Week of May 4 -May 8: Movement Monday #4: Soccer and Frisbee time!

Hello Moving Owls!

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

1. Soccer dribbling with Mr Williams (grades K-1)
2. Frisbee with MJ (grades 2-3-4)  
We hope you can be creative in practicing these new skills. If you'd like to send us a video or photo of yourself practicing soccer and frisbee we would love to see! Make sure to check with your families first 

We will be starting our virtual office hours on google hangout TODAY (5/4) from 11 am-1pm Hope to see you there! https://meet.google.com/wja-ufgd-bas

Check out this week's BONUS videos: 

Soccer activities:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwBAjAo7qV4

Frisbee Slam video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rx_UcPMing
Remember to have fun, be creative and do your best! 

  Stay active and have fun,

MJ & Mr. Williams

Week of April 27-May 1: Library Freyday #3: The Lorax

Week of April 27-May 1: Library Freyday #3:  The Lorax

This week's read-aloud is "The Lorax" by Dr. Seuss.  

Reading this book helps us mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, April 22, 2020.

The Lorax Read Aloud with Mrs. Frey

After you listen to the story, maybe you and your people can discuss...

• What are some of the differences between the “whisper-ma-phone” page and the next page, the first time we see Truffula Trees?  Why are there differences between the two?
• What do you think Dr. Seuss’ message is by writing this book? What does “The Lorax” have to do with Earth Day?
• Why do you think Dr. Seuss doesn’t show us what the Once-ler looks like?
• Why did the Once-ler get “terribly mad” ? What made him lose his temper?  What are you like when you get mad?
• Would you have bought a thneed? Why or why not?
• Have you ever participated in Earth Day?  What did you do to help celebrate Earth Day?
• What are some things you can do at home and in your own spaces to help make every day Earth Day?

I would love to hear about the conversations you have with your people about The Lorax, Dr. Seuss and Earth Day. I am hosting a hangout meeting (hangout code: ueslibrary) for UES students and families TODAY from 11-1. Please check with your parents and caregivers about joining me (remember to be good digital citizens...). I would love to see you and talk about what you're reading. Remember, I am always available via email at maritaf@mpsvt if you have any questions or just want to check-in (get it?).

Here are more ways you can celebrate Earth Day...

• Here is an Earth Day Scavenger Bingo Game you can play in your yard or on a walk.
• Here is a link to Pete Seeger and Friends (including Bruce Springsteen) singing This Land is Your Land.  Pete Seeger was instrumental, so to speak, in promoting Earth Day.
• Here are a couple more Read-Alouds that celebrate the Earth:
• The Earth Book, by Todd Parr (Read by Todd Parr, too!)
• The Digger and the Flower, by Joseph Kuefler

Week of April 27-May 1: Artful Thursday #3: Earth Art!

This week's theme is Earth Art, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day last week! Please watch this video with Mrs. Kane and Michelangelo the Monkey to start:

Then, choose ONE of the following lessons (in order from simple to challenging)

• NATURE'S PAINTBRUSHES: (Materials: mud, branch, paper or bark) Play and paint with mud and discover branches, stems and sticks for paintbrushes! HERE is a video from Mrs. Kane
• NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY: (Materials: cell phone or camera) Listen to the book ANTSY ANSEL about the famous photographer Ansel Adams. Then try nature photography yourself with a camera or a cell phone! HERE are your directions.
• ALL SPECIES DAY MASKS: (Materials: scissors, glue/tape, pencil, paper plates/cardboard, your choice of coloring supplies) Make a mask for All Species Day! HERE is a video about this annual Montpelier tradition! This year's celebration will happen virtually from 12-12:30 this Saturday, May 2nd! Watch Mrs. Kane's video on paper plate mask making or click HERE for directions. Visit All Together Now's website for all of the virtual event details!
• LIVING THINGS RECYCLED SCULPTURES: (Materials: hot glue/masking tape/duct tape, scissors, rubbish from your recycling or trash bins) Enjoy watching a short video about sculptor Angela Haseltine Pozzi and then create a sculpture of a living thing from materials from your trash or recycling bins. Display in your window or lawn for All Species Day!
• SUSTAINABLE BASKET WEAVING: (Materials: yogurt container, scissors, a pen or marker, yarn/paper/ribbon/plastic bag) Get to know Judy Dow, a local Abenaki basket weaver, and try weaving a basket from a plastic container from your recycling bin. HERE is the video demonstration, HERE are visual directions

Please send us a photo of your artwork to kristinak@mpsvt.org! We would love to see what you create and to include it in next week's slideshow! Here is the slideshow of all of the "Artfully Ever After" artwork from last week.

Mrs. Frey and I are excited to host our first Meet for UES students and families TODAY from 11-1! Please check with your parents and caregivers about it. We would love to see you and your artwork or hear about your reading, or just say hello!

Spreading Positivity Art Project - Final Slideshow!

Here is the final slideshow of all of the Spreading Positivity artwork! Thanks to all of the artists of all ages who created art to share with the community and the world. Special thanks to Montpelier musician Paul Boffa, who wrote the song "Share the Love" with UES first graders a couple of years ago (those students are currently in third grade!) and was happy for this song to be included in the slideshow. Enjoy and have hope!

I see some "How am I doing?" posts on Padlet. Thanks! Let's get some more. It's very easy, just go to the Padlet address, click the Plus sign, or double click, and you've started a response.
Click HERE for the Padlet.

Thanks!

Mr. Jarrad

Week of April 27-May 1 Wellness Wednesday #3

Hi everyone!

I hope you enjoyed the break and are getting back into the groove as we head down the home stretch of our school year.  I have put together a video with a read aloud for you that I think could be helpful.
Please "bear" with some of the technical issues in the video, it was a bright and sunny day and I couldn't pass up the sunshine but it caused some issues with my camera.  As my favorite art teacher says, "Oops, oh well", right?

Here is the video featuring the book Breathing Makes It Better by Christopher Willard and Wendy O'Leary:

I also wanted to share some easy breathing techniques that you could try from the book Alphabreaths, the ABC's of Mindful Breathing by Christopher Willard and Daniel Rechtschaffen.  I made a quick video to introduce the book.

Activities to try from AlphaBreaths:

Here are some additional activities that you can try as well: 

Feelings Scavenger Hunt

Mindset Finder Feelings Fortune Teller Activity

Week 3 April 27 - May 1 Tech Post #3

Hi Friends!

Quite a variety of activities this week!

Video #1 Click ➦Diving Inside an Old Windows PC Computer. What is going on in there?

Video #2 Click ➨ How Are You Doing? Using Padlet to share our experiences under the Corona Virus with school closed.

Video #3 Click➨Make a bookmark and a bookmark folder. No, Really?! Yup! Cool!

Video #4  Click➦Introduction to Mystery Doug. Super science videos that answer questions from students like you! Great for students in grades K-1-2  as well! Doug takes questions from all ages!

Caregivers:
Here's a link to Mystery Doug's Youtube channel. He's posted lots of super videos that are direct and very well done.

The Mystery Science site has the videos plus suggestions for extension activities. You can make an account for free HERE.

Lot's to do! Have at it!