The Daily Special: Last Post of the School Year

We did it! We made it to the end. Congratulations! 

For our last video of the year, we made one last Daily Special video to celebrate all we accomplished.
Have a great summer! 

VIDEO LINK HERE

Mrs. Clayton's last day at UES was last Wednesday. Things happening in the world seem tough and weird and maybe even a little scary. She created one last message for you to remember when things feel bad. Enjoy! and Goodbye! 

VIDEO LINK HERE

Lastly, we do not want to leave you empty-handed for the summer. We want you to know that The Daily Special will stay active over the summer, and you can come back ANYTIME to do the activities we posted. We have included links below to make searching by subject a little easier for you: 

Movement Monday          Tuneful Tuesday          Wellness Wednesday

Terrific Technology          Artful Thursday            Freybrary Friday
Note: You can also use the labels on the right hand side of the page. 

HAVE A TERRIFIC SUMMER!!!! 

Week of June 1 - 5,

The Day You Begin and

The One and Only Ivan (#5)

Hello UES Friends and Happy Friday,

Guess what?  This year's Red Clover Award winner is ... (drum roll please)  

POTATO PANTS!  That was last week's picture book read aloud.  If you missed it, I'll post it at the bottom of this entry or you can check out last week's post.

This week there are two books available for you to listen to and discuss.  Our picture book this week is another one of this year's Red Clover Books, The Day You Begin. It's written by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by Rafael Lopez.  Our other book is the next reading installment (#5) of The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate.

The Day You Begin

This week's chapter book read aloud is the continuation of The One and Only Ivan, written by Katherine Applegate, read by Mrs. Frey:

The One and Only Ivan, #1

The One and Only Ivan, #2

The One and Only Ivan, #3

The One and Only Ivan, #4

The One and Only Ivan, #5

For more connections, information, activities...

Artful Thursday #8 - Let's Play!

Welcome to our final Artful Thursday! Please watch this short video with Michelangelo and Mrs. Kane to start:

Then, choose from the following art projects:

• Make a Sock Puppet! Materials: a sock, cereal box, scissors, hot glue or craft glue, some cloth (an old t-shirt or pants will do!) Click HERE for directions, click HERE for a video demonstration
• Make a Board Game! Materials: cardboard or paper, drawing materials. Click HERE for directions, click HERE for a video demonstration
• Make an Art Puzzle! Materials: thick folder paper or cereal box, drawing materials, scissors. Click HERE for directions, click HERE for a video demonstration
• Make a Salt Dough Sculpture! Materials: Measuring cup, bowl, cling wrap, baking paper, oven, rolling pin, cookie cutter, 1 cup flour, 1 cup salt, 1 cup boiled water, a small drop of cooking oil. Click HERE for directions

FOR PARENTS & CAREGIVERS - PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR A LETTER FROM MRS. KANE ABOUT HOW ART AND PLAY CAN HELP WITH CONVERSATIONS ABOUT RACIAL JUSTICE

Here is the "Grand Finale" slideshow of never before seen student artwork from at-home art class! 

Wellness Wednesday Week of June 1-5 Hopes and Wishes

Hi everyone,
Wow, can you believe we made it to June!  Amazing!

I have two read alouds for you this week.  The first is from a book called I am Human by Susan Verde.  This is one in a series of books that talk about empathy - looking at things from another persons point of view and compassion - a strong feeling of sympathy and a wish to be helpful.  Both are topics we work on together all year long at school and are especially important right now.

After the read aloud which you can find here, complete the Roll and Respond activity below shared by a school counselor I really admire, Counselor Keri.  You will need a pair of dice to complete it and you could write your answers down.

Find our Human Connections with Each Other:
Roll the dice and respond with someone else or write your answers down.

1.  Share a unique quality about yourself.
2.  Share something you learned recently.
3.  Share one of your big dreams for the future.
4.  Share something that you are curious about.
5.  Share a time or situation when you feel or felt afraid.
6.  Share a time or situation when your heart feels or felt heavy or sad.
7.  Share a time when you moved on from a hard situation or experience.
8.  Share a time when you showed compassion to another human.
9.  Share a time when you helped someone get what they needed.
10.  Share a time when you listened to another human's fears, concerns, or feelings.
11.  Share a time when you apologized to another human.
12.  Share why you are full of hope for the humans of the world.

