Mrs. Covington

Week of Feb. 20-24

2012-02-26T16:27:55-05:00

Special Annoucement: Next week, we will celebrate Dr. Seuss's Birthday in Target class. Please bring your favorite book from home and a towel so we can celebrate reading! Also, dress up as your favorite book character.

First Grade Thinkers,

We had a time this week working on our convergent thinking with Dudley the Detective. Dudley taught us how to draw a grid to help solve problems. We call these kind of puzzles logic elimination puzzles or logic puzzles.

Did you have fun using Play Dough to brainstorm? We used the opposite of convergent thinking, DIVERGENT THINKING, to come up with many, varied, and unusual ideas! Dr. FEFO reminds how to think divergently. He tells us to think of fluency (many ideas), ellaboration (expand and tell more), flexibility (able to think in many directions), and originality (unique ideas).

HOMEWORK: Party Tales logic puzzle

WEEKLY QUESTION: Let's practice brainstorming! Make a list of things that you could put on a sandwich or use to make a sandwich! Have fun! Remember, don't stop brainstorming, keep thinking of more and more ideas.

OPTIONAL!! Some of you really enjoyed our Hink Pink riddles that we did in class last week. If you'd like to practice more, here is a link to download your own. Have fun tickling your brain!

Hink Pinks

After you finish this activity, try writing your own! Bring it to class and share next week with your classmates.

Week of Feb. 20-24

2012-02-23T13:56:27-05:00

2nd and 3rd Grade Archaeologists,

Third grade, I missed you this week! I look forward to our class together on Monday. Please be sure you bring your Weekly Question from last week and your Target Tally signed.

Second grade, we had a fabulous day together learning more about ancient Egypt! WOW! You all impressed me with your note-taking skills. We read, high-lighted, and wrote down some interesting facts about the Eyptians on our timeline. Did you have fun learning some new Latin root words? We will record new words next week!

HOMEWORK: "Where's Our Mummy?" logic puzzle

WEEKLY QUESTION: Read the information below about the Nile River. Then, answer the question below.

The Nile is the world's longest river. It is over 4000 miles long! It is shaped like the lotus flower so often seen in ancient Egyptian art. Each spring, water would run off the mountains and the Nile would flood. As the flood waters receded, black rich fertile soil was left behind. The ancient Egyptian called this rich soil The Gift of the Nile.

Fertile soil for crops was not the Nile's only gift. The Nile gave the ancient Egyptians many gifts. Thanks to the Nile, these ancient people had fresh water for drinking and bathing. The Nile supported transportation and trade. It provided materials for building, for making cloth for clothes, and even for making paper - made from the wild papyrus weed, that grew along the shores of the Nile.

Because of the annual flooding of the Nile, the ancient Egyptians enjoyed a high standard of living compared to other ancient civilizations. Without the Nile, Egypt would be a desert.

For your weekly question, write down why the Nile River was important to the ancient Eyptian civilization.

Check out the website that we will be using each week to create our ancient timelines!

Ancient Civilization Timelines- Excellent Resource!

Pictures from our timeline research today!

Week of Feb. 20-24

2012-02-22T15:15:49-05:00

Fourth and Fifth Grade ICHTHYOLOGISTS,

Did you enjoy our guest speaker today, Mr. Slade? I know I learned a lot of new things! Mr. Slade walked us through the classification of sharks, unique characteristics, anatomy, reproduction, history, and even a look at current events with sharks in the news. We look forward to his visit later this spring when he returns to talk with us about shark conservation. Thank you, Mr. Slade!! (Katie Rose and Westby's father)

This week, everyone took the internal shark anatomy quiz. You will receive your scores next week. Remember, you must make a 100% on both the external and internal anatomy quiz to dissect this spring. If you did not make a 100% on the external quiz, you will retake it next week in class. Study the location of each part and its function!

Next week, we will go over our Shark Scavenger Hunt sheet. If you have any "extra" time this week, you may want to search for some more answers that you did not have time to research last week.

HOMEWORK: If you need to retake the external anatomy quiz, study your notes and diagram. If you feel that you were not prepared this week for the internal anatomy quiz, study your vocabulary and diagram.

4th Grade Bonus (Optional)Homework: Math Challenge page called "Play By Number"

WEEKLY QUESTION: On a separate piece of notebook paper, write (or type), a friendly thank-you letter to Mr. Slade for coming to speak to our class this week. Be sure to include at least 3 facts or 3 new things that you learned from him. Also, think of a question or topic that you'd like him to teach us more about relating to sharks. Write NEATLY!!!

*** Next week, we will talk more about our unit projects and GBR assignments due at the end of the 4th nine weeks!

Week of Feb. 13-17

2012-02-17T15:02:51-05:00

Dear First Grade Detectives,

I missed seeing you this week, but I know you enjoyed learning from Mrs. Volk. Did you make your new detective badges to wear while we do our convergent thinking? Were you able to figure out the mystery creatures by listening to the clues that you heard from the story?

This week we not only practiced our convergent thinking skills, but we learned how we are smart in many ways. By learning about Multiple Intelligences, we are able to recognize our learning strengths and weaknesses. This year in first grade Target, we will refer to our strengths and also work on improving our weaknesses with new activities.

WEEKLY QUESTION: How is thinking like a detective like our convergent thinking practice at school? What types of activities use convergent thinking?

