Third Graders Are As Happy As Clams About Similes
Recently in third grade, students dove into an exploration of similes. We read My Dog is as Smelly as Dirty Socks by Hanoch Piven to illustrate how similes can be used as powerful description tools. Students then wrote a poem describing someone they are grateful for and created a collage of that person representing those similes. Third graders also recently created “synonym rolls,” listing as many synonyms of a chosen “banned” word (sad, happy, said, etc.) and put this knowledge to use as they created their simile poems.
– Carlyn Simons, associate teacher in third grade
Second Graders Present Their Changemakers Research
On Wednesday, the second graders presented their changemaker research to a captive audience of their peers in the Erskine Library. The presentations were the culmination of a collaborative project combining research skills, the exploration of exciting and vibrant nonfiction texts from the library, and artistic expression. During the project, students learned about people who have overcome challenges, persevering towards a goal of finding solutions to problems facing themselves and others. The connection to our social competency curriculum also allows students to see themselves reflected in the work of their changemakers. In the spring, the second graders will be participating in their own service-learning project, empowering them to “be the change they wish to see in the world.”
– Katie O’Brien and Nancy Fell, second grade teachers
Arts Update: The ‘Hole’ Story in Woodworking
In woodworking, students are progressing on a number of challenging projects. Our first and second graders are designing a vehicle of their choice, such as a taxi, a recreational vehicle, a school bus, or even an ice cream truck. To construct their vehicle, students must use all of the tools they are learning this year including hammers, drills, clamps, and saws.
Third and fourth graders are both working on ‘hole in a box’ projects with different degrees of difficulty. In the third grade, students work within a chosen design focusing on accurate measurements and the use of tools to create the intended design. Fourth graders take it a step further by creating their own designs and applying new tools for shaping. The shaping tools are rasps, files, and hand planes which they use to creatively shape their boxes to designs of their liking.
– Bill Smith, woodworking teacher
