Summer Update, July 15

Hi guys!

I was so excited to see updates from so many of you. I'm glad to see you're all up to fun things this summer, and very happy that some of you are choosing to share them with us on the blog.

We went to Natural Bridge at the end of June, and were only there a few days. Some of the pictures are from this year, and some are from when we went last year.

Natural Bridge, VA, is very different from Natural Bridge, Utah. My apologies again to all the kiddos who used their savvy research skills to go back to Landform Detectives to check into the processes that created Natural Bridge - that's the wrong one! However, even though they are actually VERY different landforms - as we'll discuss in a minute - any type of landform that looks like this has to have a few similarities. You can always know from looking at something like this that it was originally built up somehow (as it is much higher than the land surrounding it), usually through sedimentation, and then the "tunnel" part of it was somehow worn away, usually by water. 

Natural Bridge, VA, is really cool because it is pretty much entirely limestone. Limestone is a sedimentary rock that is nearly always made of fossilized aquatic life - hmm... what might that tell us about this area? The "tunnel" area underneath was originally a cave, and a river that flowed through the cave wore it away, sculpting the formation that we see now. The river is still there, but it's pretty shallow for the most part. You can see the water in this picture.

You can learn more here: Natural Bridge Official Website

Your classmates have been blogging! Check out some of what they're working on here:

Nathan's Blog

Jaelyn's Entertainment Blog

It sounds like you guys have all been up to some fun things! Even if you haven't gone anywhere else this summer, there is so much fun to be had in your own back yard! We've been having a great time observing the critters we can find out here - of course, we are very lucky to have woods in our back yard! We've seen snakes, frogs, butterflies, and a variety of lizards. Perhaps Jack's favorite thing so far this summer is the fireflies! Until this summer, his bedtime has been to early to get to see them - he thinks they are AMAZING! And I think he is right.

We have also been raspberry picking - a really fun family activity on a Saturday morning. We go to Plum Granny Farms in King. They also have blackberries to pick, and they sell garlic, potatoes and flowers. The people who run the farm are VERY nice. Plum Granny Farm

Here's a picture of Jack picking raspberries last summer (I need to upload my more recent pics!):

Last but not least, we got to have an ultrasound check on the baby last week. Everything is going really well, and she's still on track to arrive at the end of August. I can't wait to start sharing all the wonderful books you and your families picked out for her. What a LUCKY baby she is, to have such a great community of people you already care about her! 

Here's a picture:

She looks so calm and peaceful - this was during "naptime," I guess! Pretty cool that they can get such clear pictures with ultrasound technology now. I have to say, I was amazed!!!

Keep enjoying your summers! I will keep trying to check in and post occasionally. I'll be posting a parents link again soon, and one for everyone in the next few weeks!

Hi everybody! I hope you're all having a fantastic summer so far!

Jaelyn checked in with a link to her summer blog - check out what she's been up to in San Francisco!

Link to Jaelyn's Summer Blog

Awesome post, Jaelyn! I love the pictures you included, and you'd done a nice job writing up your trip so far! It's great to see you stretching your writing and observation skills over the summer! I'll be interested to hear even more soon! Thanks so much for sharing.

For Jaelyn (and anyone else who may head out to the West Coast some day), here are some other cool sites in San Francisco (we were planning a trip there... still haven't made it)!

The Exploratorium

Alcatraz Island

San Francisco Zoo

Yerba Buena Gardens

As for me, we've finally settled into summer here. I spent most of last week still working at school, but now I'm done for awhile. The turtles have settled into their summer home at my house, and Jack and the dogs have really enjoyed observing them.

We also had a great time this weekend at the NC Transportation Museum! We went on a 21st Century Steam Excursion, which was a great chance to experience something that most modern people never will - riding on a real, working Steam Locomotive! We all learned from Marc's Teaching Academy earlier this year about how Steam Locomotives were replaced by Diesel Engines many, many years ago (Steam was pretty much done away with everywhere by the 1950's), and only a few old Engines were kept around after that. This one was built in 1904, in Richmond, VA, the capital of my home state! Pretty cool! Jack really had a blast, and so did his Grand Daddy (my father loves trains even more than Jack). It was a great experience!

Other than that, we've been hanging out, playing soccer outside, going to the pool and picking blackberries. We'll be going on our mini-vacation to Natural Bridge in Virginia this weekend - be on the lookout for updates on that and more updates from your classmates. 

Did You Ever Grow Anything in the Garden of Your Mind?

