This week We had a really neat assembly last Friday provided by a woman from Alaska who trains huskies for back-country sled dog tours and even has some huskies that have been in the Iditarod. We enjoyed the howling young husky that was clearly wanting to play and had to take frequent breaks to walk outside. Sounds like some kids I know….
We learned about magnetism, and how all magnets have two poles, and that even the earth is a giant magnet with two poles. We have also done a lot of writing using a simple process and we have seen the amount and quality of writing increase. The students have noticed too! Ask them about itJ
Coming up Starting in March we begin our studies of the great continent-nation of Australia.
Can you believe it’s almost March already? Anyway, we have only one country to research instead of dozens so we will be doing things a bit differently this time around. We will have the luxury of spending some time on the land and water features of Australia, as well as the explorers and history of those seeking to traverse the barren interior. This is very interesting stuff and hopefully the students will be telling you all about it.
This Week: I have missed a few weeks with the Brief, so here is a quick overview. We had some more fun studying simple machines by practicing moving a sledge (a big book) across the floor using pencils as log rollers. There were several groups doing this and many interesting variations on how to move the sledge across the floor. We also began our study of flowers and named their parts, followed up by some art to reproduce a flower. We then labeled the parts.
Coming soon: Next week we will do some follow-up work with flowers by discussing pollination and in later weeks simple and complex flowers. We will try to fit in some lessons on magnetism, how it works (attraction and repulsion). Then there is that lovely day known as Valentines Day. We work hard to teach students that there is no ‘m’ in the word. I don’t know why this is so hard for kids to grasp but it is my personal mission in life to rid the ‘m’ sound from Valentine! If your child will be bringing in cards to share it is easier to prepare cards for every student without using names. Trust me, it’s better this way. With dozens of kids hunting for each other to deliver cards a sort of kick-the-anthill scene emerges, with everybody moving around without much appearing to get done. No offence to ants intended. I’m sure they have a plan I don’t understand. We will begin studies of Australia in mid-March.
This week… This week we talked about simple machines and specifically inclined planes. We saw how the Egyptians put the plane to use in building pyramids. We saw “Building the Great Pyramids” a PBS production. It was very informative and can be viewed on YouTube for free! Next up is log rollers and I’m sure the class will get a bit loud as we roll things around the room.
Next week and beyond… Next week I plan to celebrate Chinese New Year. This is a two-week celebration in much of Asia, but we will just spend a day having fun. There will be food, activities, and art projects. Though we are studying Africa right now, I have never passed up the chance to enjoy this event in the classroom. If you would like to help provide Asian-themed yummies from the store, please feel welcome to do so. Fortune cookies, crackers, and other treats are always popular. The more we receive, the more the students can sample. Students usually find something new to try each year. I will provide fried rice and dumplings (which the students will help make). Most of the eating will happen after lunch and the other activities will happen prior to lunch. I think we will probably have our celebration on Tuesday the 24th.
The final African presentations will be on Wednesday and Thursday of next week. See below for the presentation schedule.
Misc… The students have been working on their research projects in the classroom, but some will prefer to do more work at home. Your encouragement is appreciated. Remember that it does not need to be perfect, but asking your child to practice the presentation in front of you will help them see where they may need more information, pictures, or help with big words.
Eric and Adriene
North/East Africa Presentation Schedule
WednesdayThursday
Time
Student/s
Country
Time
Student/s
Country
8:50
Alyssa
Zambia
8:50
Seamus
Angola
9:00
Joe
Madagascar
9:00
Sienna
Madagascar
9:10
Annaliese
Mauritus
9:10
Eva
Congo
9:20
Jasmine
Sao Tome
9:20
Miles
Mauritus
Break
Break
9:40
Mateo
Malawi
9:40
Maya
South Africa
9:50
Henry
South Africa
9:50
Opal
Comoros
10:00
Joey
Nambia
10:00
Evan
Swaziland
10:10
Alden
Botswana
10:10
Alma
Angola
Break
Break
10:30
Nicholas
Madagascar
10:30
Wilhelm
Mozambique
10:40
Ixmyl
Lesotho
10:40
Skai
Zimbabwe
10:50
Alex
Malawi
10:50
Amelia
Zambia
11:00
Michael
Cent. Africa Republic
11:00
Cyrus
Gabon
11:10
Taima
Cameroon
11:10
Eliot
South Africa
11:30
Degan
Equitorial Guinea
11:30
Charley
Congo
Students will present their information and then takes a few questions and receive positive comments.Presentations should be 5-7 minutes for 2-3 years, and 1-4 minutes for 1st years excluding questions and comments.The goal here is for students to practice standing in front of their peers.They will not be grilled for more information or critiqued on the style of their presentation.I am hoping this will be a positive and confidence building endeavor.Please email me if you have questions.
