Lately: Winding Down the School Year

The last two weeks of school have been jam-packed with all sorts of fun activities! There's nothing better than ending the school year with a bang.

Here's a quick peek at what the boys have been up to lately:

The classroom chickens are growing, growing, growing.  Here's Henry with Chickmunk during week 4.

Henry with Lemondrop (week 5)

The chickens are heading back to the ranch this weekend, but they've been an incredibly fun addition to the classroom.

Last week was the Strega Nona luncheon for all of second grade. After reading the story by Tomie dePaola, the kids listened to an opera singer and enjoyed an Italian meal in the cafeteria. It's really a lot of fun.

 

Last week, our school librarian held a Texas 2x2 reading celebration for a small group of 1st and 2nd graders who had read all the books on the current 2x2 reading list (this is a list of books aimed at kids ages 2 through 2nd grade to encourage a love of books and reading). We had four different activities for the kids to do based on a few of the books, and then ended the celebration with ice cream bars. What fun!

In Will's class, the biggest fourth grade project of the year was due last week and it culminated in the Texas State Fair. Will chose to research Robert H. H. Hugman, the architect of the River Walk. He wrote a research paper, created a tripanel and made a model of the River Walk for his 3-D element. It was a huge project and Will worked really hard on it!

Salt map of the River Walk

Will also had to dress in costume, so wore his suit jacket and carried a replica of Hugman's plan for the River Walk (which was originally called The Shops of Aragon and Romula!).

After presenting their project in the cafeteria, all the classes paraded around the school with floats. Our class's float was the Texas Rangers because our teacher is from Dallas and is a Rangers fan!

Following the parade, the kids enjoyed a chuck wagon lunch in the cafeteria and then headed outside for an afternoon full of activities. The fourth graders rotated through nine different stations, including line dancing, barrel racing, a petting zoo and more. 

Making a leather wristband

Roping

Mechanical Bull Riding

At one station, I took pictures of all the kids behind the fence so it would look like they were in jail

and then created "Wanted" posters for each child.

Last Friday was a jam-packed day at the Texas State Fair, but it was such a fun celebration after weeks and weeks of hard work. 

Henry's class has also been hard at work with an end-of-the-year play, "The Case of the Bewitched Books." The play features three fractured fairy tales, in which the villains become the heroines. It was hilarious! 

Henry was both the narrator and "Sniffly" in Snow White.  

 

We pulled Will out of his class to watch the play too. Henry did a great job!

Henry has had the best teacher this year. She has so much energy and enthusiasm and has an incredible way of making learning fun. 

More end-of-the-year pictures and details coming up soon!