Mrs. Lupiani

Could you please?????

  I would like to send home the maps of Georgia this week and put up some new things we have been working on.  If you would like your child to carry theirs home, please send in a garbage bag with handles for me to put it in.  I think it might be more manageable this way.  If you would like to come in either Thursday or Friday and pick it up for your child that will be fine too.  THEY DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB ON THESE!! VERY IMPRESSIVE!!

ISN'T IT AMAZING!!!!

They are tops in the cafeteria again...and I am not even eating with them everyday.  For their third set of Tiger Tokens, the students have received the right to show and tell.  Next Monday, please allow your child to bring in something from home (no pets please....allergies) to share with the class.

Honestly, I am a bit nervous about how quickly they are accumulating these Tiger Tokens...just ask your child what happens when the reach the fourth set.  (I will be needing some help on that day!)

They have also received their first set of Bonus Sneakers for outstanding effort and behavior as a class in P.E.  This allows the students to have a class kickball game.  I thought it would be a fun way to end the day next Friday.  As always...I would love you to come and assist.  Let me know if you would like to come and help out.  I will do this at 1:30 - 2:00 next Friday.  Look forward to it.

Bravo! Bravo!

    It is time for our biographies to begin!  Your child will be bringing home the graphic organizer.  This is the information I wish to have the children use to create their oral presentation.  I don't expect them to know it all, but I do expect them to be able to include some information from each box.  The meat of the speech should be contributions to history.  The speech should end with the answer to the question...how would the world be different if I was never born?

Students are required to:  write and memorize a speech about their important person, dress like the historical figure and create a backdrop for their display which shows a connection to the person (where they would be working, what types of things would surround them, etc. ).  Students may go above and beyond by extending their speeches and including props that connect with the character.

On October 31, we invite you to view our important figures at our living history museum.  We will have our guests rotate to each station and press a button.  At that time, the figure will come alive and give his or her oral presentation.  When the figures are "inactive", they will be striking a pose and need to be still.  I may choose to do this in groups and have the museum "close" while the exhibits change.  I am still thinking about that.  Most speeches will only be a few minutes so I am anticipating that this will only take 60-90 minutes tops.  We will start at 8:00 and finish at 9:30. 

I will not give any homework for the next week.  This will give you time to research and write.  A copy of the speech is due next Wednesday so we may have ample practicing time.  After next Wednesday, I will give limited amount of homework as I will be expecting the students to practice each night.  We will work on our backdrops in school and if you add anything from home, just send it in with your child by Wednesday October 29 for our dress rehearsals.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Jamie

Pizza! Pizza!

  The date has been set.  Our class has selected this Thursday for pizza.  It will arrive at 1:00.  Students will be able to have two slices and apple juice or water.  Please plan for a light lunch.  Please discuss this with your child prior to the date.

I'M DONE...NOW WHAT DO I DO???

     The students have shared with me that they wished there were a few more options available for them to do when they have completed their work.  At Tritt, we have been working as a staff to look at building higher level thinking skills.  I have combined the two wishes and have created four block posters.  Each poster is labeled by subject area and has four activities that the students may do when their work is completed. This is important....the work that is required must be completed before these activites may be worked on.  Also, once an activity has been started it must be finished before another choice can be made. Students must commit and complete to a task. These activities will take several time periods to complete and some may allow students to work together.  I will not accept rushed jobs...that is not the objective here.  It is to think, plan and then execute.  I will change the activities as I see fit.  I wanted to share the activities with you.  These are for school only.  Please do not let your child work on this at home.

Reading:

1. Using a familiar melody, create a song about a reading strategy (making predictions, text connections, or visualization).
2. Use your knowledge about the main character from your book and write a poem about them.
3. Read for 15 minutes (use my timer).  Create a film strip of what you saw as you read.
4. Use the people patterns.  On one side, cut out pictures and words that describe the main character.  On the other side, cut out pictures and words that describe you.  Then compare and contrast one another on a venn diagram.

Mathematics:

1. Conduct a survey on our class' favorite movies.  Graph the results.
2. Make a chart showing all the ways you can think of to represent 357.
3. Predict how people will use money in the future.
4. Make up a board game to review addition and subtraction.  Use the posterboard and craft materials for the game board and pieces.  Don't forget to include a set of rules.

Social Studies:

1. Create a puppet of Sequoyah.  Give a puppet show about his life.
2. Present a commercial for the Trail of Tears.
3. We learned Sequoyah invented an alphabet.  Invent a secret language code and write a friend using it.
4. Create a Creek or Cherokee village.    You may draw it on posterboard or create it using clay or blocks.  Label the buildings.  On a piece of posterboard, explain what each building was used for.

Science:

1. Design a book cover that explains energy.
2. Visit the Science center and conduct an experiment.
3. Create five analogies using the vocabulary words for this unit.
4. Research Thomas Edison.  You may use the websites I have listed by the computer.  Create a baseball card.  Draw his picture on the front and put his statistics on the back.  (Statistics should be five to ten facts about his inventions and their impact on our world.)

If you would like to contribute clay, posterboard, shoe boxes or any other art materials  (magazines are not needed)....send them in.

thanks, jamie

A GREAT REWARD!

  Funny hat day!  We have earned our second set of Tiger tokens from the cafeteria.  Students have earned to wear a hat (especially a funny one) in our classroom on Friday.  Please remind your child that we cannot wear them around the school.  THANKS!

  THAT'S RIGHT!!!  Our class was awarded a special prize from the selection committee for the most amount of entries in this year's reflections program.  WOW!!!  Our choices were to have an extra recess or to have a pizza party.  The students chose pizza.  Next we will need to decide on a date.

  This month we celebrated Caden Smith's birthday on September 8 with a delicious treat.  Unfortunately, Caden felt ill on that day and had to go home.  When he returned, we made sure he had one of his birthday treats waiting for him.  On September 12, we celebrated Evan Swierski's big day.  Evan treated the class to a game of SORRY!  Thank you to both boys for their special choices.  We hope all your wishes come true.  There are no birthdays for the month of October.

If your child has a summer birthday and wants to celebrate thier "unbirthday" day instead...they may pick a day this month to share with the class.  Another idea is to celebrate their "half" birthday...you know...when they would turn seven and a half  : )   You may choose (or you may choose not to do anything at all)

Homework log

  I have placed a new homework log in the back flap of your child's folder.  Please read the letter explaining the student and parent responsibilities of the form.  I want to reiterate that I will not be checking this for completion.  At the bottom it says to list two books, but if your child will only be taking one AR test for the week that is fine.  Also, they can add a book there any time as well.  It is a working document and I would like to hear your comments on it.

Maps of Georgia

Some maps have already come in and they are beautiful.  I apologize for not getting to the colored map to be sent home.  I found an awesome website that would help you to locate and name the regions for my map key.

http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0213900/

It is a really cool website!!!  Check it out even if you have done the map.  Remember the deadline is Thursday.

Another good map can be found at:

www.georgiaencyclopedia.org

hope this helps....jamie