Orange Beach Elementary School
First graders are learning about penguins. They are learning the characteristics of penguins as well as penguin habitats. First graders will celebrate the 100th day of school by participating in various math activities, making 100 day crafts and concluding with a special snack. First graders are working really hard to meet their individual AR goals.
The third grade has entered the world of division. Students are working hard to learn strategies by using manipulates and hands on learning techniques. Third graders will be going to the Saenger Theatre at the end of February to see a performance about Ellis Island. Seeing this performance will reiterate our American history unit in social studies.
This week in fifth grade, students are learning about matter. They are studying that all the physical properties of matter can be observed, described, and measured. In social studies, students are beginning their chapter on the middle and southern colonies and will conclude the chapter with a project in which students will make their own colony.
Fifth graders are reading the play “The Stormi Giovanni Club” and discussing the challenges of adapting to a new school. On our class Moodle, we will discuss how to overcome these obstacles and make suggestions on how to make new friends. In math, students have started the chapter on fractions and are using fraction bars to add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators.
During the month of February, while visiting Sea, Sand and Stars, the K- third grade will study geology and paleontology. Kindergarten will learn how we can study the past by looking at insects preserved in amber. First grade will learn about the components of the Earth’s surface, such as rocks and soil, and how fossils give us information about animals that no longer exist. The second grade will learn about the “rock cycle” and what rocks and sand have in common, while third grade will classify rocks and minerals and learn how fossils provide information about prehistoric plants.
Ecology is the theme for fourth grade with a comprehensive study of pond life and the components of life in a drop of pond water. Fifth grade will complete their unit on astronomy and will construct scale models of relative planet distances. Finally, sixth grade will continue their unit of meteorology and severe weather with an emphasis on hurricanes.
Field trips continue with first grade visiting from Fairhope Elementary, second grade from Daphne Elementary, and a mix of grade levels from Calvary Christian, Alabama Gulf Coast Christian Academy, and Victory Christian. Visiting students will enhance their curriculums with studies in marine science and astronomy.
Coach Burgess's third through sixth grade P.E. classes are starting their floor hockey unit. This week, they are working on picking a team name, team captain, and learning the rules of the game. They will also be working on playing different positions and participating in practice games everyday. At the start of next week, Coach Burgess's class will start an in-class tournament between the six teams and the winning team will win a surprise award!
Coach Burgess's kindergarten through second grade P.E. classes are starting their throwing and catching unit. This week they are working on remembering their station teams and the routines for stations. They will also be practicing a variety of skills including throwing with a partner, underhand throwing, overhand throwing, small group activities such as hot potato, etc. Coach Burgess's group will gradually work their way to more challenging activities. These students will also be learning to work with their group and cooperate with each other during these station activities.
The second graders in Mrs. James’s music class are hard at work learning songs for their February program such as “Groundhog Galop,” “When the Saints Go Marching In,” “Skinnamarink” and “Presidents’ Day.” The program is scheduled for Feb. 28 and times will be announced later. Please make plans to attend.
In science, Mrs. Michaels’ fifth grade students are discovering the changes to the Earth through weathering and erosion, earthquakes and volcanoes. In social studies, they are studying the Preamble of the Constitution and the Revolutionary War. In math, Mrs. Michaels’ students have just started a unit on volume and three dimensional shapes and figures. In English, they are studying subject and object prepositions. During reading time, they are reading about fictional stories, drawing conclusions,and using questions to help them draw conclusions. The students are studying how Latin prefixes can help them solve vocabulary words. The students in Mrs. Michaels’ class have begun a classics book club in class where the students read classic books like “Tom Sawyer,” “Anne of Green Gables,” “War of the Worlds” and “Treasure Island.”
Mr. Johnston’s fifth grade students continue to explore and discuss the American Revolution and look forward to learning about the new nation. Fractions are the topic in math. Adding and subtracting fractions with like denominators and unlike denominators continue to provide a challenge. This week's reading story is "The Stormi Giovanni Club.” The genre of this story is a play. It is about a young girl's adventure after she moves to a new town. She experiences the sadnesss of leaving old friends and the happiness of meeting new friends. Mr. J's students will be reading and acting out this play. Mr. J's students are also looking forward to the Mardi Gras season and have selected a class Queen and King. Congratulations to Queen Kaley Kleinschmidt and King Cole Daniel. Happy Mardi Gras from Mr. J's fifth graders at Swift School in lovely Bon Secour.
Ms. Hampton’s sixth grade class is currently reading a drama called "Space Cadets" in reading. They are learning how to add and subtract fractions in math. In science, the students are learning about volcanoes.