This week… This week the students were given some classroom time to begin their last African research projects. I’m hoping to have the presentation begin the week of the 23rd. I’ll assess how far they are and let you know more details ASAP. We also learned a little bit about how the Hadza in Northern Tanzania survive and how closely they are tied to the offerings of the land. We talked about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., learned about his yearning for peace and equality, and finally listened to his entire speech given in Washington D.C. Discerning minds wonder if we have made the progress for which Dr. King hoped.
Lastly, too many allergy and taste issues made preparing an African dish difficult. Any ideas?
Next week and beyond… Next week we will be playing with inclined planes as part of our physics coursework and watching a PBS show regarding the building of the Great Pyramids. We will compare plants in Africa to those in the US (and Eugene especially) and then a lot of time will be given to preparing for the upcoming presentations.
From the e-news: Student Craft Fair – In conjunction with the Spaghetti dinner there will be a student craft fair. Students may sign up in the office to sell handmade items (no food) from 6-8pm, Friday, February 24th during the Spaghetti dinner DDD kick-off event. Because all available tables will be used for dinner seating, students will need to bring their own table. Kinder and Lower-El students will need to have a parent present at their table throughout the evening. All proceeds from crafts sales go to the seller.
This week… I hope you had a restful break. Adriene and I wish to thank all those who took the time to send in treats, cards, gifts, and general good cheer this holiday season. It made us feel good to be associated with you and your children. Thank you!
From the e-news: Read-a-Thon – We hope you all had a wonderful relaxing winter break and that you had the opportunity to curl up with your kids and read lots of good books. Ridgeline’s first annual Read-a-Thon is winding down. Students should now be tallying their total number of minutes/hours and collecting the monies pledged to them. Read-a-thon pledge monies may be turned into the office now, and they are due Friday, January 13th. Be sure to hand in your tracking sheet along with your envelope so we can do a grand total of how many minutes our Ridgeline readers accumulated! Thank you so much for participating in the Read-a-thon! ***
If you are keeping track of the reading time of your child, you may add a half hour of reading minimum for each school day since Nov. 18th.
By this reading, we have discussed leaves and their parts, looked into the mountainous areas of Africa and the animals that live there, and chosen our next round of African countries for research. The dates for those country presentations won't be until Jan. 23-25, so less pressure this time around.
Next week and beyond…
We have a lot going on in the next few weeks. As noted above in the calendar, there are all sorts of events and opportunities. In the classroom we will be looking at simple machines as part of our physics curriculum, identify and name different types of leaves, and maybe even decide on a African meal to prepare. I’m looking into having a visit from a local animal expert to help us see African animals up close and personal!
Eric and Adriene
This worksheet can be used for African country research. Use some or all of the ideas below to help you find out interesting things about your country.
o Oceans, waterways, lakes, and rivers
o Major landforms (mountain ranges, deserts, etc.)
This week… This week we studied the principles of inertia, and the laws that govern objects whether in motion or at rest. We also studied life in the Sahara and the journey of a 9-year old Tuareg boy who traveled across the desert in a caravan of camels to buy and trade salt and dates. Amazing! Don’t forget to pick up a nice tree from U-Cut Trees on Saturday or at the school Sunday if you need one for the winter holidays. Please add 30 minutes of reading time per school day if you are tracking minutes for the read-a-thon. Students begin each day (except Friday) with a 30-minute silent reading period. You can add this time to the daily reading log your are hopefully keeping already. Not sure what I’m talking about? Give me a call.
Next week and beyond… Next week…well, who really knows what will happen? We will be having African presentations on Wednesday and Thursday (see schedule below), but beyond that the students pre-vacation behavior will determine what we will be doing. Sometimes there is just no getting around that part of it.
Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and the first day of winter occur while school is out. I will try to discuss these celebrations as time and the students’ interest allow.
