Hi Strawberries,

Jed and I just want to clarify (and elaborate) our upcoming special events.

1. Headlands Institute (Thursday-Friday, June 9-10)

• You probably already know a lot about this trip. If you still have questions, please visit this site: http://www.naturebridge.org/headlands/parents
• Everyone needs a packed lunch on the first day!!! That's tomorrow!!!
• We leave tomorrow at 8:45 and we'll return Friday at 3:45.

2. Oakland Zoo (Tuesday, June 14)

• We're leaving the school at 9:30. We'll be back sometime before the end of the day.
• Everyone needs a packed lunch!!!
• Please sign and return a permission slip by Monday, June 13.

3. Kite Day (Thursday, June 16)

• Yep, it has changed from Wednesday to Thursday. (We thought we'd benefit from a day to recover from the Zoo and Cerrito was okay with the change. All 4th and 5th graders are going.)
• Everyone needs a packed lunch!!!
• We are walking to the Berkeley Marina, so we do not need permission slips or chaperones.

Thanks. If anyone has any questions please let us know.

Amy

We're Goin' to the Zoo!

Yay! To finish up our animal research projects, we're going to the Oakland Zoo June 14th! Please fill out and return a permission slip for your child. In the following link, you will find the permission slip and information for chaperones.

Permission Slip

Homework for Today

• 4th grade math (this week there are 2 math groups; the students know which group they are in) lions packet tigers packet

• 5th grade math
• Read for 30 minutes
• Continue animal research (if you need to)
• Make sure you've handed in your Headlands forms!!!!!!!!

Headlands Forms and Tonight's Homework

Hi Strawberries,

We have some important information regarding our trip to the Marin Headlands! Please read and fill out the following forms.

1. Headlands Institute Emergency Form
2. Parent Letter and Student Contract
3. Required Packing List

The emergency form and student contracts are both due no later than next Wednesday, June 1st.

Homework for tonight is to:

1. Continue looking for sources/taking notes for research report
2. math
3. reading for 30 minutes (research report reading counts)
4. fill out/bring forms to school

Also, by the way, the Poetry Slam was a fun time. Does anyone have any pictures that we could share on the blog?

Tomorrow’s Poetry Slam will be at 1:00 in case parents would like to attend. It will be about 10 minutes, and each student will choose and read their favorite poem in front of the class.

Homework for tonight is to continue working on research/note taking
Math
Reading for thirty minutes

Animal Reports and Homework

Yesterday students began the first steps of their research report about an animal of the west. Students created six essential questions and corresponding envelopes to hold note cards. Students were excited to choose their animals--please ask your child which one they're studying.

Students are focusing on human’s interaction with their animal over time. For example, how did the animal population/habitat change after westward expansion? How does its population/well being of the animal bode for the future. What (if any) adaptations have the animals made to deal with change? These questions are reflected in student's essential questions they created today.

Amy and I will send you more specifics as far as due dates, but we just wanted to get the students started on their research. Please help your child research their animal this week--we do not have spelling in order to give more time. At home you can help your child by finding information online or even take a trip to a local library. Videos and current events articles are useful, too. Although students will be doing most of the note taking at school, helping them find information to bring to school will be helpful.

Homework for tonight is:

4th grade alligator packet

4th grade cougar packet

4th grade bobcat packet

5th grade math

finding information about animal
reading for thirty minutes (some of this maybe reading about animal)

Have a good night!

Jed

Calculators for 5th Graders Thursday

• This is a reminder that 5th grade students need to bring calculators to school for the Mathematics Part 2 section of the ERB test, which will be given on Thursday. 4th graders do not need calculators.
• Any basic four function calculator will do. Scientific and graphing calculators are also fine.