Our Week in Review 1.26

D.A.R.E. With Officer Fountaine

D.A.R.E

Today Officer Fontaine came in for our first D.A.R.E. session.  Officer Fontaine is from the Colchester Police Department and is teaching these lessons. D.A.R.E. stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education.  Today’s lesson was about the importance of rules and why we have rules and laws all around us. Students had a lot of great and relevant points to add to the conversation.  For more information, please visit the D.A.R.E. website:www.dare.com/home/about_dare.asp.

Wonder of the Week -- Why Do Bananas Bruise?

Why do bananas bruise?

I think bananas bruise because they have been sitting for a long time.  (Madelyn)

I think bananas bruise because they get hit on something.  (Devin)

I think bananas bruise because you don't eat them fast enough.  (Addison)

I think bananas bruise because they are in an uncomfortable position and it hurts one spot.  (Julien)

I think bananas bruise because when they get to the store or they come in your house they can get hit and then it can cause them to bruise.  (Kayden)

I think bananas bruise because they don't have a tree for them to ripen on.  (Leah) 

I think bananas bruise because when they hit something they turn brown.  (Nate) 

What causes bananas to ripen?

I think bananas ripen because water from rain and light from the sun help them to become yellow.  (Addy)

I think what causes bananas to ripen is because plants grow and a banana is a fruit of plant, and all fruits grow.  (Ally)

I think a banana ripens because it is sitting on the tree and getting food from the trees roots.  (Devin)

I think bananas ripen because they are not just sitting at your house they are getting sunlight and water.  (Addison) 

I think bananas ripen because the nutrients of the soil go through the roots and into the banana.  (Fiona) 

How can you slow down the ripening process?

I think you can slow down the ripening process by putting the banana in the sun or giving them water.  (Kaylie) 

I think you can slow down the ripening process because if you use a banana to make something like food or you can eat it.  (Kayden)

I think you can slow down the ripening process by picking them off the tree.  (Maddox) 

Creating an Avatar

On Thursday, students began creating their very own Avatars using the app WeeMee. Creating an avatar is one of the many highlights of 2nd grade.  An avatar is a digital representation of a person, in this case, your child.  Avatars are a wonderful tool which can be used to help your child learn more about her/his classmates.  Your child's avatar can be viewed on their KidBlog account. Below are some examples of our avatars.

  

Compound Words

This week our "Show the Rule" has to do with compound words.  We learned that a compound word is formed when two or more words are put together to form a new word with a new meaning. Below are some examples of compound words that we brainstormed from our min-lesson.  In addition we have highlighted where we used compound words in our writing. 

Wonder of the Week: Does Laughing Help you Live Longer?

Does Laughing Help You Live Longer?

I think laughing does help you live longer because laughing is good for your heart.  (Kaylie)

I think laughing does not help you live longer because all your doing is laughing.  (Devin)

I think laughing does not help you live longer because it waste your life.  (Leah)

I think laughing does not help your heart because when you laugh sometimes you laugh really hard and you stop breathing.  (Madelyn)

I think laughing does not help you live longer because you inhale and then exhale, you waste air. (Maddox)

Is Laughter Really the Best Medicine?

I think laughter isn't really the best medicine but it is nice to laugh when you are not feeling great.  (Allison)

I think laughter isn't the best medicine because all your doing is laughing.  (Addison)

I think laughter is the best medicine because it makes you feel better when you are sick.  (Addy)

What are the Health Benefits of Laughter?

I think the health benefits of laughter is that it helps your heart.  (Fiona)

I think the health benefits of laughter is that it helps your digestive system.  (Devin)

I think laughing helps get air out of your body because when you breathe in a lot of air and you can't get it out because your nose is stuffed up you can have someone tell you a joke and help you get the air out.  (Henry)

Important Information

Our free Parent Forum on mindfulness is scheduled for tonight at 6:00 p.m.  Jaycie Puttlitz is planning to show the group how to incorporate mindfulness with kids of different ages and stages.  If you are planning to attend, please call the school (264-5920) or register online at our website ASAP:  www.csdvt.org/pps

The deadline for making Spaghetti Supper reservations is tomorrow!  Please plan to attend this fun event that brings families together to enjoy good food and company.  Proceeds from the event go to Project Inside Out.  To make a reservation, send the reservation form in with your child tomorrow, call the school, or use the link for reservations on our website:  www.csdvt.org/pps

The PPS musical "Too Much Noise!" is coming up very soon - February 11 and 12, 2015.  Our class is on Thursday, February 12th.  

