Welcome back after what we hope was a relaxing and enjoyable Spring Break! We always look forward to returning to those smiling faces, and a plethora of stories from the crew. We also return to a new Design Principle with a focus on the Natural World.  With the changing seasons and desire to be out and about in our natural world, we hope you enjoyed this week’s homework!

 

Expedition Express

Ready, Set, Go! : Just before Spring Break, we wrapped up our second case study “Slip-Sliding Away”.  Although we didn’t have much snow to conduct our experiments, we were able to make do!  Using the scientific method, we conducted experiments regarding how friction impacts snow sports, such as ice-skating, skiing, and snowboarding.   

Special thanks to all of the parents who joined us for our “Friction Fieldwork” at Regional Park: Kim Bradley, Megan Scott, Jenna Shropshire, Meghan Ruiz and Anna Demm.

Expert: Cooper Waldron from Smooth Rides in Truckee visited the classroom to discuss the science behind waxing skis and snowboards.   Students were thrilled to see a waxing demo and carefully took notes on the entire process.  Their detailed lists served as a pre-writing activity to write an informative paragraph using transitional words and phrases.  

Play Ball! :  Last week we launched our last case study called, “Play Ball”.  In this case study, we will be investigating a variety of ball sports and how specific equipment help athletes perform at their best.  We are excited to continue using the scientific method with a many hands-on experiments, in and out of the classroom.  Ask your child about their new table names!

Overnight: Our spring campout will be on Thursday, May 15 in the Truckee area.  More info. coming soon!

Crew News

Job Share: We are thrilled to announce that we (Dana and Justine) will continue to share the classroom next year!  We feel that our teaching styles compliment each other very well and will be to the benefit of our students to continue our partnership in the classroom.  We appreciate your support and feedback as we move forward. 

Literacy: In an effort to integrate our Expedition topic with Daily 5 reading time, our crew has been working in groups related to different recreational activities. Topics span from water sports, mountaineering/hiking, gymnastics, and running to soccer. After assigning roles to each group member (question writer, summarizer, illustrator, connector, or vocabulary finder), the research and quest for knowledge began! Our crew has been excited to discover new facts related to their topic of interest, as well as share their newfound knowledge with one another.

We also continue to purchase new books for our classroom to keep interest levels high. New titles can be found for both comprehension check-ins with teachers, as well as in the classroom library. We are always on the hunt for great titles, and captivating content!

 

Swimming:  This past Wednesday we had our first of four swim lessons at the Truckee High School through TDRPD.  Students were excited about swimming and we were very impressed with how the children kept track of their belongings.   If possible, write your child’s name on their things to help keep us organized!

Crew Wish List: 

  • Scrap fabric (to be cut into 2″x12″ strips)
  • Exercise Ball 
  • Broken crayons (Here’s your opportunity to unload! Have your kids pick through your art area!)

SELS News

Smarter Balance Test: The California Smarter Balance Testing window runs from April 28-May 9 for 3rd-8th graders.  Please make sure your child is present at school and be sure to provide them with a nutritious breakfast to start the day.   Once we have a testing days/times we will send out more info.  

Dates to Remember:

Tuesday, April 15: Walk to Library

Wed. April 16: Minimum Day. 1pm Dismissal

Friday, April 18: Seaborg/Minczeski Crew hosts community meeting (9:15-9:45am)

Wed. April 23: Swimming at Truckee High School

Thursday May 8: OMSI Science Festival (presented by Kid Zone)

Thursday May 15-Friday May 16: 2/3 Crew Campout and fieldwork