All That Jazz

"Project Pancake" was thwarted today, but for a really good tradeoff. We'll try agian next week after I get back from Jury Service. I'll be back in the classroom on Wednesday.



JAZZ RECITAL
The Ken Rayhill Quartet came to our school to perform a short concert for our classes. The musicians entirely captivated the attention of the students. After each number, a musician described his instrument, showing all the parts and how sound is produced. We learned all about the saxophone, drum kit, upright bass and the piano. Some of the songs they played were "Blue Monk", "One Note Samba" and "Alice In Wonderland", in arrangements of jazz, bossanova and waltz, respectively. Ken is a parent at our school, one of so many talented people in our little community.

LINKER CUBES
One manipulative you'l be sure to see well into the elementary years is Linker Cubes. They are frequently used to teach many mathematic concepts from quantity to pattern to algebra. In our class they are used primarily as a structural toy. Familiarity of the various ways to connect them so that it is strong or parts rotate a certain way are valuable skills the children will use in the coming years. Why, right here two students are working on some robots. Note their attention to symmetry - one of the earliest mathematics concepts so apparent in nature and our own bodies. Yes, the arms totally rotate at the shoulders just like ours!

TODAY'S STORY
Farm Flu, by Teresa Bateman. One by one, the animals are getting sick. The farmer's son has takes care of them, by putting them in beds, giving them hot soup, lots of water and quiet time. Gradually he discovers their recovery as they begin to request things like popcorn and movies and party favors. Knowing they no longer need this kind of attention he returns them to their pens, only to sneeze himself. Now who's going to take care of him?