2nd Quarter
Physical Education ~ Mrs. DiRisio
We have been very busy in PE. Third grade participated in a floor
hockey unit playing with a puck and sometimes a ball. It was fun to see the
difference in play when you used a puck compared to the ball. We worked on
passing, dribbling, positions and game strategy. They also have been working on
fitness testing performing curl ups, push ups and the trunk lift. All third graders
participated in the fitness tests. Ask your child which area they were the best in.
Students in first and second grade participated in one of my favorite
units, the parachute. Please don’t let your children tell you we were jumping off
of any buildings. HaHa!! We used the parachute to work on teamwork. We
played games and made various shapes using the parachute. I think most
students will say that either sharks and lifeguards or the washing machine was
their favorite parachute game.
All students in grades 1-3 are currently starting or getting ready to start a
tumbling unit. We will be using some special mats called the cheese and a really
cool mat called the doughnut that students can get inside and make roll. We will
be using low balance beams to perform walks, balances, turns and dismounts.
First grade will be working on some animal walks as well. Second grade gets to
add obstacles to the climbing wall and third grade gets to use the doughnut
hole, which is the center of the doughnut. We use the doughnut hole to help us
with backbends, bridges or back walkovers. Parents are invited to come and
help with the stations when we start them.
I know that the five day cycle can be challenging when trying to
remember sneakers. If you are ever unsure as to what cycle day it is you can
always check the website and it is posted on there for you. Thanks so much for
your help in having your child remember sneakers and dressing in appropriate
clothes for PE.
Music ~ Mr. Norris
This marking period all three grades worked very hard to learn several
pieces of seasonal music for the school’s Carol Sing. They did a fantastic job
showcasing their abilities to sing and read music. The first grade classes
focused on reading the lyrics of the carols and learning the music by echoing
the melody. The second and third grade classes worked on the form, meter,
rhythm, and tempo of the carols to better understand how these elements are
used to create all music. The third grade classes also discussed style or genre of
several different classical, jazz, and pop pieces as well as outlining the
instruments used. The second grade classes worked extensively on building
their skills in reading, writing, and identifying rhythms. They also worked on
refining their ability to identify the sounds of the different families of instrument
in the orchestra. First grade continued to practice their abilities at finding the
steady beat in different tempos and types of music in several meters. First
graders were also introduced to the different instruments of the orchestra and
how they sound.
All three grades learned about the keyboard family of instruments and
had a chance to see how a piano creates sound and why it’s a member of
the percussion family. They learned about keyboard instruments that are in the
wind family (the organ) as well as saw a keyboard instrument that plays bells
(the carillon). All of the classes also had a chance to play a piano and see
Phys. Ed.
Vocabulary
1st Grade: parachute,
teamwork, cheese or
incline mat, doughnut,
stretch, balance, roll
2nd Grade: parachute,
teamwork, cheese or
incline mat, doughnut,
stretch, balance, forward
roll, backward roll
3rd Grade: floor hockey,
face- off, push pass,
penalty box, high sticks,
goalie box, flexibility,
balance, roll, stretch
Music
Vocabulary
1st Grade: lyrics, echoing,
melody, keyboard, piano,
percussion, wind family
(organ and carillon),
electronic synthesizer
2nd Grade: form, meter,
rhythm, tempo, orchestra,
keyboard, piano,
percussion, wind family
(organ and carillon),
electronic synthesizer
3rd Grade: form, meter,
rhythm, tempo, style,
genre, classical, jazz, pop,
keyboard, piano,
percussion, wind family
(organ and carillon),
electronic synthesizer,
notes, staff, treble clef,
timbre
Music ~ Mr. Norris (continued)
how it works. Soon, the classes will get a chance to play an electronic
keyboard called a synthesizer, and experiment with the different sounds it can
produce.
