February- Dental Health Month

This week we also had Dr. Josh Atkin (which also happens to be my husband!) visit our classroom to talk about dental health.  He brought a lot of awesome things to share with our friends!  

 Dr. Josh shared photographs of good vs. bad x-rays.  He talked to us about foods that are good vs. bad for our teeth.  He also talked to us about the proper way to brush our teeth with the correct amount of toothpaste.

 He brought a set of dentures for the kids to look at.

 He also brought some teeth that had been removed from a patient (Don't worry... the teeth were sterilized before they came into contact with the students).

 Students got to explore some really interesting dental instrument.

In addition, Dr. Josh brought some teeth from some other animals.  He talked to us about how all animals teeth are designed a little bit differently.  Below you can see the lower jaw of a moose. 

 He brought some baby teeth of a pony as well as a tooth from a Megalodon.  Harlan was very excited to get a chance to see this Meglodon tooth.  He had been waiting almost all year for this moment!

Thanks for stopping by our blog!  Have a fantastic week!

Mrs. Julie Atkin

Polar Animal Habitats & 100th Day of School

This week was busy as we continued to research polar animals and their habitats.  We began finalizing our plans on how were going to share our data and information.   In addition, students began to make a plan about the habitats they are creating for their clay animals.  For the animals habitats, we began planning, cutting, painting, and much more.  

 

Last week they sculpted their animals in Mrs. Pinto's art studio.  Mrs. Pinto put the clay animals into the kiln, and the students will be painting them this week.  You will be able to see all of the students hard work this Friday, February 28th at our open house from 8:15-9:00am. 

Also this week, we celebrated the 100th day of school!  I can't believe we have hit the 100th day of school and that we are nearly half way through our third quarter.  To celebrate the 100th day of school, students brought in collections of 100 small objects.  We worked on counting our collections out by groups of ten, wrote a label for our objects, and invited Mrs. Gore's friends to take a stroll through our museum.  

Again, please come check out our open house this Friday from 8:15-9:00am.  We will have some delicious breakfast for you and your family to enjoy as you mosey around our classroom to see all we have learned about polar regions and their animals.  

Mrs. Julie Atkin

Mapping the Polar Regions

This week we worked on the social studies standards "I can create a simple map," and "I can read a simple map."  We also continued to work on the polar region vocabulary words: North Pole, South Pole, Arctic, and Antarctic/Antarctica.  We used our prior knowledge to write these vocabulary words on the Promethean Board.  As a class we labeled the map.  Then we talked about the new term "key" and how it gives us information about the map.  Students helped create a key for our class map.  

Then each student got their own individual piece of paper and drew their own map.  Students were asked to draw a map of planet Earth, add at least 4 labels, and to create a key for their map. 

In addition, we spent the week learning what it means to be an editor.  All of the students edited their book version of Eric Carle's "From Head to Toes."  This coming week, students will be studying Eric Carle's painting and illustration techniques, as well as create their own Eric Carle inspired illustration for the cover.  You will get to see their final copies at the students Polar Animal open house next Friday, February 28th.  

Have a great week!

Mrs. Julie Atkin

Mentor Author/Illustrator- Eric Carle

Throughout the last couple of weeks, we have been reading and learning about the authors Eric Carle and Bill Martin Jr..  The students were able to write their own books modeled off of Eric Carle's "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" series.  We read all the versions.

Together we decided to write a book similar to Mr. Carle's book.  We decided we would write about all different types of polar animals.  Take a look at some of our writing. 

This week we will begin learning about the editing process.  We will rewrite our books and get feedback from our peers.  In addition, we will be learning about Eric Carle's illustration process and students will get to create a cover for their book using his techniques.  

I hope you're looking forward to reading/seeing your students work at our next open house!

Mrs. Julie Atkin

"Scientific Eye"- Polar Animals

This week students began researching the animals from the Arctic and the Antarctic.  As part of the students research, we learned what it means to use a "scientific eye."  On Monday, students drew the the polar animal they are studying during art class.  We brought the illustrations back to the classroom to take a better look at our animals.  

We started by looking at the shape of the animals bodies.  Each student was paired with another child that is studying the same animal.  Each student talked about the different spaces and proportions of body parts that they noticed.  They were instructed not to look at color or patterns at this point.  

 Students then learned what it means to give each other feedback.  Each student took 3 minutes to tell their partner what they liked about their illustration and how they could make their illustration better.  Students were very specific and actually gave their peer/partner excellent feedback.  Students were instructed to give their partner at least two things they could add/change to make their illustration more accurate.  

Anthony was telling Corey that he could try drawing his narwhal longer. 

Ja'Lynee pointing out that the leopard seals back flippers are pointy. 

 After each students gave their feedback students began their next draft. 

 

 

 Each students drew 3 different drafts and a final copy.  On their last draft, students drew the animals body shape.  Then with their partners, students looked at the color, shade, and pattern of their animals.  As you can see below, students made significant progress using peer feedback and a "scientific eye." 

Leopard Seal

Narwhal

Macaroni Penguin

Lynx

With these final drafts, we will create clay models of our animals in art.  I look forward to seeing how students use their knowledge of a scientific eye when creating their clay animals.  

We have a lot of exciting events coming up including:

friendship party, 100th day of school, and polar animal open house!  

Have a great week!

Mrs. Julie Atkin