Secret Santa Book Exchange

Thanks to our most awesome Room Mom, Yvette, we had a super-fun party! She had the greatest idea of combining our Christmas Party with our Chick-Fil-A Nugget party...what a yummy combination of delicious food! Thanks for all of your donations. 

I flaked out on taking photos...I only got a few when we were about to do our Book Exchange. I wanted to let you get a glimpse of their excitement, so be sure to click on the short video segment below. 

Also, I won't give away any secrets before Christmas, but I wanted to be sure that you know...I cannot take any credit for the present that the kids made for you. It was all Yvette and Gina's idea, and they spent a LONG time collecting the supplies for our kids as well as wrapping every single one of them for you. THANK YOU ladies for your heart of service!!

Blubber!!!

Our unit study of Amos and Boris has come to an end. It's been wonderful to hear students using the big vocabulary words such as, "I hope there will be no 'incidents' in our class today," or, "Look at the 'phosphorescent' color of that water!" 

Just to let you know, I am keeping all of the comprehension papers pertaining to Amos and Boris. We have compiled everything into a folder, including the "Part 2" of the story that they wrote and illustrated! They will be returned to you at the Open House/Achievement Expo in the spring. 

We wanted to relate our Language Arts unit to science, so we learned about a variety of whales in the ocean. We also wondered how these warm-blooded mammals could survive in the Arctic Ocean.

The answer is...BLUBBER!! 

We simulated the thick layer of blubber that surrounds the whale by creating a "blubber glove" using Crisco. 

At first, we stuck our bare hands inside of the freezing cold ice water. 

Then, we compared how it would feel inside of the protective coat of our man-made blubber. 

It was pretty amazing how even a 1-2 centimeter thick protection of blubber could keep our hands quite comfortable in the freezing water. 

Don't you love their dramatic faces in these pics??

Good bye, Amos and Boris. It was great spending a couple of weeks with you both!

Chemical Reaction Science Lab

This is one of my FAVORITE science labs...the chemical reaction experiment!

We started off with some Elmer's glue, water, and food coloring.

We had a bowl full of watery glue. 

Next, we added some Borax/water solution...and look...it turned into a brand new substance!

After much kneading in the bag, it was ready to come out and play:) 

They rolled it...

...and bounced it...

...and squished it like crazy!

This brought me so much joy...throughout science, I heard the kids say, "This is the coolest class ever!" and "Aaaawesome!!" Hopefully after today, they will remember the difference between physical change and chemical change:) 

C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S Acrostic Poems

During our Christmas rehearsals, we had a long time to sit and wait. So one of the things I asked the children to do was to write a Christmas Poem, using the beginning letters of the word "Christmas". I did not teach them on what to write except for a quick explanation...I was tickled pink (or red and green) when I saw how CUTE they had turned out. I had to share them with you! (I corrected the spelling and punctuation, but not the words.)

Children that play all day

Hear that they just can't stay

Rejoice to the Lord and don't feel blue

Instead, think about what God did for you

Stay and think of the pain

The Lord did this so you'll stay in the game

May the joy of the Lord help you

As others will feel like goo

Say the Lord is your lifesaver

(Elise)

Christ saved us all
He is mighty God

Rejoice His name

In three days He rose again

Savior is so powerful

The Savior is alive

Merry Christmas to you

And we will be forgiven

Savior is God!

(Ade)

Carol of the bells

Harps, strings

Rejoice in our Lord

It's an amazing time

Savior is God!

To our Lord!

Merry CHRISTMAS!

A Lord that awesome

See everyone on Christmas

(RJ)

Can you see the Bethlehem star?

Has the Lord talk to you?

Rejoice in the Lord for He is good

Is the star bright?

Santa is not the reason of Christmas

To the Town of Bethlehem was a child, His name is Jesus

Mary gave birth to Jesus

And God is Jesus' Son

Son of Christ

(Marina)

Christmas songs

Hearts of joy

Reading His word

It is Christmas

Staying at church longer

Trusting the Lord

Merry Christmas

A light of Christmas joy

Santa is here

(Natalie)

Can you see the Bethlehem star?

