Messy Snowmen!

We've had so much snow outside these past few days that we had to make snowmen for Book Buddies today. The students mixed shaving cream and glue together to create a puffy white paint. While it was still wet, students added all kinds of decorations to make the snowmen sparkle!  Look for them to come home later this week!

       

Timelines

Students created a timeline of our school day using multiple apps. This was our 2nd nine weeks research project. They took pictures of our day, then put the pictures into Pic College. Once in Pic College, students typed a sentence using sequential words (first, next, then, last) about the event. Students saved all of the pictures and uploaded them to 30 Hands. In 30 Hands, students recorded their voice reading each sentence. After the project was completed, students posted their individual videos to KidBlog. Here is a sample project. You can view your child's work by visiting the KidBlog site.

Santa Letters

Students were so excited today when they walked in and saw their letters from "Santa" sitting at their desks. Students independently read their letter and shared it with friends before safely putting it in their folder to take home. Thanks to the 5th graders at Rome City Elementary for pretending with us!

Place Value Math - Tens and Ones

Students figured out tens and ones riddles today. What number is 7 tens and 3 ones?  Students used the tens and ones blocks to make the mystery number and then recorded the number in their student math journal. It was a lot of fun!

Skype visit with Purdue student

Students had the opportunity to Skype with a former Avilla student and current Purdue University student, Moriah O'Brien, this week. She talked to students about college life, taking finals, and her major - elementary education. Moriah read The Crayon Box That Talked by Shane Derolf to the students. She will visit the students in person on Thursday this week, helping out in the classroom.

Inferring-Book Buddies

 

 

At Book Buddies today, students listened to The Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett. We talked about inferring and how the author gives us clues in the story. Students created stockings where they "hid" something inside and gave clues to the reader. Next week, we will share the clues and try to guess what is inside the stockings!  I know they will have a blast trying to stump each other!

 

Chatter Pix - Author's Purpose

Today, students learned the 3 main reasons why an author writes a story. It's as easy as PIE! (Persuade, Inform, and Entertain) The students had to select a book that they read during Daily 5. They took a picture of the book in an app called Chatter Pix. Then they made the book come alive by creating a mouth and adding dialogue in the app. Here is a sample of just one student's work. You can look at your child's video by visiting our KidBlog site.

Letters to Santa

Students wrote a letter to Santa, an Elf, or a Reindeer. Once students finished writing the letters, they created a winter picture in Doodle Buddy. After saving the picture in their camera roll, students inserted the picture into an app called Photo Card. Students emailed the Postcards to me and I sent them off to be read by 5th graders at Rome City Elementary. Students are anxiously waiting for a reply before Christmas!  Below is a sample student letter to Gingersnap Elf. You can always see your child's work by clicking on the KidBlog link on the side of the webpage.

Cause and Effect

Today students read Santa's Stuck by Rhonda Gowler Greene. They created a poster in Pic College explaining the cause and effect relationship. Here is just one sample. You can always check out your child's work by visiting our KidBlog.

Thanksgiving - Then vs. Now

Students learned the history of Thanksgiving and compared it to Thanksgiving today over several weeks. Students took all of the facts they learned and put together a short video using an app called 30 Hands to share their knowledge about Thanksgiving. Here is just one example, if you would like to view your child's video click on the KidBlog link on the top right side of the blog.

 

Science Fun

Ms. Munk visited this week from the Kendallville library. She continued to teach us about solids, liquids, and gases. Students learned when they add vinegar (a liquid) and baking soda (a solid) it creates a gas (CO2). The students also got to experiment with an example of suspension when they mixed equal parts cornstarch and water. They soon found out that sometimes the mixture acted as a solid and sometimes a liquid. These would be fun snowy day experiments to try at home!

Blends

This week, students learned about beginning and ending consonant blends. Students learned that blends are two consonants together. When you say a word with a blend, the two sounds blend together. Here are some of the blends we studied - bl, br, pl, pr, st, sp, nd, mp, tr. Students had the job of finding blends in the books they were reading. They used the app Pic College to take a photo of the book cover and then take pictures of the words containing blends either at the beginning or end of words. Here is just one sample below. If you would like to check out your child's work, please click on the KidBlog link.

Thanksgiving Fun

We make "I am Thankful for..." hats with our 4th grade buddies today and we also played Thanksgiving Bingo together. I hope that everyone's has a wonderful Thanksgiving with family.

Book Buddies

This week at Book Buddies, students focused on the parts of a story. Students listened to a story and then with a buddy they made a poster of their assigned part.

Wii Dance Party

 

Thank you to all the families who supported the Basket Brigade by donating a $1 and dancing after school. It was a lot of FUN!  

Happy Birthday Mr. Pine

Happy Birthday to the principal of Avilla School!

Veterans Day

Thank you to ALL of the men and women who have served our country. Student work is authentic and meaningful.  

Pizza Party Winners!

 

Thank you to all the families who ordered pizza this week at Avilla Pizza and Sub! The students enjoyed the pizza party on Friday!

Donuts with Dad

Students had a great time with their dad's this morning!  Thanks to the Avilla PTO!

Book Buddies and BINGO

Today at Book Buddies students were introduced to the new author of the month Jon Scieszka. We read The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. Students then discussed the characters, setting, and plot. After that, students placed a game of sight word BINGO!

Thank You Trine

Students wrote Thank You letters to Mr. Howard from Trine University. The students published the letters on Pic College and emailed them to me. I took all of the Pic College slides and put them together into a quick video. ENJOY!

Fall Festival Learning Fun

Students spent October 31st learning with CANDY! We used candy corn to measure items around the classroom. Students quickly found out that different brands of candy corn come in different sizes! They had a blast learning to measure with this non-standard unit. They also enjoyed a trail mix and graphed the different items in their bags. We ended the day with the story "A Witch Who Wanted a House". In this interactive story, the house the students created turned into a JACK-O-LANTERN! The friendly witch also had a "ghost" (aka sucker) that lived with her in the house. What a fun day of learning!

Panther University - "Going Bats"

On Tuesday night, families came to hear Bob Walton from "Going Bats" talk about how he cares for injured bats and releases them back into the wild. Students learned what to do if they encounter a bat at home or at school. 1st grade classes also did a presentation on responsibility and each class preformed their college cheer! Go TRINE, MICHIGAN, and MOUNT VERNON NAZARENE UNIVERSITY!

Book Buddies

Solids, Liquids, and Gases

Students explored more about solids, liquids, and gases at Book Buddies on Tuesday after school. Students divided into two groups where they had the chance to experiment with FLUBBER and create gas with baking soda and vinegar. Students love listening to the sounds created when the baking soda and vinegar mixed together!

NO EXCUSES UNIVERSITY!

As part of a No Excuses University School, students are always reminded about the importance of working hard so they will be prepared for college. 1st Graders had the opportunity to see what college was all about today at TRINE UNIVERSITY! They took a campus tour and met with Mr. Howard who told them about what to expect when they go to college. We ended the day on the football field with football players, cheerleaders, and Storm-the college mascot.

GASES

Students had a blast learning about different forms of matter with Ms. Munk from the Kendallville Library today. Look at the students trapping air in the bubbles so that they can see the gas!