(If you need help, look back in your Target binder and read over Dudley the Detective sheet.)

Enjoy your long, holiday weekend!

Week of Feb. 13-17

2012-02-16T16:24:48-05:00

Dear 2nd Grade Archaeologists,

Did you enjoy going on your Archaeological Scavenger Hunt in the media center? You impressed me with your technology skills, and I am proud of the hard work you showed. Next week, we will check our answers together.

This week we started learning about our first ancient civilization, Mesopotamia and the Babylonian Empire. After reading an overview, we created a map book with interesting facts about Mesopotamia. Also, we learned about the first recorded written language, cunneiform. Fascinating! Next week, will learn about the ancient civilization of Egypt.

Check out the website below, you will learn a lot of interesting things about Mesopotamia!

Ancient Mesopotomia

HOMEWORK: Hidato puzzle

WEEKLY QUESTION: (Write your answer in your journal.) We know a great deal about the ancient Sumerian civilization from the written records they left behind in stone and clay. Talk with your parents. How does your family record memories of special events in your family? How do you pass down information from generation to generation?

Week of Feb. 13-17

2012-02-16T16:17:15-05:00

Dear 5th Grade Ichthyologists,

This week we reviewed the external anatomy of a shark and began studying the internal anatomy. Many of you were not prepared for class today with completed homework assignments. We talked about how important it is to study each week and keep up with assignments. In order to participate in the shark dissection this spring, you will need to get 100% on your anatomy shark quizzes. Please make time outside of class to review your notes, diagrams, and vocabulary words to be prepared.

Next week, you will have a quiz on the internal anatomy of a shark. Study the parts of a shark and the functions. If you need help, look back at the websites that we used in class to complete the scavenger hunt. Also, review the Power Point we discussed in class.

Download Are you Shark Smart

HOMEWORK: Study the internal anatomy of a shark. Know the location and the function of each part! Please be prepared for class next week.

WEEKLY QUESTION: What is a mermaid's purse? Sketch a picture and describe its function.

***BONUS: Complete the shark quiz.

Thinkquest online shark quiz!

Check out some more shark activities:

Shark Activities

Week of Feb. 13-17

2012-02-15T11:16:32-05:00

Dear 4th Grade Ichthyologists,

This week we reviewed the external anatomy of a shark and began studying the internal anatomy. I was very disappointed that many of you were not prepared for class today with completed homework assignments. We talked about how important it is to study each week and keep up with assignments. In order to participate in the shark dissection this spring, you will need to get 100% on your anatomy shark quizzes. Please make time outside of class to review your notes, diagrams, and vocabulary words to be prepared.

Next week, you will have a quiz on the internal anatomy of a shark. Please study the parts of a shark and the functions. If you need help, look back at the websites that we used in class to complete the scavenger hunt.

HOMEWORK: Study the internal anatomy of a shark. Know the location and the function of each part! Please be prepared for class next week. If you need help, come talk to Mrs. Covington.

Download Are you Shark Smart

WEEKLY QUESTION: What is a mermaid's purse? Sketch a picture and describe its function.

Mermaid's Purse

Week of Feb. 13- 17

2012-02-15T10:32:25-05:00

Dear 3rd Grade Archaeologists,

Did you have fun with our story called "Deeper is Older"? I know you enjoyed burying your "artifacts" and learning more about stratigraphy. We have been learning about artifacts and how archaelogists can learn about the age of them by studying strata.

Check out the website below, you will learn a lot of interesting things about Mesopotamia!

Ancient Mesoptomia

HOMEWORK: Artifact Find Worksheet- Look for 6 artifacts around your house. Illustrate and write about its use.

I will miss seeing you on Monday! Enjoy your long holiday weekend. Make time complete your homework and read a good book!

4th and 5th Grade Shark Scavenger Hunt

2012-02-14T08:27:48-05:00

(Scroll down to the next message to find the Weekly Question.)

This week, we will be using the laptops to go on a Shark Scavenger Hunt. Use the document below to help you locate the answers. Good luck!

Download Web Resources for Shark Scavenger Hunt

Mutualism

Pilot Fish

Shark Facts

Lateral Line and Anatomy

Barbels and Shark Senses

Viviparous/Oviparous

Megalodon

Rays and Sharks

New Target Parent Orientation

2012-02-10T15:00:25-05:00

Target Parents,

Thank you to everyone who attended the orientation this morning to learn more about the Target program. If your child is new to Target, and you were unable to attend, please take some time to read over the Power Point that is attached at the end of this paragraph. If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me at sarah.covington@cobbk12.org

Download Open House PP- Mid-Year for New Parents

Also, thank you to everyone who has sent in supplies on my "Wish List." I appreciate all of your support!

This semester, the students will be making foldables in class that contain information learned about a specific topic of study. In order to create the (foldables) portfolios, I've purchased light colored paper and cardstock. However, we go through the paper quickly, and I am running low. If anyone would like to donate light colored paper or cardstock, I would greatly appreciate it. The students enjoy making miniture books with maps, diagrams, illustrations, and notes to remember what they are studying in class.

NEEDED! Anyone interested in helping Mrs. Covington copy, laminate, or assemble foldable books for the Target students? Please send Mrs. Covington an e-mail if you'd like to be contacted to be a "Target Mom Helper."

Again, thank you for your ongoing support. It is going to be a great semester of learning!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Sarah Covington