The participating students received 5 science-related books each, according to their reading levels, plus a bag of goodies! Thank you Reading Is Fundamental.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Zoomobile
Our Summer Reading Kickoff was a huge success! I'd like to thank the Beardsley Zoo for coming to us with their awesome Animal Adaptations Zoomobile. The children not only got to see and touch beautiful animals, but the zoo gave them coupons for summer visits as well.
The participating students received 5 science-related books each, according to their reading levels, plus a bag of goodies! Thank you Reading Is Fundamental.
The participating students received 5 science-related books each, according to their reading levels, plus a bag of goodies! Thank you Reading Is Fundamental.
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Zoomobile Coming to Bryant School
Reading Is Fundamental has given a $1,000 grant to Bryant School for their summer reading kickoff event. I searched high and low for a science related event, and decided on Beardsley Zoo's Zoomobile. On June 13, the 2nd and 3rd graders will get to see and touch live animals, while learning about their adaptations. Stay tuned!
Monday, April 29, 2013
It's Not Too Early To Start Summer Reading- RIF
Reading Is Fundamental is celebrating its 45 anniversary, and these fantastic people are sharing the fun with Bridgeport Schools. To start off, Bryant School has been given some beautiful picture books for each classroom teacher in grades 1 through 5, as well as the library. Every book comes with a proposed activity, and we are reading at least one book a week to the end of the school year. There's a lot more to come, but I don't want to spoil any surprises. Currently, my favorite book is this:
It is a brief biography of Maria Sibylla Merian, a 17th century naturalist. Since childhood, Merian was fascinated with butterflies, and she made a career of studying their life cycles, right down to the tiniest details. She created beautiful paintings and published her findings. Her books were quite popular, and key in discrediting the theory of spontaneous generation. She also was brave enough to travel all the way to Surinam to study the insect life of South America, which was a very unusual thing for a woman in late middle age to do.
When I read this book to my students, they were appalled and stunned to find that people- adults no less- once believed that insects and tadpoles came from mud. Moreover, people believed that insects were "beasts of the devil" and that if a caterpillar could turn into a butterfly, then a person could turn into a werewolf. Maria Merian helped put an end to these ideas through simple, studious observation. She was a hero of the scientific method. My students smiled at the conclusion that Maria Merian was just humble enough to let the insects tell their own story.
I loved this book so much I went to the public library to read an adult biography,
Chrysalis: Maria Sibylla Merian and the Secrets of Metamorphosis by Kim Todd. It's a wonderful read.
Reading Is Fundamental is celebrating its 45 anniversary, and these fantastic people are sharing the fun with Bridgeport Schools. To start off, Bryant School has been given some beautiful picture books for each classroom teacher in grades 1 through 5, as well as the library. Every book comes with a proposed activity, and we are reading at least one book a week to the end of the school year. There's a lot more to come, but I don't want to spoil any surprises. Currently, my favorite book is this:
It is a brief biography of Maria Sibylla Merian, a 17th century naturalist. Since childhood, Merian was fascinated with butterflies, and she made a career of studying their life cycles, right down to the tiniest details. She created beautiful paintings and published her findings. Her books were quite popular, and key in discrediting the theory of spontaneous generation. She also was brave enough to travel all the way to Surinam to study the insect life of South America, which was a very unusual thing for a woman in late middle age to do.
When I read this book to my students, they were appalled and stunned to find that people- adults no less- once believed that insects and tadpoles came from mud. Moreover, people believed that insects were "beasts of the devil" and that if a caterpillar could turn into a butterfly, then a person could turn into a werewolf. Maria Merian helped put an end to these ideas through simple, studious observation. She was a hero of the scientific method. My students smiled at the conclusion that Maria Merian was just humble enough to let the insects tell their own story.
I loved this book so much I went to the public library to read an adult biography,
Chrysalis: Maria Sibylla Merian and the Secrets of Metamorphosis by Kim Todd. It's a wonderful read.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Hot Chocolate Party
I had 7 students complete the Summer Reading Program reading lists, and I owed them a small party. But then there was Hurricane Sandy. Then there was online testing. Then there was Christmas break. Then there was Blizzard Nemo. Then there was February break.
But this past Thursday, just before CMTs swooped down upon the school, we were finally able to book a lovely little hot chocolate party. The girls were given beautiful hot pink scarves, (Sue and I each got one too) and the boys got black ear muffs. We had hot chocolate with marshmallows and candy canes, as well as free books. It was fantastic.
Many thanks to Ms. Walker-Jones for providing the supplies and gifts. It was beautiful. And thanks to the 7 students who read all those wonderful books.
This summer, I hope the party will be bigger!
But this past Thursday, just before CMTs swooped down upon the school, we were finally able to book a lovely little hot chocolate party. The girls were given beautiful hot pink scarves, (Sue and I each got one too) and the boys got black ear muffs. We had hot chocolate with marshmallows and candy canes, as well as free books. It was fantastic.
Many thanks to Ms. Walker-Jones for providing the supplies and gifts. It was beautiful. And thanks to the 7 students who read all those wonderful books.
This summer, I hope the party will be bigger!
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Chinese New Year's Craft
According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2013 is the year of the Snake. Chinese New Year is a spectacular holiday that is so important in Asia that it lasts two weeks, with endless festivity. Anyone who's had the privilege of walking through Chinatown during Chinese New Year knows how exciting the streets are during the parade. The banging of the firecrackers and crashing of gongs, and let's not forget the beautiful dragon dances. There is shortage of fun activities to do in school for Chinese New Year. It's a pity I don't have the time to do them all, but here's one that is cheap, fun, and easy to do. It's a simple Chinese dragon puppet.
You simply color, cut, and attach the head and tail to a strip of construction paper 2 inches wide. Then tape Popsicle sticks or coffee stirrers on the back.
You simply color, cut, and attach the head and tail to a strip of construction paper 2 inches wide. Then tape Popsicle sticks or coffee stirrers on the back.
Above are the supplies I used and below is my model.
And last but not least, an example of student work!
And wouldn't you know it? I found a perfect book that I don't have to go with this craft. Well, I've ordered it for next year.
Happy Chinese New Year!
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
The Stickman Odyssey Books Arrived
And they are every bit as juvenile and immature as I hoped they would be. Enjoy, kids!
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