Kindergarten: We will be reading books about Jaguars and rainforest Jungles during "J" week. The Cross Country Cat by Mary Calhoun will be our focus during "C" week. The rest of the month we will be using the FunSchool site to learn about Earth Day!
First Grade: We are wrapping our research on mammals using the World Book online encyclopedia and will be making our stories about our chose mammal available on Tar Heel Reader website. More information about how to access your child's story will be coming to you via email!
Second Grade: A photography project is underway this month. This is a cooperative project between Mr. Proctor and Mrs. Sievert. Students are learning to use the features of the Kodak digital camera: the focal point grid, the Macro setting for close-ups, and turning the flash on and off. Students will be photographing faces on inanimate objects and looking for super close-up photo opportunities that might make others say "What in the world is that???"
Third Grade: Students continued their study of news and information websites with the Tween Tribune. They each will create an account and do some blogging about interesting stories they read. Learning.com will be used to brush up a few technology skills and the month will wrap up with some Earth Day games and books.
Fourth Grade: This is a big month for fourth graders. The transition to Middle School has begun. We are learning how to log onto a laptop with our own personal accounts and adjust the settings to our own preferences. The Acceptable Use Policy will be reviewed and Email will be introduced at the end of the month.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
March is Reading Month at SLES - IditaREAD begins March 1st!
Kindergarten: We will continue to use the Tux Paint software to draw things that begin with our letter of the week. We will use ovals to draw dinosaurs during "O" week, for example. We will be reading the story A Week of Raccoons by Whelan during "R" week. We will also continue using the Learning.com lessons to learn more about the parts of a computer.
First Grade: We are learning to use the World Book Encyclopedia online edition to find facts about animals. We hope to use these facts to create an online book about an animal next month.
Second Grade: We are finishing our study of American Folktales and will start to learn how to use digital cameras. We hope to produce a slide show of photos of all of the important people who work here at SLES. We will be voting for our favorite Goldfinch Award Book during the month of March so that our school can contribute to the statewide competition.
Third Grade: We will be using the Pages software to write thank you letters to the many people who are sharing their time and talents with us during reading month. We will also be learning about the newspaper as an information source, both print and online editions. We will be looking at online editions of The Des Moines Register, the Lakes News Shopper, and The Dickinson County News. Next month we plan to look at some news blogs. At the end of the month we will be participating in the statewide voting for our favorite Iowa Children's Choice Award book.
Fourth Grade: We are working hard on completing our Keynote presentations about one of the 50 states in preparation for a state fair event where we will share our learning. Fourth graders will also review the newspaper as an information source and participate in the statewide voting for their favorite Iowa Children's Choice award book.
First Grade: We are learning to use the World Book Encyclopedia online edition to find facts about animals. We hope to use these facts to create an online book about an animal next month.
Second Grade: We are finishing our study of American Folktales and will start to learn how to use digital cameras. We hope to produce a slide show of photos of all of the important people who work here at SLES. We will be voting for our favorite Goldfinch Award Book during the month of March so that our school can contribute to the statewide competition.
Third Grade: We will be using the Pages software to write thank you letters to the many people who are sharing their time and talents with us during reading month. We will also be learning about the newspaper as an information source, both print and online editions. We will be looking at online editions of The Des Moines Register, the Lakes News Shopper, and The Dickinson County News. Next month we plan to look at some news blogs. At the end of the month we will be participating in the statewide voting for our favorite Iowa Children's Choice Award book.
Fourth Grade: We are working hard on completing our Keynote presentations about one of the 50 states in preparation for a state fair event where we will share our learning. Fourth graders will also review the newspaper as an information source and participate in the statewide voting for their favorite Iowa Children's Choice award book.
Monday, January 31, 2011
February Information Skills
4th Grade: We will be taking a look at copyright rules and how to cite sources when using another's work in our research projects. Parents are encouraged to join us in our study at the site: http://www.jointhecteam.com. We will also use some lessons on Sources and Ethics from Learning.com. At the end of this month we will begin work on our Keynote presentations for the State Fair project in the classroom.
3rd Grade: We've wrapped up our photography unit but will take one more look at the alphabet in our world with the site: http://www.geogreeting.com We will also be learning to use the EBooks in our library's collection and how to manage our own Destiny Quest pages. At the end of this month we will learn to navigate the World Book Online database available through the AEA Online website.
