches for participating in activities revolving around reading, nature, and ways to help save our planet.  Last week, we read a Scholastic News all about picking up trash found in the Mississippi River. Students were shocked to learn about the different items that have been pulled out of the river including numerous refrigerators, washing machines, tires, and tractors. The man who was the leader of this effort said “…all of the trash went into the river one piece at a time, and that is the only way to remove it, one piece at a time…” We took his advice and went to work outside on the blacktop and playground! All of the second graders earned their first patch today by synergizing and picking up trash before enjoying recess.

Important Dates

April 21st – Book Fair Coloring Contest Deadline

Week of April 21st – Book Fair – We will preview the Book Fair on April 22nd at 12:50PM.  We will shop at the Book Fair on April 24th at 12:50PM.

Week of April 21st – Right-to-Read Week – Check the blog for the different activities we will be participating in throughout the week. 

April 22nd – Lesson with Mrs. Gossett – 2:30PM

April 23rd – Family Night at the Book Fair – 5:00PM – 8:00PM

April 23rd – PTO Open House at Pizzeria Uno – 6:30PM

April 24th – Illustrators Jeanette and Christopher Canyon will be visiting Heritage Elementary.  We will participate in a two programs with them at 10:30AM and 2:30PM.

May 18th – iRUN – 2:00PM at Pickerington Central High School

May 26th – Memorial Day – No School

May 29th – Fun Day

May 30th – Full Day of School

June 2nd – Last Day of School – Early Dismissal

COSI On Wheels

COSI on wheels came to Heritage today to do a presentation about the Incredible Human Machine, our body. Our day started with a school-wide assembly where we learned about the different systems in our bodies, their jobs, and how our bodies are similar to a complex machine!

Afterwards, we had the chance to participate in several hands-on activities that helped us learn more about our bodies, nutrition, and why staying active is important for our health.

We had a blast exploring and learning more information about the incredible human machine. It was also perfect timing, since our current ELA Common Core unit focuses on Taking Care of Ourselves. Check out our pictures below and be sure to ask your child more about this awesome experience!

Thank you to our AMAZING PTO for making COSI On Wheels happen at Heritage.  We had a great day and we learned a lot, too!