 Kindergarteners have enjoyed several field trips recently. Many classes extended their science curriculum about farm animals with a trip to Elkus Ranch, an environmental education center affiliated with UC Davis in Half Moon Bay. The children pet and fed chickens, goats and sheep, learned about predators and prey as well as about how a sheep's wool is cleaned and carded. Back in the classroom, the kids made a farm animal book with a drawing and a few sentences about each animal. Another field trip for many classes was to the Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco which affords the students additional opportunities to learn about the environment and animals. In math, the Kindergarteners are finishing up their addition unit and have been using manipulatives, such as linker cubes, beans, and jewels. They will be starting a subtraction unit soon. In addition, students are starting to write stories and continue to bring books home to foster reading skills. Some classrooms are putting on plays such as "Nanny Goats Gruff". First graders continue to write books for the publishing center. Some students have already turned their books in to our school publishing center and are waiting to receive it back so they can illustrate their books. In math, first graders have been learning how to tell time to the hour and half-hour. Students will begin to count, compare, add, and subtract numbers from 100. In science, they are learning about plant parts, what plants need to survive, and how to take care of plants. Many are planting their own seeds as well. In social studies, the unit on Japan is especially timely. First graders now know how to write haiku poems, what a typical Japanese meal consists of, how to make origami, and some know how to count to ten in Japanese. The students will soon be enjoying a field trip to Stanford's Cantor Museum of Art. Some students have participated in a geography project in which friends and relatives from around the world mailed postcards to the class. The students then tracked and graphed the postcards. They've had postcards from as far away as Australia and China. Second graders completed their study of simple machines, including pulleys, block and tackle, and levers. Mad Science and Rockit Science have recently led science workshops on both sound and simple machines. The Las Lomitas artist is residence, Donine Ettinger, has led art lessons on painting and clay making. In clay making, students learn about the full process including glazing and firing their creations in the kiln. Students are practicing for the upcoming school Dance Festival and Spring Sing. Several classes have put on class drama performances or are preparing for upcoming performances. Second graders are taking the STAR test, which covers Language Arts and math concepts, for the first time this May. Third graders have been reading a wide range of fiction genre including mysteries, fantasy, historical fiction and adventure. In science, the children had a special presentation about lasers and the properties of light as well as completed a unit on the Solar System, including a discussion of whether or not Pluto is a planet. Some classes also wrote space reports, created space murals and visited the De Anza College planetarium. In writing, the students are learning about the use of quotation marks, types of sentences, prefixes and suffixes, brainstorming techniques, descriptive writing and voice in writing. In the Writer's Workshop, students write their own books. Some classes wrote research reports on bugs. In social studies, the 3rd graders learned about the Ohlone Native Americans, pioneers and the Oregon Trail. Students experienced a flavor of pioneer life on their field trip to the Woodside Store where they washed clothes the old-fashioned way, made shingles by chopping wood and role played being storekeepers. Finally, 3rd graders have been preparing for their transition to La Entrada next year by having 4th grade pen pals, listening to a concert by the La Entrada band, and visiting La Entrada to see classrooms and a performance of the 4th-8th grade musical Beauty and the Beast.  Fourth graders enjoyed a highlight of the year - going back in time and studying the California Gold Rush. They found out where the name 49ers came from, read gold rush stories, dressed up like miners, wrote letters as if they were miners, and acted in mini plays. At the same time, they finished reading their last core literature book for the school year, By the Great Horn Spoon, a Gold Rush story. As part of the study of California, each student did a research project on a well know person, place or event related to the state, for example, Alcatraz, Ansel Adams, John Muir, our former "Govenator", and Yosemite National Park. Fourth graders are tackling percentages, decimals, fractions and geometry in math. In science, students learned about magnets and electricity by making circuit boards, flashlights, and cars. They studied California animals and each selected an animal to study in depth. Many 4th graders participated in the recent music class choral concert, in which they performed many beautiful and memorable songs from countries all over the world. Fifth graders continued their study of literature by reading and writing about A