Updates, etc.

Yesterday we had representatives come out from the Environmental Protection Agency, and it was really cool!  They discussed making a compost and even showed us one with live worms!  We all received recycled pencils and bookmarks too!  We love hearing from guest speakers-it makes learning so much fun!

Actual live compost - red wiggler worms work the best for it!

"Farmer's gold" - a success compost!

Caught Doing Good - Looking for a few good volunteers!  We would love to hear about how you and your child volunteer in any facet. (This is what I do in lieu of parent readers.) Email me if you would like to come in and share!

Mimosa Book Drive and Fundraiser:  
To put our social studies unit about budgeting into practice as well as to gain perspective on people who are not as fortunate as we are, we will collect money to buy gift cards for families that can not afford gifts for the holidays.  Last year, my class raised $250.25 and was in the newspaper, on the 11alive news website, and featured on the Fulton County Schools homepage.  The special part about the $250 was that it came from the kids - their allowances, their hearts to be opened to be generous..  It was also really special because it was an entire school-wide effort, and only $50 had been sent in from the rest of the entire school.

That being said, I like to put my money where my mouth is.  I love to take part in being generous and for the holidays, in lieu of gifts, I offer the idea to donate to one of my favorite charities for children in need.  :)  Thanksgiving is a really special time to begin discussing what that means.

We will be collecting gently used books for Mimosa through January as well!

Thanksgiving Treats/Lessons:
We already have some cheerios, m&m's, mini-marshmallows and nuts for the activity.  We just need a couple more things!  Thank you for sending in supplies!

In my ELA class, we will be studying letters from the perspectives of the Wampanoags and the Pilgrims (both kids and adults) as well as Turkey Tom's perspective, and we will be writing and creating reader's theaters/plays.  We will also study why we are thankful and your child will interview you too!  The students are encouraged to bring in costumes for their parts on Tuesday!!

There will be no spelling or HOTS POW.   We will also be working on health next week (a great time to think about healthy choices during a holiday that celebrates overeating?? hah!!)  ;0)

Carnival Auction Winners Ice Cream Party yesterday was a ton of fun!

PAL day was yesterday as well! It is always such a blessing to spend time with my old students!  

Curriculum Updates:  We will begin all new units on November 26.  By Tuesday, all standards and study guides will be posted here on the blog.  Unit 4 in math focuses on area of rectilinear shapes and continues multiplication.  Our next unit in SS will be on economics as I mentioned earlier.