Health

The last few weeks we have been focusing on health instead of science.  We have been discussing chronic and communicable diseases.  We have gone more in depth when talking about diseases of the heart--we have learned about risk factors, how to reduce our risk of heart disease, and we'll be learning about how the blood flows throughout our body.  The kids are VERY excited to take a look at a real pig's heart and identify all the parts of the heart that we will learn about!
We will return to science shortly--we will end the school with a unit on Landforms and investigate certain concepts such as erosion and deposition.

Marr Park

Our Marr Park fieldtrip will be Tuesday, May 21st.  The volunteer forms should have come home last week.  If you are interested in volunteering, please send the sheet back to school or email one of us as soon as possible so we can get groups formed for that day.  It is a FUN day, but we need lots of parents to help!  Parents can either ride the bus with us, follow us over, or meet us there.  We're looking forward to it!

Math Update

 Measuring the height and radius of different cylinders in order to find the volume of the cylinders.

We just finished our Unit 10 posttest (Algebra Concepts and Skills).  Students were introduced to the idea of algebra through pan balance problems--not only do these pan balances give the kids a good idea of how algebra works (our rule is "what we do to one side of the pan balance we have to do to the other) but they're also a lot of fun--there are a lot of algebra fans in here that were able to take their pan balance skills and put them to work in real algebraic equations.  We have also worked with an app on the iPads called "Hands-On Equations."  We started Unit 11 (Volume) earlier this week.  We reviewed the properties of geometric solids and sorted their properties using a Venn Diagram--lots of good discussion and negotiation was happening in our room!  We will also be investigating the volume of cylinders, pyramids, and cones.  There are MANY new skills in 5th grade math at this time of year, but the students are doing an awesome job of staying focused, staying curious, and they're working hard!

Foster Woods

Fire!  .....at last!

KE Booster Soup Supper and Book Fair

Please join us for our KE Booster Soup Supper on Thursday, April 4th from 5:00 to 7:30 pm in the KE Gym!

The soup supper is a "Free Will Donation" meal, and we will be serving...
Chili and Chicken Noodle Soup, Relish & Cheese Trays and of course Dessert!

After you're done with your soup head to the library for the Usborne Book Fair, and pick out your books you earned with the Reach For the Stars Reading Fundraiser!  The Book Fair will be open from 5 to 8pm!

Hope to see you all there,
KE Boosters

Global Perspectives

Pam Holz, Washington County Naturalist, was in our classroom this week for a Global Perspectives program.  This is the favorite program of the year!  Pam does a wonderful job of explaining to students how we rely on many other countries throughout our world--she has students check the tag on their shirt to see where it was made and then put a post in on the corresponding country on a world map.  She also uses the students to represent poor, middle class, and rich countries in the world.  Only a few are rich and get to enjoy fresh buttered popcorn and pop all in disposable containers.  A few more are middle class and receive fresh popcorn and are allowed to drink water from the water fountain.  But, most of the students are considered poor and get very badly burned popcorn and get to drink from "the well" (a safe concoction of lemon juice, vinegar, pepper, salt, etc).  It's always interesting to see who shares and who doesn't--this always leads to an interesting discussion about what countries share and which ones don't.  Pam also talks with the kids about how they can make a difference every day.  Here are a few of her suggestions for the kids:
1.  use rechargeable batteries
2.  use a hankerchief instead of kleenex
3.  metal silverware instead of plastic
4.  reusable tupperware instead of a ziploc
5.  use recycled paper

Winter Survival at Foster Woods

On Wednesday, March 27th, we took a short trip to Foster Woods for winter survival.  Washington County Naturalist, Pam Holz, had talked with our classes about this topic a couple of weeks ago and met us there that day to lead the students in their adventures.  Even though we were not in a traditional classroom, there was a lot of learning going on!  The teamwork and cooperation skills needed to complete the tasks made the trip so worthwhile.  Students had to find an appropriate place in the woods to set up camp, build a shelter, start a fire, and melt snow for drinking water.  Pam gave each group points based on the sturdiness and location of their shelter, how long they kept their fire going, etc.  Only a few of our eight groups "survived" the winter.  We had a BLAST!  We also completed a scavenger hunt--one of the items to check off was to pick up something in the woods that didn't belong; you can see that our 5th graders were pretty successful with that by looking at the pictures and seeing some of the stuff they brought back!  A good time was had by all!

 Some groups survived. . .and some didn't!

 We couldn't believe some of the things they were bringing in from the woods!

Music Program

What a wonderful spring music program given by our KE students on Thursday--our 5th grades did a wonderful job!  Thank you Mrs. Herschberger!

