January 2016 “Specials” Newsletter Physical Education Pre­K: ​
Students will explore the components of the Frequency, Intensity, Type and Time (FITT principle) using physical activity. Kindergarten: Students will practice moving in relation to one’s body parts, objects, and people. In addition, students identify and demonstrate the effects of physical activity on the body system (heart). In addition, students recognize the relationship between nutrition and physical activity. 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 explore and distinguish between the components of fitness (muscular strength, cardiorespiratory endurance, and flexibility). In addition, students identify activities that improve muscular strength, cardiorespiratory endurance, and flexibility. Second Grade: Students will identify and demonstrate the effects of physical activity on the body systems. In addition, students will explore and distinguish between components of fitness by participating in muscular strength, cardiorespiratory, and flexibility activities. Sample learning tasks provide opportunities for students to recognize the importance of self­evaluation in the improvement of skills. Third Grade:​
.Students will recognize specific cues to perform skills of line dancing. Fourth Grade: ​
Students will recognize specific cues to perform skills of line dancing. Fifth Grade: ​
Students will recognize specific cues to perform skills of line dancing. Mrs. Rogers (J​
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) Mr. O’Reilly (​
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) Media Pre­K​
: Students are finishing up their Eric Carle author study. Next marking period we will begin a new author study. Kindergarten: Students will begin their unit on mealworms and their lifecycles. 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 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 create an online brochure about the changes and improvements in transportation over time in Egypt. 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 finalize a specialized business for their community by writing an official business plan. 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. Upon completion of their research the students will create a presentation about all of the movements. 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 the environment and use color, line, and shape to create winter scenes. Kindergarten: ​
Students recognize that artists use their imagination to be creative and solve problems. They learn that asking questions leads to new ideas and new ways to express oneself. The fundamental learning will enable students to create artworks that represent observed forms and explore the use of shapes and forms to express ideas. First Grade: ​
Students will identify ways that artists represent what they see, know, feel, and imagine and have opportunities to create sketches to develop ideas. Students explore qualities of color and space to organize personally meaningful compositions. Second Grade​
: Students will use line and pattern in the representation of observed textural qualities. Third Grade: Students analyze and experiment with composition, including balance and emphasis.They will study textile art from other cultures as inspiration for their own textile design. Fourth Grade: Students analyze an artist’s expression of personal meaning and techniques for creating artwork. This provides students with opportunities to develop solutions to visual problems in new ways. Students analyze how artists communicate ideas and depict texture and movement in artwork. They will apply and evaluate strategies to communicate ideas in their own artwork. Fifth Grade: Students analyze how artists express personal stories and feelings in artwork. This provides students the opportunity to apply selected techniques to convey meaning in their artwork. Mr. Varno (​
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) Ms. Arias (​
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) Music Pre­K​
­Students will continue the Community Theme in music class through a variety of activities. They will end the semester reciting nursery rhymes, developing fine motor skill through finger plays. Kindergarten​
­Students will be introduced to songs with slightly wider ranges to encourage more vocal development while having fun making animal sounds. Additionally, Kindergarteners will have fun while learning as they follow the directions and verbal cues of singing games. First Grade​
­Students will be focusing on rhythm in these last 3 weeks of the semester. They will practice playing, moving to and creating simple rhythms. Second Grade​
­Students will begin to more music reading and asked to perform short pieces on instruments. There will develop performance criteria to learn how reflect on their progress. Folksongs with dances will help introduce students to new cultures. Third Grade​
­ Students will continue their Recorder Karate program. A few white belts have already been awarded. I look forward to the many other belts to be given out. It only take 10­15 minutes of practices a day. Fourth Grade​
­Students will be focused on Music reading and sight­reading with solfege (do, re, mi etc…) and notation of the whole note, whole rest. Though listening and playing instruments, students will compare music and other art forms. ​
Fifth Grade​
­Students will be practicing vocal technique and singing in harmony in both general music and chorus. Ear training in harmony will come through singing rounds and partner songs. Dr. Lively (​
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) Mr. Goba (​
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