Update 11/2/17

Hello Crow Wing Families, 

Please consider stopping by our Critter Cash Sale today after school.  We'll be in the parking lot to the north of the elementary building with used books, baked goods, and cocoa (while supplies last!).  Prices will be low - maxing out at $4 for bigger, fancier books, so only a few dollars will get you home baked treats and high quality books!

Early Wednesdays are up and running!  Please support your student in completing late work or receiving extra lessons by making a plan to attend Early Wednesday work time.  We're here at 7:45am, students can knock on our exterior classroom door to be let into the building.  

We are looking for a couple more lamps and extension cords to use in our classroom.  As the light fades into winter, we'd like to be able to light our space with softer lamp light instead of the overhead fluorescents.  If you are willing to lend or donate a lamp or extension cord, please let us know.  

Our bunny is a voracious little composter!  He likes many things that would otherwise be food waste:

- cilantro and parsley stems

- broccoli stems

- cauliflower and lettuce hearts

- carrot peels

- ribs of greens like kale, chard, collards, and mustard

If you are willing to collect and send these items into school, we can cut our rabbit food budget a bit each week.  

Conferences are in two weeks.  Sixth grade students must attend their conferences and will lead the discussion of their work and goals.  Fifth grade students may choose to attend to present their work.  Fourth grade students do not attend conferences.  We look forward to seeing you all on the 16th and 17th.  

Things we're working on:

Everyone: Finishing Widji Projects 

4th grade: First and Second Laws of Motion, Equivalent Fractions, finishing the study of early humans

5th grade: Natural Systems, Adding and subtracting fractions, Apostrophes and plurals

6th grade: Human geography and rain shadow deserts, Minnesota History Study - the Dakota War, complex sentences and dependent clauses

Thank you for your ongoing support!  

Critter Cash Sale this Thursday!

Hello Upper El Families, 

This year our upper el students are organizing occasional sales to fund our classroom animals.  Students are taking on the responsibility of funding and caring for our finches, bearded dragons, fish, gerbils, bunny, and hopefully a couple new animals as well.  Students hope to raise the roughly $200 a month we need to feed, house, and clean up after our animals.  They are planning their first sale for this Thursday, November 2nd.  Students from all four UE classrooms plan to sell baked goods, used books, and hot cocoa from 3:15 to 4pm in the parking lot on the north side of the elementary building.  

Families are invited to participate by:

Supporting students as they bake muffins, quick bread, cookies, or similar foods

Allowing students to donate gently used books

Donating paper cups and cocoa mix

Donating plastic baggies and napkins

Planning for your student to attend the sale with a few dollars to spend

If you would like to visit the sale, please plan to park in the Bandana Square lot or on Energy Lane outside the elementary and adolescent pick up zones.  

Students will not be allowed to leave the parent pick up line to purchase things from the sale, they'll need to be dismissed to their parent first.  This will help us keep the pick up line moving steadily.  

 

Thank you for your support!  

Upper Elementary Homework Due 11/7/17 - Election Day

Tuesday, November 7th is Election Day across the country.  In the Twin Cities, both Minneapolis and St. Paul will be voting for mayor.  Chris Coleman, St. Paul’s current mayor, is not running for reelection.  Minneapolis’ mayor, Betsy Hodges, is running for reelection.  There are many other candidates in both races.  

Essay Options:

Option 1 - Research the issues in either the Minneapolis or St. Paul mayoral races.  There are sources linked below that may be helpful to you in your research.  Based on your research, choose a candidate that you believe should be mayor of either St. Paul or Minneapolis.  Write an essay that summarizes the issues in the city you’ve chosen to research and why you support the candidate you chose.

Minneapolis Mayoral Election Article:

https://ballotpedia.org/Mayoral_election_in_Minneapolis,_Minnesota_(2017)

St. Paul Mayoral Election Article:

https://ballotpedia.org/Mayoral_election_in_St._Paul,_Minnesota_(2017)

Option 2 - Interview an adult in your life that will be voting.  Ask about which issues are important to that person and what is valuable to them in a mayor.  Include a few questions of your own about how the city works or how the person you are interviewing feels about voting.  For instance, you might ask about the person’s first voting experience, about the job of a mayor, about the mayor’s role in policing, jobs, or about the differing jobs of the mayor and city council members.  

Write an essay summarizing your interview, including at least one direct quote from the person you interviewed.  

Please edit your work for spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar.  

4th graders should write at least one paragraph.

5th graders should write at least two paragraphs.

6th graders should write at least three paragraphs.

Community Sing - October 27

Upper Elementary Homework due 10/31/17 - Self Portrait

This homework has two portions.  Please make sure you complete both.  

First, create a self portrait.  You may draw, paint, photograph, sculpt, or use collage to make a portrait of yourself.  Your face must be visible in your art, but you may also include other images as you see fit.  Please sign and title your work.  

Second, write a biographical poem.  You may use any form you choose, or you may use the example provided below.  Your poem should reference your name, family, home, likes and dislikes, and a memory or two that is important to you.  Again, remember to title your work and include your name.

Autobiographical Poem

Line 1: [First name only] _____________________

Line 2: [four traits] __________________________

Line 3: Related to __________________________

Line 4: Cares deeply about ___________________

Line 5: Who feels __________________________

Line 6: Who needs _________________________

Line 7: Who gives __________________________

Line 8: Who fears __________________________

Line 9: Who would like to see _________________

Line 10: Resident of _________________________

Example:

Jenna

Jenna.

Silly, messy, creative, jumping.

Related to Dad (and Fluttershy).

Cares deeply about drawing and animals.

Who feels worried about family.

Who needs My Little Pony!

Who gives laughter and drawings.

Who fears the evil bunny man.

Who would like to see Grandpa.

Resident of Bloomington, Minnesota.

• Jenna, age 9.

Trophic Cascade - 5th grade Science

Hi Fifth Graders,

Here's the Trophic Cascade Video from our lesson on Natural Systems today:

How Wolves Change Rivers

Enjoy,

Cate

Upper Elementary Homework Due 10/24/17 – Ideal School

 Last week’s homework asked you to reflect on your basic needs (fun, freedom, belonging, power) and how they are met or not met in the classroom. 

This week, please take time to think about the ideal school for you.  Think about how the classroom would look, sound, and feel, and what procedures for learning, community, and individual times during our day would help you learn. 

Write an essay that describes the best school you can imagine to meet your needs as an individual and as a community member.  Describe the classroom environment, the play space, morning work time, community times, and any other activities you believe would help you.

4^th graders must write an organized essay with at least one paragraph (5-7 sentences minimum).

5^th graders must write an organized essay with at least two paragraphs.

6^th graders must write an organized essay with at least three paragraphs. 

Please remember to include topic sentences and edit your work for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and clarity.