Pumpkin Lab

Families,

Here's a look at our Pumpkin Lab this morning. It was a fun and messy activity filled with math (and pumpkin goo).

Each group chose a pumpkin

 Then they estimated the weight, number of seeds, circumferences, and other characteristics of their pumpkin.

Working together, students discussed each of their estimates.

 Then it was time to open the pumpkin and count the seeds.

Students scooped, separated seeds from goo, and counted seeds into groups.

Harvest Party Sign Up

Families,

This Friday, October 30, our class is having 2 exciting events. First, we'll be exploring pumpkins during our Pumpkin Lab. Students will estimate the height, weight, circumference, and number of seeds inside of their group's pumpkin. Then, we'll begin our measuring, including counting all the seeds inside! We'll need 5-6 regular pumpkins for this activity.

Then, our Harvest Party will be from 3:00-3:45 pm. We'll be eating snacks and watching "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown". Parents are welcome to attend and help pass out treats. 

If you'd like to help volunteer for one of these events or donate and item, I would greatly appreciate it. Here's a link to a sign-up: 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1WLtOa7mBmAsURLnrzphQcQSk0SHkC_4qRECL4mxd64I/viewform

If you signed up for an item to donate at conferences, I'll send home a reminder tomorrow with your child. Thank you all for your help!

Mrs. Hoschouer

Music Program and Math Night All-in-One

Families,


Mark your calendar for Thursday, November 5, 2015. The first event of the evening is the Second Grade Music Program. Student will perform in the CJE gym from 5:00-5:30 pm. Then we'll be serving pizza and drinks to all in attendance, including parents, students, and siblings from 5:30-6:00 pm. We'll finish off the evening with Math Night (6:00-7:00 pm)--math game rotations and a short, but informative overview of the second grade Common Core Math Standards along with the problem-solving strategies being taught. Parents can look forward to some simple and effective ways to help kids with math at home. At the end of the evening all students in attendance will receive a bag filled with the math games and pieces to take home. I hope you're all able to attend! It should be a fun-filled evening!

Thank You,
Mrs. Hoschouer

Cloud in a Jar

Today we created a cloud in a jar (twice)! It was quite a sight. We talked about the water cycle, how clouds form, and the "ingredients" to make a cloud. Here's a look at our experiment:

First, we made some predictions and wrote the steps to creating a cloud in a jar.

Next, we gathered the ingredients--hot water, ice in a bowl, an empty jar, and air freshener.

Then, we put the hot water into the jar and placed the ice-filled bowl on top. Within a few seconds, we could see condensation on the side of the jar. I quickly lifted the bowl and sprayed a bit of air freshener inside. This acted as the dust particles in the sky for the water vapor (as it's condensing) to stick to. This created our cloud.

After allowing the cloud to form for about 30 seconds, I lifted the bowl and the cloud floated up and out of the jar!! The students were so excited that we decided to give it a second try. Sure enough, it worked.

Dreambox

Families,

Chief Jo is so fortunate to have a new laptop cart filled with ThinkPads. We're using these small laptops to access Dreambox--a new adaptive math program purchased with Title I funds. This incredible game-based math program assesses students' math knowledge and then offers games that help improve their areas of weakness. Because it adapts to each child's math ability, some students may be working on 1st or 2nd grade skills while others are working at a 3rd or 4th grade level. All the games look very similar, so students can't tell who's working at a "high" or "low" level. All they know is they're having fun!! I'll give each parent the information to access Dreambox at our P/T conference next week.

PTO-Sponsored Get Glowing Dance Party

"Get Glowing" this Friday, October 16 at CJE from 6:30-8:30 pm. The entrance is free, although there will be tickets to purchase (presale and at the front door) that can be used to buy food, drinks, snacks, and more. Students are encouraged to wear glow sticks, bracelets, etc. during this fun-filled dance in our CJE gym. Look for pre-order forms for tickets to come home tomorrow Wednesday, October 14. Hope to see you there!

A Visit from Nurse Kim

Today Nurse Kim came to speak to our class about ways to stay healthy. She shared tips for coughing and sneezing into an elbow (instead of a hand), the importance of hand washing frequently, and information about lice prevention/treament. Ask your child about the health tips Nurse Kim shared today.

Hooray!

Dear Families,


I have outstanding news! After more than a month of waiting with my fingers crossed, I found out last night that our class was awarded a grant from DonorsChoose. This grant will provide a year's subscription of Science Spin for the entire second grade. It also provides non-fiction science books that are aligned to our second grade science standards and correspond to the science activity tubs I received last year from DonorsChoose.




This entire project was funded by Chevron. In the month of October, your fuel purchases at Chevron across Ada County help fund science and math grants posted by local teachers on DonorsChoose. Gas light on? Consider helping support DonorsChoose by filling up at Chevron.




Here's a link to the grant I wrote so you can see exactly what we've received.


http://www.donorschoose.org/project/inquiring-minds-want-to-read-about-scien/1666322/?utm_source=dc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=proposal_message_via_donation&rf=email-system-2015-10-feedback_donationmessage_teacher&utm_swu=9681




Mrs. Hoschouer

Visiting Guest Artists: The Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company from Salt Lake City, Utah

IDEO President, Rachel Swenson wrote a grant to the Idaho Commission on the Arts on behalf of West Ada School District to bring the professional dance company, the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company from Salt Lake City, Utah to teach dance literacy to the five art schools of choice in the Boise area.  The RW Dance Company will be giving free community dance classes, working with 5 schools (including Chief Jo!), and a professional dance concert Oct. 12-16, 2015.  The dance concert is not only a special treat for the Boise area to build dance literacy in the community, but is also a fundraiser to help pay for the RW artists in residency.  Buy tickets for the RW dance concert online and support dance education in Idaho. http://www.rwdanceconcert.bpt.me

The RW Dance Company pursues this overall vision through:

Performing innovative original works and commissioning choreographers of exceptional talent

Providing dance education for all levels and outcomes

Touring regionally, nationally, and internationally

Training artists as performers, educators, and choreographers

Developing dance audiencesrie-Woodbury Dance Company is committed to furthering contemporary dance as an accessible and valued art form through performance and dance education that raise the standards, deepen the understanding and promote personal connections with dance.

For more information about the RW Dance Company http://www.ririewoodbury.com/

Red Ribbon Week

This year Chief Jo is celebrating Red Ribbon Week October 26-30. Each day will have a theme related to choosing a drug-free life style. Here are the themes for each day:



Monday:  “I’m too bright to try drugs!”  (Wear a bright color.)

Tuesday:  “I have better things to do than drugs”  (College day, wear college t-shirts.)

Wednesday:  Life is a work of art”  (Wear as much colorful clothing as you can.)

Thursday: “Your choices are the key to your dreams”  (Dress for success!  Dress up today.)

Friday:  “My future is bright!”  (It's Career Day! Dress as the career you hope to have.)


In addition to celebrating Red Ribbon Week, our class will spend some time learning about alcohol,  drugs, and tobacco as a part of our health curriculum. This is a great time to have discussions at home about the importance of saying "no" to drugs, alcohol, and tobacco as well as choosing to live a healthy, active life.