If you have questions, please contact our music teacher, Mrs. Mutz, by email:  mutzm@csdvt.org

For help with any of the above, call our main office at 264-5920.

Transition Words in Opinion Writing Pieces

In Writing Workshop we have been learning the difference between a fact and an opinion.  We have learned that a fact is something that can be proven and an opinion tells how someone feels or thinks.  A fact that all of us knew about is that Porters Point School is located in Colchester, Vermont.  For our opinion writing we wrote what we thought was the best food at Thanksgiving.  After stating their opinion students then had to support it with reasons why. 

Today students are learning how to use linking words in their writing.  Some spicy linking words that can be used at the beginning of an opinion piece are: “I think”, “I feel”, “I believe”, “In my opinion....”.  Transition words that can be used throughout our writing pieces are: “First”, “To start”, “Secondly”, “Another”, “In addition”, “In conclusion”.  Look for us to start using transition words in our KidBlog posts!

Why Do People Yawn?

Wonder 35 

Yawwwnn... When it comes to yawns, two things are certain:  Everybody yawns - and nobody really seems to know why.

Why Do You Yawn?

I think you yawn because your lungs stretch.  (Leah)

I think you yawn because you are tired.  (Devin)

I think you yawn because you need to get rest for the next day and your body tells you that you need to go to sleep.  (Madelyn)

I think you yawn because it is tell you that your body is safe.  (Ben)

I think you yawn because that is your bodies way of tell you "go to bed you need more rest." (Allison)

I think you yarn when you work to hard.  (Kaylie)


Is Yawning Contagious?

I think yawning is not contagious because you are not sick when you yawn.  (Devin)

I do not think yawning is contagious because it is something your body does and it is normal, no one can get sick by it. (Kayden)

I think yawning is not contagious because when you yawn, that means you are tired and tiredness can not spread.  (Julien)

I think yawning is not contagious because everyone yawns.  (Addy)

I think yawning is not contagious because when you yawn you are not sick, you are just tired. (Addison)

SWR - magic e (Week of 1.5)

 This week our SWR skill is the magic e.  Students have been learning the difference between short and long vowels.  When the magic e is added to the end of a short vowel word it turns the word into a long vowel word!  The magic e makes the long vowel say its name.  This week we are practicing with words that have a as their vowel.  We learned that you can turn mat into mate, cap into cape and rat into rate to name a few examples! We also really enjoyed watching this video -- click here.  Remember, you can practice the spelling words at home by logging onto SpellingCity -- click here. 

Wonder of Week (1.6) - Why Do People Make New Years Resolutions?

Wonder # 90 

Why Do People Make New Years Resolutions?

People make New Years resolutions to help people and to be better.  (Kelsey)

I think people make New Years resolutions to try to improve themselves.  (Allison)

I think people make New Years resolutions to be nice and kind so they have more friends.  (Maddox)

I think people make New Years resolutions for a dare and to have some fun.  (Madelyn)


What is Your New Years Resolution?

My New Years resolution is to spend less time inside and to go outside more.  (Julien)

My New Years resolution is to snowboard more.  (Devin)

My New Years resolution is to collect books for kids who can't read.  (Fiona)

My New Years resolution is to help my teacher.  (Kaylie)


I Learned....

I learned a New Years resolution is a way to improve yourself.  (Allison)

I learned that a New Years resolution is a promise you make to yourself to become a better person.  (Addy)

I learned that you usually start a New Years resolution on January 1st. (Devin)

I learned that resolutions can come in many forms, such as quitting something, eating less junk food or doing some positive.  (Madelyn)

I learned that a New Years resolution is to do better the next year one way you can do that is and help your community. (Leah)

One way to make a better habit is by recycling more and helping your parents.  (Julien)

I learned a New Years resolution can be a promise to break a bad habit.  (Addison)

I learned that a New Years resolution can be anything but it should be a promise to make yourself better.  (Fiona)

I learned that a New Years resolution is to make the world better and to improve yourself and to have fun.  (Maddox)

I learned that January is named after Janus, who was able to have two faces, one looking forward into the future and one looking backwards, into the past.  (Julien)