Read below for a recap on the happenings in the Specialists areas at Falcon Ridge:
Falcon
Ridge Specialists Trimester 1 Newsletter
Art
Kindergarten:
During
our first semester in Art, kindergarteners worked on learning some of the
elements of art including: line, shape, color, texture, and pattern. We also
have been working on learning how to properly use and care for a large variety
of supplies like: watercolors, tempera paint, paintbrushes, crayons, glue sticks,
scissors, and texture plates. Our second project was an artist study of Jasper
Johns and his many number paintings.
Grade
1:
In
Art, the first grade students worked on creating unique patterns using crayons
and watercolors. We worked on identifying both a-b-a-b and a-b-c-a-b-c
patterns. For our second project, we created multi-colored leaf prints using
Styrofoam and markers. We focused on the different types, shapes, and details
we see in leaves. The third project taught us about self-portraits and symmetry.
We used primary colored watercolors to create a symmetrical background design.
We discovered how we can move our bodies into different types of symmetrical
poses and drew an image of ourselves over our paintings.
Grade
2:
We
started the year by creating 3D paper sculptures. We focused on our elements of art including
line, shape, color, space, and pattern.
We then did an artist study of Wayne Thiebaud and learned about his
detailed cakes. We started by using an online program to develop ideas for
designing and decorating our cakes. We then drew our cakes using oil pastels.
We worked on shading to make our cake drawings look real! Lastly, this Trimester
we are doing an artist study on James Rizzi. We are designing cityscapes based
on Rizzi’s colorful and cartoon inspired paintings.
Grade
3:
We
started with a study of hand designs from India called henna. We traced our
hands on watercolor paper and added detailed designs inside the shape of our
hands using sharpies. We then used a watercolor technique called wet-on-wet to
add and blend colors in the background behind our hand. We also started our printmaking unit with
emotional self-portraits. We first learned how to draw the face accurately
using fractions by drawing eyes on the 1/2 line, nose on the 1/4 line, and mouth
on the 1/8 line. We then worked on adding details to our self-portraits to
portray a specific emotion.
Grade
4:
We
started with a review of the elements of art, including: line, shape, color,
texture, and form to create our soft metal tooling project. Our metal pieces pop up and stand out with
metallic colors. We also did an artist study on Edward Degas and his dancing
figures. We started by discussing and looking at many different styles of
dance. We then created our sculptures by making an armature out of tinfoil. We
then covered the tinfoil in plaster cloth and painted on details to make our
dancers look real using acrylic paint.
Grade
5:
We
started the school year by creating unique radial symmetry designs inspired by
the mandalas created by Buddhist Monks in Tibet. We incorporated our elements
of design into our images, including line, shape, color, value, and balance.
The second project that we are working on is called Op Art where we use lines,
contrast, and shading to “trick” the eye into seeing a flat drawing as a
3-dimensional drawing that pops out at the viewer. We studied masters of
optical illusion including M.C. Escher and Bridget Riley. We added color to our
pictures using watercolor pencils that look like colored pencil until you brush
over the colors with water to blend and smooth the colors together. See our
masterpieces on display at the 5th grade showcase night in December.
Media
Kindergarten:
Your
kindergartner has been learning the procedures of the school media center and
how libraries work. They are checking out books and are showing
responsibility for returning them. We are studying the author and illustrator
Nancy Carlson and look forward to her visit on December 20! We are
starting to add a lot more computer activities to our lessons as they learn to
handle headphones, logging in, entering, and exiting programs. Soon we
will explore the MN Star of the North Picture Book Award nominees!
1st
Grade:
First
graders are hard at work practicing how to use a school library. They are
getting better at checking out at least one book at their reading level.
They are so excited to find books that interest them. We are
studying the author and illustrator Nancy Carlson and look forward to her visit
on December 20! We have been using iPads in the media center to explore her
books and her illustrations. Soon we will explore the MN Star of the
North Picture Book Award nominees!
Second
Grade:
Second
graders are curious, they are developing a taste for what they want to read.
They are not shy in asking for those tastes! It's exciting to watch
them work together to find books that interest them now that they are able to
read longer books. We are studying the author and illustrator Nancy
Carlson and look forward to her visit on December 20! We have been using
iPads in the media center to explore her books and her illustrations.
Soon we will explore the MN Star of the North Picture Book Award
nominees!
Third
Grade:
Third
graders have been busy working on using print and non-print dictionaries.
We've been previewing new titles that have arrived in the media center.
The kids are really getting into a lot of non-fiction lately. We
will be incorporating a lot of computer skills into our lessons. They will be
learning the basics of emailing, responding to online discussions, and
producing an project on their research.
We are
studying the author and illustrator Nancy Carlson and look forward to her visit
on December 20! We have been using iPads in the media center to explore her
books and her illustrations.
Fourth
Grade:
Besides
reviewing procedures on how to use our school library, the kids are learning
how to identify keywords in which to search the internet for specific topics.
They are beginning to understand how the internet works, especially
how a browser searches on the words they type. They are learning this
directly impacts their search results. This is a tough skill for them!
