First and second graders listened to two Monarch books, Gaston by Kelly Dipucchio and Wolfie the Bunny by Ame Dyckman. We compared the stories and the 2nd graders drew Wolfie by following along with the illustrator who teaches a how-to tutorial online. In the next few weeks first grade will be researching Houses Around the World, such as igloo, cabin, house on stilts, hut, adobe, houseboat or cave home, and will build a model of one of the houses. Second grade will delve into the Caldecott Award winning books, learning about the award and getting time to read many of these wonderful selections.
For third grade, January is the Mystery genre. First we discussed the elements of a mystery story and important mystery terms like suspects and alibi. Next each class was treated to a Mystery Breakout in which they read short mystery stories in groups, solved the mystery of who did it and if they were correct, solved a second puzzle which led to a lock in the box. Every class broke out! Take a look:
Fifth grade is studying the human body in science and in LMC we collaborated with our Advanced Learning Facilitator, Miss Maksymec, to create a unit on adaptive tools for students with physical challenges in school. First we discusses with students what is an adaptive tool and how and when they might be used. Next students read about and took notes on one disease or condition, such as, juvenile arthritis, dwarfism, cerebral palsy or epilepsy to determine the body system affected, how the condition affects a child and what are the potential treatments. Next, the district's adaptive P.E. teacher, Mrs. Holbrook spoke to the entire 5th grade about her work with students who have some of these various physical challenges and brought many examples, for our students to try out, of adaptive P.E. equipment or games which provide these students with increased enjoyment and benefit. Now students are ready to think about other challenges of students with physical disabilities, brainstorm some solutions, and design one adaptive tool for a student in either academic classes, music, art, P.E. or lunch.