Polar Regions and Their Animals!

This week the students finished creating their map for the hallway.  They are excited to share their knowledge with other students in our school.  In addition, we researched the types of animals that live in the arctic and the types of animals that live in the antarctic.  

The students helped me hang their completed map in the hallway.  

Students labeled the 7 continents (we sang a couple catchy songs about the 7 continents too!), the north pole, south pole, arctic circle, and polar regions. 

Next, we added the labels to the map.

 

We researched the different animals that live in polar regions by looking at a
couple of the following websites.  

Animals Found in Antarctica:

http://www.inchinapinch.com/hab_pgs/polar/antarctica/animals.htm

National Geographic:

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/photos/antarctic-animals/#/adelie-penguin_433_600x450.jpg

 Animal Planet:

http://animal.discovery.com/animal-facts/arctic-animal-pictures.htm

We also researched polar regions and their animals in multiple different books.

We made a Promethean Board flip chart with animals that live in the Antarctic and...

those animals that live in the arctic.

 

Students then drew illustrations and labeled the animals that live in the arctic and antarctic regions.

 

Here is what our map looks like with the arctic animals around the North Pole/Arctic Circle

and the antarctic animals around South Pole/Antarctic.

We are excited to see where our polar region study takes us next.  

Please continue to check back to see our research and documentations!  

Stay warm and have a great week!

Mrs. Julie Atkin

Special Visitors and Asset Builder of the Month

In the last couple of weeks we have had two sets of visitors.  

The West Carrollton firefighters came to talk to us about safety.  One of the officers put on his complete uniform so that the students could see what they look like when they arrive at an actual fire.  They also let the students hear what their air tanks sound like, as well as how the firefighters sound through their mask.  

As a class, we had some very serious talks about what to do if there is a fire in their home.  The firefighters advised to go to the nearest window and scream for help if they are not able to make it out of their home safely.  They were reminded to NEVER hide if there is a fire in their home.  We all know that children know the best hiding places in their home, but in an emergency, they need to know where to go so they can be helped/saved.  Please continue to share these tips with your child. 

 

This firefighter was showing us the "wiggle" move in order to turn off the alarm on his air tank.  If he doesn't move for a specific period of time it starts to alarm.  When he moves it turns off.  This is a way for other firefighters to save their fellow "fighters" if they become injured during a fire.  

 

We also had the Dayton Dutch Lions Soccer team visit a couple of weeks ago. 

They talked to us about the 5 steps they follow in their daily lives.

1.  Education

2.  Be Healthy (Eat right and get enough sleep)

3.  Practice

4.  Listen

5.  Be Active

 

Mr. Doyle (our P.E. teacher) took a try!

Lastly, another one of our very own was awarded with Asset Builder of the Month!  

Congratulations Mya!

Have a great week!

Mrs. Julie Atkin

Polar Regions Introduction

 Throughout our Ohio wild animal study students learned how Ohio's wild animals prepared themselves for winters.  At the completion of this study, students became even more interested in polar animals, so we decided to focus our next study on these animals.  We started by making a list of all the animals we could think of that live in polar regions.  Then we found the polar regions on a globe in the classroom.  We began researching why the polar regions are so cold and introduced the differences in the vocabulary, words such as: arctic circle/north pole and Antarctic/south pole and where they are located on a map/globe.  

Together we labeled this map on our Promethean board. 

Students later came up with the idea of making  a large map to teach all our friends around the school where these regions can be found.  Students also had the idea of researching the polar animals that reside at the north pole and the polar animals that reside at the south pole.  We plan on adding these animals to our map, and turning it into a collaborative project.  

Below you can see students beginning to tear white paper that will soon represent the polar regions on their map.  This map will be displayed in the hallway just outside our classroom. 

 We have also begun researching a few animals from the polar regions.  A few of the polar animals our friends have become interested in include: polar bears, sea lions, narwhal whales, penguins, and wild dog/sled dogs.  Keep checking back in the upcoming weeks to see the progress of our map, research about polar regions landscapes, and their wild animals.  

I hope you had a great weekend!

Mrs. Julie Atkin

Exploring Literacy and Math through Work Stations

With the blistering cold temperatures, our week was unfortunately cut short by a of couple days.  I thought I would share just a few photos of how the students have been exploring literacy and math 

skills.

Students work together in small groups during their exploration.  Half are working on literacy skills while the other half are working on math skills.  Most days, students will get to explore two different stations (one of each).  The stations are adjusted frequently and modified for each child’s individual academic needs.    

Below, the students were working on counting the amount of syllables in their friends names.  Then the students graphed their friends names with the corresponding number of syllables.  

 In this next photo, you will see Ashton working on writing sight words in sand.  The students chose a sight work they are working on, write it three times on paper and three times in the sand.  Allowing the students to write and form letters using different materials and textures increases their ability to learn to read and write their sight words. 

 Next you will find a couple of math explorations.  Below, students use a dry erase marker to write the number that matches with the 10 frame and the corresponding number word.  Students practiced working on numbers 0-20.  

 We have begun the initial stages of learning how to add two numbers together.  Below you will see Lil playing "Kindergarten Yahtzee."  Students have a game board, two dice and a dry erase marker.  They roll the dice and count the total amount of dots on both dice.  They they add a tally mark next to the corresponding number. 

 Finally, you will see Ja'Lynee working with craft sticks to make tally marks.  Students chose a number 1-10.  Then they count out the appropriate craft sticks to match the number. 

These are just a few examples of some literacy and math skills we have been working on mastering.  Have a great week!

Mrs. Julie Atkin

Open House and Project Presentations for Ohio's Wild Animal Study

In our classroom, we follow the project based learning approach.  Students have the ability to question, research, document their research, infer, write, create projects (based on students ideas and suggestions), and most importantly share and present.  Throughout a particular study, students have many opportunities to share their research and knowledge with other peers.  But, at the end of a study it is important to empower the students by allowing them to share their work with other classes and adults throughout the school, and their families.  

As mentioned in our previous post, the students helped get our classroom ready for our open house and project presentations.  We had one table designated for each group.  Students studied skunks, coyotes, squirrels, and blue jays.  They set out their own non-fiction books, non-fiction library books, and their animal habitats.  

Skunks

 Squirrels

 

 Coyotes

 

 

 Blue Jays

 

 We also had one table set up with the coyote, skunk, and squirrel pelts from Ohio's Division of Wildlife as well as a couple of bird nests. 

 As families visited our open house, students shared their work, and gave their families a tour of the classroom to share the other students/groups work.  

Families also enjoyed some bagels, grapes, and orange juice for breakfast.  

 Then throughout the day, the students had the opportunity to read the non-fiction books they each individually wrote. 

 

 

All the students enjoyed investigating the animal pelts.  

As the students were sharing it was evident that they were all very proud of their work, and learned a lot about Ohio's wild animals.  They did a wonderful job presenting their knowledge.  We look forward to seeing where the students interests take us in 2014.  Have a Happy New Year!

Mrs. Julie Atkin