Partytime Fundraising Begins...

Students brought home Partytime Fundraiser packet materials Wednesday, February 23 after our all school assembly showcasing many of their fine frozen food, desserts, candies, gardening and novelty products.Sales will continue through Tuesday, March 15!All proceeds will benefit the Kalona Elementary Playground Project to complete the safe surfacing for the final

phase of this ongoing project since Fall 2006. All products will be delivered to the KE gym on Tuesday, April 19 from 3-6p.m. just in time forEaster! Thank you for supporting the Kalona Elementary Playground Project to provide a safe play environment for your children!

KE Literacy Week Activities...

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28 | STAFF READING RELAY

· KE Staff will take turns reading with Preschool – 5^th grade classrooms at designated times throughout the day.

TUESDAY, MARCH 1 | COMMUNITY READER DAY

· Mid-Prairie community members will come “guest-read” to each classroom.

· KE Family Literacy Night

o 5:30-6:15 | FREE Meal provided in the Gym

o 6:30-7:30 |Take this opportunity to come and listen to Bob Kirschbaum

o Bring your child(ren) to enjoy literacy activities while the speaker is presenting.

o Free book give-away to every student who attends, plus door prizes

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2 | HATS OFF TO READING DAY

· Students and staff will wear their favorite hat to school today.

THURSDAY, MARCH 3 | STOP, DROP, AND READ

· Throughout the day we will announce to stop, drop and read. Be sure to take your books with you wherever you go today so you are ready to read.

FRIDAY, MARCH 4 | READ AND FEED DAY

· Students will read and feed their brain with literature and popcorn today.

KE Family Literacy Night

KNEE HOW! TSIGH JEN!

If you are wondering what "knee- how", and "tsigh- jen" mean, just ask your Kindergartners.  We have begun a new adventure with a new friend named Mr. O'Brian. Twice a week, Mr. O'Brian and his friend Mae Mae (a panda bear) come to visit. They are teaching us how to speak in Chinese. We are having a great time learning to say things in this new language. It's amazing how quickly the children are learning. Here are some of the things we have learned so far:
      knee how - hello
      tsigh jen - good bye
     sheh sheh - thank you
     pie show - clap hands
     ting - listen
     kahn - look
     joo show - raise your hand
     ching dzwoe - sit
     jahn tshee lie - stand up
     pah pie show - clap your hands
     dchow - jump
     fay chong how - good job
     how - good
     zjeh shir shen ma - what is this?
     kye shur - start
     woe djahw - my name is__________.

Awesome right???!!!

Snug as a bug, in a milk jug! (Igloo)

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

The Kalona News came to our classroom and took pictures of our igloo.  You will find the pictures in yesterday's paper!  How exciting!

Milk Jugs

Thanks for sending all the milk jugs, we now have as many as we need, so you can stop sending them.  Pictures will be coming soon!

Feeding our feathered friends.

When Naturalist Pam Holz comes in our room she is greeted with cheers and applause!  The kids are excited to see her as they know they'll soon be doing a fun nature activity.  Today was no exception.  After reading the book Stranger in the Woods, the kids got to make their very own bird feeder using pine cones, peanut butter and bird feed.  It was messy, but oh so fun.  She told the kids to hang them in the tree after the blizzard passed through, and to keep them away from their dogs!  

If you look at some of the pictures, you'll see the growing igloo in the background!

It's Growing!

We need Milk Jugs

 Our science/social studies theme is Snow. We have melted snow and are now waiting to see how long it will take to evaporate. We will also be learning about people and animals that live where there is snow all year round. One of the activities we are doing in connection with this is to make an igloo. Naturally, we couldn't use snow to build one in the classroom so we are building one out of milk jugs.  As you can see, we have a LONG way to go. If you could send us your gallon and 1/2 gallon jugs, we would greatly appreciate it. (Please make sure they are cleaned first and send the lid along too.)

It all started with V is for volcano....

While studying the letter V, we realized that volcano started with V.  That led to wanting to know more about volcanos, which led to "Ms Spring, we should make a volcano"!

So, I decided to take the plunge and turn this into a learning experience.  Using our brand new Smartboard, I downloaded some video clips of actual volcanos.  We learned how volcanos are formed, and discovered lava is actually melted rock (gasp)!  The logical next step was to make our own volcano, which we did.  Using spray foam insulation, a bottle of diet coke, mentos, and lots of paint, we created our very own volcano. It was truly a vision to behold.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011, all systems were a go for our volcano to erupt. Mr Cayton and I carefully carried the volcano outside and the Kindergartners, Ms. Neal (one of the K-S associates), and Mrs. Joyce Mattes, a volunteer, made a big circle around the volcano. Carefully but quickly, I dropped 4 mentos into the 2 liter bottle of diet coke. In less time than it takes you to say volcano, a HUGE stream of "lava" came spewing out of the top of the volcano.  There were shouts of OOH, and AHH and even some clapping as the lava shot out and splattered down on the volcano and the fresh white snow.  Needless to say, the experiment was a success. ...and to think, it all started with Vv is for volcano!