Term Two Underway at Beaumont Road
Here We Go for Term Two!
Hello Elementary Friends!
Can you believe it is the end of April already? Time is going by so fast, but I am still trying to squeeze the most I can out of it while we are in Australia! Term two is under way. The students came back ready to learn - and I am glad. We have a lot to get accomplished in the next 9 weeks. Here are some of the things that are planned for Year Two for Term Two:
Reading - continue to focus upon comprehending what we are reading with ever increasing text levels. What is the author's purpose? What type of writing is it? Advance into beginning chapter books and away from simple picture books. Move from learning to read to reading to learn!
Writing - Learn the basics of an explanatory essay. Continue to expand upon personal recounts and add a prompt question to journal writing every other week. We will spend two weeks on poetry - simple beginning poetry skills. Each week students will prepare a Topic Talk on a given topic or "free choice" with either written palm cards or a Power Point presentation and then present it to the class and entertain questions and comments from their classmates.
Mathematics - Here they call it "maths" instead of math like we do in the states. We are in the early stages of learning multiplication - skip counting, etc. We will master addition facts to 20 using various mental strategies when adding. We will divide shapes and collections into halves and quarters, and interpret and create picture graphs. We will also master telling time at least to the quarter past and the quarter to the hour on an analog clock.
Human Society and It's Environment - This term we are learning about the concept of "TRANSPORT." This unit of study will involve all different forms of transportation, the purpose, and unique capabilities of each type of transport, and the potential safety and environmental concerns. We will have an excursion to the Sydney Maritime Museum in June. The students will create their own form of transport and explain it to the class. We will also be figuring out how to (logistically) transport a Koala from the Sydney Taronga Zoo to the Denver Zoo!
Art - In addition to learning how to draw various types of transportation, we will be creating a "purse" for our MUMS for Mother's Day and learning how to paper mache when we create hot air balloons to hang in our classroom
I am sure that I am forgetting something we are supposed to learn - It will (undoubtedly) come to me the night before I am supposed to teach it! Mortensen and Wester teachers - can you believe that I am really teaching all of this? What is amazing to me is that the students are actually learning it too! This experience of being back in the classroom is so good for me even though it is really hard work - which I know that you know!
Instead of a form of defense, I think PopEye is showing his gratitude by raising his crest! What do you think?
Reading - continue to focus upon comprehending what we are reading with ever increasing text levels. What is the author's purpose? What type of writing is it? Advance into beginning chapter books and away from simple picture books. Move from learning to read to reading to learn!
Writing - Learn the basics of an explanatory essay. Continue to expand upon personal recounts and add a prompt question to journal writing every other week. We will spend two weeks on poetry - simple beginning poetry skills. Each week students will prepare a Topic Talk on a given topic or "free choice" with either written palm cards or a Power Point presentation and then present it to the class and entertain questions and comments from their classmates.
Mathematics - Here they call it "maths" instead of math like we do in the states. We are in the early stages of learning multiplication - skip counting, etc. We will master addition facts to 20 using various mental strategies when adding. We will divide shapes and collections into halves and quarters, and interpret and create picture graphs. We will also master telling time at least to the quarter past and the quarter to the hour on an analog clock.
Human Society and It's Environment - This term we are learning about the concept of "TRANSPORT." This unit of study will involve all different forms of transportation, the purpose, and unique capabilities of each type of transport, and the potential safety and environmental concerns. We will have an excursion to the Sydney Maritime Museum in June. The students will create their own form of transport and explain it to the class. We will also be figuring out how to (logistically) transport a Koala from the Sydney Taronga Zoo to the Denver Zoo!
Art - In addition to learning how to draw various types of transportation, we will be creating a "purse" for our MUMS for Mother's Day and learning how to paper mache when we create hot air balloons to hang in our classroom
I am sure that I am forgetting something we are supposed to learn - It will (undoubtedly) come to me the night before I am supposed to teach it! Mortensen and Wester teachers - can you believe that I am really teaching all of this? What is amazing to me is that the students are actually learning it too! This experience of being back in the classroom is so good for me even though it is really hard work - which I know that you know!
Mitch's Speech for the ANZAC Day Assembly at Beaumont Road
Prior to going to New Zealand Mitch was asked to present a speech at the ANZAC Day Assembly at school. Here is a link to his speech - I think he did a great job, and the students and staff appreciated it! Thanks Mitch!Patience Paid Off with PopEye!
In a few previous blog posts I have introduced you to PopEye, our neighborhood cockatoo. What I haven't told you is that Mitch has been patiently trying to lure him onto our balcony while he is out there and to possibly feed him. Well, finally, just the other day PopEye returned and allowed Mitch to feed him for the first time! Here they are - best buds now!
Helen - we are sorry if you do not want a pet cockatoo when you come home!
I was fascinated as I watched the exchange between human and animal. When PopEye fanned his top yellow feathers, I just had to look up what those top feathers are called, and plus, a weekly blog from me without a bit of education would just not be complete. So, here is a short explanation essay on the "Crest Feathers" of the cockatoo.
The crest is a prominent feature exhibited by several bird and other dinosaur species on their heads.
The crest is made up of semiplume feathers: a long rachis with barbs on either side. These are plumulaceous feathers, meaning that they are soft and bendable. In birds, these semiplumes are common along the head, neck, and upper back, and may be used for buoyancy and sensing vibrations.
Crests on birds are generally used for display purposes. Cockatoos and their smaller cousins, cockatiels, are part of the Cacatuidae family of parrots found in Australia. Cockatoos and cockatiels possess crests which may be raised or lowered at will. Their crests are used to communicate with fellow members of their species, or as a form of defense to frighten away other species that approach too closely, making the bird appear larger when the crest is suddenly and unexpectedly raised.
 |
Comments
Post a Comment