Right now, the third grade classes are being tested on their ability to
recognize notes on the staff in the treble clef. They recently took their first test
with 85% of the students getting every note correct. The second grade classes
are being tested on their ability to read, write, and perform a variety of
rhythms. The first grade continues learning about rhythm and melody as they
play simple harmonies to new songs. They are also learning about the
instruments used to tell the story of, “Peter and the Wolf” and can recognize
the timbre (sound of) and appearance of the instruments.
Technology
Vocabulary
Technology ~ Mrs. Painter
First grade students are doing a wonderful job logging into their computers!
Some students now even have their usernames and passwords memorized! First
graders have been continuing their work in KidPix with the various tools. They have
learned how to use the text tool in KidPix and how to change fonts and colors. Time
has also been spent on properly using the shift key and the space bar. First grade
students have recently begun working with their keyboarding skills through the
program Read, Write, and Type. They’ve learned about home row position and
proper posture when typing on a computer. Additionally, first graders are now using
the SMART Board for attendance activities in the beginning of class.
Second graders are continuing their work with keyboarding skills and using
home row position and proper posture. They are also learning about new tools
within the program, KidPix. Students have learned about the sticker tool,
animations, and have reviewed how to change font color, size, and style. We have
also worked with shortcuts to save and print our projects. Students have learned
how to use the mouse and the arrow keys to move the cursor and delete mistakes
in text. We recently began work on our slideshows, which we planned using a
storyboard. Students are excited about this long-term multimedia project!
In third grade, students have been busy working with the word processing
feature in OpenOffice. (By the way, OpenOffice.org is a free/open-source program
you may download to use at home!) We have been working with formatting text
and the layout of documents, using shortcuts (save, print, select all, undo), and
have learned how to insert clipart. Third graders continue their work with
keyboarding in Typing Pal with a focus on accuracy first, then speed. The next few
weeks we will be focusing on Internet safety and digital etiquette through the use of
Edmodo and then will be moving into our multimedia unit. (*If your 3rd grader has
not yet returned his/her Edmodo permission slip, please do so as soon as possible. If
you need another form, please let me know and I will send another one home.)
If you have access to the Internet, you may want to consider bookmarking
my webpage for your child’s use at home. There are lots of typing games and
seasonal activities available for your child, as well as various links to many kidfriendly websites. However, as your child has been reminded during class, Read,
Write, and Type and Typing Pal are to be used during technology instruction time
only. If you’re reading this newsletter online, you’re just a click away from my
webpage and lots of fun and educational activities and links for your child! Enjoy!!
1st Grade: text tool
(“T” button), shift key,
space bar, home row
position, posture
2nd Grade: home row
position, posture,
animation, save,
cursor, delete,
slideshow, storyboard
3rd Grade: word
processing program,
save, print, select all,
undo, clipart
* Follow our technology class on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MrsPainterTech
1
Please see below for
Mrs. Brubaker’s Art news!
Art ~ Mrs. Brubaker
This winter in art class we have been busy creating winter
themed projects.
First grade welcomed in the winter weather with snowman
paintings. They learned how to use their brushes in new ways and
also learned the difference between 2-D and 3-D art. They then
created a 3-D snowman sculptures. With the start of February, the
students created a Valentines Day collage. To finish out the winter
season they will be learning how to draw a self-portrait and will be
creating a frame for it. They will also be making a paper weaving
and a clay plaque.
Second grade finished up on their pillows and snowman
collage. Next, they will be creating a weaving using a variety of
materials, an African inspired mask, and a Mexican sun.
Third grade is finishing up on their clay pots and their
Zentangle inspired snowflake designs. Next they will start a unit
using the human figure. They will learn how to draw a figure and
incorporate the human figure in a design. They will then make a
3-D figure.
Art
Vocabulary
1st Grade: 2-D, 3-D,
sculpture, collage, selfportrait, weaving
2nd Grade: collage,
weaving, mask,
Mexican sun
3rd Grade: pots,
Zentangle, figure, 3-D
figure
SPECIAL Report
2nd Quarter
February 2015
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