Happy Sunday, everyone!

Today's Leader is...Perry the Macaw!  Perry loves to read.  This is one of his favorite books-it's by one of our favorite author-illustrator teams, Helen Lester and Lynn Munsinger!  Princess Penelope's Parrot

Today is May 31, 2020.

Virtual Field Trips: Indianapolis Zoo: Macaws and San Diego Zoo Kids: Macaws

I got to work with a scarlet macaw at the Virginia Zoo:

I hope you get to see a macaw sometime!  They're amazing animals!

Have a super Sunday!

Love,

Mrs. Cole

Happy Saturday, animal lovers!

Today's Leader is...Giggles the Hyena!  Giggles loves this hyena book: Henry Hyena, Why Won't You Laugh?

Today is May 30, 2020.

Here is a virtual field trip that shows elephants, zebras, hyenas, and more! African Field Trip
And, here is more interesting information! Nat Geo Kids: Hyenas

I hope you're having an amazing weekend so far!  Did you go swimming or have ice cream?
Love,
Mrs. Cole

Happy Friday, all!

Today's Leader is...Izzie the Zebra!  Izzie loves this zebra book: How Zebras Got Their Stripes

Today is May 30, 2020.

Izzie and Darla have been learning some new words in French:

zebra: zèbre (ZAY-breh)
wild: sauvage (SO-vaje)

Try these!  Where would you put the quotation marks?

We can run so fast! said Lucy.

Did you hear that noise? asked Petra.

Mali said, I want to go, too!

Today's Math Challenge! Which is more money-the red combination or the blue combination?

3 dimes, 4 nickels, 5 pennies   OR    4 dimes, 2 nickels, 1 penny

2 dimes, 2 nickels, 2 pennies   OR   1 dime, 5 nickels,  3 pennies

Extra challenge!  A quarter is worth 25 cents. Can you find 2 combinations of pennies, nickels, and dimes to make 25 cents?

Today's Special is...Library!  Be sure to check out the district's Library Resources page!

Virtual Field Trip: Disney's New Zebra Foal

And, some more zebra facts: Nat Geo Kids: Zebras and here: Freeschool Zebras and here! SciKids: Zebras

Here is a zebra I saw at the Como Zoo in Minneapolis:

Are you looking forward to the weekend? It was so warm outside this week!  Do you think there will be any thunder later?  Enki does NOT like thunder. He hides under my chair!

Love,
Mrs. Cole

Happy Thursday, everyone!

Today's Leader is...Ringo the Coatimundi!  I don't have a coati story, but I do have a fun drawing activity to share with you: Ready Set Draw: Coatimundi

Today is May 28, 2020.

Ringo and Darla have been learning some new words in Spanish:

coatimundi: coatimundi (co-AH-tee-MUN-dee)
raccoon: mapache (MAH-PAH-chay)

Try these!  Look at the first sentence.  Then, tell where you would put quotation marks in the second sentence. Don't forget other punctuation and upper/lower case!

"Let's run home!" yells Carl. ----> lets walk on the beach yells jean

"Did you see that?" asked Joe. ----> did you hear that asked anna

Today's Math Challenge!

Draw 3 nickels and 2 pennies (you can use an N for a nickel and a P for a penny). How much money is that in all?

Draw 2 dimes and 7 pennies. How much money is that?

Extra challenge! Draw a few dimes, a few nickels, and a few pennies.  How much money is that?  HINT: Start with the coin that is worth the most.

Today's Special is...P.E.! I am sure you have been doing a lot of biking, swimming, and playing outside!  Try the challenge in the weekly schedule, or keep a journal for a few days about your activities.  What things do you do the most?

Virtual Field Trip: Animal Adventure Park: Coatimundi

Here is a coatimundi that Mr. Cole and I saw in Costa Rica-we were hiking on a volcano trail and suddenly there were over 30 adult and baby coatis all around us! It was hard to get a picture because they move so fast!

I hope you had fun learning about coatimundi!  They are an awesome animal.  I hope you get to see one in the wild someday-it's amazing!

Love,

Mrs. Cole

Happy Wednesday, friends!

