On Step-Up Day, third graders got a glimpse into what it will be like next year, and we enjoyed some time with the current second graders. Temescalians spent a morning in a 4/5 classroom buddied up with a current fourth grader for games and learning activities. These visits are not their classroom assignments for next year. Watch for an email on the 4/5 placement process in the coming weeks.

April is for birthdays! We celebrated one Temescalian birthday last week and have three more celebrations scheduled for this week, including Lisa’s on Monday (pssst, on her actual birthday).

On Earth Day, we discussed how plastic pollution eventually collects in the oceans and negatively impacts sea life, the food web, and us! We also learned about two inventions that aim to help solve this problem. One by Boyan Slat, a young adult who is trying to harness the tides to clean up plastic. Another is a invention of special buckets, called Seabins, that float in marinas and suck up plastic, trash, and oils from the surface, leaving sea creatures unharmed. These changemakers’ got us thinking about what we can do to prevent and solve the plastic problem.  We also learned about artists, like Joshua Allen Green, who recycle plastic bags and turn them into inflatable street art, and we have begun the process of designing and creating our own plastic sculptures.

In math we continued our study on data collection and graphing. We learned more about the different types of graphs, as well as how to read, analyze, and create them. This knowledge was put to good use when students took the data we collected during the Read-a-thon and graphed the number of pages we read collectively and in what genres. Keep working on those multiplication facts at home, as well as other handy math skills like time telling and change counting.

Our research projects on local animals continues and Temescalians are learning that becoming an expert takes time.This process has been integrating our science, cultural students, reading, and writing. Taking all of the facts from our research, we continue to write in our own words, which will be compiled into research books along with original scientific drawings. As your child to expertly sum up their local animal . . .

The Calendula we planted in our garden boxes with Mariah from the Ohlone Herbal Center is in full bloom! We harvested the blossoms and set them out to dry. Mariah will be returning soon for one last visit to help us make healing Calendula lip balm.

Thank you for your continued volunteer help in and out of the classroom. We appreciate the fresh flowers that arrive Monday mornings and the help with kitchen and laundry duty on Friday afternoons. There are some slots left for the remainder of the year. To sign up, click on “Sign-Up Wiki” in the upper right hand corner of this blog, click “edit” to add your name, and don’t forget to click “save” when you are done.

We look forward to seeing you at the Wrap Party!