The second read aloud is all about my wishes for you as the school year winds down.  Please check out I Wish You More, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld here.  You can also complete this activity which we often do at the end of the school year.  Have a grown up take a photo and share it with me over email @ suzannef@mpsvt.org.  Check out the final lessons from Kids Yoga with Ms. Winters on the UES Social Emotional Learning site as well.

I wish you more sunshine, laughs, fun, time with friends and creativity this summer.  I hope to see you all very soon!  Be kind to each other and yourself.

Week of June 1-5 Technology #8

Please note that I will not be having office hours this week due to a medical procedure and recovery. -Jeffrey Jarrad

Caregivers: I encourage you to watch the Digital Citizenship video with your young buddies and answer any questions they may have!

GOOGLE EARTH PROJECTS: When the School closed and we had to stay at home, we lost that great part of talking with our friends. On Google Earth, you can at least map out where they are! You'll need to know their addresses, or how to find their homes from the map. Have fun! CLICK HERE or on the picture.
DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP (Grades 2-4): Students, as you grow, you'll naturally start to connect more online. But some of what you read and see might not be nice. Learn what to do when this happens, including TAGU....Tell A Grown Up.
And of course there is MYSTERY DOUG! This week, a student asks Doug, "Are unicorns real?". CLICK HERE.

Week of June 1-5: Tuneful Tuesday #8

Hello everyone! This is the last week that I get to be your music teacher. I have had such a great time preparing these lessons for you!

Please remember to come day hello, share your favorite music activity, sing a song, or play a music game with me during office hours today, from 11 am- 1pm.

Thank you for such a wonderful time creating for UES! Love, Mrs. Clayton

All activities are below!

Awesome Owls at Home:
Will in Kindergarten has been playing a drumset that his grandfather made him. Check out his picture: Will on drumset

Week of 6/1-6/5 Movement Monday #8: Strong Muscles and Nutrition

Hello Owls!

 This week we are excited to share with you 2 new lessons:  

1. Nutrition with MJ, Part 2 (grades K-4)
2. Fitness with Mr Williams, Part 2 (grades K-4)  
We hope you enjoy the videos. Feel free to send us a video or photo of yourself playing fitness dice or your drawings of the healthy foods you are eating! We would love to see, just make sure to check with your families first. 

Just a friendly reminder that our virtual office hours on google hangout are every Monday from 11 am-1pm. Please come on by and talk about anything from outdoor adventures to new games you have created.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Google Hangout link: https://meet.google.com/wja-ufgd-bas

Check out this week's BONUS videos: 

Strong Muscle Movement Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhCM0C6GnrY&feature=youtu.be
Nutrition Activities: 1) Nutrition Word Search: https://choosemyplate-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/audiences/HaveFunWordSearch.pdf
2) My Plate Snack Tips: https://choosemyplate-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/audiences/Tipsheet1_MakingGreatTastingSnacks.pdf

Stay active and have fun,

MJ & Mr. Williams

Week of May 26 - 29: Library Freyday #7

POTATO PANTS! and

The One and Only Ivan (#4)

Happy Friday!

Again this week there will be two books available for your continued listening pleasure.  Our picture book this week is one of this year's Red Clover Books, POTATO PANTS! It's written and illustrated by Laurie Keller.  Our other book is, the continued reading of The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate.

POTATO PANTS!

This week's chapter book read aloud is the continuation of The One and Only Ivan, written by Katherine Applegate, read by Mrs. Frey:

The One and Only Ivan, #1

The One and Only Ivan, #2

The One and Only Ivan, #3

The One and Only Ivan, #4

For more connections, information, activities...

