Weekly Blog

Tuck Everlasting

In Literature, students have been reading the novel,  Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt and then leading small group discussions in "book club" format.  We are exploring the literary elements of foreshadowing, character development, motive, and universal theme as the characters ponder the benefits and downfalls of living forever.  It is exciting to look at the novel through the eyes of faith as we discussed God's original design in Eden as well as our eternal life in the heavenly home he has prepared for us.  Students are discovering the blessings God gives us in this life through the many stages we live and even more blessings to be received in eternity with Him!  We will culminate the novel this week with creative projects.

Year End Field Trip

We are seeking a couple parents to attend our May field trip.  Below is the information that came home earlier this year.  More detailed information to come as the trip gets closer:

**Save the Date**  (Repeated)

6^th grade Field Trip:   Wed. MAY 22

         Our end of the year field trip will be an extended day trip to Frohna, Missouri.  We will have an opportunity to learn the history of some of the earliest Lutherans to settle in America.  Our trip will take us to:

Saxon Lutheran Memorial

296 Saxon Memorial Dr.  Frohna, MO 63748

Here we will have an opportunity to not only see demonstrations but actually work on an historic farm and homestead doing typical chores of the early pioneers.   Some possibilities are churning butter, blacksmithing, gardening with period tools, sewing, barn chores, and baking.

Plan on:

Arrival at Zion between 6:30-6:45 AM  YES, THAT’S EARLY!!

A comfy charter bus ride, graciously sponsored by our PTL!!!

Active participation on the farm (wear appropriate clothes, shoes/boots)  rain or shine. 

A delicious lunch of homemade pizza, baked in the brick oven, hot pasta, salad fresh from the garden, dessert and drink   (plus samples of other foods from the farm)

Return to Zion at 6:00 P.M.  (plan accordingly)

Cost to you:  $7.00 for lunch  (optional:  shopping at gift shop)

FUN AND FELLOWSHIP as we learn about the spread of the Christian faith in America!!

Easter ABC's

Students ended our Religion unit on the Passion of Christ by collaborating on a visual ABC book.  Ask your child to show off their project in the Google Drive account.  I was pleased to hear the clear Gospel message come through as they shared the events of Holy Week.  We will be sharing our projects with younger grades.  (Note the orange shirts for World Malaria Day!)

Weekly blog - a little belated

Final Countdown for Research Papers - DUE THURS.

We are in the last days of research papers.  Student had their first drafts returned on Thursday or Friday and have been making revisions to content.  Today they worked on proofreading and checking for use of topic/concluding sentences.  Tomorrow they will polish drafts and begin to revise outlines so the content matches the order of details in the outline.  Wednesday is our "finishing touches" day.  ALL PAPERS ARE DUE THURSDAY in a clear report cover.  Students should turn in their first draft for comparison and any printouts of web resources.

Our six week research unit has allowed us to learn many things about research and organizing information.  We also are becoming more skilled at computer skills.  The purple folders the students have been using contain wonderful tips for writing future papers (such as a Social studies essay or a poet project bibiliography).  Students have been encouraged to hang on to these.

GRADES?  The bulk of the points for daily work has been for completion of steps in the writing process and showing progression in the structure of the paper.  Quality of content will be assessed in the final paper.  Mr. Braddy will be grading the content and I will look at the writing/grammar.  The final paper counts as a TEST grade in SCIENCE and ENGLISH.

Sharing God's Love - Fitness Testing with the 1st Graders

Last Monday we were asked to help the first graders with their physical fitness testing.  This is the first time the younger ones have ever done testing.  I was so proud of the 6th graders for their words of encouragement, smiles, hugs, and hive fives they gave our 1st grade friends.

Meeting our partners

Sit and reach

Down time led to wonderful cup-stacking towers

Hanging out - waiting for the next group

Counting curl-ups  21....22....23

Earth Day Clean-Up

As a culmination of our pollution unit, students used our S.S. periods today to walk the campus and clean up trash.  It was interesting to compare what may have been dumped (purposefully or accidentally) and what may have blown in (compared to the transboundary pollution examples we studied.)  God gave us a beautiful dry day for the clean up and we rejoice in helping care for His creation.

Weekly blog

He is Risen!  Alleluia!

I hope you and your families enjoyed a beautiful celebration of the resurrection and some down time over Easter break.  We are back in the swing of things in 6th grade and are eager to learn.  Here are a few of the highlights:

Religion:  We are continuing our study of the Passion of Christ.  We also looked at other World Religions through a  webquest to see what others teach about sin and forgiveness.

Literature:  We ended our poetry unit with our Poem Presentations and students did a great job of selecting entertaining and thoughtful poems to share with the class.  Come see our wonderful designs in the hall (They'll be up after Monday.)  Next up: Novel study

English:  The drafting of the research paper began in earnest.  Students have the first draft due Wednesday.

Social Studies:  We learned about the Chernobyl nuclear disaster as an example of transboundary pollution in our look at Europe.



NEXT WEEK:
PE Fitness testing  (and we'll get to serve by helping the younger grades)
Spring Casual Pictures  (See Banner for info.  Our pictures are at the beginning of the day, Thursday)