SNOW!

Maybe you are wondering why doesn't it snow more often in Bastrop, Texas? What causes it to snow?

You can make your own snowflake.... http://snowflakes.barkleyus.com/

Welcome Back!

I am glad to see everyone again after the long break. Was is long enough for you to do everything you wanted to do? I know I could've used another day or two to get my Christmas decorating done. I know not everyone is getting ready for Christmas, some celebrate the holiday of Hannukah instead at this time of the year. If you are doing that instead, I was wondering if you could share a little bit about that holiday with me by leaving a comment.

I have created a new blog for the 4th grade students to use with grade level specific studies. I have attached a link to it.

Please add a comment to this blog or any of my previous ones. I wonder, "Does anyone read this?"

Thanksgiving

Why do we celebrate
Thanksgiving? What are some other holidays that are
similiar to Thanksgiving? What will you do for Thanksgiving this year?

Astronomy Night

Friday the 13th, the Lady Bird Johnson Nature Center in Austin will host an astronomy night from 6-9 p.m.

Veterans Day

Do you want to know about Veterans Day? Click on the link of the week labeled "Veterans Day". There is a really cool kids' area you can check out!

skype

Our skype lesson with a second grade class in Westbury, NY was amazing! The second graders made some really great riddles and pictures to go along with them.

When you are at an elementary school you are always ready to expect the unexpected. Something unexpected happened during our lesson. The other school had an unannounced fire drill and we were quickly staring at an empty classroom. It wasn't long though before the other students were back in their room, and we were able to finish our lesson.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Although I am still testing, I am excited that I will get away for a little bit to participate with Mrs. Stephens' class in a Skype lesson talking to other kids in New York! Both classes have read the book Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Then they created riddles about food raining down from the sky for the other kids to guess! I can't wait!

Check out this really cool site for activities that relate to the weather and the book. http://www.teachingheart.net/weather.htm

3rd grade

3rd grade try out the following web pages
http://gardenofpraise.com/matter.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/science/activities/solids_liquids.shtml
Interactive--changing properties of matter... Grades 2-4

http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=changingstate
interactive-changing properties of matter--Grades 2-4
fun activity that allows a print option for assessment

Answers about the Nobel Peace Prize

Good Job! Students have successfully answered the question about the Nobel Peace Prize Winners. There have been three other presidents who have won the prize. Read the comment section of the last post to find out who they were.

Check out the following site to get more information about the Nobel Peace Prize.
www.wikipedia/wiki/nobel_peace_prize

Nobel Peace Prize

It was recently announced that President Obama will be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Has any other president in our nation been awarded this honor? If so, who was it? Also, what exactly is the Nobel Peace Prize and why would someone receive this award? Find the correct answers and list them in the comment section of this post. Or write the answers down on a sheet of notebook paper and bring it to me.

Silent Auction at Fall Festival

Fall Festival

Thursday October 22nd

5:30-7:30 p.m.

Students and parents, we need help gathering donations, or items for the Silent Auction to be held at the Fall Festival. We will be putting together some small baskets to be auctioned along with various other items and/or gift certificates. The money raised will be used for field trips and equipment and supplies needed for the GT classess. Please contact Blanche Underwood or Peggy Perkins to donate, help at the auction, or if you need more information.

bunderwood@bastrop.isd.tenet.edu

pperkins@bastrop.isd.tenet.edu

Open House

Open House- Monday- October 5th,-5:30-7:30

Please stop by Room 101 for a visit on Monday. See ya!!

Museums

I hope others got to check out some of the museums this past Sunday for the Austin Museum Day. Luckily I was able to visit four different ones. I went to the Computer Museum and saw some amazing older pieces of technology, games, and robots. At the Mexic-Arte museum , people were making paper mache heads! The Texas Music Museum had loads of information about many musicans and a live band was playing! There was a very interesting exhibit respresenting the life and works of Edgar Allan Poe at the Ramson Center on the University of Texas campus! I learned so much about this famous writer.

I had a great educational experience at the museums. Please send me a post on the comment section of this blog, and tell me about your museum experiences; even if it was not this weekend, but any time you can remember.

WIND

This week we are learning about the wind. We are making pin wheels, checking the weather forecasts for wind direction and speed. We will also be making a wind sock, barometer, and another invention to see if we can capture tiny particles that blow with the wind.
The local Wal Mart donated some Betta Fish to our school. The 2nd graders are keeping a daily journal about the fish in their classroom. The students will be feeding and taking care of the ones in Room 101 and the integration lab.
Remember to ask your 3rd and 4th grader about the word of the week.... altruism.

Free museum visits in Austin

Students and parents..... Check this out.... Austin Museum Partnership is hosting the annual Austin Museum Day on Sunday, September 20, 2009.... FREE!
website link http://www.austinmuseums.org/

How Hot Air Balloons Work

Try this site to see how hot air balloons work. Also, great site to see how "lots of stuff" works.
http://videos.howstuffworks.com/howstuffworks/43-how-hot-air-balloons-work-video.htm

We had a great week learning a bit about hot air balloons and heat. We made model air balloons and flew them. We use kidspiration and wordle to help us with our word of the week, "prodigious". Third and Fourth graders will have a new word on Monday. With the younger students, the word of the week was "nourish". We will still be working on that one a little longer. Some of the students have become pretty quick on solving the "Daily Puzzle". A few fourth graders were able to begin researching a little bit about wind. We will spend some time this upcoming week discovering more about wind and wind currents.

In the GT classroom we will be very busy focusing on our theme, "Are you "UP" for an adventure?" I decided on this theme after I watched the movie "UP" over the summer. It inspired me to want to get UP and take a balloon ride myself and to learn more about ballooning. So, one of the first things we will be focusing on is learning a little more about hot air balloons, and building our very own model.... so we too can take an adventure!! I am looking forward to all the interesting activities I have planned for this theme. I hope you will too.

If you could go anywhere in the world today, where would you go? Why would you pick that particular place to go? Please take a moment to post your thoughts here on my blog spot!

Welcome! You have found Mrs. Perkins's GT blogspot! Here students will find information and links to help them throughout the school year with GT assignments, projects, and adventures. Feel free to come often and be sure to comment before you leave. Mrs. P.