Spell lists for week of 2/24

Spelling Lists for this week:

Square Group
1. indifference
2. incomplete
3. imperfect
4. nonfat
5. unequal
6. incorrect
7. nonproductive
8. nonstop
9. nonprofit
10. nonreturnable
11. inactive
12. nonviolent
13. unbutton
14. impolite
15. unlikely
16. immature
17. nondairy
18. uncommon
19. insincere
20. informal
21. discontinue

List 2 - Diamond Group
1. dishonest
2. incomplete
3. imperfect
4. nonfiction
5. unequal
6. incorrect
7. dislike
8. nonstop
9. unsure
10. disagree
11. inactive
12. nonviolent
13. unbutton
14. impolite
15. disobey
16. impatient
17. nonsense
18. unknown
19. impossible
20. informal

List 3 - Circle Group
1. dishonest
2. discover
3. uncover
4. nonfiction
5. unpack
6. untie
7. dislike
8. unhappy
9. unsure
 10. disagree
11. disobey
12. impatient
13. nonsense
14. unknown
15. impossible

Science extensions 3rd marking period

This marking period I am going to offer two extension activities. Student's don't have to do either.... but they can do both projects if they so choose. 
Extension activities allow students to "demonstrate knowledge above and beyond content area taught" and allow them to get a 4 on one of the science sections of their report card. (providing that all other assignments have been turned in as well!)

Project number one is "Owl Hunt"

1.  I have a Michigan Owl Call C.D. available for students to borrow. They can take the C.D. home, download, it, copy it, or whatever and then return it to me.

2.  Students ( and hopefully a parent) then pick a few evenings over the next few weeks to go out to listen to and attempt to identify the call of the various Michigan owl species.

3. I will provide a sheet with locations and places (for those of you that live in neighborhoods) within 10 miles of Vicksburg for you to go to for listening for owls. Students who live out away from town near woods or open fields can easily do this on their own property between 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.

4. Students will identify the location where they heard the owl, the species, and the duration of that owls calls.

5. Students will then return to school with the sheet and be prepared to share their owl experience with fellow classmates.

Project #2 - Building an owl nest box. (If you build it... they WILL come!)

1. Owls don't build nests. They take over the nests of other birds or abandoned buildings or barns.  Therefore... if you build a nest box, with in 1 - 2 years you will have a permanent resident raising their babies in your nest box. Owls are phenomenal predators, with the average owl family killing and eating approximately 3,000 rodents per year.  Great pest control!

2. Students will be given a list internet links to go to as they begin to decide what KIND of owl nest box they would like to build. ( I can email these as well)

3. Students will need to decide what kind of species they want to build a nest box for, as each species has particular size requirements.

4. Students need to be FULLY involved in the nest box building. From finding/planning and buying necessary materials. (great potential math lesson where they can see they DO use math in the real world) to actually assembling the box with a parent. And with the exception of the miter, hand, or table saw, I want them actually handling tools and participating in the construction.

5. Students will then need to pick a place to hang up their nest boxes. If you live in a neighborhood, I will provide you with a list of places where these can be hung up and watched.

6. Students will need to document and take pictures of every stage of the planning/ building process.  The finished house or pictures will need to be brought in and shown to the class.

** There is also a money making opportunity for students choosing to build nest boxes.  Owls produce Owl pellets.....Pellets can be collected, sterilized and sold for $1.00 each (either to Mrs. S. or On Ebay... I can show you how to sell on Ebay!)  So if you design your nest box with hinges and a hooking latch at one end, each August after the owls are done rearing their young for the season, your kiddos can climb up and claim the pellets!  An average owl family will produce a few hundred a season... though many times they toss the excess on the ground under the nest box throughout the year. Great way to start a college fund!

If your student is interested in doing either of these projects, have them come to me for the corresponding materials.  DEADLINE FOR PROJECTS TO BE FINISHED AND TURNED IN IS MARCH 21ST. (Spring Equinox)

Any questions?  Don't hesitate to contact me via email tsadowski@vicksburgschools.org or text 269-501-3969.

owl pellet dissection, spell lists and switch

Yesterday was the owl pellet dissection.... ask your kids their thoughts about how this went!

Also... if you're a friend on Facebook.... you have probably seen the pictures of the owl pellet dissection and of the snowy owl I took a picture of on the way home yesterday. Due to the polar vortex shift... many more snowy owls have moved farther south for the winter.  As you're driving about.... keep an eye on telephone poles and power lines... with the snow so deep the owls often take a roadside perch waiting for squirrels and other rodents by the roadside.

My facebook page is pretty student oriented and always "clean" .  You're more than welcome to send a friend request to tiffany laskowsky sadowski. That way I can tag your kiddos pics as I post them doing different things in the room or on field trips.

Starting Monday, students will no longer be receiving an unequal amount of science, math and social studies.  Instead, all students are being separated into three groups, and will have 50 minutes of each class daily. Switch times will be as follows:

switch 1 - 9:50 - 10:40
switch 2 - 10:40 - 11:30
switch 3 11:30 - 12:20

Spelling lists are as follows:
List 1 square group
1. chorus
2. ceiling
3. suitcase
4. cereal
5. recent
6. central
7. chord
8. contribute
9. license
10. frantic
11. choir
12. recipe
13. recite
14. crackers
15. coconut
16. juicy
17. comic
18. select
19. plastic
20. scallop
21. broccoli

List 2 - diamond group
1. chorus
2. create
3. suitcase
4. cereal
5. recent
6. practice
7. company
8. expect
9.jacket
10. frantic
11. choir
12. grocery
13. recite
14. celebrate
15. exercise
16. correct
17. comic
18. select
19. plastic
20. stomach

List 3 circle group
1. icicle
2. create
3. coast
4. coaches
5. certain
6. practice
7. company
8. expect
9. jacket
10. cattle
11. grocery
12. celebrate
13. exercise
14. correct
15. stomach