Shapes, Storytellers, Snow, Silt, and Spring!

S was the letter of the week! 

Snow kept us out of the classroom on Tuesday, but we didn't miss a beat when we gathered again on Wednesday!

We continued to study shapes this week, and have started a 3D shape museum in our classroom!

Students learned about symmetry and even made their own creative and unique symmetrical shapes.

In science, we've left balance and motion behind and have returned to our study of pebbles, sand, and silt.  This week, students experimented with unwashed sand and water in their vials.  This experiment stretched over 3 days as students observed the changes in their vials each day.  On day 2, students noticed a new layer in their vials: SILT! 

Even with fresh snow on the ground, we ushered in spring by creating a mural.  Check it out in the hallway!

A big highlight of the week was getting to meet and talk with Matt Tavares, a great children's author and illustrator from Maine.  Students have been reading his books in library over the past month and were very excited to meet the man behind great stories like Becoming Babe Ruth and Helen's Big World.  Check out Matt's website HERE.

During his presentation, Matt shared his editing process with us.  When he asked the crowd "What is publishing?', the answer he got was: "Publishing is laminating your book cover and stapling it all together!" Perspective is everything!

He also showed us the process he goes through when creating an illustration.  He even did an impromptu sketch of one of the students!  We were all thoroughly impressed and inspired!

Back in the classroom there was a collective cheer during writers' workshop when it was announced that students could choose any genre to write in for the next couple of weeks!  Some went back to realistic fiction, how-to's, and persuasive writing, but most couldn't wait to get the paper of their choice and start writing fantastic fiction stories complete with super heroes, aliens, and talking animals!  These authors are overflowing with creative story ideas!