Friday, 1/3 - Friday 1/10

Welcome back! Hope you all had a relaxing and enjoyable winter break.

No math or spelling homework will come home for next week. One-fourth of the class has not returned from break and so I will resume homework folders on Friday, 1/10.

On Thursday, we made snowflake crystals. The kids will bring these home ASAP.

To create these at home: 
materials: 
pipe cleaners
string
heat proof container (we used jam jars, but a mug would work too)
pencil, pen, stick, or other such to suspend pipe cleaner in cup
1 pint(ish) boiling water
5-6 T borax
blue food coloring (optional)

directions:
1. configure pipe cleaner into shape of snowflake (or circle, heart, shape of choice that will fit into your container)
2. use string and tie onto pipe cleaner snowflake then tie other end onto pencil
3. boil water and pour into jam jar or mug.
4.  stir in 1 T Borax at a time (up to 5-6 T total) to saturation point.
5. add a drop or two of blue food coloring into jar
6. lower snowflake into solution and let sit for 2-6 hours (be careful! the borax will solidify)
7. take snowflake out and let dry.
8. be amazed by the beauty of crystals! :)

be super scientific:
try with rock salt, kosher salt, or sugar and observe comparisons/contrasts

Wednesday, December 18 - January 2, 2014

What a super fun week we've had! We have been learning about rocks & minerals and created model geodes using eggshells and two different solutions. We already see evidence of crystals growing in some of the solutions from Monday!

Thanks to S.S. for bringing in a model volcano that we started putting together this afternoon. After break we will paint it and then add the baking soda & vinegar for an explosion!

There is no homework over break.  I do encourage everyone to read -- a lot-- and play math games, or practice math flash cards.

After break we will begin our biography reports, so your child certainly can begin to research ideas for who he/she may want to learn about.

We return to school on Thursday, January 2. Many students will not be back at school on that Thursday or Friday. We won't begin anything new or have homework given on Friday, Jan. 3. We will resume our regularly scheduled school days on Monday, Jan. 5.

Best to you all! Have a fantastic break and please email me with any questions or concerns!