We've been using iPads to scan QR codes to examine the Minnesota Maud
Hart Lovelace Book Award nominees. We've even learned how to create our
own QR code! We will be turning our attention to state research soon.
Fifth
Grade:
Besides
reviewing procedures on how to use our school library, the kids are learning
how to identify keywords in which to search the internet for specific topics.
They are beginning to understand how the internet works, especially
how a browser searches on the words they type. They are learning this
directly impacts their search results. We've been using iPads to scan QR
codes to examine the Minnesota Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award nominees.
We've even learned how to create our own QR code!
We
will begin to focus on creating a book trailer video. The purpose of the
video will be to culminate the many technology skills they have acquired,
express their creativity, and share a special book they've enjoyed with others.
Music
Kindergarten:
Kindergarten
music during the fall trimester has been focused on exploring the voice and
experiencing music by moving and playing instruments to a steady beat. Students
learned and practiced the four different ways to use the voice: singing,
speaking, whispering, and shouting. Next,
we will focus on high and low sounds by learning how to sing a major scale
using solfeg syllables (do-re-mi-etc.). We will also play the scale on
xylophones and boomwhackers!
Grade 1:
In the first
few weeks of first grade music, students reviewed steady beat, rhythms, and the
four different ways to use the voice.
Recently, students have been learning about musical forms. The students have learned songs in
verse-refrain form and call-and-response form.
Each of these forms is made up of two parts. The students practice
recognizing the difference between the two parts by playing different rhythms
or performing different movements. At the end of each class, we play a game or
learn a dance.
Grade 2:
The
beginning of our second grade year in music focused on our singing voices. We reviewed the four different ways to use
the voice and practiced singing alone and in a group. Second grade students have also been
reviewing the procedures for Orff instruments and practicing proper technique
for playing these instruments. In the song, “Starlight,” we practiced
improvising four-beat phrases on the Orff instruments and playing a steady beat
while singing. Recently, the second graders have been reviewing note values by
adding combinations of notes and rests.
Grade 3:
The third
grade students have been working hard to polish their rhythm skills and learn
notes on the treble clef staff in preparation for their recorder unit, which
will begin as we go into the second trimester.
The students will learn the notes B, A, G, E and D this year. This is a
great opportunity for students to practice performing music by reading the
notes and rhythms on the staff. Thank you, parents, for your support in
learning to play the recorder!
Grade 4:
The fourth
graders started off the school year reviewing rhythm and note values. We also
played games and activities to review the notes on the treble clef staff. Recently, we’ve been playing as an ensemble
on the Orff instruments. Students have practiced playing a melody and an
ostinato on these instruments. As the second trimester approaches, the fourth
graders will begin their recorder unit. This year, we will complete the notes
in our C major scale!
Grade 5:
The fifth
graders started off the school year reviewing rhythm, note values, and notes on
the treble clef and bass clef staff.
Recently, we’ve been playing as an ensemble on the Orff instruments. In
the song, “We Give Thanks,” the fifth graders played the instruments in
two-part harmony and learned a more advanced “cross-over” technique on the Orff
instruments. As the second trimester
approaches, the fifth graders will begin a composer unit on George Frideric
Handel. The students will study one of his many famous musical compositions and
end the unit by composing their own original piece! The fifth grade Band and Choir also have
their Showcase Concert coming up on December 12
from 6 – 6:30 p.m.
Physical Education
Kindergarten
– First Grade:
During the
first trimester our students in Kindergarten and first grade focused on
learning some fitness test events, without actually getting their scores
recorded. They were able to run around
the High School Track as well as learn the shuttle run, sit and reach, sit-ups,
and pull-ups/flexed arm hang tests. They
also played some fun tag games called Major Mouse, Stuck in the Mud, and Summer
Sharing Tag. Our younger students worked
on learning some of the basic skills in bowling, soccer, volleyball, gymnastics,
and dance. It has been a fun and
exciting first trimester introducing new activities and skills to many new
students at Falcon Ridge.
Second
Grade - Fifth Grade:
Our second
through fifth grade students worked on many activities and skills during the
first trimester. Many of these
activities are similar to the Kindergarten and first grade students. We progressively increase the skill level as
the child gets older and often times incorporate fun and exciting games to go
along with these skills. We like to
start the school year out with games including cooperation and team work. We did this through Deserted Island, Power
Tag, and Capture the Flag. Ask your
child how these games require teamwork and cooperation! As well as cooperation activities we
performed our physical fitness tests to get a baseline for the year. Other units we accomplished during the first
trimester were football, soccer, bowling, dance, gymnastics/tumbling, and
volleyball.
We are
excited to announce that we have started a “Word Wall” to incorporate literacy
in the Physical Education setting. Each
week we focus on a specific word that goes along with the unit we are
teaching. We often times refer back to
this word throughout the week and talk about how the word can have more than
one meaning. For example, we talk about
how dribbling looks different in soccer than it does in basketball or
hockey. These words are then placed on
the wall in the gym to refer back to as we move on to different units
throughout the school year. It is fun to
see the students make the connection between a new word and something else they
are doing in a different setting. Some
of the words we have incorporated so far are: pace, flexibility, dribble, bump,
spiral, agility, rhythm, and strike.
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