Today's Leader is...Desi the Camel!  Desi is a dromedary camel, and has only 1 hump.  Check out this camel book: The Camel and the Pig

Today is May 27, 2020.

I know you like origami, so I thought you would like this fun Origami Camel craft!

I hope you're having a great week!  Can you believe it is Wednesday already?

Love,
Mrs. Cole 

Happy Tuesday, friends!

Today's Leader is...Marsi the Sugar Glider!  Here's a great nonfiction book about sugar gliders: Sugar Gliders

Today is May 26, 2020.

Marsi and Darla have been learning some new words in French:

fly: voler (VO-lay)
sugar glider: phalanger volant (FA-lon-jay VO-lont)

Try these! Look at the quotation marks in the first sentence.  Where would you put them in the second sentence?  Watch for commas and other punctuation, and upper/lower case, too.

"Let's go to the beach," he said. ------>  let's go to the store she said

I asked, "When will eat lunch?" ---> she asked will we bake a cake

Today's Math Challenge!  How much money?  Remember to count pennies by 1s, nickels by 5s, dimes by 10s, and quarters by 25.
                                         

Extra challenge!  Can you add the nickels and the pennies together?  Or the dimes and nickels?

Today's special is...Art!  Here's Mrs. V's Art Link for the week!

Virtual Field Trip: Baby Pygmy Sugar Gliders at Australia Zoo- Nat Geo

And, check out these Sugar Glider Facts

I hope you had an awesome long weekend!  It looks like the weather will get a lot warmer this week!

:)

Love,

Mrs. Cole

Happy Monday, my friends!

Today's Leader is...Amos the American Alligator!  Enjoy this fun alligator story: Snappsy the Alligator

Today is May 25, 2020.

Do you know the difference between alligators and crocodiles? Find out more in the video at the bottom of this Nat. Geo. Kids article: NGK Alligator

I love Wildlife Safari's virtual field trips. They air on Facebook Watch every day at 2PM our time (Wildlife Safari is located in Oregon): Wildlife Safari: Alligators

Mr. Cole and I saw this while we were rafting in Costa Rica. Do you think it was an alligator or a crocodile?

I hope you are having an amazing long weekend!  I heard about so many fun things you were planning to do!  Did you get to do them all?
Love,
Mrs. Cole

Happy Sunday, everyone!

Today's Leader is...Helga the Hippo!  Helga hopes you enjoy this story: Fiona the Hippo

Today is May 24, 2020.

Check out these cool hippo facts: Nat Geo Kids: Hippos

And here is a video of the real Fiona Hippo: Fiona Hippo-Cincinnati Zoo

Are you having a great weekend? I worked outside all day yesterday. It wasn't as warm as Friday, but the sun felt good.

Have a super day!

Love,

Mrs. Cole

Happy Saturday, folks!

Today's Leader is...Maude the Mountain Lion.  Some people believe there are mountain lions here in Maine, while others do not.  Here's a great video about mountain lions: Mountain Lions

Today is May 30, 2020.

Here is even more information about mountain lions: San Diego Zoo Mountain Lions page, and some facts and a video: OKC Zoo

I hope you are having an awesome weekend! 🐆
Love,
Mrs. Cole

Happy Friday, y'all!

Today's Leader is...Murray the Groundhog!  Groundhogs and woodchucks are the same animal.  Here's a fun story about groundhogs! Groundhog's Dilemma

Today is May 22, 2020.

Murray and Darla have been learning some new words in French:

groundhog: marmotte (MAR-mott)

rodent: rongeur (RON-jer)

Try these!  Add commas wherever they are needed.

1. Tomorrow will be May 23 2020.

2. The groundhog ate my tomatoes pumpkins and corn.

3. Groundhog Day will be February 2 2021.

4. The woodchucks ate slept and played together.

Today's Math Challenge!

Try adding these 3-digit numbers together.  Remember to add the ones, then the tens, then the hundreds.

   321               413            222

+ 200            + 105        + 333

Extra challenge! What number comes after 999?

Today's special is...Library!  Check out the RSU14 Library Resources !

Virtual Field Trip: Groundhog Facts

My daughter did groundhog research for USM. She spent her days at Maine Audubon, catching, tagging, and photographing the colony of groundhogs there:

Have an awesome weekend! I hope you get to do lots of fun things outside!

