Happy New Year!

Welcome back!  I hope you all had a restful and enjoyable break with your friends and families.  As we head back to the work in our classroom we will reflect on the work we have done this year as we think about our hopes and dreams.  We also have many new units of learning to look forward to! 

1/15 and 1/21 Winter NWEA testing
1/19 MLK-No School
1/26 Teacher PD-No School
2/10 Planetarium Field Trip  10-11:30

Research Writing

Just before break we had the opportunity to learn about different adaptations that birds of prey use to survive with a visit from the Leslie Science and Nature Center.  Using what we learned, we researched further using books, websites, and videos to produce a piece of research writing that we then shared with our friends in 2nd grade.  The kids worked very hard!

We researched...

We created life-size silhouettes...

We compared our wingspans...

We shared what we learned with our friends!

We learned the Turkey Vulture Rap written by Joe Reilly and shared it during our celebration.  Check it out below!

Week of December 8th

Researching Birds of Prey

Dear Ornithologists,

The links below will help you with your research today.  Don't forget to list your sources.


Leslie Science and Nature Center

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Biokids Critter Catalog


Soar on,
Ms. Padgen
Ms. Koska

Flight!

We had a chance to learn more about the flight behavior of the red tailed hawk and check out the wingspan of the eagle. 

Raptors!

Francie and Sarah, from the Leslie Science and Nature Center's Raptor program, visited us at Mitchell School today to share their birds and knowledge about how these creatures adapt to life in the wild.

We learned about the American Kestral- the smallest of the North American 

falcons.

 

We learned how wing shape is adapted to flight.

A Barred Owl flies on silent wings.

Wow! A bald eagle.

Mr. Hilton, sizing up his wingspan.

Spending time with an eagle!

Thinking About Electricity

"Why is it sticking to my shirt?"

"When you rub it, it makes a connection."

"My mom says that's static."

Recording our observations.

Furthering our thinking:

- "When we rub it (the balloon with the wool) , it feels hot!"

- "In the dark, when you get shocked you see something.  It's a little spark."

Already we are developing connections between magnets, electricity, and light.  Very exciting!