Prospect Park Zoo visit

We kicked off our insect unit of study with a visit to the Prospect Park Zoo.  The kids were all so excited to see all the animals before we had an informative class on insects.  Ask your child to sing the insect song that they learned to the tune of "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes".  

Kaylani dressed up as an insect:
6 legs, 3 body parts, 2 antennae, compound eyes and wings.

Karen did not want to touch the Madagascar Hissing Cockroach

Wyatt is observing a mealworm

Observing using a scientist's tools

Regie and Amalia noticed the painting of a chrysalis.

Measurement

What a better way to learn how to use a ruler than to measure your friends??

PIzzeria Uno

We had a blast making our own personal pizzas!  This was a fun was to end our non-fiction writing unit.  We learned all the steps necessary to make a pizza and then wrote about it while our pizzas were cooking in the oven.  We made our own designs with pepperoni, broccoli and cheese, of course.

Ending with some ice cream sundaes!

Happy Holidays!

Thank you everyone again for all of your generous gifts.  We have had a fabulous year so far with all of your wonderful kids and feel truly lucky to have a such a great class.  Enjoy your holidays!  See you all next year!

Ms. Benson and Ms. Hammond

Sharing our holiday traditions in our PJ's

Richmondtown

We took a trip to historic Richmondtown in Staten Island this past week.  Here we visited a tinsmith shop from the 1600's and also learned all about how people used to create light before Thomas Edison invented the lightbulb.  We learned about the betty lamp, sconces, different types of candles and oil lanterns.  Then we were able to make our own candles!  We had to dip them many times in hot wax until they were large enough to use.  

Trying to strike a flint.

And trying...

And trying...we only saw a spark.

The tinsmith shop.
The hurricane for a kerosene oil lantern needs to be
warmed up so it doesn't crack.

Dipping candles.