Wrinkle in Time. In this novel, children grappled with the idea of societal conformity among other concepts. In math, the students have completed their textbooks and have moved on to an enrichment project called Polyhedraville in which they design and build private and public buildings within a budget. Each class' "ville" has a different theme, such as a colonial town, which guides the creative process. In science, the students have moved on from life sciences earlier in the year (studying plants and the human body) to earth sciences with a unit on weather. Currently, the students are working on a science project, on a topic of their own choosing from among science topics studied this year, to be completed for display at Open House. The project includes an experiment, informative display board, and a thorough research report. In P.E. the students completed units on square dancing and softball, and are now doing fitness testing including running a mile, sit-ups, push-ups, flex arm hang, trunk lift, pull-ups, curl-ups, and the pacer (running between 2 cones). Students in chorus participated in a choral concert in March and the students in band will show their stuff during the June 1st band performance. Finally, in social studies, the focus is the American Revolution, the development of the United States government, the Constitution and the many figures involved in these extraordinary events. The discussions about democracy are extremely timely in light of unfolding world events and classroom discussions have been animated and thought provoking. Sixth graders have continued their study of ancient civilizations, focusing most recently on Greece and Rome. Some classes assigned an independent project to deepen their study of ancient Rome. Students are reading myths from D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths and some have listened to Black Ships Before Troy, which is a children's version of Homer's classic epic The Iliad. They are also studying various forms of government in Greece and Rome. In language arts, the students are studying poetry, grammar, and spelling as well as reading their final novel of the year; in some classes that novel is Ties That Bind, Ties That Break. Many study skills are being taught throughout the year including outlining and creating a study guide. Finally, 18 sixth graders were among the 80 cast members of Beauty and the Beast, this year's spring musical. Most of them had participated in the past two productions - Aladdin and Alice in Wonderland - and it was terrific to see their singing, dancing and acting development. As Principal Thomas reminded the audience at the beginning of the show, the Las Lomitas Education Foundation funds the District's music classes, making this talent development possible. Seventh graders have undertaken a number of major projects recently including the Story Book Pageant and a 40 paragraph term paper. For the Story Book Pageant, the students had to come up with fairy tale reenactments using only a table, two chairs and a hat or two and then they entertained the Las Lomitas kids with their performances. It's not often that the 7th graders interface with the grade K-3 students so this was special for all involved. The term paper is the longest report that the 7th graders will undertake this year. They must research at least ten sources, write up to 40 note cards, write rough draft and final outlines, then write both a rough draft and final draft of the paper. The students are learning a lot about time management on this long term project. Some of the classes have recently participated in Medieval Month where students take on the roles of Lord, Lady, knights, peasants and serfs in several fiefdoms. In one activity, the students can earn farthings for their fiefdoms with extra credit projects such as making a catapult, a battering ram, or a banner. The King/Queen (the teacher) hands out fate cards to the fiefdom, one of which is the black plague. Eighth graders recently wrapped up their study of To Kill a Mockingbird with essays about the novel. They are currently discussing the "Hero's Journey" in preparation for their final novel of the year, Jack London's The Call of the Wild. The Hero's Journey is a pattern of narrative that appears in drama, storytelling, and myth where the hero character achieves great deeds on behalf of the group, tribe, or civilization. In social studies, the 8th graders have completed units on the Civil War and Reconstruction and will have opportunities for independent study. The 8th grade STAR test in history-social science is a comprehensive exam which covers the entire curriculum from grades 6, 7 and 8, so the students have been busy reviewing the California State Standards for each of those grade levels. In science, the students finished organic chemistry and they are starting to study heat. Those students in geometry are completing the year studying volumes. At this time of the school year, the 8th graders are now thinking about graduation on June 8 and the related celebrations. |
Grandparents' Day at La Entrada in March was a big success.
We are excited about our move to electronic delivery of our Grandparents' Newsletter to as many grandparents as possible. Thank you for helping us to save paper and mailing costs.