Is it really the end of 2011 already?

As I write this, I have a hard time thinking about the fact that this is our last school day of 2011.  It has gone by so quickly!  There have been so many exciting events happening over the past few weeks as everyone prepares for winter break and celebrating many holiday traditions with family and friends.  Over the past few days I have spent time with 4th grade students, reading them a story as they enjoyed eating some holiday creations!  I will be reading to our 3rd graders this afternoon as well and am looking forward to it!  This morning as I walked down the first grade hallway, I found lots of shoes in the hallways.  Apparently, they will be filled with goodies the next time I walk by.  Kindergarten and first graders have been learning a great deal about holidays around the world.  Each of them spent a day studying different customs and traditions as they "traveled" around the globe!  

I wish everyone a very safe and happy holiday season.  Please enjoy the break and spend time with your children enjoying all of your own family holidays and traditions.  We'll see you in 2012!

Mrs. Ammon's Kindergarten Tea

Mrs. Atherton's 2nd Grade Class

 

Mrs. Sheads 5th Grade Language Arts Class put on a trial this past week.  Shiloh is the story of an abused dog that follows a young boy home. A young boy that is not allowed to have a pet, nor has the money to be responsible for one. The abused dog belongs to Judd Travers who is a mean hunter that doesn't "care" for his dogs, the way the boy, Marty, thinks he should. Marty ends up keeping the dog in secret in a lean-to up on the hill and having to lie to everyone in order for the dog not to be found.

 

The students were separated into 3 groups. The Jury, lawyers and witnesses for Marty's side, and lawyers and witnesses for Judd's side. Using the book as a reference and the Virginia code of Animal Services Law, the students needed to prepare their argument on who they thought was the "rightful" owner of the dog. They worked through out the week and each wrote their own paper/argument that covered their points as well as their supporting details. The Jury was not allowed to hear any of the arguments before the trial had begun. They were to keep notes of what happened during the trial as well as write their own paper on who they thought was the "rightful" owner and why according to what they heard at the trial.

 

They came to a final conclusion, that even though in their hearts they knew Marty would be a better owner, the true, "rightful" owner was Judd Travers.  (Thanks Mrs. Sheads for the summary!)

Field Trip and Book Club Fun

Greetings!  It has been about a month since I have been able to share some exciting things that I have been doing here at Emerald Hill.  So much has been going on that I can't possibly mention everything.  Last week the kindergarten students had their Thanksgiving Feast and the 2nd Graders had their Pow Wow to share some of the knowledge that they gained in their social studies class.

This week I was so lucky to be able to travel with the 2nd grade students to the Science Museum in Richmond.  I think everyone enjoyed playing the video piano on the stairs, watching rat basketball and building all kinds of structures out of blocks in the Imagination Playroom.

The 3rd Grade students were treated to a visit from author Susan Crites who presented her new book, I Love You More Than Rainbows.  She also spent time with the students going through the writing process as part of the language arts unit on steps in a process.  What an amazing opportunity for our students to experience!

I also kicked off the first meeting of "Mrs. Metzgar's Soaring Eagles Book Club."  I met with a group of 5th Grade students from Ms. Wain's and Mrs. Gaulden's reading classes to talk about our first book, The Fingertips of Duncan Dorfman.  We enjoyed lively discussion and snacks as we shared various topics relating to the story. I had an excellent time and hope to meet with more students before the end of the year.  I am anxiously awaiting some ideas from the students for our next book to explore!

My Book Club Group

Science Museum Photos

 

 

Fabulous Friday Fabrications

Wow!  What great things happened last Friday as we end the first nine weeks.  Every grade level had a variety of exciting projects and activities for their students. We ended our week with a very a successful "Trunk or Treat" event thanks to our PTO.  There was an outstanding turnout of both Trunkers and Treaters.  Some of the trunks were magnificent in their set-ups and there were some extremely creative costumes on our students as well.  Thanks for everyone who was involved.

Also, please make sure you have signed up for a time to meet with your child's teacher this coming Monday, November 7th.  This is a great opportunity for everyone to talk about academic performance as well as expectations for the next 9-weeks.  Tuesday, November 8th is a professional day for the county and election day, so there is no school on either of these days.

Here are some pictures that I want to share from last week - please enjoy!

5th Grade Science - Erupting Volcanoes

 

 


4th Grade Social Studies - Salt Dough Maps of Virginia

 

3rd Grade Social Studies - Olympics of Ancient Greece & Language Arts Activities 

 

 

2nd Grade Language Arts - Vocabulary Maps

 

1st Grade - Bat Day Rotation

 

Kindergarten - Fall Harvest Day

 

 

Fire Safety Week

Last Friday, all kindergaten students were treated to a special visit from the Little Fork Fire Department in Rixeyville.   Students got to see the fire engines, what the fire fighters wear and even received their own hats.
Thank you to all of the volunteers who came to visit!

 

More Great Projects

Emerald Hill has been so busy this year, so I apologize that I am late on the reporting.  Third Grade students from Mr. Ortman and Mrs. Mawdsley's class had a great time creating "Continent Cookies."  I was too late to taste one for myself, but I heard that they tasted delicious as well as looking fabulous!

 

 

The second grade classes have been studying the map of the United States in their classes.  They started Friday creating "salt dough maps" and I got to see them busily painting them today.  What hard workers!

 

 

 

 



Also, just a brief preview of the upcoming Book Fair - please join us Friday night until 6:00 p.m. if you would like to accompany your child and get some great books!

Hands-On Projects

It has been a long time since I graduated from elementary school, but I don't remember ever doing so many hands-on projects and activities.  The teachers have done an excellent job providing such wonderful learning opportunities for our children.

Over the past week, I have discovered "oobleck" in 3rd grade, "convergent plate graham cracker replicas" in the 5th grade and got to see the preparation of the aquarium that will be home to our brook trout for the next several months.

3rd Grade Oobleck experiement - Is it a solid, liquid or gas?

 

5th Graders studying convergent plate boundaries - Loved the songs with the motions!

3rd Graders prepping the tank in Mrs. Corpening's Room - How many pitchers did it take?

 
 

I also was invited to the 4th grade Chinese Tasting!  Everything was yummy :-)

 

What lovely authentic dresses!