Category: Third Grade

Seeking Approval

For the last few months third grade students have been doing a cross-curricular project that incorporated social studies, art, writing, and math with the driving question, “How can we show respect for the people whose ancestral land our school is on?” 

This week students reached a pivotal turning point in their work. After many rounds of revisions and edits guided by Vincent and Louis from Cafe Ohlone and our teaching artists, Tia and Paul Kratter in addition to Lauren, Lisa, and Linda, students presented to a full panel of school stakeholders for approval to paint two permanent ground murals that bring Saklan cultural representation onto our campus. 

You may remember the 3rd grade CLAS presentation about this project. After incorporating community feedback and continuing to consult with experts and reading relevant research to revise their designs, the 3rd graders are proposing a permanent hopscotch and permanent foursquare to be painted near the sports court. 

They will be working with Tia and Paul Kratter as well as Linda, Lisa, Lauren, and Javi to complete the installation this spring. Below is the slide deck the 3rd graders used to guide their presentation. Scroll through it to see the 2 designs they have picked, the revision process of the designs, and the desired locations for the final murals.

3rd-grade-mural-project-presentationDownload

Stay tuned for updates on the unveiling and culmination celebration! 

#SaklanPBL

Snowmen at Night

Third graders used the book Snowmen at Night as inspiration to create drawings of snowpeople from a worm’s eye view. After drafting sketches of their snowpeople, students created final versions on watercolor paper, using shading techniques to provide dimension to their snowpeople. Students used a variety of mediums to complete their drawings, including chalk pastels to create shadows, sharpies to outline their designs, and crayons and watercolors to create colorful backgrounds. Many students added their own creative details, making each snowperson unique!

#SaklanCreative

Snow Much Fun

The 3rd graders are exploring measurement in their current math unit which provides for lots of hands-on learning! Last week they focused on estimating and measuring mass using balance scales, and learned that mass and weight are not the same thing.

To begin math each day, the third graders work on a math warm up called number corner. In the number corner this month, the 3rd graders have been looking for patterns in shapes and colors, and identifying fractions/equivalent fractions on the calendar, as well as working on determining elapsed time and their multiplication fact fluency with their calendar collector. The Bridges math program that the class is piloting this year does a wonderful job of spiraling through multiple concepts each unit, while helping to build connections and a deeper understanding of the big ideas in mathematics. 

Building fact fluency of multiplication facts is a focus for the 3rd graders. The students love to play math games and sing songs to help them practice their facts. Last week the class had a “snowball fight” where they tossed paper “snowballs” with multiplication problems printed on it, then when it was time to “freeze” students picked up three snowballs and solved the equations.  The students had “SNOW” much fun!!

#HandsOnLearning

Respectful Students

Saklan’s social-emotional learning emphasis for January is to be respectful. Throughout the month, all Saklan students will be learning what it means to be respectful and practicing strategies for showing respect both at school and at home.

On Friday, January 26th, the first – eighth graders will meet with their family groups and take part in cross-grade level discussions and activities to gain an even greater understanding of respect. We value these opportunities to help our students understand and integrate new SEL concepts each month. Thank you to our 8th graders for leading these opportunities for the 1st – 7th graders, and to our SEL coordinators Vickie Obenchain and Lisa Rokas for organizing such a unique program for our students.

#SaklanSEL

Scientific Sketches

The third graders have been learning about how to sketch scientifically! 

Scientists use sketches to capture information for themselves and communicate information to others. They often sketch when they are doing field research, observing a plant or animal they cannot take back to the lab. A scientist sketches to record and communicate information. Along with a drawing, a scientific sketch often includes labels and diagrams, questions and explanations. 

You don’t have to be an artist to create a successful scientific sketch. You simply have to take time, observe closely, and record what you see. Recording what you see is different from drawing the picture you have in your head. Many of us have cartoon-like images in our head of trees, flowers, houses, apples, rabbits, etc. When you set out to sketch a real thing, it’s important to focus on the individual specimen in front of you, rather than the generalized image you carry in your head. 

Students learned the criteria for a successful scientific sketch through the mnemonic: ABCDE

Scientific sketches should be: Accurate, BIG, Colorful, Detailed, Explained.

The third graders then used their careful observation skills and practiced sketching a redwood leaf like a scientist. They have also been applying these strategies in art class recently in drawing birds. These important skills will be implemented in the art portion of their current Saklan/Bay Miwok PBL unit. 

Showing Respect

How can we show respect for the people whose ancestral land Saklan is on?

This is the driving question that the third graders are currently working to answer in their PBL unit. They have been learning about the Saklan people (part of the Bay Miwok nation) who have lived on this land for thousands of years longer than anyone else.

