E-News on the Lane
Highlights from the week at Indian Lane
Everybody love the Bobcat!
March 28-April 1, 2016
Message from our Principal
Students and staff returned from break with great enthusiasm. We
celebrated our March birthdays with our monthly Birthday Bash.
Students enjoyed cupcakes and took home a pencil from the
celebration. Friday was April 1st. With it, the Indian Lane News Team
kicked off the day with a lot of April Fool‛s Day jokes for our students.
Mr. Frank and Mrs. Hatton gave the students extra recess tomorrow
which all were happy with. Just a reminder that the PSSA‛s are
starting on April 12 for our 3-5 graders. We are confident that they
will show what they know! Have a great weekend.
From our Classrooms
Kindergarten
Kindergarten students learned about nonfiction books. After reading a
few nonfiction books they became news reporters. The reporters
shared their books with their partners and reported on the
information in the books.
In Math the children continue to understand addition and subtraction
problems. Students used different ways to solve the problems and
created stories for each equation.
First Grade
We launched our Organisms science unit this week by learning all about
the differences between Living and Nonliving Things. One of the most
exciting lessons of the week was dissecting lima beans! We learned to
identify the main parts: the testa (seed coat), the cotyledon (food) and
the embryo (baby plant). The kids were so enthralled by this activity
that they were literally dissecting bean after bean and continuing to
ask for more. Several of the students were asking, “Where can we get
these beans?” and “Can I bring some home?” (I had to chuckle at that
request since I bought them in the dried bean section of the Acme for
about $1.00!) So, if you‛re in need of a hands-on, inexpensive, not very
messy weekend project – try this out! Buy a bag of dried large lima
beans. Soak them in water overnight or for at least a few hours. Then
give them a paper towel and let them dissect! This week was all about
plants. We also used the senses of sight and touch to observe four new
kinds of seeds: kidney beans, sunflower, pumpkin, and pea. Each child
planted seeds. We will observe and record our observations of the
plants throughout the unit.
Second Grade
It was nice to have off during spring break, but it was great to get
back to a full week of learning! One of the strategies the children
practiced in Reading Workshop was how to put newly learned
information into their own words, rather than just repeating what the
author wrote. In Writing Workshop, we focused on singular and plural
nouns, possessives, quotation marks and point of view. In Math, we
worked with 3-digit numbers and used place value charts to determine
each digit‛s value. In Social Studies, we discovered how the Eastern
Woodland Native Americans lived. We created a pocket for this region
and filled it will information and crafts. By the end of this unit, each
child will have a book containing four different regions.
Third Grade
Third graders wrapped up their unit on equivalent fractions this week
and began to study time to the minute. In reading, students reviewed
close reading strategies and were introduced to what PSSA questions
will look like for reading. In Writing, students became experts on
writing informational pieces then scored one another‛s writing using a
4-3-2-1 rubric. Each student applied their peer‛s suggestions to his/her
own writing to improve their work. In Grammar, we focused on
conjunctions, possessives and types of sentences more this week.
Fourth Grade
Excitement is brewing in Science. Critters have arrived and students
will be populating their eco-columns. Students have been preparing
environments suitable for their fish, snails, isopods, and crickets. They
have also been learning about the characteristics of each of those
living specimens. Students are observing the growth in their
terrariums, and will be completing the habitat in their aquariums. Over
the next several weeks, students will have an up close and personal
window into a model of a working ecosystem.
Preparation is continuing for the upcoming PSSAs. Students are
practicing writing narratives, informative essays, and
opinion/persuasive essays.
Fifth Grade
The fifth graders are putting in time and effort to research and
create a science fair project. The students are using the scientific
method to do research and become and expert on their topic. The
projects are due on Monday, April 18th. That week in the afternoons
the students will be presenting their projects to the class.
We have also begun to do some PSSA reviewing in class. We are
exposing the students to the released item samplers from the state in
both language arts and math.
From our Specialists:
Art
Please save the date! The art show is next Thursday, April 7th, from
6:00 - 7:30 P.M. Hope to see you there!
Gym
First and second grade finished Kickball activities and began Tee Ball
skills this week. Third through fifth are continuing with Deck Ring
Hockey or Floor Hockey.
Library
Our Indian Lane Night at Middletown Free Library on Wednesday,
March 30th was so much fun. We made animated hologram viewers and
watched the images come alive using mobile devices. Middletown
Library is hosting the Roaring 1920‛s Gatsby Gala fundraising event to
support their library on April 22nd from 7 to 10 p.m. For more
information, please visit the​
Middletown Library website​
.
In library class, first and second graders enjoyed fractured fairy tale
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs​
by Jon Scieszka. Third and
fourth grade students explored figurative language through literature.
Fifth graders began working on slideshow presentations using their
research notes.
Music
The “Music In Our Schools Week” performances these past few weeks
have been amazing! During this celebration, students in grades 1-4
have had the opportunity to share their musical talents with their class
through singing, dancing, and playing. Fifth grade will have their chance
to perform in May. Over 100 students have participated so far. Check
out our pics @ILESMusic!
From our PTG
Wanted: Photos for the yearbook.​A link with directions for how to
upload your photos for the yearbook can be found on the website under
“Site Shortcuts.”
Run the Lane registration is now open! For more all the details and
online registration information, visit w
​ww.runthelane.com​
.
Our next PTG meeting is April 19th. We hope to see you there.
Parent Website of the Week
Acronyms tied to specific actions that kids use on social media:
http://www.parentalguide.org/article-the-411-on-social-media.html
Upcoming Events and Reminders
● Wednesday, 4/6 - 5th grade Parent Night at Springton Lake
Middle School, 7 p.m.
● Thursday, 4/7 - Art Show, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
● PSSA Testing Dates:
○ 4/12, 4/13, 4/14, 4/15 - Third, fourth, and fifth grades ELA
○ 4/19, 4/20, 4/21 - Third, fourth, and fifth grades Math
○ 4/26, 4/27 - Fourth grade Science