UNF Basketball Team

Today we had the UNF BasketballTeam reading to our class! How great is that?

Science Lab

Today students looked at pairs of different preserved animals to compare and contrast. They used their science journals to record their observations.

Health Workers Fair

One of the Science standards for first grade is for students to recognize health care workers. To meet that goal Mrs. Ruark organized a Health Care Fair for our grade level. 

We were thrilled to welcome Adran's parents who are both doctors.  His mom is a general practitioner and his dad is a specialist with the liver.  They brought lots of models of the organs and equipment that doctors use to show us.  As we left their informative session they gave each of the students a syringe (without a needle, of course!), a mask and a pair of gloves.  Looks like we will have lots of doctors in our midst - they liked pretending to give shots the best!

Next we were visited by former Jacksonville Jaguar player David Garrard. He played quarterback for twelve years in the National Football League.  He and his wife explained the important part that diet and fitness play in keeping us healthy.  They talked about a healthy diet and showed the children some games and exercises that they might enjoy this summer.

We loved seeing Dr. Zenk, known to us as the "Garden Lady," and finding our that Dr. Zenk's real job is as a general practitioner.  Not only did she remind us about a healthy diet, but she showed us some of the tools that we might see in the doctor's office.

Finally we heard from Dr. Roberts, a trauma surgeon, and a Life Flight nurse who stressed always wearing our seat belt and wearing a helmet when we ride a bike or skateboard, so we never have to see them!  What a remarkable way to meet our Science standards!

Koaly Finn

We are not the first class to have a mascot that gets sent home with each child so the child can write about his adventures with the mascot, but the origination of our mascot is a little unique.  As a farewell gift at the Winter break, our Australian student (who had been with us for a year and half) left an adorable stuffed koala bear for the class to enjoy.  The class named him Koaly Finn, after the student, Finn.

We developed a journal that traveled to each child's home. The idea was that Koaly Finn would spend a night with each child and the child would write about their adventures together.  Finn chose his longtime partner, Jehan, as the first student to take home Koaly Finn.  As each child returned from their overnight adventure, they shared with the class and then chose the next person to get the beloved koala.  Children loved when it was their turn and for the most part, students kept Koaly Finn for a night and then returned the journal and shared.  He did get lost for about two weeks when he went home with Jaxon in the middle of a move to a new house, but Jaxon finally discovered the stuffed koala and brought him back to go on yet another adventure!  Koaly Finn has now traveled to each student's home so we will soon pack him and the journal up to be returned to Finn in Australia so that he may keep this keepsake of his American adventure.

Finn will be excited to know that Koaly Finn went to Extended Day and enjoyed the swings, slide and monkey bars.  He went to Christmas parties and saw quite a few Christmas trees.  He even climbed to the top of Mrs. Ruark's Christmas tree while she was at dinner because he wanted to be the angel high on the top. He went hiking and wanted to jump over the railing into the waterfall but was caught at the very last minute.  Koaly Finn met lots of other stuffed animals including a few "elves on the shelf" and had an adventure with a pet cat! He went through a car wash and got scared.  He went to Boy Scouts, read books and ate marshmallows. He went bowling and won!  He attended soccer games and football games, watched basketball games, played dress up, rode a bike, went to the doctor, jumped on a trampoline, and went to swim practice.  He played Monopoly, helped with homework, and watched TV.  He tried to climb a tree (or so the
said),  and had his temperature taken (it was 75 degrees!), and even went to church.  He went to Publix and got a cookie, went to Outback to celebrate a birthday, and went to Rita's for ice cream.  He ended his adventures most appropriately on the Memorial Day weekend, a specifically American celebration, at my house with a bubble bath.  With almost every single child, he slept with the child, gave lots of hugs and just reminded us all of how much we loved and miss Finn!  As Finn would say, "See ya soon matey!"

Superstars!

Loved watching our superstars in the play this morning!

Barnes and Noble Summer Reading

We always love a visit from Miss KK, our Media Specialist.  Today she visited to tell us about a special opportunity from the book store, Barnes and Noble.  Each child received a paper booklet that they took home on Friday.  Beginning today, make sure that your child lists each of the books that they read on the booklet and when they have read 8 books, they can receive a FREE book from Barnes and Noble! They just take their list to the counter and then they get to select the book that they want from a list of very popular 1st and 2nd grade books!  How exciting is that!

Miss KK also challenged each child to have a library card this summer.  Our nearest Public Library is so-o-o-o close - right up the street on Beach Boulevard.  Any child that brings a library card to school and shows it to us, will be allowed to get a treat from our Treasure Box, so whether your child already has a library card or goes to get one for the summer, remember to bring it to class to share.  We'll send it right back home.  Remember, a library card is FREE! What a great was to get 8 books to read for the Barnes and Noble prize!

Harvesting Potatoes

 

Today was the day to see how our efforts earlier in the year have paid off!  We were out in the garden harvesting our potatoes.  Each child had a chance to dig for potatoes and what a nice crop is was from our small garden space.

On Monday we will be cooking the potatoes!  Can't wait!