Watch this video to find out about the Olympics.

This year’s winter Olympics is being held in Sochi, Russia. Find out more about the fifteen at Olympic winter sports. Which winter sport is your favorite and why?

a href=”http://ime4schools.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/groundhogday.jpg”>There is a legend that says a few hundred years ago Europeans brought Ground Hog Day to America. They said that the ground hog wakes up from his hibernation on February 2. (February 2 is half way between winter and spring.) If he comes up from his hole and it is sunny, he will see his shadow and be frightened. If he sees his shadow, there will be 6 more weeks of winter weather. But if he comes up and the sky is cloudy, he will not see his shadow and will not be frightened. Then spring weather will come very soon.

Watch these videos about groundhogs and Groundhog Day. Post one interesting fact you learned. If the fact is already posted, please post a different fact.

Groundhog Day 2013

Our word of the month is tolerance.  Tolerance is the ability to accept others, and their feelings or their beliefs that are different from our own.  In history, there are many examples when people were not treated and accepted fairly.  Listen to the story of White Socks Only by Evelyn Coleman.

Did you ever do something where you were misunderstood or made a mistake that got you into trouble? How did you feel?

What can you do to show tolerance toward others?

How does this story relate to Rosa Parks or Martin Luther King, Jr.?

Check out one of our favorite songs that we often listen to during class. The children loves to sing along and dance! Its a catchy tune!

It has been a cold and snowy winter so far. 

Listen along to the story The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. 

http://youtu.be/AA808AdC_cc

What is something you enjoy doing in the winter? Is this something you do with your family? Is this an inside activity or an outside activity? I love to bake chocolate chip cookies and read a good book all snuggled up on the couch. 

Snowflake Brainteasers

Snowflake Puzzler Try National Geographic ‘s eight different puzzles for you to solve.
Winter Match Game – Just like the game memory, you can have fun finding matches. Scramble the cards and play countless times.
Winter Word Search – From winter to mittens, search the puzzle for 12 winter words.
Have fun!

Generosity is the word of the month. This time of year we give gifts to show our appreciation and love for others. It is not always necessary to buy a gift. It is just as important to share ourselves with others. There are many ways to be charitable and unselfish. Read and listen to the books below to discover ways you can be generous without buying a present.

Listen to the story of a beautiful fish that learns to make friends by sharing his most prized possessions—his shimmering scales. For a printed version – click here.  What is your most prized possession? Would you be willing to share it?

Read and listen to the Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. What were all the different ways the tree gave to the boy throughout his life? Even though the tree receives nothing in return, how does giving make the tree happy, ?

1. Have you ever given something away and later wished that you hadn’t?
2. When you give something to someone, do you expect something in return?
3. Would you give something you really need to someone you love if they really need it, too?

Click on the Gift Box. Write a gift to someone that doesn't cost money. Color in the bow and the box.

Thanks to the "Snowflake Man" we know that every snowflake is unique. Wilson Bentley was the first person ever to photograph microscopic images of snowflakes. Watch the news report about his life.

In 1925 Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley stated "Under the microscope, I found that snowflakes were miracles of beauty." Watch the video below of the images he photographed under his microscope.

Listen to the picture book written by Jacqueline Briggs Martin.

Take this quiz to see how well you listened – Quia's Snowflake Bentley

Challenges:
1. Design as many different snowflakes on sheet paper.  Here is an example:

Challenges:
1. Design as many different snowflakes on sheet paper.  Here is an example:

2. Follow directions on how to make a 6-point snowflake.

We practiced adding doubles today in class. We LOVED practicing the doubles facts using a rap song. Check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFuskIXXQa4&list=PL03A742CBB16C8C62

We have been learning all about what life was like long ago. We read the books, Sarah Morton's Day and Samuel Eaton's Day by Kate Waters. Sarah and Samuel were pilgrim children. They had a lot of chores and responsibilities. What are some of the chores you have to do? Would you rather grow up long ago or today? Challenge yourselves and explain why.