Friday, March 30, 2018

Chain reaction machines

Fourth graders built chain reaction contraptions in their classroom and were eager to continue the experience in library.  They came up with some pretty amazing designs and were able to redesign them as necessary to make the "chain reaction" part work.  




Sunday, March 25, 2018

Battle of the Books winners!

The Battle of the Books took a little longer than expect, but we made it to the end and celebrated!

The fourth grader winner were able to defend their book, The Land of Forgotten Girls, by Erin Entrada Kelly to the end, convincing their peers that their book is best.

The Land of Forgotten Girls
4th grade winning book

Fifth was a cliff-hanger for a few extra weeks, but the winners put together a cute (spoiler alert worthy) news report to help their book win the battle.  Congrats to When Friendship Followed Me Home, by Paul Griffin.  

When Friendship Followed Me Home
5th grade winning book
  

Each team got to invite friends and we all celebrated with a pizza and brownie lunch.  Crazy kids! :)

4th and 5th grade Battle of the Books winners, plus their invited guests.

Next week all the 4th and 5th grades will be taking a Battle of the Books survey.  I can't wait to see what they have to say.  

We will also be voting for the Dorothy Canfield Fisher book awards next week.  All of the books in the Battle of the Books this year are on the Dorothy Canfield Fisher book award list.  

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Vermont Institute of Natural Science

The Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) has an excellent educational program and does a lot in schools, including DBS.  Today Anna from VINS came to DBS with a few of her feathered friends.  I had 1st grade at the time so I got to go too! :)

The kids loved seeing the birds, especially the one that pooped on the floor.  Can't beat that for an assembly!  After she put the birds away the kids got to come up and touch the feathers, wings, and feet.  A little cringe-worthy, in my opinion, but the kids loved it!


Anna and her owl
Bird feet are fascinating
This is pretty much how I felt about the feet getting passed around!  :)


Wings galore!
Bird wings and feet.  The kids were amazed that they are real.

The kids had a great time!

Friday, March 9, 2018

Shelter

Book cover - Shelter, by Celine Claire
Shelter, by Celine Claire
I read this sweet book to preschool today.  A big storm is approaching and all of the animals are seeking shelter, but when two strangers come along the other animals are unwilling to share their shelter and supplies.  Amazon describes the book as a "heartwarming picture book story [that] delivers a timeless and timely message about the importance of kindness and generosity. With simple and evocative language, it explores how even small gestures can make a big difference to the strangers or outsiders in a community. "

I was surprised and intrigued by the preschoolers comments and reactions.  The noticed immediately that the strangers are polar bears, and were not at all surprised that the other animals wouldn't let them in.  "Polar bears are PREDATORS!" called out one child.  When the snow started falling hard and fast, the kids weren't worried because, "Polar bears live in the snow. They are happy there."  They saw nothing wrong with the other animals not sharing their shelters.  By the end, when the Fox family needs help (spoiler alert!) and the kids all agreed that of course the polar bears would help them, because "Polar Bears are nice!"

While I looked at this book as a statement on refugees, politics, and global peace, they saw a simple polar bear who may or may not eat the prey, but is perfectly happy living in the snow anyway. 

The preschool teacher told me that later in the day when they were outside for recess, the children dug deep "shelters" in the snowbanks.  <3