Eric and Adriene
North/East Africa Presentation Schedule
WednesdayThursday
Time
Student/s
Country
Time
Student/s
Country
8:50
Alyssa
Egypt
8:50
Seamus
Egypt
9:00
Joe
Algeria
9:00
Sienna
Morocco
9:10
Annaliese-Opal
Sudan
9:10
Eva
Somalia
9:20
Jasmine-Degan
Uganda
9:20
Miles
Egypt
Break
Break
9:40
Mateo
Tanzania
9:40
Maya
Kenya
9:50
Henry/Charley
Ancient Egypt
9:50
Eliot
Tunisia
10:00
Joey
Burundi
10:00
Evan
Morocco
10:10
Alden-Taima
Eritrea
10:10
Alma
Seychelles
Break
Break
10:30
Nicholas
Libya
10:30
Wilhelm
Rwanda
10:40
Ixmyl
Djibouti
10:40
Skai
Djibouti
10:50
Alex
Ethiopia
10:50
Amelia
Libya
11:00
Michael
Algeria
11:00
Cyrus
Tanzania
11:10
Isaac
Ethiopia
Students will present their information and then take a few questions and receive positive comments.Presentations should be 5-7 minutes for 2nd-3rd years, and 1-4 minutes for 1st years excluding questions and comments.The goal here is for students to practice standing in front of their peers.They will not be grilled for more information or critiqued on the style of their presentation.I am hoping this will be a positive and confidence building endeavor.Please email me if you have questions.
Saturday, 12/3 U-Cut Trees 10 am - 4 pm at 89060 Old Mohawk Rd., Springfield, OR
Sunday, 12/4 Tree Lot Sale 11 am – 4pm at school (3411 Willamette St.)
Mon. 12/5 – Thurs. 12/8 Bring books for the book exchange
Mon. 12/5 – Fri. 12/9 DDDThon Buster
Tuesday, 12/6 Ridgeline Student Fundraising Club Meeting room 4, 3:20pm
Thursday, 12/8 Board Meeting 6:30pm
Friday, 12/9 Read-a-thon Pajama Day & Book Exchange
Saturday, 12/10 U-Cut Trees 10 am - 4 pm at 89060 Old Mohawk Rd., Springfield
Sunday, 12/11 Tree Lot Sale 11 am – 4pm at school (3411 Willamette St.)
Mon. 12/12-Fri. 12/16 Joy of Sharing Food Drive
Monday, 12/12 Site Council Meeting 5:30-8:30pm
Tuesday, 12/13 Ridgeline Reader Deadline
Friday, 12/16 Last day of school before winter break
Wednesday, 1/4 Classes Resume
Wednesday, 1/4 Read-a-thon Ends
Recently…
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.Just before the break the entire school was treated to the musical talents of Laura and Larry Wayte.Both are professional musicians and we had a lot fun warming up our voices with them and even inventing scenarios with which to create mood music.Later that day we enjoyed Stone Soup and heard several versions of the traditional story.
This week the students presented their research about West African nations.I learned many things and I know the students did as well.We have already chosen our new countries for research (North and Eastern Africa).Finally, we took a slithering journey into the world of reptiles.Ask your child what they remember about the amazing variety of snakesJ
Next week and beyond…
We have a lot going on in the next few weeks.As noted above in the calendar, there are all sorts of events and opportunities.The latest round of presentations will be coming up fast (Dec 14-15) because we need to get them done before the winter break.I hope this is not too big a challenge for you, but the kids do get opportunities to work in the classroom and they know what to expect.I have included a list of the students and the nation they are researching.
In physics we will be discussing inertia, and in botany we will look closely at stems and their function.In zoology we will continue our study of reptiles.
Eric and Adriene
North/East Africa Presentation schedule
Ancient Egypt
Henry-Charley
Algeria
Michael, Joe
Egypt
Miles, Seamus-Alyssa
Libya
Amelia, Nicholas
Morocco
Evan, Sienna
Sudan
Opal-Annaliese
Tunisia
Eliot
Tanzania
Mateo, Cyrus
Kenya
Maya
Uganda
Jasmine-Degan
Rwanda
Wilhelm
Burundi
Joey
Djibouti
Skai, Ixmyl
Eritrea
Taima-Alden
Ethiopia
Alex, Isaac
Somalia
Eva
Seychelles
Alma
Students separated by (-) means those students are working together on the project.A comma means another student is doing the same country but not together.