Love,

Mrs. Cole

Happy Thursday, friends!

Today's Leader is...Jane the White-Tailed Deer! Jane is a fawn (baby).  Here is a sweet story about a little fawn: Lost in the Woods

Today is May 21, 2020.

Jane and Darla have been learning some new words in Spanish:  🦌

deer: ciervo (see-AIR-voe)

baby: bebé (bay-BAY)

Try these!  Put in commas wherever they are needed.

1. Today is May 21 2020.

2. The deer ate leaves twigs and grass.

3. My birthday will be on November 21 2020.

4. I will have cake ice cream and pizza.

Today's Math Challenge!

Write these numbers:

5 hundreds 0 tens 1 one

9 hundreds 6 tens 0 ones

0 hundreds 3 tens 8 ones

8 hundreds 1 ten 3 ones

Extra challenge!  Write this number:   9 ones   3 hundreds    6 tens

Today's Special is...PE!  Head outside and enjoy this beautiful spring day!

Virtual Field Trip: New Jersey Wildlife Cam; Pennsylvania Deer Cam (The best times to see deer are at dawn/dusk.)

Here is a photo of the family of deer that visited our yard every day last summer.  It was a mother and twin fawns! They liked hanging out under our apple trees:

I hope you are having a  super week!  We will have a 3-day weekend for Memorial Day.  I will do the usual weekend blog (calendar, read aloud/s, virtual field trip). I am sure you will enjoy some wonderful time with your family!

Love,

Mrs. Cole 

Happy Wednesday!

Today's Leader is...Belinda the Beaver! Belinda enjoys this story about beavers: Boris Beaver. It is written by Marcus Pfister, who wrote Rainbow Fish.

Today is May 20, 2020.

I couldn't choose just one beaver craft, so I'm sharing this link with lots of fun crafts you can try.  You can see which materials you have at home.  There is even a recipe for Beaver Dam No-Bakes! Yum!

Beaver Crafts for Kids

Here are some other fun facts about beavers: Beaver Facts

And, here's a picture of a baby beaver I saw when Mr. Cole and I went kayaking:

Have a wonderful Wednesday!  What are you going to do today?
Love,
Mrs. Cole

Happy Tuesday, families!

Today's Leader is...Chester the Coyote!  Chester likes this realistic fiction story about a mother coyote: Coyote Moon.

Today is May 19, 2020.

Chester and Darla have been learning some new words in French:

coyote: coyote (COY-yote)
hunt: chasser (shah-SAY)

Try this!

Yesterday, we practiced putting a comma between the day and the year when we write the date.  We also use commas when we are writing a list of three or more things, like this:

I eat pickles beans and carrots. ---> I eat pickles, beans, and carrots.
He can run  jump and play.   --->  He can run, jump, and play.

Do you see the commas?  Write a sentence that tells 3 things you like to do or eat.  Be sure to put in your commas! :)  Try to notice the commas in your reading today as well!

Today's Math Challenge!

Try writing these numbers:

5 hundreds, 6 tens, 2 ones
2 hundreds, 8 tens, 9 ones
3 hundreds, 0 tens, 4 ones
7 hundreds, 9 tens, 0 ones

Extra challenge: try writing a number with 8 tens, 4 ones, and 6 hundreds.

Today's special is...Art!  Here's the art link for this week: Mrs. V

Virtual Field Trip: Grasslands National Park, Canada 🐺🐺

It's another beautiful day outside! I hope you get to go out and enjoy it. 😃☀
Love,
Mrs. Cole

Happy Monday!

Today's Leader is...Jasper the Squirrel!  Jasper is a gray squirrel.  This is a cute book about a red squirrel: The Secret Life of Squirrels

Today is May 18, 2020.

Jasper and Darla have been learning some new words in Spanish:

squirrel: ardilla (are-DEE-yah)
acorn: bellota (bay-YO-tah)

Try these!

When we write the date, we use a comma in between the day and the year.  Write these dates with a comma in the right place.  If you're not sure, look above and see how I wrote today's date. Be sure to use an upper case for the first letter of the month.