The third and fourth graders were recently visited by the founders of Cafe Ohlone, Vincent Medina (of Chechenyo Ohlones) and Louis Trevino (of Rumsen Ohlones). Vincent and Louis shared with the students all about their culture and traditions, and how their work is centered around keeping their culture alive. They requested that the students refer to indigenous peoples in the present tense, not the past, because they are still here and their culture is still celebrated by their people.

The third graders continued to learn more about the Saklan/Bay Miwok peoples through expert learning research groups and a virtual field experience with guest experts from Coyote Hills Regional Park. Stay tuned for more information on their unit and their culminating end product.

#SaklanPBL

 Día de los Muertos

In October, the Kindergarten – 3rd grade students celebrated Día de los Muertos and California’s cultural roots with a field experience to watch the professional performance group Cascada de Flores. The bilingual and participatory performance included lively songs, stories, musical instruments, and dance. Students learned about the difference between Halloween and Day of the Dead, and then explored Day of the Dead traditions, such as building an altar, to honor lost love ones.

Student highlights of the trip included the opportunity to participate in the performance by dancing on stage and carrying flowers to the altar, as well as riding in a yellow school bus!

#SaklanFieldExperience

Fun and Learning

An important way that Saklan students practice key math skills is by playing math games. These games are an engaging way to reinforce concepts, build number sense and practice using math vocabulary.

Most math games are played with partners or small groups, and so they also help students practice interpersonal skills like communicating and problem solving.

Games provide an environment in which students can create and try strategies, and can also learn strategies from others.

Students often identify math games as some of their favorite activities completed in the school day and look forward to them as an opportunity to interact with classmates, learning buddies and friends. The games and activities capture their enthusiasm and create environments that make concepts and skills tangible and learning memorable, meaningful and fun!

Why I Teach Ewe Music

Alfred and Kobla Ladzekpo came to the United States in the 1960s to teach Ewe music. The Ladzekpos came from a village in the southern Volta region of Ghana called Anyako, an Ewe village. Ewe is one of over 20 languages spoken in Ghana. Ewe music is divided into styles. Each Style has songs (for singing), drum patterns and dance steps. The singing, drumming and dancing together form the musical style.

Alfred Ladzekpo taught at the California Institute of the Arts (Calarts) for over 40 years, and I was fortunate to study with him from 2002-06. He became my mentor and my friend.

Alfred’s main goal with his students at Calarts was to show them how to be an effective musician in his style of music. Ewe music is an oral tradition. Musicians coming from different backgrounds begin a new process of learning through listening. Alfred reveled in every opportunity he had to lecture his students on the importance of listening. Despite the simplicity of the message, every student who embraced this concept came away from Alfred’s class an improved musician.

As a young musician my fascination with Ewe music was sparked by my admiration of its construction. Ewe music weaves a complex counterpoint through all of its elements that rival the greatest artforms of humanity. I was enamored with the sophistication of the drumming patterns and the ability for musicians to dialogue through a musical language. The lead drummer is able to direct their ensemble into new dance moves, drumming patterns, or songs,
by playing a call on the drum. Everyone has to listen or you might miss the call!

This felt like a secret language and my friends and I were hooked. We took every opportunity to learn from Alfred and eventually we were helping him teach his classes and performing in his professional ensemble at schools and community events. Later in life I found another beautiful side to the artform.

The main function of music in Ewe culture is to promote community. People gather in social groups for musical performances. These groups perform at funerals and weddings and are the backbone of both religious and secular events. This is extremely valuable in our recent culture of social media and social distancing. People are craving interaction and Ewe music is a
world class option for community building.

I teach Ewe music as a celebration of West African brilliance. Through honoring and respecting Ewe culture I have found that we can bring value to our school not only through the acute development of musicianship but through the strengthening of our community.

In community,

Isaac

#SakalanCommunity #SaklanArts

Awesome and Terrifying Moments

Auditions are both awesome and terrifying. As a young actor (and an adult actor too!) I can remember my whole body being tied up in knots and awash in emotions I couldn’t name in the days and weeks leading up to an audition. 

What finally helped me was the technique I learned, not just singing technique, but the practice of continuously putting myself in situations that were both awesome and terrifying.  Never being a kid who experienced a lot of inner peace, this practice of scaring myself and recovering was like lifting weights; it never got easier, I just got stronger.

Every student at Saklan in 3rd grade and older will audition at least once this school year. Together, we do the hard thing, and realize that even if everything doesn’t go exactly the way we wanted, we are still okay, and there are still many good things that can come from it. We talk about flexibility and open mindset, and even how to deal with disappointment in a healthy way. The students who have been through this process help the younger ones, and as they progress through grades, we can clearly see that this practice pays dividends in coping strategies and developing courage.  

This week, as the cast list comes out for our first production of the year, Frozen KIDS, congratulate our 3rd-5th grade students on the audition process as well as their roles, and take time to remember the awesome and terrifying moments in your life that helped shape you. 

Warmly,

Grace

#Saklancourageous