Every School Every Thursday

In the months of January and February the five, six, and seven year olds studied about restaurants and shoes. Students were able to go on a variety of field experiences. Thanks to the support of local merchants students visited a variety of restaurants and learn how these businesses operate. A local pastry chef came in and shared her knowledge and taught the students about the tools used in restaurants. Students also have had various experiences learning about shoes. One learning group was able to visit RCC Western Store at Valley West Mall to learn about boots. The other learning group is planning to visit Scheels Sporting Goods at Jordan Creek Mall to learn about the different types of shoes and the benefits of these shoes. They will also be surveying different stores at Jordan Creek Mall to determine how many stores sell shoes.

The 7/8 year old students at Capital Square have been very busy since our Winter Break. They concluded their study of fractions and are starting multiplication and division groups. The reading focus has been on the comprehension strategy of inferring. They will have opportunities to infer during read alouds, through pictures, and poetry. For writing workshop, the students are working on small moment stories. The students spent a lot of time planning their stories in hopes of developing a strong character with a recognizable voice. They are continuing to use teamwork and cooperation to create the “Capital Square Library,” a pretend branch of the Des Moines Public Library. During art, the students are working on sculptures. A field trip to the Des Moines Art Center provided some field work and inspiration for this art topic.

The 7/8 year olds at Keck have been determining specific strategies to solve basic multiplication facts as well as look for strategies to help solve all facts more efficiently. In reading, the groups have been making some excellent predictions! They’ve discussed and modeled how expert readers use their background knowledge, information from the book and what they know about story elements and characters to make predictions. Students also recognized how predictions can help you understand the story better. One student explained that using predictions can draw you further into the book. We have begun an artist study as our next art unit. Both groups will be studying the work of Claude Monet. We will be taking a close look at how his work influenced Impressionism.

Right before winter break the five, six, and seven year olds culminated their community service project. Through community service, our students truly learned the importance of empathy. Two of our classes collected clothing items and toys for a family in the community. The items donated were wrapped and delivered by one of our teachers. Returning from break, the students were told how grateful the family was and how much they appreciated their generosity. Hearing that gave those students a warm feeling of compassion for others. Currently, students are using their prior knowledge by sharing a memory about either trucks or shoes. Each class is in the process of making a web of words they already know about either topic. This web will determine what field experiences and guest speakers we will plan for the month of January.

Donovan/Arbogast’s 9/10 classes are continuing their exploration of Mexico with an emphasis currently on the culture. Students are representing their learning through art activities including tin art and cultural masks. Mathis/McDowell’s classes are working in small groups creating representations of their habitat. Presentation will be held January 24 at 1:30. Our 9/10 Girl Scout troop is currently collecting gently used books to donate to Blank Children’s Hospital for the children there to read and enjoy!

The 7/8 year olds at Capital Square have been using a study of quilts to investigate fractions in math. Each student has created several quilt blocks independently and they have worked together with classmates to create larger class quilts. We’ve had many quilts brought into the classroom where we’ve learned about all of the different patterns and stories the quilts tell.

The students had the opportunity to visit the Des Moines Art Center on Tuesday, December 11^th to view and learn more about sculptures as well as learn the importance of a library to the Art Center.

Students from Keck had the opportunity to visit Memory Bound Scrapbook in Ankeny. Here they learned about the different types of paper to use for scrapbooking. Experts also came to talk to the students about making paper and books. Students experienced first hand the paper making process.

All of the 7/8 year old students have prepared winter music for a performance on Friday, December 14^th at Capital Square. It was a festive time. They are also taking their show on the road and will be singing at Central Offices on Wednesday, December 19^th.

Following the December 14^th performance, parents were invited into the classrooms to learn more about quilts, math, enjoy a story written by the students, and view the interesting sculptures. 7/8 year olds at Keck invited parents back to buy cards, books, and wrapping paper as well as experience the paper making process.

12/4/07

Last week the five, six, and seven year olds ended their study on shoes and trucks with formal presentations, museum walks, and open houses. Now, students are learning about community service. Some services that will take place throughout the month are: washing windows in the skywalk, assembling necessity bags for shelters, ringing the bell to raise money for the Salvation Army, writing letters to soldiers and sending care packages to them etc. Students are learning what it means to give to others and that warm feeling you get, knowing you will not get anything in return.

Students in Mrs. Mathis and Mrs. McDowell’s class are studying Habitats. Students went on two field trips to investigate the habitats native to Iowa. Greenwood Pond provided Wetlands and Grasslands, and our trip to Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge was a step back in time to the native prairies of Iowa. Students were able to see buffalo, elk, deer and native plants and grasses.

Students in Mrs. Arbogast and Mrs. Donovan’s class are studying Mexico. They went to the Art Center to observe the exhibit on Day of the Dead, and are making cultural masks of Mexico.

Last week the 7 and 8 year olds held culminating events for the end of their second project. Groups at Keck celebrated their learning about libraries by setting up a functioning library in their classroom and giving tours of the library and displays to visitors. Groups at Capital Square finished their study of birds by holding a formal presentation. Parent comments praised students for the diversity of their representations and how well they answered parent questions. Parents at all events enjoyed artwork as well. Wednesday this week our school celebrated Book Character Day, with students appreciating reading by dressing as a character from a book. The 7 and 8 year old groups participated in a human sort and read aloud with the school librarian.

All 9/10’s were guests to the production of Rumpelstilskin at Grandview College.

In mid October, five, six and seven year old students wrapped up their study of plants and flowers with formal presentations and classroom open houses. Fieldwork for the students included opportunities to visit local florists, to observe restocking downtown planters, to conduct experiments determining what plants need to live and to hear from many experts sharing topical information. Currently, students are enthusiastically making new discoveries about items we see every day, trucks and shoes. Classrooms are gathering information from local business owners and companies willing to share their knowledge about the production and care of shoes, as well as the many ways trucks help us as a community. Students will share their findings with family and friends around Thanksgiving.