2nd Grade wrote pollinator stories after learning how plants need pollinators, how they move pollen, and how the parts of a plant work. Each student picked a pollinator choosing from moths, butterflies, beetles, flys, and wasps. Students had studied bees earlier to practice researching the other pollinators. They wrote, edited, and self published including a scientific drawing as the cover of their book. Then, Mrs. Rubin’s Current World Affairs class came to the elementary school so that both the 2nd graders and the seniors could share books with each other. The seniors wrote books about different careers. The opportunity energized and built confidence in all the students to share the hard work they had put into the writing process.
4th Graders wrote poetry during their 1st expedition, then after Christmas, they began working on performances combining poetry reading, music composition, and speaking and listening standards. In small groups students composed music played by other students in their group. Families were invited to come watch the performances, and then afterwards everyone joined up to participate in a whole group drum circle. Students also shared other learning about the Oregon Trail. Overall, it was exciting to introduce a new KFES tradition to the school especially one to share with families.
Kindergarten has been busy starting a new expedition about weather. They wrote about 3 components of weather including temperature, wind, and moisture. Students used the word wall and anchor charts for support. They also learned about weather through activities like a puzzle of weather around the world. In math students have been using a manipulative cogs to make patterns.
2nd Graders are being paleontologists. Practicing their fossil digging skills on chocolate chip cookies, and then moving on to digging dinosaur bones from fossil kits and recording their findings just like real scientists. This week they also got to create air dry clay dinosaurs.
1st Grades first outdoor adventure included a gorgeous hike along the Lake Roosevelt Boy Scout Trail from the Sherman Creek Hatchery to Haag Cove. Students also got to drop down to large beach where they could construct something magnificent out the sand and other found nature items. It was a blast of a day!
