Five Beautiful Butterflies!

The children have had such fun watching our five caterpillars change into pupa and form coverings over their bodies called a chrysalis. This week they saw five beautiful butterflies slowly come out of their chrysalis. 

 We have read books about the life cycle of the butterfly. And we have watched, written and recorded the various stages in our writing journals. The children have been fascinated by our butterfly science project, and it has been a wonderful learning experience for the whole class.

On Friday,  April 30th, all of the second grade classes will release our butterflies on the school playground at 2 p.m. The butterflies are now ready to fly away to find flowers from which to get their food. 

B.E.A.R. Week At Parkside....Calling all Teddy Bears!!

April 26th - April 30th is B.E.A.R. Week at Parkside Elementary School. (Be Excited About Reading)  One of the many events planned is to have students participate in an at home reading program on the nights of April 26th, April 27th, and april 28th.  Our goal is to have students read 20 minutes per night...or more... and receive a donated book in the library. This year South Sound Reading Foundation will provide the books.

Students who read at least 60 minutes will also be eligible to participate in a drawing for a girl's scooter and a boy's scooter. The scooters have been donated by the Tenino Masons.

Students need to return the B.E.A.R. Bookmark on Thursday, April 29th to the classroom. The top readers from each grade will also be honored.

My goal is to have every child in Room 7 return their completed bookmarks. Thank you all in advance for your help in this worthwhile event.  

American Painted Lady Caterpillars ...to Butterflies

Have the children told you yet about the cup of American Painted Lady caterpillars that we have in the classroom? We have watched the larva hatch and grow from a quarter of an inch long to fat caterpillars over that are over an inch long.

The children have had a lot of fun observing the caterpillars eat and spin their silk threads that help them move around. The caterpillars shed their skin several times as they grow hundreds of times their original size.

We'll keep you posted on their progress!

I.T.B.S. Testing is Going Well

We are in our third day of testing. We have just one more day of testing to go. The children have all done a super job of listening to the test directions. They all have tried their best, and I am very proud of them.  

Later this afternoon we will have a special assembly. The assembly will focus on a juggling act. This will be a welcome break for all of us.