Coordinates, Area, and Volume

We started our new math unit on Friday with a coordinate graphing game called Hidden Treasure.  We reviewed coordinates on the one quadrant graph and next week a four quadrant graph will be introduced.  Students will identify and plot coordinates, which will be given as whole numbers, fractions, and negative numbers.   We will also explore area and volume concepts later in the unit.

Thank You!

Thank you to all who came out last night to see the Iowa County Presentations! It was a good experience for the kids to speak in front of a group.  They each learned a lot about Iowa.  It was interesting to hear the debate about these google sites vs the three-sided boards that we used to do.   Some older siblings had their opinions!  Thanks for your support in this project.

Tuesday, April 2, is a Make Up Day & Early Out

At its meeting Monday night, the Mid-Prairie School Board voted to make up one day of school on Tuesday, April 2.  There will also be an early out on April 2 so that we may have teacher professional development that afternoon.  With this make up day, our last day of school will be Friday, May 31.

Iowa County Fair Night!

Our students have been working diligently on their county projects.  Each student has created a "google site" featuring their county.   We would like to share these with you!  Please mark Thursday, March 14 on your calendar.  Each student will be assigned a time slot.  You are invited to come for the whole evening (5:30-7:00) yet, I understand if that is not feasible.  I do ask that you at least come for the presentation before and after your child's.  That way each student is insured a bit of an audience.  If you have a preference regarding the time slot, please let me know.  Thank you - Mrs. Hochstetler

Read Across America Literacy Week

Monday--"Oh, The Places You'll Go" Day (wear your favorite college or university attire)

Tuesday--Community Reader Day (Mr. Hollan and Mr. Pennington will be reading to our classes)

Wednesday--Staff Reading Relay (staff will take turns reading in different classrooms)
  
Thursday--Hats Off to Reading Day (wear your favorite hat)

                        KE Family Literacy Night

• FREE Meal provided in the gym from 5:15-6:15
• guest speaker in gym for parents from 6:30-7:30
• students will be involved in literacy activities while speaker is presenting
• free book give-away to every student who attends, plus door prizes for parents

Friday--Read and Feed Day (popcorn will be provided)

UNI Interlude Dance

Tai Chi

Thank you to Mr. O'Brien for inviting Tai Chi expert, Joseph Wyse, into our classrooms this week!  Mr. Wyse shared the history of Tai Chi with us and, of course, taught us a few moves, too!

Valentines for Pleasantview

Last week the 5th graders helped to make some homemade valentines for residents at Pleasantview--we had so much fun while doing something kind for others.  We already received a thank you note from Pleasantview saying how much the residents enjoyed the surprise of a homemade valentine!

Sledding in P.E.

Sledding in P.E. with Mrs. Bailey is always a BIG hit--enjoy these pics!

Fun Night Basket

The theme for this year's KE Fun Night Basket will be gift wrap/gift bags.  Send anything that you know YOU would like to have on hand for getting a gift ready.  Things like wrap, gift bags, bows, tape, scissors, ribbons... even cards.   You may start sending these items with your child at any time.   Thank you.

Congrats MP Girls BB!!

Coach Pennington- victory hugs from his sons after the game!

We are so proud of our MP Girls BB team and their coach, Marc Pennington!  They will be playing at the state BB tournament next Tuesday, February 26.  The game is at 3:15.  School will be dismissed at 12:25 (3 hours early).   Many of the girls are Kalona Elementary alumni --- and of course the coach is our Mrs. Pennington's husband... Good luck, Golden Hawks!

Starting IOWA County projects!

We are off and running!  On Monday, all the 5th grade students created a google site for their Iowa County Project.  They will be adding information to this site about their specific county.  This will include pictures, other clip art, links etc.   I will keep you posted on their progress!  In March you will be invited to an "Iowa County Fair" night where they will be presenting their projects.

Interlude Dance

As part of Live Healthy Iowa, and in an effort to get more physical activity, we have decided that during Friday morning announcements the entire school will participate in the UNI Interlude Dance.  This was created by 4 students at UNI and the UNI student section is now famous for this dance.  If you've never seen it, you can check it out at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cuS_31zJ6U#

Your kids LOVE it!!  In fact, they spent their ENTIRE noon recess hitting replay and repeating the dance. . .despite the below zero temperatures outside they were all sweating inside! 

You can also check out a link to our First Lady learning the dance!

http://www.youtube.com/user/MrGoldstein9?v=0cuS_31zJ6U&lr=1

Tai Chi in Chinese

Mr. O'Brien has been taking the last few minutes of class to teach our kiddos some Tai Chi.  He also is working on getting a Tai Chi expert in as a guest speaker to teach the kids even more.  Here are a few photos of their Tai Chi this week!