May 1 Library Visit
May 3 O&A to Haystack Rock (8:15am)
May 12 FGCS Fund Run
May 12 Full-Day Friday (3:20 Dismissal)
Important Calendar Note:
Early O&A Departure on Wednesday, May 3rd 8:15am
Level 2 will travel to Haystack Rock (Oregon Coast) on 5/3/17. To maximize our time at the coast, we will need to leave FGCS by 8:30am! Please plan to drop your Plover off at 8:15am on this day.
Homework Due by May 4th
1. Read for at least 20 minutes every night.
2. Complete at least 30 minutes of math practice.
3. Complete at least 20 minutes of typing practice on Typing.com
4. Optional: Compete Opinion Paragraph of the Week assignment on Google Classroom.
Prompt: Would you rather travel to the past or the future? Support your opinion.
5. Optional: Complete electronic Business Plan by May 5th (for students who want to start their own classroom business)
State (SBAC) Testing
Level 2 students will continue state testing this week. Testing is administered in the computer lab in short sessions, and students have the opportunity to work on the same test over multiple sessions so they can work at their own pace. Please help support your Plover by: encouraging them to do their best, making sure they eat breakfast and bring a snack, and helping them get plenty of sleep.
Upcoming Out and Abouts
This Wednesday, Level 2 will travel to Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach. To maximize our time at the coast, we will leave early! In order to participate, we ask that you drop your Plover off at school by 8:15! Don't forget a sack lunch, water bottle, and clothing for any weather the coast might offer - including warm layers, sun protection and close-toe shoes for the tide pools. At Haystack Rock, students will do an hour of coastal habitat research and beach clean-up. We also will meet with the Haystack Rock Awareness Program to learn how to explore the tide pools responsibly and spot coastal birds (fingers-crossed for a Puffin sighting!)
Volunteer Opportunities
I would like to have some extra snacks available on SBAC testing days, so if you are able to donate a healthy snack (fruit, cheese sticks, granola bars, or something else easy to distribute and eat) for the class, sign up on the breakfast donation page for any of the following testing days: Tuesday 5/2, or Thursday 5/4.
Weekly Review
The Plovers are working hard to become wetland and ocean experts! Our visitors centers will be open at Celebrations of Learning to display informational writing and educational exhibits about Oregon ecosystems and the animals that live there. Last week, all of the Plovers completed their first round of research about either an ocean animal or wetland animal by reading, taking notes, drawing diagrams and building a glossary of important vocabulary. This week, they will begin researching a new animal that lives in a different ecosystem. Finally, they will work with the members of their research clubs to compare and contrast their two animals. On our Out & About last week, we were able to gather ideas for visitor center exhibits and activities at Jackson Bottom Wetlands. This week at the beach, we will be thinking about how to create an ocean visitor center that provides opportunities to learn about ocean animals while also encouraging conservation.
I am currently reading Hoot by Carl Hiaasen to the class. In this story. three middle-school students try to protect endangered owls on a construction site. We have only read the first 4 chapters so far, but here are a few questions you can discuss with your Plover:
- How do you feel about the way Roy dealt with Dana and Beatrice? Do you think he should have done something differently?
- What would you do to catch the person who is pulling up the stakes?
- Based on Roy's descriptions of Montana and Florida, where would you rather live and why?