Introducing Pennies for Peace at Summers- Knoll School

Among several  things that I really admire about SK,  community involvement is one of the best. Well, this time we are venturing out,  going a little bit further or rather way out there- helping build schools in the Eastern Hemisphere. We are collecting pennies for "Pennies for Peace" and joining  in with philanthropist  Mr. Greg Mortenson, founder of Central Asia Institute, in helping build schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan (schools mostly to educate young girls).

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has said numerous times, if children from very early on are introduced to compassion, it helps them develop their brain and they function much better as they mature. This is why I was exhilarated to begin this project.

This afternoon, we first read "Listen to the Wind", followed by watching a documentary on Pennies for Peace. Children were really engaged in the documentary and watched it in great silence. From time to time they asked numerous questions. They were flabbergasted to know that with ONE PENNY students can buy a pencil in those countries: and were  equally astonished to hear that $1.00 is all they need for their monthly fees. (Our students all together echoed... "Oh my goodness.") I can only imagine what was going on in their minds! As soon as it was over (I had prepared a jar for every classroom and  some pennies to start with) children started putting pennies in the jars. I heard some students say that they had some coins in their wallets and that they would like to give right away. It was so gratifying to see how giving our children are.

Let us all try to help ...by building peace.... one school at a time. Please, give generously.....every penny makes a mighty school.  Thank you.

Water H2O - water is life -

April showers bring May flowers.

 I am excited about this month's theme WATER. Nearly three-quarters of the Earth's surface is covered by water. The water that the dinosaurs drank millions of years ago is the same water that we drink today. Will there be enough for a more crowded world? WATER IS LIFE.

Here are some topics that we will be learning about:-
1. What is the world made of? (All about solids, liquids and gases.)
2. Land and water forms- Ocean and seas - rivers and lakes. Children will experiment making lakes, islands, peninsulas, straits, gulfs and much more...
3. Experiments with water-  Did you ever drink blocks?
4.Where do we get our drinking water?
 Experiments:
a. Recycling water   b. Polluting water   c. Making drinking water.
5. What does water do?
a. Floating on water   b. Moving up and down.
6. What is so unusual about water?
 a. sticking together  b. getting bigger  g. melting away.
7. Fun with water.
8. How hot can it get?
9. Why do we have to store water?
10. Only 2.5 % of the Earth's water is fresh, what about the rest- 97.5 % ? What do we do with salty water? Can we drink it?

 We have done few experiments already! Children are asking for more to quench their thirst.


I will keep you posted.

Gooooooooooooood Friday!

What more can any student ask for on a Friday?

1. Dssecting owl pellets with our buddies. ( Thank you Mrs. Carpenter for everything).

2.Watching a Bill Nye dvd on the water- cycle.

3.Soaking in the Sun / sand/ snacks at the County Farm Park.

The Dino and the Frog - written and illustrated by Amelia , Quinn, Oliver G. Oliver S. Sophie, Grace

Once upon a time there was a Dino, he saw a Frog. The Frog was hopping over. Seeing the Frog hopping and enjoying himself, the Dino felt a little jealous, because he couldn't make all those jumps.
Suddenly, the Dino started bragging and said, "Ha, I can run faster than you." The Frog was listening quietly, while the Dino wouldn't stop boasting. At this time the Frog got quite annoyed and angry. He then said, "Well , in that case, shall we have a race?"
Meanwhile, a Rabbit was watching the whole scene from afar. He says, " I will be the judge, you can race to the river and come back." The Dino says, "It's a deal."
The judge Rabbit shouts and says, "On your mark, get set and go!"
So the Dino starts running fast, and the Frog is hopping steadily about 6 miles behind. When the Dino turns back, he can't see the Frog. So he says to himself, "That Frog will never catch up and I am feeling hungry." So then he goes over to a farm nearby and starts eating plants. He eats and eats, until he can move no more. He then turns back and still does not see the Frog. So he says, "Oh! I feel lazy and sleepy, after that big  feast. I am going to take a nap." Then he sleeps and sleeps. He is dreaming about him holding a trophy and everyone cheering and throwing confetti and saying "Go Dino go..."
Meanwhile, the Frog is is hopping at a steady pace. He goes by the river, comes back. As he was about to step on the finish line, he hears the judge Rabbit say, "Bravo you made it!"
The Dino was looking in disbelief, far behind him.
                                                     THE END

Morals from the children-

Do not brag    /  Be happy with what you have  / When you are doing something, do not race and try to finish , but do your best!

Oh, what a joyous moment!

I couldn't have asked for a better moment!
My children have been working hard on units/ tens/ hundreds/ thousands ( the decimal system). I am delighted that they have understood their place values very well. Some also have great number writing skills, while others are improving and working diligently. This morning I introduced number scroll writing. They first started writing units ( ones), then tens. After they completed one decade, they had to glue another strip and so on. Seeing how their number scroll was growing longer... and longer..and eventually wider as well, especially, when they came to the hundreds, they were getting such a kick out of it.  It was delightful to see how much the students were enjoying themselves. They were completely absorbed in what they were doing! They would not stop! Periodically I would quiz them about the numbers they were writing. For example,  I would say, "You are writing 13, how many tens are there, or how many units?" It was delightful to watch them being so involved; pausing to think, and then moving on to write and glue their strips.
I just stopped for five minutes and was observing the joy, in them. This is what they all had to say:  "Oh, math is so much fun." "I do not want to stop, can we PLEASE do this every day?" "Oh, my goodness, I can't believe how long my number scroll is." " When my mom comes to pick me up, I am going to show her my math work." "Can I just go on writing my number, and not go for recess?"

What more could a teacher ask for? :)

It tied in so well because the older students were doing similar activities in math as well, at their level, outdoors. (They were doing scientific notation, measuring on the side walk.) So, when they came to invite our class to come observe them, our children were simply thrilled!

Math: Overview of the Base Ten System ( variations) / enjoy