Words as Art

If you'd like to explore a new way to illustrate the beauty in words, then you might like to make a Wordle!  Wordle is a program that creates "word clouds" from text.  It's free, easy to use, and accessible at www.wordle.net. 

To create a Wordle, simply choose a set of words to import, and then select an arrangement, font, and color combination you like the best.  If a word is repeated within your imported set, it will appear larger in the resulting word cloud, so it's fun to experiment with different combinations.  I'm finding that Wordles have endless applications, especially in the classroom.

You can import any set of words into Wordle: a favorite poem, a speech, a story.  Here is a Wordle of the U.S. Constitution:

In September, I asked fourth and fifth grade students in room 15 to complete a questionnaire (inquiring about themselves, their hobbies, favorite books, etc.,) then entered their responses into the Wordle program.  I think you'll agree that the results appear as varied and distinctive as the students themselves.

It was a great "get to know each other" activity, and the students had fun reading each others' Wordles when we put them on display in the classroom.

The activity had a slightly different purpose last year in Kindergarten, when I created individual Wordles as a farewell gift for the students at the end of the school year.





For the Kindergarteners, in addition to their questionnaire responses, I included words and phrases that they had used during the year in class. The result was a personalized Whole Language resource of meaningful words that they could practice reading over the summer. 

To see other Wordles, and to make one yourself, go to www.wordle.net.  You can print or save your creations, or choose to share them online in the Wordle gallery.

Try it out, and let me know what you think!

With Appreciation...

This week, the students in Room 15 participated in the Holiday Mail For Heroes program by writing letters and crafting greeting cards for active and injured members of the U.S. military, veterans, and their families.  

This seemed like an appropriate way to acknowledge Veterans Day, share gratitude in advance of the Thanksgiving holiday, explore the "Making A Difference" theme of our new Language Arts unit, and refresh student letter writing and design skills.

If you'd like to take part in the Holiday Mail for Heroes program, check the above link for guidelines, and plan to mail your cards and letters no later than December 9.

Be well!

sick  (adj.) /'sik/  

1.   affected with disease or ill health : ailing

2.   of, relating to, or intended for use in sickness <sick pay> <a sick ward> 

Take it from someone who spent last week in bed with the flu, getting sick is an experience to avoid! To limit the spread of germs (at home and in the classroom):

• wash your hands frequently with soap
• sneeze and cough into a tissue or elbow
• avoid touching your mouth, nose, and eyes

But don't just take it from me; listen to the experts who are more persuasive and cuter than I:

 (If you have trouble playing it, try this link instead: kidsknowhowtopreventflu.)

Still not convinced?  Here's a gross-out video showing the consequences of NOT sneezing into your elbow or a tissue.  

 (Here's the link in case you have trouble viewing: slowmotionsneezing.)

Finally, if you DO get a cold or flu, stay home from school or work, drink fluids, get rest, and take my esteemed colleague Bazzie's advice: GET A NEW TOOTHBRUSH!

For more on the flu, symptoms, treatment and prevention, refer to the Center For Disease Control website at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/index.htm.

And stay well, people!

Ecosystems, Organisms, & The Food Chain

Fourth grade students in Rooms 9 and 15 are researching different organisms in the Monterey Bay ecosystem. 

Working in pairs, we are constructing models in the Studio Lab, and each student will complete a nine-part, written report on his/her organism that is due on November 18.

 In their reports, students will create a diagram of their organism's food chain, label all the producers, consumers and decomposers, and track the path of energy as it passes through the chain.  They will describe their organism's size, appearance, diet, and predators, as well as other details including its conservation status, factors affecting its future population, and scientific name.

 

Of course, students will also include a complete bibliography as well, citing at least three print, web, or interview sources.

For those of you interested in brushing up on food webs, endangered species, and identifying herbivores, carnivores and omnivores, check out the free online resources for kids that Ms. Laichtman found from Sheppard Software, at http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/kidscorner3.htm.

Online Math and Spelling Games

There are many free online websites where students can practice their skills in a game format.  We've utilized a few of these during Computer Lab in room 15, but I encourage you to take advantage of them at home as well.  

Multiplication.com is a fun place to practice multiplication facts.  Students can choose to focus on one factor at a time, or mix it up with multiple factors in a game of their choice. 

     

Practicing multiplication facts every day helps students know those factors immediately, making complicated operations and word problems infinitely easier.

Spellingcity.com enables students to play spelling games and do practice tests using the words we're working with in class.  Each week, I'll load in our 4th and 5th grade words, so that we can use this fun resource in class and at home.  (HangMouse is my favorite!)  To find the Walgrove list, just click on "Find a List" and either search by school and zip code (Walgrove, 90066) or by my name (Laurie Hansen).



Try them all out, and let me know which one you like the best.