New Email Address

After spring break, the district's email system groupwise, will switch to google's gmail. My new email will be rheinric@wausauschools.org . Have a great week kids! Do something worthy of a personal narrative!

Student Government

Today, to learn a little bit more about the three branches of government, we hosted a classroom primary. We voted for our top 4 candidate that will be running for class president against our imcumbant, Emily. We will be voting for our party leader on Monday and host an election before the end of our day. Once we elect our president, our runner up will become our vice president like they did in the early days of our republic. At that point, we will hear from our court justices that would like to be picked by our president.

This challenge came after starting our personal narritive unit. We read One Green Apple and Me, Jane. Both great stories that show how to write with description. I challenged the students to create proposals that would be voted on and also followed through as a classroom. We wanted to take Jane Goodall's challenge on the site http://www.rootsandshoots.org/ that challenges youth to create humanitarian and environmental differences. Stay tuned to see which ideas pass the legislative branch in our classroom. In the meantime, students, I challenge you to join me at http://freerice.com/ where you can answer questions correctly to donate free rice to the World Food Program. See one person can really make a difference.

James Gurney: Dinotopia

The fictional story of Dinotopia begins with the discovery of explorer Arthur Denison's journal, which takes the readers to an island where dinosuars and humans live together. Today, by a cancelation, our 5th graders were able to meet author and illustrator James Gurney. He was able to bring to life his fabulous artworks and imaginative words.

We were able to observe the details he puts into each of his drawings, how he learned to start a journal, and how he uses his imagination to bring to life characters. Tonight, join Gurney at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum from 5:30-7 to create your own journal. He will also be at the museum from 1-3 on Saturday, March 3rd. At the museum, you can also follow the Dinotopia Code to the lost island through the artworks on display.

Touch Of Class

I have included the site in our links section for you to view with your child. Great job room 208.

http://www.waow.com/story/16658005/touch-of-class-franklin-elementary-fifth-grade

A Touch Of Class

The students in room 208 were awarded the Touch of Class award by Channel 9. I am so very proud of everyone for making Melese feel part of our room from day one. I am sure it wasn't easy moving from Ethiopia to Wausau, Wisconsin. Our motto has always been "kindness is universal", but after our diversity unit wrapped up, we added "one person can make a difference". On the first day of Melese's arrival we reflected on our mottos and acted upon them.

Each student has embraced our new student through kindness and compassion. As we were filmed and interviewed for our award, it was great to see each and every student in our room shine with pride. We are able to see how well we work together to obtain success and that is a great feeling! I will keep you informed on the time and date of our Touch of Class episode.

The French and Indian War

In order to show an understanding of the French and Indian war, each student will create a finished project that displays their artistic and or creative side. Realizing that all students are not the same, I have provided a list of possible projects. Chose wisely, and use the guided tour of the war to create your project.
1. Chose a person from the war and draw a portrait that captures this person’s importance in the war. Present facts and information that tell why they are significant.
2. A diorama is a 3-dimensional miniature scene (often constructed in a box-like object). Choose a battle or event from the war and reconfigure it in a diorama. Write a summary to explain the event.
3. Compose a song or a poem base on your knowledge of the French and Indian War.
4. Construct an alphabet book covering the French and Indian War. Find a word for each letter and create an illustration, or use the computer to find an image. This book can be done with paper or electronically.
5. Write a storybook for a younger student (7-10 years old) covering the main points and events of the war.
6. Create a poster for the French and Indian War. Think Tri-fold.
7. Create a timeline of the war, Complete with images and major events.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year room 208 families. I hope that your vacation was relaxing and fulfilling. Today, we started a story that was based on the book The Relatives Came written by Cynthia Rylant. We are asking everyone to go home and share their favorite family stories when relatives came to your house or you went to theirs. Have your child write it down and bring it back to school to share. Have fun telling some great tales together.

We are also sharing our New Year goals this week. Having a Junior, allowed our family to think that this 2012 will bring college choices, a scary, but exciting goal for our daughter. It is also a great opportunity to set goals with your child for 2012.

Once again, Happy New Year!
Mrs. Heinrich