December 2015 “Specials” Newsletter December is a very busy, engaging and exciting month for the specialists! December 1​
­Winter Band and Chorus Night Performance December 14​
­ Winter Band and Chorus School Day Performance December 23​
­Winter Wonderland for all BMES students where they spend 45 minutes rotating through various winter simulated/themed art, music and PE stations Physical Education Pre­K: ​
Students will identify and locate the heart and understand how it changes speed with various physical activities; learn how to throw and catch at different levels; move safely in relation to other students in the class; explore movement skills by changing shapes with the body; improve performance by responding appropriately to visual and verbal cues. Kindergarten:​
Students will demonstrate proficiency in fundamental movement skills when moving in relation to objects and people. Additionally, students demonstrate proficiency in throwing and catching self­thrown objects (scarves, balloons, balls). Lastly, students work effectively with other others in physical activity settings, build and maintain relationships which develop a sense of community and a peaceful, healthy environment for all. First Grade: Students will integrate movement skills and concepts to demonstrate fundamental movement skills (bend, pull, stretch, twist, turn, push, swing, lift) and proficiency in skill themes to catch a bounced or underhand thrown object. Second Grade: Students will establish and modify physical activity goals while monitoring progress towards achievement. Students will recognize the importance of positive feedback and that skills will develop with practice over time. Third Grade:​
Students will refine skills needed in striking with body parts. Fourth Grade: ​
Students will refine skills needed in striking with body parts. Fifth Grade: ​
Students will refine skills needed in striking with body parts. Mrs. Rogers (J​
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) Mr. O’Reilly (​
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) Media Pre­K​
: Students will continue their Eric Carle author study. They are listening to and reading a variety of Eric Carle books. After reading each book the students will complete a creative activity. Kindergarten: Students will continue to learn about and listen to books on plants and their life cycles. First Grade: Students will continue to focus on their community and learn how people live, work, and play. They also will compare the people in their community to other people around the United States and the world. Second Grade: Students will use their knowledge of traditional stories to create their own stories online. Third Grade: Students will continue to learn about an inquiry process to locate information, facts, data, and ideas for writing. Students will learn about different technologies and discuss how they have changed or improved over time to meet people’s wants and needs. Fourth Grade​
: Students will learn how to use an inquiry process to locate information and ideas. The students have determined what type of businesses already exist in their community and what businesses are necessary. They will now propose a specialized business for their community and create a plan for this business. Fifth Grade: Students will continue to answer the inquiry project driving question: How have conflicts and compromises among people in the United States prompted change in the government? They will explore a variety of resources and will select to research one of the following movements in United States history: Women's Movement, Labor Movement, Civil Rights Movement, Health and Safety Movement. Mrs. Savoy (​
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) Art Pre­K: Students will explore new art media with a focus on color line and shape. Students will ​
Identify art elements in depictions of animals and use color, line, and shape to visually communicate an observed animal form Kindergarten: Students explore pattern, a basic principle of design, in artworks and the environment and use pattern in their artwork. Students have opportunities to practice using appropriate vocabulary to describe how objects are organized in artworks. They express ideas by organizing the placement of objects in a composition. First Grade: ​
Students combine basic shapes to make images and experiment with their choice of materials. Students develop and apply criteria to evaluate art and participate in the critique process to develop personal responses to artwork. Second Grade​
: Students analyze the influences of material choice in artworks and explore how the use of pattern is incorporated in those artworks. Students organize texture, line, and pattern to create artworks in response to what they see, know, and feel. Third Grade: Students take a closer look at how artists represent their feelings in artwork as well as expressing feelings in the creation of their own artwork. Students evaluate artwork by developing criteria for judging and applying the criteria in a response to the artwork. Fourth Grade: Students express personal meaning through point of view and mood. They will establish and use criteria for judging artwork. Students experiment with visual arts processes to achieve specific effects. Fifth Grade: ​
Students take a closer look at how artists from different times and places express ideas and feelings about human experience. In addition, students will compare processes used in the visual arts and other disciplines to express ideas. Also, students will establish and apply criteria to evaluate artwork. Mr. Varno (​
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) Ms. Arias (​
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) Music December brings more holiday fun. With emphasis on music concepts several traditional holiday songs will be reviewed along with appropriate folk and classical music to reinforce learning. Pre­K: ​
will continue musical contrasts­fast/slow, high/low and loud/soft, 4 vocals sounds (sing, speak, whisper, call), locomotor/non­locomotor movement and body/instrumental percussion sounds. The song themes will include community. Kindergarten: ​
will continue with more steady beat practice, vocal singing development and use of instruments. Moving and playing instruments will solidify the kindergarteners intrinsic understanding of steady beat while singing games will support their singing development. Besides using instruments, students will be asked to identify classroom instruments by sound only. First Grade: ​
will finish experiencing fast/slow, high/low and loud/soft through singing songs and play instruments. Echo clapping and exercises in listening for beat and divided beats is the leading to rhythm reading by January Second Grade: attended the annual National Philharmonic Concert at the Music Center at Strathmore. They heard about orchestral instruments and sang a special song with the orchestra. They will go on to playing half notes and bourdons (repeated patterns). Third Grade: students have received their recorders, mostly. They will continue singing to encourage vocal development and play recorder to develop their music reading skill. However, playing by ear to earn the Recorder Karate belts is allowed. In that case, technique and accurate performance is most important. Fourth and Fifth Grades​
: students in chorus will perform twice this month. Look out for the attire and performance information. Audience behavior is the emphasis for the 3 weeks prior to winter break. Dr. Lively (​
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) Mr. Goba (​
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) Instrumental Music Our Advanced Band and Advanced Strings just performed an amazing concert this past Tuesday evening and deserve special recognition for all of their hard work this year. We are looking forward to our Spring concert where the beginning band and string students will jump into the mix. Remember that all students should be practicing at least 150 minutes per week or more (30 mi. a day for 5 days a week) and parents should sign their child’s practice chart after each week has been totaled up. Remember also to praise small improvements and help remind your child to bring their instrument on their lesson day (Monday or Tuesday)! Mr. Goba (​
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)