Last week the Battleships visited the People’s Improv Theater, also known as the PIT. When we arrived at the theater they met three improvisation instructors: Keith, Geoff, and Matt. They showed the students a brief puppet film that explained that improvisation is acting without a script. Then they demonstrated what that looks like through modeling/playing a couple games. Afterwards, the Battleships got the chance to play improv games with each of the instructors. Some of their favorite games were: Kitty Cat Careers, Passing the Woosh, and Get the Ice Cream. Then we had a community style lunch with the Clouds and Otter classes before heading back to school. Thank you PIT staff for teaching us about Improv. It was great! In Art Farm the Battleships have been learning about mammals, reptiles, different types of birds and amphibians. They have been doing a wonderful job taking care of the many types of animals that Gabby brings into the classroom. They've learned some new and interesting vocabulary words like metamorphosis. The Battleships learned that mammals are warm blooded, have fur and live in all sorts of environments including: on land, in water and underground. During this visit, Gabby brought in a rabbit, guinea pig and hamster. They learned that these animals have back bones just like we do. The following month Gabby brought in different types of reptiles. The students learned about the similarities and differences between a chuckwalla lizard, crocodile lizard and bearded dragon. For example, Rosie, the bearded dragon is an omnivore and uses camouflage to hide from predators in the deserts of Australia. Whereas Mark, the crocodile lizard, is nocturnal and a carnivore. During the lesson about different types of birds, Gabby brought in a parrot, a chicken and a dove. These birds all have feathers, wings and beaks. The students got to explore egg replicas. This past Art Farm visit the Battleships learned about amphibians. They had a fun time meeting a leopard frog, marine toad and a salamander. They learned that amphibians usually have slimy skin and go through physical changes called metamorphosis. Congratulations battleships on being safe and responsible with the animals that are brought into our classroom. Keep it up! In Social Studies, the Battleships have been learning about the difference between culture and tradition. They learned that everyone’s Thanksgiving may look a little different because we all have different backgrounds and beliefs. Each student shared who they spend the holiday with and the different types of foods they prepare and enjoy. They also learned that Thanksgiving is about giving thanks and why it is important to reflect and express our gratitude. In preparation for the Thanksgiving Feast the Battleships wrote about things that they are thankful for on Fall colored leaves, which they shared with their special guests. Thank you special guests for bringing in a wide variety of foods to share that are part of your culture and tradition. It was a wonderful afternoon full of conversation, sharing and giving thanks for the people and things in our lives. The Battleships are learning how to play tennis at Asphalt Green. The coaches taught them how to do a forehand swing and a backhand swing. They have been showing great sportsmanship by giving each other high fives, and saying "good game." Speed Racers and Fishy Fishy Cross My Ocean are two of their favorite tennis games to play. The Battleships are working on their hand eye coordination by trying to hit a target (like a cone) with a tennis ball. You can see the enjoyment by looking through the gallery of photos below. They've learned that practicing helps them to improve their skills and become stronger players. Way to go!
The students worked hard to prepare for Grandparents' Day by creating their own personalized scavenger hunt for their guest. They were so excited to practice taking a leadership role and helping their guest to explore/search the room. In our classroom we promote collaborative learning by having the students work together to solve problems and complete tasks or activities. So, we decided to create a fun-filled activity called, 'Battleship Bingo.' Each student worked with their special guest to fill out their bingo board and played as a team. The battleships displayed great sportsmanship and teamwork while playing. Well Done! Thank you grandparents and special guests for spending time with the battleships on Grandparents' Day! It was a wonderful day and they were so thrilled you could all make it. In the battleships classroom, we have been working hard to build a positive community that is filled with kindness and respect for one another. One of the various books we've read so far this year during read aloud was, "Have you Filled a Bucket Today?" by Carol McCloud. This book uses the concept of a bucket to explain how being kind to others and appreciating what they do also brings us happiness. As a class we decided to incorporate our own classroom kindness bucket. So when someone catches another student exhibiting an act of kindness they would write it down on a slip of paper, sign their name and place it in the bucket. During our end of day meeting we sit together in a circle and read these slips aloud. In addition, the battleships have been working on following our school goals and earning anchors to tie into our classroom theme. They have been anchoring down their school goals: to be ready, responsible and safe. |
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