DOWN ON THE FARM

I am excited to announce our last field trip of the year! We have been discussing agriculture in our current social studies unit, and next Tuesday, we have a unique opportunity to go back in time by visiting a farm that has been around since the 1830s. Victory Acres Farm is an incredible little working farm right here in the heart of Upland owned by a local family that works to provide organic food to people in town. They have generously offered to host us for the day and give us a tour of their farm---everything from indoor greenhouses to a whole barn full of farm animals!

 

Schedules and permission slips were sent out today. Please have the permission slips (and parent volunteer forms) back to me by Friday so that your student can participate in what is sure to be a fun day!

The website for Victory Acres for more information about who they are and what they do:

http://www.victoryacres.org/about-victory-acres

Remember, permission slips are due by Friday. As always, feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns!

BILL NYE: THE SCIENCE GUY

BILL! BILL! BILL! BILL! BILL!

Bill Nye, the science guy. 

We have an exciting opportunity coming up in classroom 5A on Friday! Bill Nye the Science Guy is more or less a household name in our class, and we have the incredible opportunity to SKYPE WITH HIM and ask him questions! Your student should have 2-3 questions he or she wants to ask written on a note card by the end of the day Thursday, at which point, I will collect them to keep for Friday morning. Parents and guardians are more than welcome to come join the fun as well!

OUT OF THIS WORLD

Hello, my intelligent, insightful, inquisitive students!

Tomorrow, we are kicking off our brand new unit on astronomy with a quick review of the planets and solar system. Though many of you have the planets down and can probably recite them in your sleep, review is always good and a new perspective is even better. I particularly like this video because, aside from being Schoolhouse Rock, it is a valuable reminder that this universe is SO much bigger than we realize. We have been studying the solar system for years, and we're still learning more about it! 

So what I want you to do tonight to prepare for tomorrow's discussion is to watch this video (Be warned, I DARE you to not get it stuck in your head).  Answer the three questions I have for you and bring your note card to class tomorrow with answers, as well as any other thoughts, reactions and questions you may have about astronomy and this great universe we live in.

Here are the questions I want you to answer on your note card:

1. What characteristics did this video highlight for each planet? How did they accomplish this?

2. What did you notice about how Janet interacted with each planet? Why do you think this is?

3. This video ends with the acknowledgement that, despite how well we think we know the planets, the universe is constantly expanding and scientists are always discovering new things. So here's the big question--what do YOU think is out there? Aliens? Other planets, universes, solar systems?  What do you think that means for us?

Looking forwards to our discussion tomorrow!
Ms. Bleitz