This picture shows A. solving one of the hardest puzzles– the candle! We also solved the boxed arrow! It was a great first day!

Next week we are going to start our first unit. We will be studying Mars!

Hope to see you there!

Here are a few interesting facts from today:

• The shuttle travels at a speed of 17,500 miles per hour.  This is 5x the speed of a bullet.
• When astronauts orbit the earth, they see 16 sunrises in one earth day.
• When astronauts get off of the shuttle, they are one inch taller because fluid builds up in their vertebrae.
• The rocket boosters are assembled in Utah and shipped to Kennedy Space Center in Florida by train.
• The “Crawler” that takes the shuttle to the launch pad takes 150 gallons of fuel to go one mile!

A view from the plane. I love looking at the clouds.  I wish we had our own classroom jet!

The bus that picked us up at the airport.  When I got off the plane, two people from the US Space and Rocket Center were waiting in their flight suits for us!

I’m ready for a busy, and quite full, week of learning!

.

On April 12 and 13, Hillsboro Elementary Census Bureau is making the rounds to administer and collect a Census from every student in the school.  Following weeks of research about what a Census is, how it can help the community, and how often it occurs, 3rd and 4th graders developed a Census for our school.  The purpose of our census was to make everyone count and we hope to use the data to make a real improvement in our school.  Afterall, that’s what the power of data is all about!

Hillsboro Elementary Census Bureau badge-bearers entered classrooms at scheduled times, gave a short speech about the importance of the Census, and then passed out a survey to each student.  One third grader was heard saying, “Hey, my mom filled out a Census!”  The next time the Census rolls around, these kids will be filling out the US Census for themselves!  Time flies when your learning…and having fun!

We will be placing an order soon for GATE T-Shirts!  The shirts will be black with white print. Shirts are $6.25/ All students will have the opportunity to pick up an order form in class this week.  Or, you may DOWNLOAD the order form here.  Please have ALL shirt orders to Mrs. Venosdale by Friday, February 5, 2010.

This morning, GATE6 students gathered to talk about the earthquake that occurred in Haiti.    Students decided that we could work together to DO SOMETHING for this country in need.  After we checked out Haiti’s location on Google Earth, we realized it was smaller compared to our own country, but the need is certainly GREAT.    Students immediately began brainstorming ideas.   We needed posters to hang in the halls.  We needed a short speech to read on the morning announcements.  We could work together, collecting donations.   Our plan is simple:  we would cut out hundreds of small red hearts.  Students will work in teams to provide hearts to anyone who stops by the table in the mornings to give a donation.  The hearts will be hung in the halls of our school to show our support for Haiti.  We are sure about one thing: no donation is too small.  Every penny will count in Haiti!

A 6th grade student created this video to show the need to help:  Hearts For Haiti

Another 6th grade student designed a website for the project!

If you would like to help with our project, stop by our table before Morning Announcements to make a donation.  You will receive a heart to hang in our Intermediate School’s hallway.  Following the collection, all proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross for Haiti.

The project will run from Monday, January 25 to Friday, February 12, 2010!   Thank you for your support!

If YOUR school would like to join in this project, check out our project blog at: http://classroomheartsforhaiti.blogspot.com/ We would love to recieve a picture of your school’s wall filled with Hearts for Haiti!  Please check it out!