UK in Bette's Class

Dear Families,

Early release day. Kind of stressful, but at least we got everyone home safe.

• If you can come to the music play this Friday it will be performed at 8:50, seating at 8:40.
• Christine is doing "Gift of Words" in library. Her note was sent home last week. They will share them on Dec. 21. Help your child remember. It's a really great activity and the ones who forget might scramble at the last minute, but they miss out  on the good feeling of choosing a great passage.
• We've been learning a lot about the UK. Especially, that the possible topics are vast! I decided that, instead of trying to be comprehensive I would see what arises as interests for the kids.
• The Multicultural Fair is next Thursday evening, December 21. Here's what we are working on:

The English Chunnel (the tunnel under the English Channel that connects to France): we watched part of a documentary about how it was built, reports are being written and we plan to make a "Chunnel" in that little hallway you go through to get into our room. (Not sure how we're doing it yet, might involve cardboard or sheets. I've learned to wait for the crafty students to generate ideas, then facilitate;)

Guy Fawkes

Wales,

Stonehenge

Scotland

Architecture

Folk Tales

Remembrance Day

Loch Ness Monster (we're making a paper mache model, so please send in newspaper if you have any!)

Queen Elizabeth II, including her dogs

Language: comparing British and American English.

We've been reading Robin Hood in Olde English. On the last day before break I plan to show the 1938 version of the movie.

I am attaching a recipe for salt dough clay. If you can make a batch and send it in, we can use it for making models.

In math, 3rd graders have been working on subtracting across zeroes and 4th grade has been working on double digit multiplication and today we are going to start learning about the long division algorithm.

Salt Dough Clay

  1/2 cup cornstarch

  1 cup baking soda

  3/4 cup water

  cookie cutters

  for fun: embossed rolling pins and craft paint

  optional: food coloring (if you want to make colored dough, add the food coloring to the water before you mix it in.)

Instructions

1.    In a medium sized pot combine the cornstarch, baking soda, and water. Stir over medium heat. After a couple of minutes, the mixture will begin to thicken. When it looks like smooth, mashed potatoes, remove the pot from the heat. Spoon the ball of dough into a bowl and cover it with a damp cloth or plastic wrap until it's cool. When it's cool, knead it on a smooth surface (I use my silicone mat for this. I use this mat about 3 times a week while baking.) until smooth and silky. Add more cornstarch if it feels too sticky and/or sticks to the surface.

2.    *You can let the ornaments air dry over night in a warm place or you can bake them.

3.    To bake them:

4.    Preheat oven to 175 degrees F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll out clay to 1/4 inch thick on a silicone mat lightly dusted with cornstarch. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Transfer shapes to the prepared baking sheet. You can use a straw to make a hole at the top of the ornament so you can add ribbon later to hang    it. We used a bamboo skewer. Place them in the oven for about an hour, turning them over halfway through cooking.