Hats off (or helmets should we say) to Mac and his family for taking the live storytime to a new level. Mac, Melanie and Ben read The Cycling Wangdoos by Kelly Puller in their Le Tour de Quarantine. If you want a good laugh, take a few minutes to enjoy their live reading.
If you would like to do a live reading, please contact David at doconnell@saklan.org. Live readings are done through Zoom every Tuesday and Thursday at 7:00 pm.
#SaklanCreative
Grades 6th-8th made somewhat of a fashion statement making a simple protective face mask using a paper towel, two rubber bands, a stapler, and some markers. They were asked to use one word or phrase to describe how they have felt through this experience of shelter in place. They could also respond with one word or phrase of what they are learning in this moment in time. Students drew other parts to the mask like speech bubbles and an expressive mouth while making the mask colorful.
In the process of making, students talked about why they chose that word or phrase. We talked about what they do to change negative thoughts into positive, and how art and other things can help with those bored, anxious, or stressed out times. They were asked to then take a picture of themselves wearing the mask. As they say, a lot is said within looking someone in the eyes. Looking closer, you can see a lot of emotion in the students’ eyes in relationship to their chosen word or phrase.
#SaklanCreative
Special thank you to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Teacher at Sea Program which sent Miss O. some lab supplies for her students to be able to take part in labs while doing distance learning. The 6th grade students will be able to do a climate change lab and alternative energy lab from their kindness and support of their alumni teachers. Thank you, NOAA Teacher at Sea, our students (and Miss O) thank you! Students will pick up these lab supplies at the next “swap and drop!”
#SaklanAcademics
Thank you for joining us for our second Virtual Friday Flag this morning!
#SaklanFridayFlag
April 22, 2020 marks the 50th Anniversary of the first Earth Day. The first Earth Day in 1970 mobilized millions of Americans for the protection of the planet. On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans – 10% of the U.S. population at the time – took to the street, college campuses, and hundreds of cities to protest environmental ignorance and demand a new way forward for our planet. The first Earth Day is credited with launching the modern environmental movement.
Earth Day is now recognized as the planet’s largest civic event and it led to passage of landmark environmental laws in the United States, including the Clean Air, Clear Water and Endangered Species Acts.
Normally, we make a whole day Earth Day at Saklan, but this year we thought we’d make it a week. Here are some ideas for your students to help celebrate this coming week:
Earth Week Activities You Can Do At Home
Save it Sunday – have your child make a sign to hang in the home or other shared space to remind people to save resources (turn off the lights, save water at the faucet)
Make it Monday – encourage your child’s engineering/artistic side, allow your student to create something that had been made from recycled materials (for example, turn a jar into a vase, create sunbutter and pine cone bird feeder, or artistically make a milk jug into an animal)
Teach it Tuesday – have you or your students learn and then teach a friend or family member something about sustainability (for example, an idea about saving water or reducing waste)
Walk it Wednesday (Actual Earth Day) – take you and your children on a walk (even if it’s just in your backyard) and enjoy the wonders of our planet. Enjoy the beauty of your community, create a nature treasure hunt or even pick up trash in your community to help celebrate Earth Day.
Be Thankful Thursday – Even in uncertain times, the sun rises each day, our birds chirp, and we are blessed to have this amazing community. Encourage your students (and family members) to share what they are thankful for.
Farm it Friday – Spring has sprung and what better time to plant and plan for the future. Let your students put their hands in the dirt, plant some seeds or small plants, water them, and tend to their flower or vegetable filled future.
Set a new Habit Saturday – Encourage your students to make one environmental gesture a habit; maybe always using a reusable water bottle, never using a plastic straw again, riding their bike short distances instead of needing a ride, etc. No one can do everything, but everyone can do something!
Here are some great picture books as well to get your students in the mood:
Want to hear from Scientists in the field?
National Geographic Explorer classroom lets you hear & chat with real scientists, sign up here: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/education/student-experiences/explorer-classroom/sessions/#inthefield
Want a Family Movie Night? These are always a hit:
#SaklanDistanceLearning
Mr. Isaac has started working with students on Thursday afternoons. Our more flexible online learning schedule has created an opportunity to work with more students one-on-one. He is offering the middle schoolers individual instruction on their instruments. He has already started giving lessons to kids in the Orchestra. You can e-mail Mr. Isaac at inarell@saklan.org if you want to have a lesson and he will try to fit you in.
The Saklan after school music program on Thursdays has continued its normal schedule. 4th graders meet at 3:00 pm, the West African Drumming ensemble at 3:30 pm and individual lessons start after that. If you want to sign up for the after school music program, please email office@saklan.org.
#SaklanDistanceLearning
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
On Tuesday, 7th graders had a virtual Science Lab with Miss O. The students did a flower dissection using a Stargazer Lily. They identified the different parts of the flower, learned their function, and how each part contributes to its reproduction. Check out the video above to learn more.
#SaklanDistanceLearning
The 7th graders recently wrapped up their Hawaii field study with an interdisciplinary final involving five brief essays and a poster project covering a range of academic topics in Science, Humanities, and Language Arts. The writing components addressed issues related to the environmental effects of human activity on the islands, adaptations and evolutionary changes of the flora and fauna, and the impact of key historical events, like the bombing of Pearl Harbor, on the Hawaiian people and their culture.
Students also wrote about the social-emotional challenges they faced on the trip as they tried to come together as a group and build stronger relationships. All of these essays were rigorously revised, using the step-by-step revision process the kids have been practicing in Language Arts. Finally, the 7th graders designed posters to educate the public about significant issues that affect the evolution of species, the environment, the ocean, or the islands themselves.
#SaklanAcademic
Learning Spanish in a vibrant and interactive learning community is meaningful. Mrs. Padilla is always looking for ways to reach more students by integrating technology into the classroom. These resources offer students a wide range of useful, creative, and motivating tools to make language real and teach students the grammar needed to accomplish the communicative objective.
In the blue and yellow block, Spanish students created a video to practice the present tense of -AR verbs. This practice lets students manipulate grammatical structure in small and manageable chunks. It is very true that incorporating tasks like doing a video to develop creativity tends to be more interesting and fun for students. Also, making a video helps to make connections to see and use information in new and different ways. This technique supports students to learn and recall information more effectively as they take risks and are more positive working cooperatively with others. Take a look at some of their work.
#SaklanWellRounded
FRIDAY BLOG 
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