Dear Fourth and Fifth Grade Families,
Last week, the students began working on the class play Perseus the Brave, which they will present to the families on Wednesday, March 27. Perseus was the Greek son of Zeus and mortal Danae, who went on a quest to slay the Gorgon Medusa. After hearing and reading the story of Perseus, the students received copies of the play. The class read the play aloud throughout the week, switching roles with every scene. The students also took turns acting out different passages of the play, using body language and tone of voice in their acting. After a few days of practice, the students have now been assigned individual roles. They can take their scripts home to memorize the play as long as they return them to school the next day.
The students wrote a nature haiku as an expansion on environmental studies and an introduction to poetry. A haiku, a traditional Japanese poem, consists of 17 syllables in 3 lines that do not rhyme. The students first wrote a haiku about an everyday object in the classroom. As a homework assignment, they were sent outdoors to find inspiration in a natural object or impression to inform their own haikus. The challenge was to express a lot with few words. Afterward, the students shared their poems with the class. The class will continue to explore different forms of poetry during this block.
In form drawing, the students explored linear Greek meandering patterns and designed a Greek shield containing two or three patterns. They had a lot of fun with this activity, when they needed to transform their patterns into a circular form. Some students invented their own patterns, and each student individualized the design with a personal motif in the center of their shield.
Finally, the class worked in teams on the class auction project, a mosaic table. The students worked on the design and glued it on a mosaic mesh. The parents sanded the table and glued the mosaic on top. We are working on the finishing touches and cannot wait to see how it will look once the piece is grouted and completed.
Announcements and Reminders:
Please remind your child to return their homework each Tuesday.
Dress for the weather with layers and send in full rain gear daily (raincoat, rain pants, and boots).
If your child is feeling under the weather, please keep them home to help keep our community healthy.
Upcoming Events:
3/14: Fourth Grade trip to Etowah Mounts
3/15: Teacher In-Service (No School)
3/20: Fourth and Fifth Grade trip to Red Top Mountain
3/27 - 29: School Photos
3/29: Grandfriends Day (12:30 All School Dismissal)
4/1-4/5 Spring Break (No School)
4/23-4/25 5th Grade Pentathlon
4/26 Annual Auction Fundraiser - Half Day
Warm regards,
Ki Gaby
