Posts

Westward, Ho!

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Upper elementary students have spent the last couple months learning about (among many other subjects) Nevada and U.S. history.

In March they visited the Springs Preserve and Nevada History Museum and built wagon train models out of shoeboxes and canvas.

 

In April they visited the Eldorado Canyon Mine where they explored tunnels, panned for gold and played horseshoes.

They also held a Pioneer Day celebration where students dressed up in traditional outfits and had a blast line dancing, churning butter, quilling, making applesauce, playing pioneer-style outdoor games, making jumping jacks, creating thaumotropes, and more!

While learning about the exciting and action-packed Gold Rush era, students designed Gold Rush “trading cards” and advertisements to lure people out West; published newspapers with typical headlines of the time complete with ads, important events and classifieds section; and built sod house homestead replicas in the back garden, for which they received an authentic certificate of ownership.

Last week Elementary 5 students participated in a “Choose Your Own Adventure” Activity where they learned how to make crucial decisions regarding survival and success. Now they are creating a class book to teach others about this thrilling and challenging time period. Ask your students for more details, and be sure to check out the Elementary 5 and Elementary 6 classroom blogs for some great pictures!

A Weekend at Zion

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Recently our lower elementary students, along with their parents and teachers, enjoyed a wonderful weekend sojourn at Zion National Park. We camped, hiked, built campfires, and enjoyed peaceful, quiet times admiring the beauty of nature.

Says Madison: “My favorite thing about Zion was the second year hike. We saw two frogs, a stink bug and a deer. When we walked a little farther, we saw the same deer again.  We skipped rocks, saw the Big Dipper and Orion’s belt. Cassidy found an owl!”

 

For some great pics and more stories, check out the E4 and E2 classroom blogs!

[button url=”http://elementary2.fmsparents.com/” target=”_blank” size=”small” style=”coolblue” ]E2 Blog[/button]

[button url=”http://elementary4.fmsparents.com/” target=”_blank” size=”small” style=”coolblue” ]E4 Blog[/button]

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

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In honor of Earth Day (Monday, April 22), all of the FMS classrooms have been learning about ways they can take care of our planet and live in more sustainable ways as part of their units on ecology.

E5 students have committed to reduce their energy usage by taking shorter showers, recycling and unplugging electronics when not in use. They are also learning about the “Story of Stuff” and about how the mass consumption and throwing away of all of this “stuff” is hurting the environment.

They decided to do an “alternative birthday gift registry” as a way to reduce and reuse. Sometimes, new isn’t always better!


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Next week, students are going to Whole Foods to learn about how our food gets to the grocery store and the logistics behind this process. They will also learn how to cut down on wasting food and food packaging containers.

E5 is requesting donations of old t-shirts as part of an “upcycling” project.

For more on what each of the classrooms are doing to learn about the earth and ways to protect it, check out the classroom blogs!

 

 

Field Trips and Fun

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Many students have been out and about on field trips recently, learning in a sensorial, hands-on way.

Primary and Kindergarten students went to the Natural History Museum, where they learned about dinosaurs, sharks, wild animals, fossils and more. They also recently visited the Estes McDoniel Marine Lab, where they explored the many creatures of our amazing oceans.

Elementary recently visited the Nevada History Museum and Springs Preserve. They have now built their own model wagon trains which are now on “a journey.”

Our middle schoolers are now in California at Pali Adventures, which is sure to be a truly unforgettable experience. We will have to wait until Ms. Erica and the rest return to hear all about it!

For more news and a TON of great pics, check out your child’s classroom blog!