It is officially Summer Break! Your first Blog Assignment is complete, and from here on out, it's optional till school starts again. Please keep an eye on our page so that you can see what your classmates are up to and keep up with interesting things I may post.

Have a WONDERFUL break! Grow some ideas in the garden of your mind!

I will miss you all at the start of the year, but I will look forward to seeing how you've all grown when school starts again for ME in November!

Love,
Mrs. Taylor

Reminder about our First Blog Assignment

Hi folks!

Don't forget that your first blog assignment is due by this afternoon.

If you emailed me your work, I responded to you with some feedback.

I have COMPLETE answers (that means complete sentences, etc) from a few more people now.

MOST of you gave me wonderful, thorough answers, but STILL did not write them in complete sentences.

You may be thinking, "Why does this matter, if my answers were correct?"

The answer has several parts:

First of all, people will always take what you write much more seriously if it is generally correct in spelling, grammar, punctuation and all the other conventions of writing. I realize that to some of you this may still seem silly or unfair, but think of it this way - if you are taking the time to check on these details, it shows that YOU take what you are writing seriously, which gives other people the message that they should, too! It also sends the message that you are a knowledgeable person who knows what he or she is talking about. That's also very important in getting your point across!

Secondly, while I want the blog to be fun and interesting for you, and, YES, my main focus is getting across the content knowledge (a great deal of what I post on here will be related to our science or social studies concepts or to general creative thinking), I also want you to practice the other skills we work on in school. These include spelling, grammar, punctuation and general writing and argumentation skills. It is very important that you learn how to make your point efficiently and clearly so your audience (your readers) know what you are talking about!

So, to sum it all up: YES, kiddos, it is very important to write in complete sentences and to use all the "stuff" that goes along with that - the spelling, structure and punctuation I keep mentioning. Many of you skimmed over that part - and this tells me that you did not pay full attention to the directions OR you did not re-read and revise your work. Both of these are SUCH important habits! Let's work a little harder on this so that this will be a habit by the time school starts in August.

Thanks, guys! Happy blogging!

TRANSIT OF VENUS

** Kiddos, go to the post below for this week's Blog Assignment. This is just a special posting because it's interesting!

The site below tells all about the upcoming event - something very cool, indeed! Sciworks is hosting viewing of the Transit of Venus - it is not safe to view with the naked eye. Take the precautions suggested and/ or view the videos available at Sciworks or online. Definitely worth checking out this event if you can!

http://www.transitofvenus.org/

Hey kiddos!

Welcome to your first official Class Blog Assignment.

For this week's assignment, you'll need to read these current events articles related to landforms and answer the questions that you receive on Monday afternoon. Remember, this assignment is due Friday afternoon (that's right, the day after school ends - the cool thing about blogs AND your new email addresses, is it gives some flexibility on due dates for work). You may finish this assignment any time during the week and hand it in, in person, OR you may email your work to me by Friday afternoon ( just like college students do). This will be your ONLY homework this week; it is to give you practice for doing assignments like this in fifth grade.


 ARTICLES:

 "Slowing Ice Flows"

"The Sinking City"

"Big Quake, Little Destruction"

Don't forget to read all THREE articles (they're very short, and interesting) and to answer the questions by Friday afternoon.

Keep up with our blog posts all summer for interesting articles and links, and for updates on what members of our class are doing.

Mostly-For-Parents Post #1

Kids - you are welcome to check out this information, as well, but this will mostly be of interest to your parents. If you have not already posted your comment, please be sure to go to the "WELCOME" post to comment where your classmates have already commented.

Parents:
Here are some great local resources for keeping kids academically enriched over the summer **MOST, but not all, are free!! **

Forsyth County Public Library: Summer Reading Programs and Suggested Reading Lists by Grade Level

WS/FCS "Escape" Program

WS/ FCS Parent Resources Page

BELL Summer Institute

SciWorks Summer Camps & Public Programs

Winston-Salem Summer Camps, Organize by Type

MAD SCIENCE Summer Camps



Great Online Resources:

"Aunty Math" Math Challenges

Math Puzzles and Brain Teasers - Problem Solving

Summer Reading - Fourth Grade Reading List

Summer Reading - Fifth Grade Reading List

Reading List: "Favorite Books for Fifth Graders"

"Brain Binders" - Logic Challenges Using Paper Folding


Reading for Parents (a few helpful articles):

Helping Your Child With Reading

Helping Your Child With Math

Helping Children Develop an Appreciation of Nature

Project Learning Tree's Nature Education Activities for Families