January 12 2021
November 6 1989
September 30 2018
October 9 1977

Today's Math Challenge: Hundreds

You know about the ones and the tens places.  When we use numbers greater than 99, we have to use the hundreds place.  The number 100 has a 1 in the hundreds place, then 0 tens, then 0 ones.

Tell which digit is in the hundreds place in these numbers:

105
256
381
910
867

Extra Challenge! Tell how many tens and how many ones are in each number.

STEM Connection: Read the squirrel facts. Make a list of foods that squirrels eat. Then, circle the foods you also like to eat!

Virtual Field Trip: Squirrel Eating a Horse Chestnut; Squirrel Cam

What a great weekend! I hope you got to be outdoors a lot!  We worked in our yard, and I had some meetings. I hope the weather stays nice and warm, don't you?
Love,
Mrs. Cole

Happy Sunday, all!

Today's Leader is...Reggie the Rat!  One of Reggie's favorite stories is by Helen Lester and Lynn Munsinger-they wrote Hooway for Wodney Wat and Me, First as well: Don't Need Friends

Today is May 17, 2020.

Here are some fun facts about rats: Nat. Geo Kids: Rats

And the Naked Mole Rat cam at the National Zoo: Naked Mole Rat Cam

Have an awesome Sunday!  Enjoy the beautiful weather!!
Love,
Mrs. Cole

Happy Saturday, all!

Today's Leader is...Telly the Turkey!  Here's one of his favorite turkey stories! Turkey Trouble

Today is May 16, 2020.

Here is some fun information about turkeys: SciKids Turkeys

And, a virtual field trip: Live Turkey Cam

Have an awesome Saturday! Do you have some fun things planned?
Love,
Mrs. Cole :)

Happy Friday, folks!

Today's Leader is...Nimble the Goat!  Nimble loves this Navajo story about a goat: The Goat in the Rug

Today is May 15, 2020.

Nimble and Darla have been learning some new words in Spanish:

goat: cabra (CAH-brah)
eyes: ojos (OH-hoes)

Try these!  Find the adjective in each sentence.  Then, tell an OPPOSITE word for each adjective!

1. The goats are big.

2. I love the little goats.

3. That movie is sad.

4. I like serious jokes.

5. The car was slow.

Today's Math Challenge!

Nimble and his goat friends like to eat hay.  Their hay comes in big cubes.  The pile of hay cubes looks like this:

How many hay cubes are there in all?  Remember-there are some you can't see!

Today's special is...Library!  Check out the Library Resources from the RSU site! Library Resources

Virtual Field Trip: Baby Goat cam footage; Goats!

I love goats! They are so funny and playful!  Have you ever met goats at a petting zoo or farm?

Do you have plans for the weekend?  I have a long meeting tonight and another one tomorrow, but I am hoping to get outside and keep working on my yard.  I started a new book, too.  Thank you to everyone who met with me to read this week!  I loved hearing your awesome reading!
Love,
Mrs. Cole

Happy Thursday, everyone!

Today's Leader is...Horace the Horse!  Do you remember seeing Horace in the classroom?  Here is a wonderful book, The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses

Today is May 14, 2020.

Horace and Darla have been learning some new words in French:

horse: cheval (sheh-VAHL)
pony: poney (POE-nay)

Try these!  Can you find all of the adjectives?

Mrs. Cole has a little gray horse.  His name is Reed.  Reed has brown speckles in the warm summer.  He grows long, soft hair in the cold winter.  Reed is sweet and shy.  He loves crunchy carrots and juicy apples.  His best friend is a silly, friendly pony named Takoda.

Today's Math Challenge!🐴🐴🐴

Reed's pasture is a big rectangle that is divided into 6 smaller paddocks.  Some are squares and some are rectangles.  Draw a picture that shows one way this could look.  Don't forget to draw Reed!

Extra challenge!  What if Reed's pasture was divided into 6 triangles?  What could that look like?

Today's special is...P.E.!  Try the activities in the suggested schedule, or just enjoy some outside play!

Virtual Field Trip: Assateague Island National Park Wild Horses; Horses!; Horses and Ponies

My daughter and I camped on Assateague and got to see some of the wild horses.  Here are some pictures of them:

Mr. Cole and I got to ride Icelandic horses in Iceland:

And, here is Reed!

