Thursday, May 9, 2013

Out of this world!

Over the next few weeks our class will be focusing on space! We checked out the iPad cart from our school and I am loving the independent research that is happening! Each child chose a space topic to research more about! Their goal was to find 10 interesting facts they could present to the class! They are working with the educreations ap on the iPads to create a presentation to show the class! I will be sure to post their presentations when they finish!

It was so great to walk around the room and see them light up when they found an awesome video about their planet! Trey and Logan were researching astronauts and then they found information about how astronauts train to get ready to go to space and decided that would be their area of focus for their research project! I love their independence! They are working on a workout routine to teach the class so we will be ready for our trip to space!

Here are some pictures of the research that was happening today!!

















Wednesday, May 8, 2013

The Poetry Cafe 2013

The Poetry Cafe is my favorite day of the year! Since April is National Poetry month our class learns and explores poetry all month long! This year we had a blast! We learned that poetry can be about anything and that poets find inspiration anywhere!
 
I set up inspiration centers around our room! They included art, music, shapes, and nature! Here is Caleb finding inspiration in the Art Center!
Jade and Senali are using the Songza Ap on our IPAD to find inspiration for a poem!
  Madeline found inspiration in the nature center through a blooming flower!
 Evie found inspiration in the nature center through a starfish!
We also used book binders to make poetry! Thanks to my friend Mrs. Zwiegle for sending me on awesome website! Peyton used some of our Halloween books to make a spooky poem!
 
THE BIG DAY!
 
When we are getting ready for our Poetry Cafe the kids choose 3 of their favorite poems they have written to put in our class poetry book. I type it up and let them illustrate the pages before running copies to turn into a book! We assign commitees and brainstorm roles for the committees. This year we had a welcoming committee that welcomed parents, ushered them to their seats and assisted them in fixing the plate and coffee order. We also had a Get Started committee that once everyone was happily settled let the parents know we would be starting soon! Our Education Committee shared what we have learned about poetry in our classroom.We had two announcers that introduced each poet and then thanked them and made they got some snaps for their poems. They all wrote their own scripts for each role and did an amazing job!
 
The Day of the Poetry Cafe I set the mood with the lights off, string lights hung across the ceiling, Miles Davis playing quielty in the background, a stage with microphone and spot light, table clothes and flower bouqet center pieces, stars hanging from the ceiling, coffee brewed and a table of snacks for the parents and the kids to enjoy! It is a fabulous day! The girls were ordained with boas and feather hair clips and the boys all came in the best dressed! We snap after each poetry reading and the children run the show! They glow with pride as they show off their amazing poems with style!
 
Our Welcome Committee 
 
Our Get Started Committee
  Our Educational Committee
Our Announcers
Our GoodBye Committee
 
 
 
 
 
 
MADELINE
 PEYTON
 EMMA
 WYATT
 DANTE
 LOGAN M.
 LOGAN W.
 SENALI
 TREY
 JADE
 CONNOR
 EVIE
 CALEB
 GRACE
 GENEVIEVE
Thank you so much for everyone that was a part of such a great day!