This week in PE, the students worked on their dance moves and learned the hokey pokey. Check out this instructional video created by Mr. Crabtree and start moving.
#SaklanDistanceLearning
Category: First Grade
The Act Of Art Making!
Art can change a person’s outlook and the way in which they experience the world. The act of making art has the power to heal, bring hope, create willpower, and spread positivity to one another. It is important to note that making art doesn’t start or stop in the “art room.” Right now is an absolute testament to that. Our studios as artists can be in the bedroom, backyard, or at the kitchen table. As this time is one that limits our capabilities with respect to resources, it also gives us a chance to appreciate the fundamental aspects of life, family, and community. Do consider making art with your kids to experience the emotions they have in the process. I am sure they will teach you a thing or two!
The little Saklan artists have been more than excited to share their artwork online. These videos are bringing BIG smiles to our Google Classrooms! Here are a few projects they have found joy in making and sharing this past week. Enjoy!
Kindergarten & 1st Grade – Make a Card for Someone Special
Wishing you could send a happy message and bring a smile to someone’s face right now? Students were asked to think of someone near or far that they miss. Using lines, shapes, and colors, kids created a one of a kind card for their special friend or family member. With parent help, they can send their card to that special person.
Sisters that do art together, thrive together! 1st grader Peyton and Owlet Logyn sharing what shapes and colors they used for their card.
2nd Grade Picture Books
One thing that kids have stronger than most adults is their vast imagination and right now is a great time to exercise it! Students chose a subject they wanted to draw for their picture book. Each page was to have a drawing and a sentence telling a short story. In this project they are able to tell their own story right now, while illustrating those ideas in their own creative way.
Mabel reading her Book About Dogs
Willow reading her book Princess Panda
#SaklanDistanceLearning
Rocks And Minerals
In first grade Science, the students learned all about weathering by water, wind, temperature, and chemicals. They did experiments with erosion. The first graders used graham crackers (pretend dirt) and answered questions such as “What happens to rocks?”.
They have been learning so much about rocks. First, the students learned how 3 types of rocks are formed: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Then, they discussed the “properties” of their rocks and learned the difference between rocks and minerals.
#SaklanScience
Math Matters
First graders have been working on telling time and learning how to estimate. Learning time and money is a very difficult concept in first grade. It is an introduction and then repeated again in second grade. Here are some suggestions for home:
- Practice recognition of coins. What’s a dime, penny, etc.
- What’s the value of the coin.
- Practice adding a few coins.
In addition, the first graders learned the following lessons: place value, review of numbers 0-100, estimation, expanded form, one more and one less, numbers before and after, counting by 2’s and 5’s, and lastly learning odd and even numbers.
#SaklanAcademic
Charlotte’s Web
At the end of January grades K to 4 went on a field experience to the Children’s Theater at St. Mary’s College in Moraga.
The St. Mary’s students there gave a fantastic production of a classic of children’s literature, beloved by youngsters and adults alike. Charlotte’s Web is a book that all Saklan students read in 3rd grade. The acting was amazing and the sets impressive. Tears and laughter (you know how it ends…) were had by all.
#SaklanExperiential
Moving Up Day At Saklan!
Every year, preschool through 5th grade students get to “move up” to next year’s grade for part of the day. The teachers plan special activities that highlight their grade and the students get to experience what next year will look like. Here are a couple of activities from Wednesday’s Moving Up Day:
3rd graders had the opportunity to ask questions and hear about all of the exciting adventures they will have in 4th grade. They were encouraged to be Bookworms and read nightly, as well as become fluent in their multiplication tables to prepare! They thought like engineers and designed their very own paper airplanes. Congrats to Jack Z. and Henry for constructing airplanes that flew the farthest!
One of the fun activities the current 4th graders had in 5th grade was a STEM Ski Challenge. Students designed and tested their skiers, and then they raced their teammates!
#SaklanConnected
First Grade Invention Convention
The first grade class learned about simple machines. There are six types of simple machines. They are levers, pulleys, wheel and axle, inclined plane, wedge, and screw. They learned about each of these during their Science unit by doing fun investigations in class and each student made their own simple machine log book.
They invented their own machine and then created those machines using various scraps of recycled materials. During their presentation, they had to explain how this invention would work and why it was helpful. Way to go first grade!
#SaklanCreative
Can You Hula Hoop?
The physical education students have been practicing with hula hoops since the beginning of the year. Did you know that you can build with the hula hoops? Six hoops can be stacked to create a stand alone structure.
The Saklan students didn’t stop with six. During recess, a few ambitious builders have begun to stack the structures. The builders are looking for different locations which will allow them to reach greater heights. The tower is growing to four and five stories! Today, the students broke the record with four stories and this structure will go down in Saklan history!
Let’s go Saklan!
#SaklanWellRounded
Traveling Teddy Bear Coming To Saklan
Arriving this week, you will notice a Teddy Bear on campus! This Teddy Bear is named Matteo and is an international traveler. Matteo is part of the Traveling Teddy Bear Project that connects students around the globe! He will be stopping in some of our classrooms and doing activities with our students.
The Traveling Teddy Bears Project was started in 2014 with the goal of connecting young children in classrooms across the globe. This year each of our bears is supporting one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals to help spread awareness in schools around the globe! You can learn more about these goals here: https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/envision2030.html
Matteo is the oldest teddy bear to be a part of the Traveling Teddy group. He was born in New Jersey in 2005. He loves traveling, learning about cultures, making friends, learning languages, dancing, and reading. He is ready to travel, learn, make friends, and read to many children around the world. Matteo is also very sporty and enjoys yoga, swimming, baseball, running, and working out.
Matteo supports Global Goal #4: Quality Education. He believes that everyone deserves to go to school and have opportunities to read, write, and learn!
Matteo is currently in China from there he will be coming to Saklan, then to Ireland, and Canada.
#SaklanConnected
Responsive Classroom
This summer, seven Saklan teachers (Mrs. C, Ms. Puno, Ms. Prizeman, Ms. Rokas, Ms. Burton, Ms. Ivonne and Mr. Crabtree) attended a four-day intensive Responsive Classroom training seminar. For those of you who may not be familiar with Responsive Classroom, it is an evidence-based approach to teaching that merges engaging and challenging academics with the social emotional needs of each student. Much of what Responsive Classroom recommends are practices we already do and believe in at Saklan, but the training has enhanced our toolbox and solidified our approach to working with students. To discover more about Responsive Classroom please click here.
#SaklanCompassionate
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