Happy Holidays!

Hi students! Over the break I would like for you to make the most of whatever educational experiences come your way. Many of you chose to take home comic book math pages and others have already selected their books for the Louis Sachar author study.

If you are planning a trip, keeping a journal is an excellent practice to remember the trip. You are welcome to share pictures and writing from any of their winter break experiences.

Our next author study is Louis Sachar. This will be done just like the first author study. Be creative in developing your own book project to share with the class. Winter break would be a great opportunity to get a head start on this book project that will be due during the second or third week of January.

When we first return to school in January, we will be studying Costa Rica to prepare for culture night. If you get the chance, research and read about Costa Rica and share with the class in January.

You might also want to check and see if there are any past blogs you have missed. Also, if you are interested in writing a blog entry for the rest of the class, feel free to email me any time.

Happy Holidays!

Mrs. Garrett

Energy

This week's Discovery Center presentation taught us about energy. They have given us five different web activities to try and I would like for you to try at least three of them, and tell me what you learned and what you tried.

Energy Webquest - You hear on the news that there has been a power shortage in your state. The Governor is asking citizens to find better sources of energy. Only those citizens knowledgeable enough about energy to pass his Energy Quiz will be selected to present their reports to him.

Energy Games – Try out the “Watt’s That?” quiz game, or have a go at wordfinds, crossword puzzles, connect the dots, and other great games that are all about energy.

Questacon Virtual Roller Coaster - Try your hand at building your own roller coaster. Watch out though, or you might be in for a crash landing!

Funderstanding Roller Coaster - You can control hill height, sped, loop size, and even gravity in this fun interactive.

Physics Life - explore the physics around you by exploring the Physics Life City.

You have until December 18th to finish this blog assignment.

Have a great weekend!

Mrs. Garrett

Honesty

This month's character word is honesty. The definition of honesty is to tell the truth, to be fair and straightforward, and to lead a life of honor and dignity. Please read the story below of the Emperor's Seed.

The Emperor’s Seed

There was once an old emperor in the Far East who knew he

had to choose a successor even though he had no children of

his own. He assembled all the young boys in the kingdom

and gave each of them a seed to grow. He told these boys to

go home, plant the seed, and come back to the palace in one

year. He would then judge the plants that they brought and

chose the next emperor.

One of these boys was named Ling, and he went straight

home to tell his mother the whole story. She helped him get

a pot and plant the seed. Everyday, Ling would water his

seed, but it never grew. Even after six months, when the

other boys were talking about the plants they were growing,

Ling’s seed did nothing. He felt like such a failure. After a

year passed, it was time to show the emperor the plants. Ling

was scared to take his empty pot, but his mother encouraged

him to be honest about what had happened. When Ling

arrived, he was amazed at all the beautiful plants grown by

the other boys. Sadly, he stayed in the back with his empty

pot. When the emperor arrived, he surveyed the room, saw

Ling in the back, and called him to the front to ask his name.

He looked at Ling, and then announced to the crowd, “Behold

your new emperor! His name is Ling.”

The emperor said, “I gave everyone here a seed to bring back

one year later. But the seed I gave you was boiled and could

not be grown. All of you, except Ling, have brought me plants

that were substituted for the one I gave you. Ling was the

only one with the courage and honesty to bring me the pot

with my seed in it.”

Adapted from Inspirational Stories.com

Honesty is…Telling someone the truth, even if it’s not what they want to hear.

Admitting when you have made a mistake, rather than blaming others.

By Friday, December 11th, please leave a comment about this month's character education word and what honesty means to you.

Have a great weekend!

Mrs. Garrett