Artful Thursday #7: Making Memories!! (Part Two)

Welcome back to Artful Thursday! Please watch this video with Mrs. Kane and Michelangelo to start:

Then, choose ONE of the following projects for your art time capsule from last week OR just for your wall at home:

• Map Of a Memory. Materials: paper, your choice of drawing or painting supplies. Click HERE for directions, click HERE for video demonstration
• Memory Collage inspired by artist Romare Bearden. Materials: Paper, scissors, glue, photographs, fabric, construction paper, magazines, old books or clothes.... Click HERE for directions, click HERE for a video demonstration. Enjoy this read-aloud of "My Hands Sing the Blues", a wonderful book about Romare Bearden!
• "Spicy" Painted Portraits. Materials: paper, kitchen ingredients (spices, coffee grounds, tea, food coloring... your choice!), paintbrushes or cotton swabs or other household items. Click HERE for directions, click HERE for video demonstration.
• Stitching a Story Pictures - inspired by an amazing art tradition called ARPILLERAS from Chile! Materials: Cloth, scissors, glue, needle, embroidery or thick thread. Click HERE for directions, click HERE for video demonstration

Here is this week's slideshow of all of the "Making Memories" artwork you shared! Please send us photos of your artwork by next Wednesday morning to be included in the Grand Finale final Artful Thursday slideshow! (You are welcome to send us any art projects from past weeks as well that you didn't get a chance to share!)

Click HERE for the slideshow of all of the yearbook cover design entries sent in by third and fourth graders! Well done, everyone! Lastly, our office hours are cancelled today. We hope you will join us again next week! It will be our last Artful Thursday and we have something special and super fun planned!

Wellness Wednesday Week of May 25-29 Mind Bubbles

Hi everyone,

Wow, we have almost made it to the end of May.  We can do this!  Here is my read aloud for the week and I have included a Mindful Kids activity as well.  Be on the lookout for a special surprise during the videos.

Listen to the read aloud here.

Check out this Mindful Kids Activity here and 

click on read more below to see some other ideas.

Week of May 25 - 29 Terrific Technology #7

Students and Caregivers!

Caregivers, I hope you had a chance to check out CommonSense.org in my post from last week. The site can be a bit confusing, but it is so packed with good info, it's worth exploring. Email if you have any questions about it! With so much riding on remote learning, it's really important to keep reinforcing good digital citizenship.

WHAT IS THE INTERNET? And is it the same as the "Web" or the "World Wide Web?" Yeah...is it? Click HERE or the picture.
SHARING DOCUMENTS AND SLIDESHOWS IN GOOGLE: A review of how to share documents with your teacher and your caregivers. Also a reminder that sharing with other students or friends requires permission from your teacher! CLICK HERE or on the picture.
INTRO TO GOOGLE EARTH: Great program for K-4 and beyond! Some students will remember how to navigate and find places, some are new to Google Earth. There are iPad, iPhone and Android versions as well. On desktops, Google Earth needs the Chrome browser. CLICK HERE or on the picture to the right.
GOOGLE EARTH PART 2: I walk you through some more tools in Google Earth, including Google Earth's new Voyager set of cool places to visit. CLICK HERE or on the picture to the right.
And of course there is MYSTERY DOUG! This week, a student asks Doug, How Do Bees Make Honey? I've been seeing a lot of bees lately, so this seemed like a good pick!

Week of May 25-29: Tuneful Tuesday #7

Awesome Owls Making Music at Home:

It was wonderful to showcase Adim, Ira, and Colette in last week's Awesome Owls Making Music at Home! 

If you would like to be featured being a tuneful, beatful, artful musician or music lover: Share what you are doing with me, and I'll share it here!

Our adventures continue with The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra (String Savannah) and moving ahead in Ukulele Studies (A minor chord, some new tunes). 

Today's activities are posted below. Enjoy! 

Week of May 25-29: Movement Monday #7

Hello Movement Monday Owls!

 This week we are excited to share with you 2 new lessons:  

1. Nutrition with MJ, Part 1 (grades K-4)
2. Fitness with Mr Williams, Part 1 (grades K-4)  
We hope you enjoy the videos. Feel free to send us a video or photo of yourself playing fitness dice or your drawings of the healthy foods you are eating! We would love to see, just make sure to check with your families first. 

Just a friendly reminder that our virtual office hours on google hangout are every Monday from 11 am-1pm. Please come on by and talk about anything from outdoor adventures to new games you have created.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Google Hangout link: https://meet.google.com/wja-ufgd-bas

Check out this week's BONUS videos: 

Family Fun Cardio Workout: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5if4cjO5nxo 

Nutrition Activities: 1) Nutrition Word Scramble: https://choosemyplate-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/audiences/WholeGrainWordScramble.pdf

2) Nutrition Maze: https://choosemyplate-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/audiences/Maze.pdf 

Stay active and have fun,

MJ & Mr. Williams

Week of May 18 - 22: Library Freyday #6

She's Wearing a Dead Bird on her Head and

The One and Only Ivan (#3)

Happy Friday!

