A “Snowflake on the Wall” of the 3rd and 4th Grade Classroom
January has proved to Beaver Island that winter is proudly here and here to stay! (It looks like the 3rd and 4th graders will have to wait to tap maple trees at Mrs. Bedell’s house a few additional weeks…) Although it has been extremely chilly, we have still found time to bask in the sunshine covered snow.
Students were given the opportunity to recite their January poem, A Bandaid for the World, while snowshoeing in the school woods. Snow tunnels to wonderworlds and snowmen communities have suddenly popped up on the playground this month. Students in grades 2-12 participated in the Beaver Island District Library’s NEA Big Read programming by submitting written work for a community book project. Surviving on the Island was printed this month and is available for purchase - just in time to round off your winter reading.
The extremely cold temperatures have left many indoors, so our class adopted a stuffed animal pet. Meet Blue! She is a gray bear that stays cozy with her blue and black checkered hat and scarf. (We prefer she would wear green and NOT blue…. Perhaps she is a traitor from Mackinac Island?! But we’ll make her an islander one way or another. GO BIG GREEN!) Classmates have taken turns taking her home to show her new environments. When Blue returns from a classmate’s house, we hear all about their adventures in Blue’s journal. We are excited to see all the journal entries by spring time when Blue can peel off her winter gear.
This past week we walked to the Beaver Island District Library to read to members of the Council on Aging and other volunteers. Interested community members that would like to participate should contact the BIDL about the next date. It is always a wonderful opportunity for diverse islanders to get together and converse about books.
In the math world, we have been learning about equivalent fractions. Students matched marshmallows with the correct fraction mug to earn hot chocolate. It was the perfect activity to wrap up a chilly week!
We look forward to kicking off our Iditarod unit soon. A musher visit, the Idita-Read Reading Race, and several integrated lessons are all to come as we study The Last Great Race.