Today we explored smell in our study of the five senses. Students smelled scented cotton in four jars and guessed what scent each one was: coffee, grapefruit, apple soap, or garlic. The garlic was pretty potent and the least favorite. Later we talked about ways our sense of smell helps keeps us safe. Some of the ideas we thought of were smelling fire and smelling bad food. Amy also noted that animals rely on their sense of smell to detect danger and protect their young.

During choice time over the last few weeks many students have been choosing to read or continue with writer's workshop. I love that these are things they are enjoying so much that they choose to do them during free time.

We had another fabulous ski today. Our loop in the field was a little longer and a little faster. If the weather allows maybe we get even farther next week!

We had a fantastic trip to the Flynn. Everyone did a great job of being patient and respectful both on the bus and in the theater. We had front row seats which made for a truly memorable experience!

Today we reviewed the Dr. Seuss stories we have read and talked about the messages in them. We noticed the themes of be nice, respect others, respect differences, and be yourself, came up over and over. We will be paying attention for these themes in tomorrow's show as well.

We will leave just after 8:00 tomorrow. Please make sure your child is here!

We will be missing snack time at school, but students will have an opportunity to have a simple snack on the bus. It would be great if you could send something very manageable and not too messy- a snack bar or something similar.

Yesterday we continued with the five senses, exploring sound. We played sound bingo using a CD of various everyday sounds and pictures to match. For some reason both my own children and the students in the class really love the baby laughing! Then each student was given a jar with an item in it. They needed to find a classroom with the same item in his jar using their sense of hearing. We then talked about examples of when our sense of hearing helps us or is particularly important.

We continued playing the game One More, One Fewer today, with students working on various levels. Some use dice with different numbers, while some changed the game to Ten More, Ten Fewer. It is fascinating to watch how they approach this task and to follow the different thought processes. To adults the concepts of one more or one fewer can seem quite simple, but to students just learning about numbers, even those who count adeptly, there is a lot of heavy thinking involved.

We had a fabulous ski today. I was a bit nervous about the logistics of this, but everyone did a fantastic job. I was particularly pleased with the independence and enthusiasm shown by everyone.

Today we finished upper case letters up to W. We will hopefully get in X, Y, and Z this week as well.

Today students started illustrating their retellings of The Mitten. We also played a game called One More, One Fewer, which provides further practice with the symbols and concepts of addition and subtraction. Some students had or will have the opportunity to play this by adding and subtracting ten. Two groups began planning their skits for our friendship video projects. The other two groups will work on this tomorrow. The class learned a new song in library that seemed to be in everyone's heads upon their return, so we sang it again when they came back! Perhaps your child can sing it with you too . The chorus begins, "I jumped aboard a sailing ship and the captain said to me..." We read the book Horton Hears A Who by Dr. Seuss in anticipation of next week's Flynn field trip.

Thursday's menu has been changed to pizza.

Please remember we will be going to the Flynn Theater in Burlington next Tuesday, January 25th. We will leave around 8:30 and should be back in time for lunch.

Yesterday as part of our five senses study we explored the sense of touch. Students worked their way around the room feeling eight every day objects inside bags, using their sense of touch to identify these. We then discussed ways in which our sense of touch helps us and instances when it is particularly important, such as sensing heat. Today we did an experiment that involved an illusion of touch. One bucket was filled with icy cold water, one with hot water, and one with room temperature water. Students put one hand in the ice water and one in the hot water for about a minute. Then they submerged both hands in the room temperature water. Ask them to tell you what they experienced.

Over the last few weeks we have read multiple versions of the Ukrainian folktale The Mitten. Today we did our own retelling, which the students will use to make their own Mitten books.

All students should meet their classes in the gym at 6:25 p.m. this evening. Our concert will begin at 6:30. See you then!