Friday, November 16, 2012

Loose Ends and Publishing Party!

Reminder: Next week we will only be in school for MONDAY and TUESDAY for the Thanksgiving break. If you are going to be out of town and your child will not be in school in the beginning of the week, please let us know by sending an email.

We began this rainy morning with a cultural studies quiz. The quiz focused on the states, capitals, and the colonies. Since we didn't have math this morning and a short week next week, we used our time to tie up some "loose ends". Students worked on finishing their UC Botanic plant research, Wordly Wise, Words Their Way, cultural studies work, and other ends that needed tying up.

We were lucky to have a performance from a group of students that decided to further their knowledge of photosynthesis. They acted out the process of light hitting the chlorophyll, energizing an electron that through a series of reactions in the cell "recharges" ATP which provides the chemical energy for the cell to make sugar (Actually, way more complicated - but that's about as much as could be translated in a skit).  Talk about making science fun!

It stayed dry just long enough for Strawberry Creek to have P.E. and recess outside!

After lunch we had our first Publishing Party! We celebrated the hard work that each and every student put into their stories over the past few months. We toasted sparkling juice accompanied with cookies and appreciations for each others work. A publication was sent home with your child that has the stories from the entire class. Please take a chance to check out some stories!

The first edition of 'The Bop Times" (a Strawberry Creek student run paper) came out today as well!

We wrapped up the week with some inside games-- Apples to Apples, Chess, Mancala, and other games! Have a wonderful (wet!) weekend! 


 The electron awaits photosynthesis.
 The ENERGIZED electron shares its energy enthusiastically with other parts of the cell.
 Waiting nearby is ATP (actually ADP right now), the mechanisms in the cell that were energized by the electron now recharge the ATP to make sugar!  A.K.A: ATP synthase.
 Sharing stories.
 Publishing party - CHEERS!
 Reading stories and the first publication of "The Bop Times," a student run newspaper.



 Bunny court.
Apples to Apples