May 2006                                                                    Third Issue

Our Trip to Minuteman Park
By Jovanni
     On Tuesday, May 2 our class went on a field trip to Minuteman National Park. When we got off the bus we had to go down a path to get to the museum. At the end of the path we met a Patriot and a Park Ranger. They were going to show us around. Next our class went to see a movie. The movie was about the British verses the Patriots. There was a map with red lights for the British and blue lights for the Patriots. The lights also showed the route that Paul Revere took to warn people that the British were coming.
     After the movie we went to another room in the museum where the Patriot tested out brains about the movie. At the end the Patriot showed us a bullet hole made in wood. My favorite part was when the Patriot shot the musket twice. 

Concert
By Riana
     On May 4 and 5 the third graders did a recorder concert. They sang and played five songs. The first one was "I've Been to Harlem". Five people played an instrument and the rest sang. The second song they played was "Ten Little Angels". It was a really fun piece to play. Then Mrs. Hauser's class played "Chocolate Cinnamon". During this song Safa and Zach played two different instruments. Next Mrs. Durkin's class played "Red Sails". Then Mrs. Barker's class played "Sally on the Seesaw". After Mrs. Barker's class played their song, the whole third grade played along with Mozart. It was really fun. I hope you liked the concert! 

Playing Volleyball
By Quinten
     Playing volleyball in gym is fun. During gym on Mondays and Wednesdays we do different things, but recently we have started playing volleyball. Hitting it and not making it fall is really fun. We're not on teams yet. Our gym teacher's name is Mr. Banks and he is nice. He makes us work a lot! I don't care about struggling because I know it makes you stronger and healthier. 
These are the rules of volleyball. Throw the ball in the air and then hit it. This is called serving. Then, once you hit the ball, the other person hits it back. Once the ball falls on the ground you start all over and do the rules again! 

Yo! Weather!
By Jongwon
     In the beginning of April the weatherman Joe Venuti came to our school. Mr. Venuti came into Mrs. Barker's classroom and Mrs. Hauser's classroom. Our class went to one of their rooms to see him. The weatherman had a cart and a box with him. He had a huge bottle, extra empty bottles, and a bottle that had black at the bottom with green water! I'm guessing he used food coloring. He taught us about weather and how hurricanes and tornadoes work. This is important because you need to know what to do when a tornado comes and other dangerous matters. I have to say, weather is pretty interesting. I mean, yeah!
     Mr. Venuti asked questions and did experiments. One of the experiments he did was a favorite of his called the big bottle experiment. It's about the water cycle. The second one was about, well, about everybody should know this experiment. It's the hurricane bottle experiment (that's what I call it). Two bottles are put together and then you shake them. The third experiment used the bottle with the green water. You go somewhere sunny, and then twirl and shake at the same time. Then you see a tornado! Boooossh! He said that you could do one of the experiments at home. You could also find him at home- you could look at him on the Internet! 
What did I say? Oh yeah, yo, weather! 

Clay Penguins in Art
By Madi
     Do you want to know how to make a clay penguin? In art we're making clay penguins. It's pretty easy. All you have to do is follow these steps:
Step 1: Find a piece of clay. (One that turns white after cooking.)
Step 2: Press down really hard on the clay to get rid of the air bubbles so when you cook it, it doesn't explode.
Step 3: Make the clay into a sphere.
Step 4: Cut it in half.
Step 5: Put your thumb half way through (the thumb on the hand you write with) and pinch and turn. When you're done you should be able to put both of your thumbs in the hole.
Step 6: Score and slip. Score and slip is when you make marks on the rim of both halves of clay. Then put a mixture of clay and water on the rim.
Step 7: Take a piece of newspaper and put it in one of the halves of clay. Put the two halves of clay together.
Step 8: There will be some space between the two halves of clay. What you do is get a rolling pin and start rolling and hitting it with a rolling pin. 
Step 9: Get another piece of clay and make it a sphere. That will be the penguins head.                                Step 10: Score and slip on the bottom of the head and where you're putting it.
Step 11: Cut a hole in the bottom. It should be about the size of a quarter. Then take the newspaper out. 
Step 12: Roll a coil and cut it into five three-inch logs. 
Step 13: Add feet, wings, a beak, and a tail. (Score and slip to put them on.)
Step 14: Put your name on one of its feet.
Step 15: Put your penguin in a kiln.
Step 16: Paint your penguin with glaze. Glaze is a special kind of paint for clay. 
     If you do try making a clay penguin, I hope it comes out well! 

Colonial School
By Peter
     This year we have been studying the Pilgrims and colonial days. We have learned about colonial school. A typical colonial school is different from a normal, modern school because in a modern school you learn things like math or science. In colonial school you reviewed sentences, went over the Bible, and learned about discipline. 
     Our class acted out being in a colonial school. The experiment of being in a colonial school was fun. When it was the boys' turn (because every boy would be separately taught from the girls) the boys got most of the punishments. My best friend volunteered to wear a dunce cap!