Oh I wish I were a rider for the pony...

Ready to ride!

You can't go wrong with a combination of a horse, a young rider, and a race across the west to deliver mail in 10 days. This week we learned all about the Pony Express, what it was, why it was started (all the new people in CA from the gold rush were impatient for a quicker mail delivery), what the riders went through, and why it ended (the telegraph was extended across the west). The kids are looking forward to their turn each morning to gallop for a letter from long ago and gallop back. They loved the read-alouds of famous Americans who rode for the pony express in their early teens (Buffalo Bill Cody, Bronco Charlie), and they showed great imagination when they wrote a journal page from the point of view of a rider. 

Saddle up!

We face every danger!

I ride like the wind!

We ride by day and by night!

                                                         
Everyone completed a booklet on the Pony Express, and one of the writing pages included a letter asking to be hired 
as a rider, including persuasive reasons of course. There was also a sketch page and a map. Here are examples:

The map page was a favorite!

Nice detail!

Check this out!

Two great, true stories

Two Pony Express read-alouds

The new book series are loads of fun to read alone or with a buddy or two. The Breyer Stable Mate series is one that some of our friends are enjoying:

We have the same book!

In phonics this week, we practiced decoding words with 'Bossy R' . Words including ar, or, er, ir, and ur are controlled by the sound of the R consonant. We read /ar/ words dressed as pirates of course. Their favorite sound is 'arrr' so that helped us out!

Arrrg! Can you read my word?

We pirates know our sounds!

Here is a word for you!

Are you ready to read?

Our shark in the park book fits right in

 Science has moved from parts of plants to parts of animals. We sorted animals into five groups: Reptile, Bird, Mammal, Fish, and Amphibian. We also played a guess my animal game while an animal photo was taped to the backs of volunteers. Clues included parts of the animal that were unique to it. 

Math has moved into measurement using non standard units of measurement as well as rulers. Everyone is up and around the room measuring away!

We wished a Happy Birthday to Elaine this week. She loved hearing her name on the morning TES news- they announce each day for birthday children.

Next week we have an early release, an author visit, and an optional picture day on the 6th. Always something going on!

Have a wonderful weekend,
Mrs. Dagley

Westward Bound!

Ready to ride for the 'mail'!

Enthusiasm is high for our western books and social studies theme! Each day the line leaders take a turn galloping to collect a letter written from the perspective of someone long ago - a gold rush miner, a pioneer, or a settler living in the west. It brings a personal touch to the lives of the famous Americans we are reading about. After learning about Lewis& Clark last week, we took a closer look at another famous American, Sacajawea. We read Sacajawea; Her true Story about her life before she met the explorers as well as her contributions during her journey with them. 

Quick riders!

Ready to ride!

 We tied in our writing activities this week by being newspaper editors and writing our own accounts of the Gold Rush, the 49ers, the methods of travel to reach CA, the supplies to pack, and the dangers to avoid. Of course we had to have some gold of our own, so painted little rocks with sparkling gold paint on Friday. Thanks to Mathias for bringing in some real 'Fool's Gold' to examine as well.

Gold Rush!

Our newspapers

Painting rocks

Gold rocks!

Learning about the gear needed to dig for gold led us to another well known name: Levi Strauss.
He set up business in CA to sell pants (jeans) that could take the tough outdoor mining work, and a couple of our classmates were conveniently wearing Levi's this week. We could see the leather tag with the emblem of horses on it! 

Several read-alouds this week introduced new series based on horses, the west, or prairie life. The kids are very excited to delve into all these new book selections. 

Billy and Blaze 

A favorite pony

Cocoa, a talking horse

 Reading Blaze and the Forest Fire inspired us to write a book           review about this exciting story. The first book in this series was       written in 1936 and continued with 11 more books through         1970. The kids were captivated by the story, so we definitely plan on reading a few more. After reading Cowgirl Kate & Cocoa, an early chapter book series, we made little horses standing on clothespin legs.

Love my horse!

We look forward to enjoying more new book series next week, among them a series by Laura Ingalls Wilder based on the Little House on the Prairie books, but for younger readers.

