Classroom News: February 21st

Dear Barn Swallow Families,

We have two big trips coming up in late March! Level one will be visiting the Tillamook Forest twice. The first all day trip is on Wednesday, March 14th and the second trip is the following Wednesday, March 21st. We will be leaving the school for both trips close to 9:00 and returning to school by 2:15. Would you like to join us? We will need 5-6 parent volunteers for each trip. Thank you families!

Last week we started out making Valentine holders for collecting cards. On Tuesday we had our Valentine party. The students exchanged cards, had some healthy snacks and played a Valentine dancing game. We continued to research forest animals. The students fiction stories are really coming along, and are about ready for publishing. In math, the first graders learned a couple of new games that teach and reinforce counting by 5's and 1's, coin value, regrouping by 5's and 25's, mental arithmetic - adding and comparing quantities to 25, addition facts, counting on and graphing. Second graders worked on subtraction and learned how to use a number line. Outside, students drew large number lines on the sidewalk with chalk and solved subtraction equations by jumping from number to number. The students really enjoyed and seemed to learn a lot from our Out & About to Diane's fiber studio, and Greg's organic farm (Wildberry Organic's - you can look for their stand at the Forest Grove Farmers' Market this spring). Diane showed the students a variety of animal fiber, and discussed how the different types of fur and hair an animal grows provide different protection against the elements. We got to see how she spins wool into yarn, and then the students got to spin a little yarn for themselves. Greg talked about how organic farmers use things in nature to control unwanted pests. The students got to harvest carrots, and try a winter vegetable soup. We ended the week with an All-School Meeting. The Barn Swallow class shared facts about Earth Worms, and the Kestrel class did a skit about the new Vermiculture Worm Bin that they will be setting up for the school, the Puffins entertained us with a song about all 50 states, and the Great Horned Owls taught us a dance.

Sincerely,

Sherry