Happy is the way to go

Rejoice for He is good

Is Santa real?

Santa is awesome

Team Jesus is the way to go

Mary gave birth to Jesus

Abraham found the ten commandments

Santa gives you presents

(Marissa)

Christ is born under the star

He who is born in Bethlehem

Rejoice for He is born

In three days He came down again

Salute to Him for He is alive!

The true God is Jesus

Merry Christmas to Jesus

All to His for it is His day

Savior's birthday is Christmas

(Faith)

Christmas is because of Jesus

Have a super Christmas

Running over to Bethlehem

I love Christmas

Son of God is Jesus

Time to get presents

Merry Christmas to everybody

A time of happy families

Santa is real, not fake

(Seth)

Christmas is about the Lord

He is our Savior and God

Read His word and rejoice

In His word do what's right

Stay and read His word

To obey Him read His word

Merry Christmas is what He says

And be good to obey Him, too

So all is Him; He is Jesus

(Joy)

Christmas is fun

Holidays are fun

Rejoice God's word

I love Christmas

Santa is not real

Trees such as Christmas are cool

Merry Christmas

Ask Santa for presents

Santa is fat

(Hunter)

Carolers singing

Harps playing

Reading the Bible

It is an amazing Christmas

Sitting by the fire

Talking and laughing

Moments that we enjoy

All of this is what I wanted

See, this is a perfect Christmas

(Taleah)

Cool enough to get stuffed

Hot chocolate makes me rock it

Round and round oh we go

It's time for snow balls!

See ya later Santa!

Tip top cookies

Mummy Christmas

Acts of Christ

Santa steals the gifts

(Sirr)

Can you hear that

How could it be

Rows and rows

I can't believe this

SANTA

The toy I had was

Micky it is a doll

Although I would enjoy some thing else

SANTA Claus!

(Zac)

Christ is my Savior

He is all powerful

Rejoice His name

In hail His name

Savior is my father

The Messiah died and rose on the third day

My Father's name is Jesus

And Jesus lives in heaven

Savior is all mighty

(Amari)

Can you be happy

Hats are fun to wear

Rudolph the red nosed reindeer

In your house you feel safe

Santa Claus is coming to town

Toys are what Santa brings

Merry Christmas

Are you playing a trick on me?

Santa is wonderful

(Lee)

Christmas your friend

Heroic holidays but Christmas

Races smiley faces

Illness gone

Super Christmas

Tell everyone it's a 

Merry Christmas

Alike with celebration

Stop! It's about Jesus

(Jackson)

Fantastic Field Trip to Discovery Cube

We had SUCH a great day on Friday at the Discovery Cube! Thank you to all the chaperones who stayed on their feet all morning and tried to keep up with energetic 3rd graders! 

There were SO many things to explore. Um...boys, you were supposed to be simulating FLIGHT, not FIGHT! (They resorted to pummeling each other with the wings, all in good fun, of course:))

The boys were thrilled to see a few hockey activities. They stopped many potential goals!

This was an area where the kids could learn about recycling.

Mr. Hockey here was right at home!

There were Legos to build...

...and harps to play...

...and grocery shopping to do!

Here are some happy shoppers!

They used their muscles to climb up the wall...

...and to pull themselves up using the pulley.

Mrs. Jacobs had the great idea of having our photo taken:) We rarely get to appear in our blog, so here we are! I am thankful to the Lord to have such an amazing, godly teaching partner. She's the best!!

One of their favorites was the rocket launching area. 

After the 2 hour exploration time, we walked to the park and had a picnic lunch on the grass area. (Sorry, no pictures. I was too hungry.)

Thank You, Jesus, for the excitement of SCIENCE that You have created, and thank You for holding the rain for us so that we could have an enjoyable field trip day. What a blessing!