Library & Technology:
Global Read Aloud 2017 …. 1st and 2nd Graders participated in the 2017 Global Read Aloud. We explored books by Mem Fox and connected with Redwood Elementary School in West Orange,
NJ and WR Odell Primary School in Concord, North Carolina. We used Google Earth to explore the geographic location of these two schools in relationship to Hilltop School. 2nd graders
read Koala Lou by Mem Fox, and identified and shared the main character’s internal character traits. 1st graders read Whoever You Are? by Mem Fox, and identified and shared ways in
which all humans are alike, as well as some of their favorite things. All
communication and collaboration took place on Mrs. LeMay’s Flipgrid video pages where students from both schools recorded and shared their introductions, thoughts, reflections and ideas. For
more information about The Global Read Aloud go to https://theglobalreadaloud.com/
3rd & 4th Graders
explore Digital Citizenship @ the Hilltop Library! We have been discussing ONLINE SAFETY,
RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY. Students completed a Digital Citizenship HYPERDOC in
their Google Classroom, and used online sources, technology tools, creativity
and Google Drawing to create a Digital
Citizen Superhero. Click Digital Citizenship for students and click
Cyber-Safety for links and
information for parents and caregivers.
Great Graphing 2nd Graders have been collecting and analyzing data,
inputting data into cells and spreadsheets, highlighting columns and rows, and
creating digital graphs. Students surveyed their classmates’ eye color and
created a corresponding graph, as well as their thoughts on bats.
2nd Graders have also
learned all about Tall Tales and the 398.2 section of the library – ask them to
sing you our 398.2 song! We discussed
the use of exaggeration in various TALL TALES, including Paul Bunyan, Pecos
Bill and John Henry.
1st Graders
have been busy in the Technology Lab! In just
seven weeks they have explored and learned how to use Microsoft Paint, Sticky
Notes, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Powerpoint, and Kidspiration. We have now
turned our focus on learning about the Internet, URLs, websites, browsers, and
of course the importance of always asking permission before using technology. Students understand the importance of only
navigating to sites and sources provided by a trusted grownup. On our next journey
we will be exploring online information sources starting with an online
database called Pebble Go.
Music: All grade levels started preparing for the upcoming holiday concerts on Wednesday, December 20, 2017 in Hilltop’s Gym. (Snow date is Thursday, December 21, 2017 - concert times are the same).
The theme is Ready, Set, GLOW! Concert times are:
9:00 a.m. - Grades 1 and 2 (approximately 30 minutes)
10:15 a.m. - Grades 3 and 4 (approximately 30 minutes)
2:30 p.m. - Kindergarten (approximately 20 minutes)
Fourth graders are working on recorder songs with G A B and E in preparation for earning their next Recorder Karate belt, demonstrating understanding of 4/4 time signature, and learning how to play hand chimes, hand bells, and melody/resonator bells to accompany a song in the holiday concert.
Third graders created a melody on the xylophone from a rhythmic ostinato with half notes and have been honing their skills on reading and performing rhythm patterns with half notes, tied quarter notes, and half rests.
Second graders are developing the ability to use ostinati on xylophones to accompany short songs and are learning how to describe A and B phrases/sections of songs.
First Graders are demonstrating how pitches can go higher and lower on xylophones, maintaining steady beat to varying tempi through body percussion and instruments, and learning to follow a conductor’s (teacher’s) beat cues while playing classroom percussion instruments.
Kindergarten students continue to experience new classroom instruments like finger cymbals, flute woodblock, and claves. They also re-visited “old favorites” like shakers, drums, wooblock, triangles, and jingle bells in fall and Thanksgiving songs.
Physical Education: LET’S GET DANCING….
Two main events take place In November, the children finish up the presidential Fitness testing. (The Fitness test are: Sit ups for 1 min, Shuttle Run, Jog in the gym for laps depending on the grade, and also perform a sit and reach test to see how flexible they are. These tests are repeated in the spring.) and Their
Dance moves get underway. For the 4th grade, they learn how to square dance, the 3rd graders perfect the Cotton eye joe, 2nd graders enjoy the YMCA, and the 1st graders do the Chicken dance. These are just a few of the dances the students of Hilltop school are taught. The Kindergarteners will be enjoying some fun activities on scooters. Enjoy your THANKSGIVING.
I am thankful for Having your children be a part of my Physical Education Program 
Art: Fall is all around us, and Hilltop artists have been responding to the beautiful nature. Kindergarteners have been practicing lots of cutting and gluing for the fall art projects, as well as exploring painting. First graders are finishing up a barn landscape painting, a traditional first grade project where aerial perspective and proportion is learned. Second graders have finished the learning experiences of colors and have started to delve into texture that is next element of art in line to learn. Third graders have finished the fall still lifes, made of unity and balance. Rhythm and movement are the next principles of art to start for the third graders. Fourth graders have finished their symbolic portraits, inspired by the artist Arcimboldo. They have started to learn about facial proportions and are working on drawing foreshortened selfies.
All of these artworks will be sent home this month. Please keep and enjoy the artworks at home but return the art folder for more works to come. Don’t forget to sign and date the front of the folder!
