Our Own "Flight Week"

Saiff-Deen watches his whirlygig spin downward in a gentle landing.

TODAY'S ACTIVITY
Today we made "whirlygigs" with cardstock paper. The class was very attentive as we demonstrated the processes of cutting and folding. We begin with a simple rectangle with three lines. Cut on the lines. Stop where the lines stop.
Then fold the lower part inward and paper clip the bottom. Fold the upper parts in opposite directions. Color as you wish. Throw it as high as you can and marvel as it spins to the ground. Viola! As Saiff-Deen exclaims,"It's a helicopter!"

In anticipation of the excitement (and anxiety due to noise) brought by the Blue Angels each Fleet Week, we are doing a series of activities relating to flight and wind. New discovery that I shared with the group today: I recreate the sound of the Blue Angels by spraying a stream of water in a large plastic bin to help prepare them for the sounds of rehearsals Thursday and Friday.

ELECTION RESULTS
Today students voted on names for their groups. "Raccoons" were selected by a 4-3-2 election, beating out Rabbits and Beavers. "Squirrels" election was quite a different story. Given the choice of Squirrels, Raccoons, Beavers and Rabbits resulted in an unexpected 3-3-3-3 distribution and discussion about the concept of equal. To resolve this one, we had to do a tournement tree with single eliminations, resulting in a final outcome favoring the name "Sqirrels". Unfortunately, this lengthy process ate into the Raccoons' activity time, so they'll make their whirlybirds Tuesday.

Since we have a full docket for flight week, we are opting to skip the art room and work on our projects in class. Whirlygigs, paper airplanes and kites. Want to know how to make the awesome, durable, "Nakamura Lock" airplane that doesn't unfold when you throw it? CLICK HERE for animated instructions.

TODAY'S STORY
I Have A Loose Tooth, by Sally Noll. Usha read this book of a young girl seeking an audience to share her milestone event. First, people don't even notice her. Then, they mistake what she's saying.
"His name is Toulouse." (lady with a poodle). "A juice, too? It's 35 cents." (man at the market). "You have a goose, too?" (friends at school). Finally, people get the message when she writes a sentence and draws a picture about it for homework. She shows yet another practical motivator for writing.