Riley's Farm

This week we had an awesome time going to Riley's farm and taking a tour of what life was like during the Revolutionary war. I really appreciate all of the parents who were available to drive to make the trip possible.  The students wrote a reflection about their experience and shared their favorite part with the class.

"We were about an  into our trip, the sun was shinning and smiling." -Max

"Sometimes they (the colonists) were hungry enough that they might have eaten their boots." -Chloe

"Before people left, Bill and Alexis started an all-out snowball fight." -D

"I was as cold as a skinny polar bear in a blizzard with no fur." -Julius

"I hope that one day we can go back in time again."- Olivia

"I now know first hand colonial life was hard."-Brandon

"Towards the end of the field trip, Bill and Alexis threw snowballs."-Alden

"It felt like we were in the 17th century." -Sam

"Riley's Farm is not a farm, it is about the Revolutionary War against the British Lobster-backs and the American colonists." -Dylan

"It was a cold in the morning, but my snow gear was on."-James

"It was really fun playing the games that the kids played back in the day." -Lilly

February is Fantastic!

This week it is important to remember that we have a holiday weekend coming up and there will be no school this Friday or the following Monday.  Also this week, the sixth grade class is promoting a "get fit week."  Each day this week, students at IA are encouraged to take on an activity that will help maintain a healthy lifestyle.  Monday is walk or run a mile day.  Tuesday is an electronic-free day (no video games or t.v.)  Wednesday is plan a healthy meal day.  Thursday is families are encourage to take a walk after school.  Friday will end the challenge with making sure we spend at least an hour playing outside.

On another note, we still are in need of permission slips and drivers to go to Riley's farm.  Please make sure to indicate on the slip whether or not you can drive.  So far we only have three parents signed up to drive.

In class we are doing some great learning. Our literary centers are finally up and running we have many cool activities where students are practicing some great language arts skills while having fun.  We are practicing cursive, reading non-fiction periodicals, analyzing Latin and Greek root words, and learning about people, places, and events in American History.  This week our focus in social studies is going to be the Declaration of Independence, and the battles that led to the victory of the revolutionary war.  Ask your child what taxation without representation means or who won the French and Indian War. Last week we worked on creating outlines of the chapter in the Cartoon History book.  Talk to your child about what they are learning, they have so much to say!

Spring is coming!

I can't believe how quickly January went by.  Time sure does fly when so much learning and growing is happening! First of all, I have a few announcements about upcoming field trips.  This week we are planning on visiting the San Diego Mira Mar landfill.  Our green team brought in a guest speaker from the landfill and our students are interested in learning more about it.  We are scheduled to go there on the 7th, this Thursday.  I apologize for such short notice, we have been working on finding a way to visit there.  According to the landfill's policy, they have met their field trip quota for the year with elementary grades. We were fortunate enough to enlist the support of Tony's eighth grade class, so we will be "piggy backing" on their field trip.  Buses will be provided so we don't need drivers.  If any parents are available to chaperon,  please contact me.
We are also planning on another field trip to Riley's Farm Revolutionary War Adventure.  This is scheduled for the 21st of February, which is a Thursday.  We will need to leave earlier than school usually starts, by 8:00 am.  We are also looking for parent drivers to make this field trip possible. The cost for the field trip is going to be $15.00.  I will be sending home a parent permission slip, so please return them as soon as possible so I can organize the driving situation.  The eighth grade class went last week and they apparently had a blast.  They got to experience all of the concepts that we are learning about in fifth grade American History.