Third and fourth grades have been learning all about a delicioso unit…La Comida/Food! Third graders are busy working in stations to learn how to plan healthy menus, shop for food and speak about food interests and preferences. Fourth graders are working in groups to plan their restaurante skits, which they will present in the beginning of June! Can your child talk with you at the dinner table about the food they are eating and how they feel about it?

Third graders have been experimenting with different materials and having a great time in art.  The month of May has been about being introduced to three-dimensional art.  After learning that a relief is an sculptural artwork that is raised from a flat background surface, the third graders have worked on a metal relief using the techniques of repousse and chasing.   They are currently working on making a full sculpture in the round by making a paper mache animal.  This learning experience will probably end this academic year.  However, with this introduction to sculptural art, I hope that the students would be more open and receptive to different forms of art appreciation perhaps in the summer time and in the future.

First Graders have been working on reading traditional rhythmic notation this spring.  They can identify, read, and perform quarter notes, eighth notes, and quarter rests.  They have been listening to selections from Carnival of Animals by Camille Saint-Saens.  So far we have listened to “Donkey,” “Elephant,” and “Fossils.” First graders are using SMART response individual remotes to answer questions about our listening selections.  Using the response remotes, they can identify instruments they hear and musical elements like tempo, pitch, and dynamics.  Lastly, they have been singing patriotic songs and ringing colored hand bells to accompany themselves.  

Fitness is important, and at this time of year, the children are tested to see how much they have improved.  In October, they were tested on their Flexibility (using a sit and reach piece of equipment), sit ups for 1 minute, a Shuttle run ( for Agility ) and either a mile run, ½ mile run, or a ¼ mile.   They then repeated those Tests in May.  It was GREAT! many many many of the students improved in all areas.  
I am proud of our Hilltop “Gymsters” they have worked hard

     

May has been a busy month!  Students in grades K, 1, and 2 took trips to the Mendham Borough Library. In an effort to promote literacy, encourage summer reading, develop relationships with community workers, and share the importance of supporting public libraries/services, all K,1, and 2 classes visited the Mendham Borough Library this month.