Students will present their information and then takes a few questions and receive positive comments.Presentations should be 5-7 minutes for 2nd and 3rd years, and 1-4 minutes for 1st years excluding questions and comments.The goal here is for students to practice standing in front of their peers.They will not be grilled for more information or critiqued on the style of their presentation.I am hoping this will be a positive and confidence building endeavor.Please email me if you have questions.
This week… Gravity is a pretty cool thing. Lucky for us too, because without gravity we couldn’t throw popcorn in the air and catch it in our mouths. I encouraged the kids to practice dropping different sized objects from the roof of their homes to watch the rate of fall. Plates (especially China) work best, but lamps and priceless art also work well (just kidding). Let me know how the experiments turn out at homeJ
We also looked at the function of roots. Just when you think you know a plant, it goes and surprises you…
Next week and beyond… Next week the students will get some time in class to put finishing touches on their Africa projects, as they get ready for the presentations the week of the 28th. The first round is mostly educational, as we learn pretty quickly what we wish we did differently and what worked well. As the year progresses, feedback and practice make the presentations get better and better. We will also have some physics work by learning about the pendulum.
Just before Stone Soup, Laura and Larry Wayte will perform a musical treat for the entire school. They are professional artists and if you come you will not be disappointed.
Please note the new school lunch policy, which begins December 16. If you read the Ridgeline E-News it tells you why the lunch program is being discontinued. After the December date all students will be required to bring their own lunches from home.
This week… I want to thank Jen H., Sue T., Jen A., Jackie L., and Cindy A., for helping us chaperone the Hult Center field trip. It was a lot of fun and our incredible luck held again for a rain-free outing. The ballet was flawlessly executed, of course. If you have not yet paid for the trip, please send a check or cash for $6.50, and we’ll check you off the list.
The past few weeks we studied plant roots and their parts (yes, they have parts), and amphibians and reptiles. We also watched a BBC show about life among the Masai warriors of Africa. It is amazing how adapted they are to thrive in their environment with so few possessions as they travel. Truly nothing but a small satchel on their backs as they go a-walking into the middle of the bush.
Next week and beyond… Next week I will give some sample presentations on African countries so the students can see an example of how it is to be done when it’s their turn. I am hoping to have the presentations start on the 28th and finish by the 29th of this month. Next week we will also be learning about gravity in general, with a closer look at force, and free-fall objects. If all goes to plan we will begin some artwork on African masks.
Please note the new school lunch policy, which begins December 16. If you read the Ridgeline E-News it tells you why the lunch program is being discontinued. After the December date all students will be required to bring their own lunches from home.
This week…This week we have been solidifying our Africa studies assignments for research. We have also been learning about the notation of time (seconds, minutes, etc. all the way up to a millennium). We talked about how time is only important to humans to the degree that we can be so obsessed with it. Most other creatures could care less. We have also begun our studies in zoology and with fish in particular. We identified the parts and functions, and I look forward to some on-the-side research with this as well. Thursday we walked outside in the fall air and gathered some leaves for rubbings as we discussed evergreens and deciduous trees. The rubbings will make a beautiful addition to our décor! In physics we talked about why heavy things like a ship can float, and then played with a Cartesian Diver as we discovered that density is very important if you want something to sink or float. The time has come for those wishing to volunteer in the classroom to dust off their visitor badges! If you have time free on any day Monday through Thursday between 9 and 10 or so please let Adriene or me know. Other times can be arranged as well. This is primarily for listening to students read but can also be to help them in other ways as well.
Next week and beyond… Next week we have some more physics fun, learn about growth and reproduction of plants and do some fish prints, which we will then label.
Our fourth annual Pumpkin Hunt at Amazon Park will probably take place on the 28th. I say “probably” because it will depend on the weather. We have been lucky so far. We will walk to the park and back, so please make sure your student is dressed appropriately for the weather. Usually we hunt for pumpkins that have been hidden among the leaves and bushes, but these pumpkins are too heavy for the kids to haul back. This time the pumpkins will be decorated in class and donated to a local shelter. A sponsor will give $5.00 for each pumpkin we decorate. A nice service projectJ
Lastly, as you can see from the calendar above, there are a few no school days approaching. This is so you can have a chance to have a conference at school and discuss your child’s progress. These are usually student led and the students will be prepared in advance so they will feel more comfortable with the process.