Science has us delving into the world of plants and learning about the parts of plants and how each part contributes to its survival. Our seedlings are sprouting, we made models of plants this week using tissue paper and construction paper (labeling each part of course!), and we enjoyed a buddy reading activity sharing the book, Parts of Plants. We had a surprise visit from Mr. Branco the assistant superintendent, who became a buddy reader with us!

Welcome to science, Mr. Branco!

Buddy reading

My turn, your turn

Let's get this book started!

Reading about plants

Working collaboratively with partners is always a favorite endeavor, so this week when we researched a plant of our choice, we gathered with friends and used fact cards to write up important information about each plant's habitat and special features.

Researching Forget-Me-Nots

Lily pads from the pond for us.

Cactus of course - plant of the western deserts!

Mountain Meadow habitats

How cool is the Venus Fly Catcher?!

 One of friends brought in a real cactus that was blooming:

Caution - sharp spikes!

 A wonderful way to close the week was the visit from the Museum of Science. We learned all about animal habitats and even got to see a few animals, such as a snapping turtle, an armadillo, and a Cuban Tree Frog! As we wrap up our focus on plants, our science lessons take us to animal habitats and features of animals that help them survive in those habitats.

Snapping turtle!

Our sprouting plants

We wished a very Happy Birthday to Oliver this week - he shared his hopes for upcoming birthday presents with us! 

Spring arrived this week, but somehow we didn't notice it... More indoor recess, but at least we have some great western play set-ups to enjoy!

Native American village, mining camp, and a fort!

We are bound to get warmer weather soon, and at least it's sunny. 


Enjoy the weekend,

Mrs. Dagley

Top of the mornin' to you!

The wearing of the green!

It's always fun to have an excuse to dress for the day, and Friday was no exception as many of our friends arrived in school in shades of green. Each desk had 5 'gold' coins to greet them as they arrived, and we had some St. Patrick's Day fun with our read-aloud, Leprechaun on the Loose, and with leprechaun wind socks we made.

Have you seen a leprechaun?

Leprechaun friends

Have you seen my gold?

Ready to blow in the breeze!

Leprechaun fun!

We tied our persuasive writing into the leprechaun fun as well. After reading about a choice the boy had to make in Leprechaun on the Loose of whether to let the leprechaun go free and save the class party, or keep him but have no party, the kids wrote what their own decision would be and supported it with persuasive reasons.                                  

Our persuasive reasoning got results in Spanish this week as we wrote to Mrs. Frechette requesting an online Spanish reading of a Mo Willems book. She responded to us in the affirmative, and we watched the Spanish reading on Monday!

Hooray!

As we continue learning about plants and animals in science, we observe the plants we have planted each day, noting their growth. We also made a lift the flap book about the parts of the plants (roots, seeds, leaves...) and described how the plant uses each part to survive.

Science booklets

Topic 11 in math this week focuses on subtracting tens and ones using 100 charts, place value rods and cubes, and vertical subtraction problems. Everyone is on a roll with this!

Our class library has a new look- the American West! We have loads of new books to read about cowboys, Native Americans, horses, and other western themes. In social studies we learned about two famous Americans, Lewis & Clark, who first explored the west all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Reading How We Crossed the West- The Adventures of Lewis & Clark was very exciting and highlighted the dangers, excitements, and discoveries along the trail. During writing, we wrote about one adventure or part of the journey, pretending to be one of the explorers. We were introduced to another famous American who joined up with Lewis & Clark - the Native American, Sacajawea. Next week we will read a book all about her life and about her contributions to the journey west.

Illustrations of the Lewis & Clark expedition

Our new library theme

With all this snow, we have had a couple of indoor recesses. Everyone is quite industrious setting up dinosaur lands, petting zoos, marble runs, block building, and puzzle making!

Wow - as tall as us!

We made the USA puzzle!

A couple of notes: Due to the snow days, report cards are being sent home Wednesday. Also due to snow days, absences, and a tricky spelling pattern list of words on the homework (/ou/ vs. /ow/ words), we will keep those words to test next Friday. I have a homework packet for Monday that has the same spelling list but different papers for the rest of the packet. This will give us time to practice and really learn these words.

Where oh where is the spring? It is a long time coming! never-the-less, the sun is out, so enjoy the weekend!

Mrs. Dagley