Have an awesome Thursday!  I have to figure out which critter keeps knocking down my suet feeders...do you have any guesses?
Love,
Mrs. Cole

Happy Wednesday, friends!

Today's Leader is...Sylvia the Spider!  Here's a fun fiction story by Doreen Cronin: Diary of a Spider

Today is May 13, 2020.

Here are some fun facts about spiders:

Here's a fun spider project for you!

1. On a sheet of paper, trace just your four fingers. Turn the paper and trace your fingers again so that the lines from the first tracing meet the lines from the second tracing.

2. Use a cup or other round object to trace a circle for the spider's head.

3. Color and cut out the tracings.

4. Color the paper plate with any design you like.  I left mine white.

5. Use a pencil or a whole punch to make some holes around the edge of the paper plate.

6. Tape one end of the string to the back of the plate.  

7. Pass the string in and out of the holes.  This will make a web on the front.  You can use a hole more than once.

Hint: When you push the end of the string from the front to the back of the plate, and you are ready to push it back out to the front, try to put it in the next hole over from the one you just used so you don't waste string.  You want the longer strands on the front.

8. Tape down the end on the back of the plate when you have made as many web strands as you can.

9. Glue or tape your spider's head onto the legs, then stick the spider on the web.  I like to put it under some of the web strands.

Here's a link to some more fun spider crafts: Spider Crafts for Kids

When my daughters and I were at the Smithsonian in November, we got to watch a tarantula feeding:

How is your Wednesday going? I am reading with some of you this afternoon, so I'm really excited about that!  Have a wonderful day!

Love,

Mrs. Cole

Happy Tuesday, all!

Today's Leader is...Jerome the Pig!  Do you remember a fun story we read about pigs earlier this year?  Piggie Pie!

Today is May 12, 2020.

Jerome and Darla have been learning some new words in Spanish:

pig:

farm:

Try these!  Add an adjective in each space. 🐖

Jerome is a ____________ pig.  He lives on a ____________ farm.  He loves to eat _____________ 

food.  Jerome has a _______________ brother and a ____________ sister.  All of the pigs on the 

farm are ________________!

Today's Math Challenge! 

Jerome lives in a barn. All of the windows in the barn have 4 sides, but they are not all rectangles.  Can you name and draw any other 4-sided shapes?  You can use a ruler or other straight edge to help you, or trace something that has the shape you need.

Extra challenge: Draw Jerome's barn.  Use as many 4-sided shapes as you can for the windows. Make sure you draw Jerome, too!  🐷

Today's Special is...Art!  Here is Mrs. V's link for this week: Art for May 12

Virtual Field Trip: Pig Sanctuary Cam Footage; Pig Facts

I hope you are having a great week so far!  The sunflowers I planted a couple of weeks ago are almost ready to move outside.  Do you have any plants growing at your house?  🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

For tomorrow's craft, you will need a sheet of paper, a paper plate, a long piece of string, scissors, some glue or tape, and something you can use to trace and color.

Have a great day!
Love,
Mrs. Cole

Happy Monday, friends!

Today's Leader is...Holly the Cow!  Holly is a Holstein cow.  Here's a funny story about cows: Click, Clack, MOO: Cows That Type

Today is May 11, 2020.

Holly and Darla have been learning some new words in French:

cow: vache (vash)
milk: lait (lay)

Try this!  Can you fix this paragraph?  Make sure each sentence starts with an upper case letter and ends with correct punctuation. There should be 5 sentences when you are done.

the farmer was mad his cows would not come back to the barn the farmer wanted to give up it started to rain the cows ran to the barn

Today's Math Challenge!

Today's math challenge is combined with today's STEM connection!  Imagine you have a farm with lots of farm animals. Design a farm that uses as many different shapes as possible.  Remember that the animals need both outdoor and indoor spaces, as well as containers for food and water.

Virtual Field Trips: Farm Sanctuary Cam Footage; Cows!

I hope you had a great weekend!  Here's a Mother's Day book about Gilbert; I meant to post it yesterday and I forgot :/  :Mother, You're the Best But Sister, You're a Pest .

Have an awesome Monday!
:)
Love,
Mrs. Cole