Again this week there will be two books available for your listening pleasure.  One is a picture book, the other the continuation of reading the chapter book:  The One and Only Ivan.  This week the picture book we'll be reading is She's Wearing a Dead Bird on her Head, by Kathryn Lasky, illustrated by David Catrow:  

She's Wearing a Dead Bird on her Head!

This week's chapter book read aloud is the continuation of The One and Only Ivan, written by Katherine Applegate, read by Mrs. Frey:

The One and Only Ivan, #1

The One and Only Ivan, #2

The One and Only Ivan, #3

For more connections, information, activities...

Week of May 18-22: Artful Thursday #6: Making Memories! (Part One)

Hello! Please start with this short video from Mrs. Kane, Michelangelo and Oso the Dog:

We are living in a historic time! This week, you are invited to make some memories in one of these ways:

1. Make an ART TIME CAPSULE! What is a time capsule? It is kind of like a treasure chest for your memories, thoughts and feelings that you save for years and and years and open on a special day in the future. Here are directions about how to make a time capsule! This week you can create your box and start collecting things. Be thinking about what are some things are interesting or different about this time. This could be an activity for your whole family! Next week we will share some ideas for special art that you can create to put inside your time capsule.

2. Be a FORT ARCHITECT! An architect is an artist who designs buildings and spaces. You can draw your dream fort, or build it inside with cardboard boxes, blankets and comfy pillows, or build it outside with materials from nature.

The yearbook design slideshow will be up next week. We LOVE seeing and sharing all the artwork that you are creating! Here is a gorgeous Ansel Adams photo by Petra that I missed posting!

Are you ready for the first ever UES Movie Fest?? (7 minutes total) Grab your popcorn and check out all of the cool animations, puppet theaters and crankies created by UES artists last week:

Week of May 18-22 Wellness Wednesday #6

Hi Everyone,
I hope you are able to soak up some of this beautiful sunshine we are having this week.

1.  Please check out my new weekly lesson below

Listen to a read aloud of Scribble Stones by Diane Alber here.  

Week of May 18 - 22 Terrific Technology Post #6

Students and Caregivers!
Caregivers, I hope you had a chance to check out CommonSense.org in my post from last week. The site can be a bit confusing, but it is so packed with good info, it's worth exploring. Email if you have any questions about it! With so much riding on remote learning, it's really important to keep reinforcing good digital citizenship.
Third Graders..(and Fourth Graders!)Third Graders are starting their Animal Slideshow project, so I put in three videos on Google Slides. One is a quick review of the basics. The second video is how to put photos into your slideshows. Third is how to put videos into your slideshows! And for those who want to push on a bit, Google allows you to add audio to your slideshows. It is on the Insert menu.

DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP Two videos with more tips on staying safe. The first one, Protecting Your Private Information, is for grades 2-3. You can also click the picture to the right. The second one, Internet Safety on BrainPop, is probably more for 3-4. Students in those grades saw it in school, but it is a topic that should be discussed at home as well. They do overlap a bit, but the messages are worthing hearing over and over! Watch them both! You can also click the picture to the right.
GOOGLE SLIDESHOWS REVIEW Or and introduction to Google Slides for anyone! Click HERE or the image to the right.
ADDING PHOTOS TO GOOGLE SLIDESHOWS Click HERE or on the image to the....WHAT IS THAT THING?
ADDING VIDEO TO GOOGLE SLIDESHOWS Click HERE or on the image to the right.
And of course there is MYSTERY DOUG! This week, a student asks Doug, "Were there ever dragons?" CLICK HERE or the picture to the right to watch it!

Week of May 18-22, Tuneful Tuesday #6

Awesome Owls Making Music at Home:

Adim from Grade 2 has been focused on building piano skills: Here is a fine example of 4 hands piano (the other two hands belonging to mom, Olga). Beauty and the Beast

Ira and Collette have used this time to bond with their great-aunt, who is a piano teacher out of state. Here are some images of them in action. Ira at the piano   Collette at the piano

If you would like to be featured being a tuneful, beatful, artful musician or music lover: Share what you are doing with me, and I'll share it here!

