By Jeff Burns on
1/5/2009
December 15 - 19
In the spirit of the holidays, we created holiday cards for residents of Elms Haven. (Elms Haven is a retirement center in Thornton.) We also made beaded candy canes for their Christmas tree. The students also worked together to decorate our door for the holidays.
On Wednesday, we had Native American Culture Day. The students learned about and created totem poles in my classroom and did various Native American crafts in all the 3/4 classrooms.
This week, we’re continuing to study landforms as we get ready to use the “stream flow” tables. First, they’ll work in three dimensions by creating desktop models of their schoolyard. They learn to transfer the features in their models to a two-dimensional map. A parent letter will go home today explaining more about the unit.
I want to say thank you for your generous gifts. It means a lot to me. I also want to thank all the parents who made our holiday party a success.
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By Jeff Burns on
12/15/2008
December 8 - 12
Our Christmas party is this Friday from 1:30 – 2:45. Thanks to all the parent volunteers who make these parties happen.
In science, we’re continuing to study landforms as we get ready to use the “stream flow” tables. First, they’ll work in three dimensions by creating desktop models of their schoolyard. They learn to transfer the features in their models to a two-dimensional map.
We’ll be starting these projects in January.
We are having “Native American Culture Day” this Wednesday. Each teacher will have a Native American craft or activity for the students to do. The students will rotate from classroom to classroom for each activity. In our classroom, we’ll be learning about the Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest and creating totem poles.
Wishing you and your families a safe and happy holiday season.
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By Jeff Burns on
12/1/2008
November 24 - 25
We’re set for our field trip to the Colorado History Museum tomorrow. Please send in a sack lunch with your child.
We’ve finished most of the science presentations. I’ve been impressed with how prepared they’ve been. Each experiment is organized and they’ve been very knowledgeable about their scientific principle.
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By Jeff Burns on
11/24/2008
November 17 - 21
Last Thursday, we had a guest actress from the Jim Beckwourth Society share her extraordinary life. Her name is Aunt Clara Brown and she was a former slave who became a successful business woman here in Colorado.
The students have done a wonderful job with their science presentations. The experiments are organized and the science principle clearly explained.
We’re set for our field trip to the Colorado History Museum on Tuesday, December 2nd. (Reminder: It’s the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving break.)
I hope you and your families have a great break and safe travels.
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By Jeff Burns on
11/19/2008
November 10 - 14
This Thursday we’re having an assembly. People from the Jim Beckwourth Society will be here to teach us about his extraordinary life through a power point presentation and some skits. For those who aren’t familiar with Jim Beckwourth, (including me until recently), he was one of the first trapper/traders of Co
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By Jeff Burns on
11/10/2008
November 3 - 7
We are going on a field trip to the Colorado History Museum on Tuesday, December 2nd. The students will be learning about the ancient ones, fur trading, and mining. They will also be taking a tour of the museum. Please send in a sack lunch with your child that day.
On election Tuesday, we watched a video which taught us how the election process works.
In social studies, we are continuing to learn about the Ute Indians. We read a Ute legend about a “magical” bear and discussed the importance of story telling among their people. We’re finishing up our Ute flip books also. On Friday, we got in groups and created poster on what we’ve learned about the Native Americans so far.
In science, we went over the science project that is due on Wednesday, November 19th. For their project, they need to conduct an experiment to the class. They must have a write up explaining their experiment using the scientific method format.
Our next science unit is on landforms.
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By Jeff Burns on
11/3/2008
October 27 - 31
The Halloween party on Friday was a success! Thanks to the parent volunteers for organizing the party on short notice.
This week in science we watched a Magic School Bus video about the water cycle and water treatment. On Wednesday we took the water test.
We finished painting our Colorado maps. We painted the plains, mountains, parks, and plateaus different colors. (We’ll be taking them home this week.) We’re also working on our Ute books in which we draw pictures and describe family life, community life, and food, shelter, and clothing.
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By Jeff Burns on
10/27/2008
October 20 - 24
As you know, our daughter, Lauren Ann entered the world on Sunday, October 19th. Mother and child are doing well. Mrs. Painter was in for me last week and this is what they studied.
They finished the chapter on pueblo dwellers by studying the roles of the men, women, and children in the tribe. They became junior archeologists by examined the possible reasons for the Anasazis vanishing.
They learned about the landforms of Colorado such as glaciers and parks.
They watched a video about the “5 states of Colorado”. Each “state” has its own history, geography, and economy. Then they completed a summary about the video.
Our next chapter is about the Ute Indians. The students are putting together ‘Ute Books” which include a paragraph/picture about their food, clothing, shelter, family life, and community life. We’ll be finishing the books next week.
They have the water test this Wednesday.
An explanation of our costume policy went home in their weekly folder.
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By Jeff Burns on
10/21/2008
October 13 - 17
The class was very well-behaved on our field trip to the Broomfield Water Treatment Facility last week. They represented Stargate students well.
Halloween is coming up and I have a list of volunteers from “Back to School Night”. If you’d like to coordinate the party or volunteer, please contact me at your convenience.
In social studies we are studying the pueblo dwellers, the Anasazi in particular. We learned about their way of life at Mesa Verde. We identified the location of Mesa Verde and the surrounding states on a map. We also watched a video that covered not only the culture of the desert Indians in the past, but also the present.
We created relief maps of our state which included the eastern plains, mountains, the four high plateaus, and the Arkansas River. Next week we’ll be painting these regions.
In science, we went over the water study guide for the test this Wednesday, October 22nd. We created our own water...
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By Jeff Burns on
10/13/2008
October 6 - 10
I want to thank Ms. Kepler, Ms. Garrick, and all the parents who organized our baby shower. My wife and I appreciate the books, rubber ducks, decorated onesies, and the generous gift card. We had almost no baby books until now, so thanks again.
This Thursday we are going to the Broomfield Water Treatment Facility. Please send in a sack lunch with your child. Part of the tour is outside so they should dress for the weather.
Halloween is coming up and I have a list of volunteers from “Back to School Night”. If you’d like to coordinate the party or volunteer, please contact me at your convenience.
In science, we conducted an experiment where water traveled down a string without dripping. Then we recorded our results using the scientific method. This activity showed us the properties of cohesion, adhesion, and surface tension.
I read The Magic School Bus Goes to Waterworks aloud. Afterward, we reviewed the process of water...
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