And, it all started with 4th Graders in 2019!
Our community had its 3rd Collection Day for Plastic Film on Saturday. I drove over 2 full pickup loads. At the end of the day, 1596 pounds was collected into 13 containers! This year, our school has collected 6000 pounds or 3 tons!
Remember the next collection will be Saturday, April 4.
Morning Meeting Activity
Today, I took the kids outside and we practiced coordination moves. They learned the heel-toe walk. It was hard and they had a good attitude about it. This rhythmic move we started in our classroom and then took it outside. I used the song by Pharrel, Happy, to study Parts of Speech and for us to move while sitting and all the ways that you move. They were excited to find out the challenge from something that looked simple.
MCS Spelling Bee 2020
It went 20 Rounds and there were 16 kids that started out this morning!
4th Grader Michael Synder won and 5th Grader Becky Manning is Runner Up! Thank you to our Pronouncer Ms. Buehler, and Judges Ms. Kelley and Mr. Francetich!
The Inland Northwest Regional Spelling Bee will be March 14 at LCSC and the winner will represent our area in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C. in May.
Site Inventory for Stormwater Landscape Design
The kids cataloged trees, low spots, impervious areas and other types of things that make up our campus. We did this work in partners in the area of the new school. When Kelli Cooper from the City of Moscow came after lunch she taught a lesson and then the kids went through the back play area and cataloged again. The observed what would be areas to change and noticed how the water on our campus moves. They did a good job thinking about MCS in a 'design' way.
Aaron Johnson (Ruby's Dad) shares how he created the 2020 Lionel Hampton Jazz Poster!!
This was a fabulous lesson!!
Ms. Mickey, Latah County District Nurse teaches our class how to use a stethoscope.
We are studying the body systems. It is really interesting to see the kids hunt for their heart and then once they find it, get quiet and listen to their own rhythm. :)
Rainbow Dance Theater at the Gladish Center
Festival Dance brought together so many students from the area to see the performance of the history of Hip Hop. It was interactive with kids learning a lot of rhythm and communication through movement.
It was free thanks to sponsors! What a great experience and very educational.
Readers' Workshop Book Groups
The kids are starting to read together and when finished collecting details about characters, setting, and understanding the plot, they will write their own radio scripts.
Each group has a different book. We have been listening to parts of classic radio shows to help them understand what they will be doing.
It is fun to imagine and tell a story that only will be heard.
Passing Out Valentines-- Action Shot!
The kids put the thoughtful and carefully prepared Valentine Cards to each other in their Home Base Bins. We had a really fun afternoon.
Cooperative Musical Chairs
The 4th grade has been working together so well. One of the best ways to show how much they have learned to cooperate it for them to play "Cooperative Musical Chairs".
In Morning Meeting, I explained the game and how it is so different from competitive musical chairs. In our game, there is a lot of laughter and they are so excited to see that they can be responsible for holding up themselves while leaning on the knees of a classmate. We finished up with only one chair!! It was a fun morning and our UI Education Student played with us too.
I can't say enough about how much modeling math equations helps the kids!
Learning Division is so interesting, but takes more drawing or creating models to show what is happening. In the picture here, the whole class was working with their Job Partner on a few problems. Each group was given a flat (worth 100 units of Skittles :)), a stick (value: 10 units of Skittles), and a set of 20 single units (representing one Skittle each).
Then, the kids were given a few problems to demonstrate with their partner. That helps them talk the ideas. It was hard and it is so useful.
If you are able to have the kids show you, division, please do. It really strengthens their understanding of how the operation works and how it is applied.
Please let me know if you would like to be able to check out some of the manipulatives for home practice. You can write in your child's Planner.
Thanks, Ms. Bonzo
Using the Document Camera to Model Math Problems
We are getting really into Division and being able to show through a drawing with tally marks or using the Base Ten Blocks is the way to know if a student understands regrouping and remainders. Lilly jumped right up to do a problem I posed. It was great to see her struggle and persevere through the math. She rechecked her work. She talked through her problem-solving. It was a Raise the Roof moment. :)
Recess--- Wow the snow was so great!
The kids built a snow person and Kylor lent his hat, Michael made the face. It was really fun for them to work together!
