Late January Update from F3

A narrow street in Colonial Boston. Still there today!

First off, make sure you've read Ms. V's letter to parents asking for supplies.

Second, you should know that the kids right now are deeply engrossed in learning about the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 1760s and 1770s. Tomorrow F3 will take part in a special assembly just for fifth grade at Maple about the involvement of African and African Americans in the American Revolution. This multi-media presentation will take place at 2:20 tomorrow, 2/1.
Students are also learning all about erosion and deposition in science. Please show your child or talk to your child about any landslides or mudslides you have heard about lately.

As always, make sure your students are getting their daily Xtra Math practice. Eight students have completed Xtra Math!!! Hats off to: Venus, Jaden, Yu Yang, Michael, Vincent, Jennifer, Junjie, and Jessica!

A Tremendous Start to 2010


Moving up with Xtra Math!

January has stared out so well for us in F3! Back in December, we had started using Xtra Math, and now we have had three students complete all four operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. I truly believe that the students will be much successful in middle school once they can prove mastery of the basic math facts.

What else is new, teacher candidate Jeff Calaski is now full time in F3. Mr. Calaski will be at Maple everyday from now through to the start of April. He is very enthusiastic, and is looking forward to the next few months with all of the students. Mr. C, as the kids call him, is very much looking forward to leading the students through their learning of Colonial Boston, our next Social Studies unit. He started out as a volunteer in F3 two years ago and is now getting his teaching degree at Seattle University.

Step 1.
Make a new T-chart on a new page in your science journal. Label one side "Sunrise" and the other side "Sunset".

Step 2.
Use the almanac again to find the sunrise, sunset, and day length times for each of the following dates: June 21 and December 21.

This time look up each date for the following places:
Fairbanks, AK
Boston, MA
Miami, FL

Record the sunrise, sunset, and day length times for each date on your T-chart.

Step 3.
Learn about the path of the sun as it travels across Earth's sky.

Step 4.
Click the start button to watch the video animation of the sun.

Draw the path of the winter sun in your science journal.

Next, draw the path of the summer sun.

What happens to your shadow when you stand facing the winter sun? How about the summer sun? Write your reasponse in your journal.



Angle of the Sun

The Astronomy Scavenger Hunt for the Week of January 3, 2010!


Step 1.

Make a T-chart on a new page in your science journal. Label one side "Sunrise" and the other side "Sunset".


Step 2.

Use the almanac to find the sunrise and sunset times for each of the following dates in Seattle, WA: March 21, June 21, September 21, and December 21.


Step 3.

Record the sunrise and sunset times for each date on your T-chart.


Step 4.

What do you notice about the times? Write your observations on the same page.