E-News on the Lane
Highlights from the week at Indian Lane
January 11-15, 2016
Message from our Principal
The students at Indian Lane collected donations for the Media Food
Bank throughout the week. We had a great result and will be able to
help support our community during the cold days of winter. On Friday,
we culminated our celebration of MLK Day by each grade level
participating in a service activity and learning about Martin Luther
King. Again, the students and school have proven to be exceptional in
their participation of our activities to support others over themselves.
From our Classrooms
Kindergarten
The kindergarten students met Mr. H and his messy hair this week.
They brought in objects that begin with the H sound and created a list
of over 35 words that begin with the letter H. During Reading
Workshop the students practiced reading dialogue to help them get a
sense of how the character feels. They also learned how important it is
to reread their stories.
Math was very exciting this week. The children learned what addition
means. They learned the vocabulary terms join, in all, add, addition
sentence, and plus sign. They have been adding many objects around
the room and having so much fun as they find the sum.
First Grade
This week the first graders began to focus in on characters in their
stories. We learned how to tell the characters feelings by the
pictures, their words, and their actions. The students did a great job
describing the characters in their own reading bag books. They, also,
learned that characters can change throughout the story. It was very
interesting!
Second Grade
This week the weather finally cooperated and turned colder for our
winter-themed activities! After learning about Snowflake Bentley, the
children created geometrical snowflakes…they look beautiful and will
soon be hanging in the hallway. To go with these symmetrical creations,
the children wrote about winter with the emphasis of their piece being
the use of descriptive language. In Social Studies, we split our time
between landforms, including the continents, and Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. The highlight of the week was celebrating the MLK Day of
Service. The second grade students designed notecards and wrote
encouraging messages to the residents of Fair Acres. The children also
participated in a readers’ theater production about Martin Luther King
and watched the animated video, ​
My Friend, Martin.​
In Math,​
the
​
children are applying all of the strategies they learned about
double-digit addition to subtraction. Once again, they will be working
with the strategies compensation, open number line and break apart.
Third Grade
Third graders very much enjoyed their trip to Lankenau Hospital this
week to learn more about the Human Body! In Math, third graders
wrapped up Topic 7, our study of area, which seemed to have been a
hit. In Reader’s Workshop, third graders jumped into their mystery
unit and are learning about what it means to read as a detective. In
Writer’s Workshop, we started our Persuasive unit. Students enjoyed
kicking off this unit with a whole class discussion about whether or not
a skunk would make a good family pet.
Fourth Grade
The fourth grade service activity for MLK day was a blast. The
students and teachers made Valentine’s Day cards for Bring Hope
Home. “Bringing Hope Home is an organization that is dedicated to
emotionally and financially supporting local families battling cancer in
the Greater Philadelphia Area. They do so by paying bills to ensure that
families are able to stay in their homes, with the lights on, heat
pumped up, phones working and food on the table during their hard
time.”
Fifth Grade
In Reader’s Workshop, we are beginning another historical fiction book
group, focusing on changes in setting and characters. It’s important
for students to recognize the events of the plot and how each changes
the characters over time.
In Writer’s Workshop, students are continuing to research, plan and
write rough copies to share their opinions on various topics. It’s
important for students to “unpack” their thoughts and elaborate on
their thinking. Students will add quotes from their research and work
to cite authors of the evidence.
In AMP, students have started a unit on ratios. In the Envisions
program, we are beginning Topic 6 which covers dividing decimals using
models.
From our Specialists:
Art
First graders are using chalk pastels on their still life work. Second
graders are designing patterns for the background of their Molas.
Third grades are reviewing the Middle Ages. Fourth graders are
studying Amish quilt patterns. Fifth graders are using chalk and gesso
on their Jim Dine drawings.
Please email me if you are interested helping prepare your child’s
work for the art show. This will be done during their art time in
during the last two weeks of February and the first two weeks of
March.
Gym
1st and 2nd grade began a unit on deck rings. Students perform
individual and partner tricks/activities. 3rd-5th grade began their
Basketball unit. Students learn and review dribbling and passing skills.
Library
In library class, all grades explored Caldecott Medal winning books and
learned more about this prestigious award given each year. Fourth
graders continued to work on the NAACP Black History Month Poster
Contest by choosing African American Jurists or Lawmakers to
research. Click the links for the Poster Contest Guidelines and the
Entry Form.
If you would like to volunteer in the library, please visit Mrs. Hatton’s
website or click here to sign up. Thank you!
Music
nd
“Lion King” auditions will be held after school on Jan 20, 21 and 22​
th​
from 3:30 – 4:45 for all 5​
graders who signed up to try out to be part
of the stage cast. Audition times and additional information was sent
home with those students this week.
Penncrest is also auditioning students from any grade to be part of
their “Notables” production this spring. Information for those
auditions can be found on the Indian Lane homepage.
From our Student Council
Thanks to everyone who donated items this week for the Media Food
Bank. The student council collected canned goods for our food drive
each day. We displayed our collection in the lobby. Mr. Reid and Mrs.
Quinn made a delivery to the Media Food Bank. It was a great
experience for this group.
We raised $550 at the Chick fil a night in December. The student
council voted to donate $50 at the holidays to those that might need
some help in our community.
From our PTG
The next PTG meeting is Tuesday, January 19th at 7:00 p.m. in the
library. Prior to the PTG meeting will be a presentation about our new
math program by some of our teachers at 6:30 p.m. For details, please
visit the website.
The Mid-Winter Festival is coming up on Friday, February 5th from
6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the gym. We hope you can join us for this
fun-filled family event. Pre-orders for pizza and Chick-fil-A
sandwiches are due Monday, February 1st.
Box Tops are also due on Friday, February 5th.
Upcoming Events and Reminders
● Tuesday, 1/19 - Math Night 6:30 p.m. and PTG meeting, 7:00 p.m.,
library
● Tuesday, 1/19 - Auditions for “Notables 2016,” the Penncrest
musical, 6:00 p.m., Media Elementary School Auditorium. Please
bring completed audition form with you.
● Wednesday, 1/20 - IL Night at MFL, 6:00-7:00 p.m.
● Friday, 1/22 - Geography Bee, 9:00 a.m., cafeteria
● Monday, 1/25 - 4th grade In-Progress Strings Concert, 7:00 p.m.,
cafeteria
● Friday, 2/5 - Box Tops are due!
● Friday, 2/5 - PTG’s Mid-Winter Festival, 6:00-8:00 p.m., gym