Wow, time is flying! 

    It’s hard to believe we’ve passed the 100^th day of school.  The library has been especially busy with all types of lessons and research projects.

     5^th grade has been researching three countries of the Western Hemisphere. Classes have divided into groups studying Brazil, Canada and Cuba.  Each country is broken into departments exploring aspects of each country including government, culture, geography, economy and history. The departments are collaborating and using Google Slides to create presentations to teach everyone in the class about each country.  It has taken quite a bit of time, but we’re all learning a lot and having great fun.

5th graders working with Google Slides

     4^th graders are researching different inventors to find out what they invented and how their ideas changed the world. Some of the inventors are very famous but some are a little more challenging (How about Garrett Morgan, inventor of the traffic light and Ruth Wakefield, creator of chocolate chips and the Toll House cookie?) When the research is done, the 4^th graders are writing paragraphs about their subjects and spending some time practicing their keyboarding skills by typing their final copies.

4th graders writing about inventors

     3^rd graders are just finishing a lengthy unit about Folktales, Fables and Myths.  They have learned how to tell these oral tradition stories apart by listening for clues within the stories. Ask them to give you an example…

     2^nd graders are bolstering their classroom study of Westward Expansion by reviewing some unbelievable Tall Tales.  They are becoming experts in exaggeration…so take what they say with a grain of salt!

     1^st grade and Kindergarten have been having such a good time learning about and reviewing fabulous Caldecott award winning books. The Caldecott is given annually for the best illustrations in a children’s book.  Next week, the students do just what the “grownup” Caldecott committees do and hold a vote for their favorite picture books. Don’t forget to ask them which book wins for their class.

     Oh yeah, and the 4^th and 5^th grade book clubs are going great!!!

Wyatt tells 4th grade book club what he's reading

A few announcements about upcoming awesomeness:

     We will be hosting two Open Library Nights in March. On Tuesday, the 15^th and Tuesday, the 29^th, the library will be open from 6:30-7:30. Come on in and browse the library with your child. You can check out books separate from your child’s regular library total.

      Also, our fabulous PTA is bringing us another author visit! This year, Alyssa Satin Capucilli, author of the easy-reader “Biscuit” series and other wonderful books will be at Stonehedge on Friday, April 1^st. PTA will be taking book orders for those interested.

     I apologize for the length of this installment…that’s what happens when there are so many great things happening in the library.

Don’t forget…you can follow the library on Twitter. http://twitter.com/HedgieHighjinx

Until next time…don’t forget to “Read4Fun”

Mrs. Abbott