Music activities for this week are below. Enjoy!!

Week of May 18-22: Movement Monday #6

Hello Movement Monday Owls!

 This week we are excited to share with you 2 new lessons:  

1. Shooting on goal in Soccer with Mr Williams (grades K-1)
2. Frisbee Activities with MJ (grades 2-3-4)  
We hope you enjoy the videos. Feel free to send us a video or photo of yourself practicing soccer and frisbee skills, we would love to see! Just make sure to check with your families first. 

Just a friendly reminder that our virtual office hours on google hangout are every Monday from 11 am-1pm. Please come on by and talk about anything from outdoor adventures to new games you have created.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Google Hangout link: https://meet.google.com/wja-ufgd-bas

Check out this week's BONUS videos: 

Inspiring Soccer player: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nn4ncp9WQlU
Ultimate Frisbee game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g65TluQsEhM

Remember to have fun, be creative and do your best! 

Stay active and have fun,

MJ & Mr. Williams

Week of May 11-15: Library Freyday #5: Tom's Tweet and The One and Only Ivan (#2)

Happy Friday!

Again this week there will be two books available for your listening pleasure.  One is a picture book, the other the continuation of reading the chapter book:  The One and Only Ivan.  This week the picture book we'll be reading is Tom's Tweet, by Jill Esbaum, illustrated by Dan Santat:  

Tom's Tweet

This week's chapter book read aloud is the continuation of The One and Only Ivan, written by Katherine Applegate, read by Mrs. Frey:

The One and Only Ivan, #1

The One and Only Ivan, #2

For more connections, information, activities...

Hip Hop Music Link

Hey Students!

I guess I didn't put in a link to the Make Your Hip Hop Music site. Click HERE to get there! 

My apologies!

-Mr. Jarrad

Week of May 11-15: Artful Thursday #5: It's Showtime!

Do you LOVE watching movies or cartoons? Have you ever thought of them as Art before? Here is a short video from Mrs. Kane and Michelangelo to start:

Then, click "Read More" below and choose ONE of the following Art lessons! 

Wellness Wednesday Week of May 11-14 Nobody Hugs a Cactus

Hi friends,

Here is a read aloud for the week.  As you are listening to the story think about how an act of kindness can change how you feel and how it might change the way someone else feels about you.  I hope you enjoy the story.

Nobody Hugs A Cactus Read Aloud

Check out the ideas for activities below ...

Week of May 11-15, Terrific Tech Post #5

Students and Caregivers!

Quite a range of topics today. Younger students might enjoy Mystery Doug and Hip Hop! Those are also great for older students as well as Padlet Nudge and Google Meet Skills.
Caregivers: The Intro to CommonSense.org foundation shows you some of their great resources about Digital Citizenship and choosing media that is kid-friendly.

MYSTERY DOUG: I love Mystery Doug! I will put a link to an interesting question and his answer in my posts. This week, a student asks Doug, "How are toys invented?" CLICK HERE or the picture to the right to watch it!
PADLET NUDGE! A few weeks ago, I posted a video about using Padlet. CLICK HERE to see it again.  For today's new video CLICK HERE or the picture on the right. It's  about posting to Padlet by recording your voice, instead of typing for a video. Watch that, then go to one or more of the three Padlets running right now. I'd love to see more posts to them!  Padlet on What's been a good thing about shutting school? Or a bad thing? Or any thought about how life is different? Padlet on Mystery Doug: Germs! Germs! Germs! Padlet on Switch Zoo - Make your own animal
MORE DIGITAL MUSIC!! Enjoy making your own Hip Hop music with two turntables! All online! With a TERRIFIC introduction about how Hip Hop started. CLICK HERE or on the Picture at right to get going!
GOOGLE Hangout/MEET SKILLS: How to present/share your screen with your teacher, how to use gallery/tiles/grid view for weekly class meetings; how to Pin the Tail on Your Teacher! CLICK HERE or on the picture to the right.
DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP: For Caregivers, an introduction to Commonsense.org. This organization is fantastic! They provide reviews of movies, TV programs, games, and apps for caregivers. They rate movies in terms of how appropriate they are for children. Their education section is the foundation of our District's Digital Citizenship Curriculum. Great resource for parents! Click Here or on the picture to get started!