2nd Grade: We will be studying American Folk Tales: John Henry, Pecos Bill and others. We will also continue to use the lessons in Learning.com to expand our knowledge of how computers and printers work.
1st Grade: We will be adding to our technology knowledge with lessons on Learning.com. At the end of the month we will learn to use the World Book online database to read stories and to learn new information about mammals.
Kindergarten: We will continue to match our letter of the week unit of study in the classroom with our story or computer skill during IS class time.
3rd Grade: We've wrapped up our photography unit but will take one more look at the alphabet in our world with the site: http://www.geogreeting.com We will also be learning to use the EBooks in our library's collection and how to manage our own Destiny Quest pages. At the end of this month we will learn to navigate the World Book Online database available through the AEA Online website.
2nd Grade: We will be studying American Folk Tales: John Henry, Pecos Bill and others. We will also continue to use the lessons in Learning.com to expand our knowledge of how computers and printers work.
1st Grade: We will be adding to our technology knowledge with lessons on Learning.com. At the end of the month we will learn to use the World Book online database to read stories and to learn new information about mammals.
Kindergarten: We will continue to match our letter of the week unit of study in the classroom with our story or computer skill during IS class time.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
January Learning in the Library
Kindergarten: During IS class time this month we plan to read some great books that connect with the letter friend of the week and practice our computer skills using the Tux Paint program. We will read:
The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss during S-week, Oh Say Can You Say Di-No-Saur? by Bonnie Worth during D-Week, and Charlie's Superhero Underpants by Lee Wildish during U-week. We will practice drawing penguins with Tux Paint software during the study of Polar Regions.
First Grade: We will be learning about Fairy Tales and many ways the stories change and twist around in different versions. We will also learn about the call number 398.2 that helps us find Fairy Tales on the library shelves. We will also look at some websites that offer some read aloud Fairy Tales and Tall Tales.
Second Grade: Second graders will be learning how to log in and take Accelerated Reader quizzes during the month of January. Parents can watch for a letter coming home that will tell you how to access your child's account and check their progress.
Third Grade: A photography unit is planned for students in third grade. We will be looking at everyday items from different perspectives to see if we can spot the letters of the alphabet hiding in the world around us. We will check out the "What in the World" games at the bottom of the list here: http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/games/puzzlesquizzes/ and some examples from a professional photographer, Amy Kriz Ackman at http://www.photoprose.biz
Fourth Grade: Fourth graders will start each lesson in January with a couple of short booktalks on new titles in our library including some of the EBooks recently added to our collection. They will also be learning how to log in to the new library web page with their personal accounts. Students will begin to explore the features of the new software which will allow them to rate and review books, recommend titles to a friend, and download EBooks.
The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss during S-week, Oh Say Can You Say Di-No-Saur? by Bonnie Worth during D-Week, and Charlie's Superhero Underpants by Lee Wildish during U-week. We will practice drawing penguins with Tux Paint software during the study of Polar Regions.
First Grade: We will be learning about Fairy Tales and many ways the stories change and twist around in different versions. We will also learn about the call number 398.2 that helps us find Fairy Tales on the library shelves. We will also look at some websites that offer some read aloud Fairy Tales and Tall Tales.
Second Grade: Second graders will be learning how to log in and take Accelerated Reader quizzes during the month of January. Parents can watch for a letter coming home that will tell you how to access your child's account and check their progress.
Third Grade: A photography unit is planned for students in third grade. We will be looking at everyday items from different perspectives to see if we can spot the letters of the alphabet hiding in the world around us. We will check out the "What in the World" games at the bottom of the list here: http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/games/puzzlesquizzes/ and some examples from a professional photographer, Amy Kriz Ackman at http://www.photoprose.biz
Fourth Grade: Fourth graders will start each lesson in January with a couple of short booktalks on new titles in our library including some of the EBooks recently added to our collection. They will also be learning how to log in to the new library web page with their personal accounts. Students will begin to explore the features of the new software which will allow them to rate and review books, recommend titles to a friend, and download EBooks.
Monday, November 29, 2010
December Activities
Our new library software is now installed and we are starting to explore all of the new features it will offer. The transition went very smoothly and we are very happy to be back in the "book business" again!
Kindergarten: This month we will be enjoying stories that feature our letter friend of the week and practicing with the Tux Paint program to draw things that start with our letter friend of the week.
First Grade: We are learning about the author Dr. Seuss (Theodore Seuss Geisel a.k.a. Theo LeSieg) and will explore the Seussville website.
