November 4 Library Visit
November 11 No School
November 12 Photo Retakes
November 22 All School Meeting (Plovers and Puffins will present)
November 25-29 Thanksgiving Break
Homework Due by Friday, November 8th
1. Read for at least 20 minutes every night.
2. Complete at least 30 minutes of math practice (click here for DreamBox).
3. Complete 20 minutes of typing practice.
4. Optional: Compete Paragraph of the Week writing assignment.
Prompt: Day trips are adventures that take place close enough to home that you can go there and back home on the same day. A day trip can be an outing to a zoo, the beach, an amusement park, or other places. Write about a time when you went on a day trip.
Upcoming Out and Abouts
This Wednesday, we will use our Out & About time to work on our Native American project and writing. Next Wednesday, Trackers PDX will meet us at Central School for a lesson on (foam arrow) archery!
Volunteer Opportunities
1. Breakfast Donations - Fruit needed this Friday
2. Library Chaperones - Needed 12/2
First Salmon Ceremony - Donations Needed For Nov 20!
Early Northwest Coast people believed that the animals they hunted were really animal spirits that let themselves be caught to help people. If the spirits became angry, it was feared that they would not return as animals, and people would go hungry. An important tradition was the First Salmon ceremony. After the first salmon of the fishing season was caught, it was carefully cooked during a special ceremony. Each person in the village ate a small piece of it. Then, its bones were returned to the water. People thought that if the bones of a salmon were not put back in the water, its spirit would become angry and salmon might never swim up the river again.
On Wednesday, November 20th, the Plovers will have a ceremony to celebrate the conclusion of their Early Northwest Coast project. This celebration will include storytelling, music, games and a feast! Please take a look at our food list below, and select an item that your family could donate. You can send your donation in with your student any time before November 19th.
NOTE: To comply with state laws and to be safe for food allergies in the classroom, please send only commercially packaged food items.
- Dried Berries (blueberries, strawberries, or huckleberries)
- Dried Roots (vegetable chips)
- Dried Meat/Jerky (salmon, turkey, elk or beef)
- "Blubber" (aka jello cups)
- Seaweed/nori
Weekly Review
Last week, a trader visited the Plovers' Native American village. Families decided to trade their artwork, flags, masks and tools for coins. Many characters were excited to make trades with the visitor and some even happily gave him very special gifts from their homes! But after he left, the class reflected on how the trader treated the villagers and how the trading experience could affect the community. We also learned that traders often brought diseases that killed up to 50% of the native population. Students then worked independently to write a short journal entry about the event from their character's perspective.
We also visited the Washington County Museum to find out more about the Kalapuya, the Indigenous people of Oregon’s Tualatin Valley. We learned about their trading network and how they use fire to steward their land. We also got to see how the museum has updated their exhibit to better reflect a Native American perspective. Then, students had a chance to view contemporary Indigenous art and learn about Indigenous artists who are contributing to cultural survivance today.
Communication
Please contact me with any questions or concerns. Parents and students can e-mail me at [email protected]. You can also leave a voice message on the class phone or set up a time to meet with me before/after school.