Artistic Groundhogs!

Hello SK Fans and Families!  This week was one for the books as we burrowed further into our groundhog study, and worked with our spectacular Artist in Residence to sculpt a brand new permanents playground structure to be added to USM's LS space this summer!  Read on for more details...



Language
Favorite Facts: We loved writing our favorite groundhog facts, illustrating them, and displaying them on our bulleting board at Show and Share night.  Check them out if you missed them!  You're sure to learn a LOT about our furry woodland friends.
I Predict Journals: Friends did an excellent job, writing predictions for what we're in for... six more weeks of winter, or an early spring!
SK Tree Descriptions: SKers used describing words to write about the state of our SK Tree.  "Snowy, cold, black, sad" were all good choices!
3rd Grade Buddies: We loved having our 3rd Grade Buddies over for our usual A Day date, sharing stories, practicing good listening skills (like asking questions and checking for reader understanding!)  Next time we go to their room - what fun!
H/h: H: Start at the blue sky, pull down straight, pick up!  Star the blue sky, pull down straight, pick up!  Slide right on the red fence.  h: Start at the blue sky, pull down straight, push up, rainbow over, pull down to the green grass.



Math
Charting/graphing/mapping: We are thrilled to be in the first week of a terrific learning opportunity that ties in excellent math skills, as well as scientific observation and language leanring!  Read more about it below under the Science section.
Compare/contrast: We love the end of a month, and a new month's beginning!  We compare and contrast the temperatures we've experienced, the types of weather we've predicted and been faced with, and notice differences from season to season, all from our daily Calendar Book data recordings!
Subtraction stories: Friends are experiencing loads of success with our addition stories, using manipulatives to write their own.  However, many are having a tough time with subtraction stories (5-2=3), working with a group of objects, taking a few away and writing a number story to reflect this.  Play with cars, trains, cheerios or bows to help your friend use math language, telling "take away" stories together! 



Science
Project Groundhog: We are participating in an exciting new project!  ProjectGoundhog.net is helping us to study the weather and woodland animals, practice some important math skills, sharpen our good letter writing habits, and engage in 21st century learning with a global community of learners!  We are a part of a six-classroom team, spanning the USA and Canada, that is working together over the next six weeks to collect data, compare results, and communicate our findings, all in the name of deciding... can we predict the seasons based on a groundhog?  BE SURE to check Friday Folders for an important kick-off piece of the project that we need your help on!  THANK YOU!



Extra!  Extra!  Announcements
Project Groundhog: Please be sure to check Friday Folders and head outside first thing Saturday morning with your SKer to check for their groundhog's shadow!  THANK YOU!
Valentines: A note will be going home next week Friday in folders about Valentines at school.  Thanks in advice for taking a close look at it!
Friday Folders: Your SKer's entire collection of Calendar Data is coming home in their Friday Folders this week - be sure to walk through pages with them and ask for an explanation of our daily routines!  They're all pros.
New Show & Share Round! New theme: help your SKer decide on a special artifact that tells us more about a hobby of theirs!  A tennis tacket, a ballet slipper, a piano book, a golf tee, a soccer cleat, a guitar pick... anything! 
(We begin a new round of special helpers and their show & shares on Monday.  Remember: it's just a simple day of line-leading and helping with classroom jobs - no family visits, special treats or high pressure! We will send a note home around your SKer's tote handles the night before their day with a reminder, but we won't be publishing a schedule this time - easier to accomodate changes this way!


Reminders
100 Day: We celebrate on Monday!  If your SKer did not send in his or her collection of 100 objects yet, we need to have them by Monday at the very latest.  Thank you!
Next Skating Lesson: Wednesday, February 6th.
Next/Final Family Skate: Friday, February 22nd.
Next Superstar Day: Gabe on February 6th!
Next Healthy Picnic Day: Lukas on February 11th!
***Family Skate Photos will be up next week in the blog.***