Second Grade: We are finishing learning about the author of the Clifford books, Norman Bridwell. We are also spending some time on the Clifford website. We will also be looking at the great variety of artwork that is displayed in the Caldecott Award winning books owned by our library.
Third Grade: We are learning about Newbery Award winning books and will be learning how to navigate our new card catalog. We will wrap up the month with the story Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric Kimmel and the interactive dreidel game found at: http://www.jewfaq.org/dreidel/index.htm
More December activities and games can be found at:
http://www.merry-christmas.com/games/games.htm#
Fourth Grade: We are finishing our Keynote presentations on Playground Safety and then will spend some time learning to use the great new features in our card catalog.
Kindergarten: This month we will be enjoying stories that feature our letter friend of the week and practicing with the Tux Paint program to draw things that start with our letter friend of the week.
First Grade: We are learning about the author Dr. Seuss (Theodore Seuss Geisel a.k.a. Theo LeSieg) and will explore the Seussville website.
Second Grade: We are finishing learning about the author of the Clifford books, Norman Bridwell. We are also spending some time on the Clifford website. We will also be looking at the great variety of artwork that is displayed in the Caldecott Award winning books owned by our library.
Third Grade: We are learning about Newbery Award winning books and will be learning how to navigate our new card catalog. We will wrap up the month with the story Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric Kimmel and the interactive dreidel game found at: http://www.jewfaq.org/dreidel/index.htm
More December activities and games can be found at:
http://www.merry-christmas.com/games/games.htm#
Fourth Grade: We are finishing our Keynote presentations on Playground Safety and then will spend some time learning to use the great new features in our card catalog.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
November
November will be an exciting month here in the library at Spirit Lake Elementary. We begin the month with our Superhero Book Fair and will end the month with a new library automation system in place. To check the progress of our book fair toward the goal check out the link below:
Book Fair
Our change to a new library automation system will mean that our ability to circulate materials will be unavailable for a few days during the week of the Thanksgiving holiday. Thanks for your patience with us while we make this much needed change.
Here is what we will be learning in Information Skills classes during the month of November:
Kindergarten: We will be learning to use Tux Paint to create our letters of the week. Remember that Tux Paint is a free software program that you can download to your computer at home.
First Grade: We will be using the lessons learned in Easy Tech about Shapes and Fills, Brushes and Lines to create Thanksgiving pictures with the Tux Paint program.
Second Grade: We will be reviewing online safety with the Netsmartz for Kids program and then using Easy Tech to learn about the parts of a computer and how to connect other devices.
Third Grade: We will be using Easy Tech lessons to learn about the basic components of computers and how to trouble shoot printer problems. We will also be learning about the Newbery Award given to outstanding children's literature and some of the titles that have been honored with this award.
Fourth Grade: We used digital cameras to take photos on the playground and now will be using a presentation software called Keynote to create a slideshow on the topic of Playground safety.
Book Fair
Our change to a new library automation system will mean that our ability to circulate materials will be unavailable for a few days during the week of the Thanksgiving holiday. Thanks for your patience with us while we make this much needed change.
Here is what we will be learning in Information Skills classes during the month of November:
Kindergarten: We will be learning to use Tux Paint to create our letters of the week. Remember that Tux Paint is a free software program that you can download to your computer at home.
First Grade: We will be using the lessons learned in Easy Tech about Shapes and Fills, Brushes and Lines to create Thanksgiving pictures with the Tux Paint program.
Second Grade: We will be reviewing online safety with the Netsmartz for Kids program and then using Easy Tech to learn about the parts of a computer and how to connect other devices.
Third Grade: We will be using Easy Tech lessons to learn about the basic components of computers and how to trouble shoot printer problems. We will also be learning about the Newbery Award given to outstanding children's literature and some of the titles that have been honored with this award.
Fourth Grade: We used digital cameras to take photos on the playground and now will be using a presentation software called Keynote to create a slideshow on the topic of Playground safety.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Book Fair
The Book Fair will arrive on Monday, October 25th with the theme "Reading Saves the Day" featuring Superheroes! Please check out the Book Fair web page to learn more about dates and times for sales and to create your own wish list online: http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/spiritlake
Many thanks to the PIE volunteers who organize and operate this fair each year! Our students and staff benefit from the many new titles your efforts provide for our library.
Many thanks to the PIE volunteers who organize and operate this fair each year! Our students and staff benefit from the many new titles your efforts provide for our library.
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