Today is Day 18 of the Chick Hatch

The chick hatch is well into the 21 day period and things are starting to get a little exciting in the incubator.  Lacie and I prepared the incubator for lock-down (Day 18-21) and noticed a couple eggs jiggling around.  Hopefully, this means they are settling into position for hatching.  #22 (Ingram) and #8(Hooleyo) are the most active with #24 (Daisey) coming in strong as well.  From now until hatch time, the incubator will not be opened.  Hopefully the temperature will stay steady and the humidity stay between 50-60%.  Chicks can survive for 72 hours on just the yolk from their eggs so it will be hard to resist removing the lid to check on them.  

Just the Facts Top Players

First in Math "Just the Facts"  100% scorers for the week of February 21-25th.  Congratulations to Luke, Amari, Takarian and Tess!  Keep up the good work!

Sycamore School ~ Dr. Seuss Celebration

February 28 - March 4, 2011

During our Read Across America Week we will be celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birthday by highlighting a different book each day written by this beloved author.  Dr. Seuss books will be read throughout the week and teachers are planning activities in their classroom to promote this occasion.  Please help us in celebrating the birthday of one of the greatest authors by allowing your child to participate in the following activities.   

Mixed-up Monday       The Cat in the Hat                  Hat Day

Wear your favorite hat to school.

Tuesday                 Oh, the Places You’ll Go            Career Dress-Up Day

Dress up for the career you one day wish to have.  Students are to write about what they want to be when they grow up.

Wednesday               Wacky Wednesday                   Wacky Sunglasses Day

Wear your wacky sunglasses to school.

Thursday                 Theodore Thursday                 Fact Day

Bring and share an interesting fact or quote to school about Dr. Seuss.

Foxy Friday         Fox in Sox & The Foot Book           Crazy Sock Day

Wear your craziest pair of socks to school.

         

“Oh the places you’ll go!  There is fun to be done!”

"Just the Facts" First in Math Top Scorer for 2/23

Today's leaders in "Just the Facts" are Amari (subtraction) and Takarian (addition).  Congratulations girls!  Everyone keep up the good work and keep reaching toward your goal!

"Just the Facts" First in Math Top Scorer for 2/22

Congratulations to Amari for being today's top scorer on "Just the Facts" in First in Math.  We have a goal to be 100% proficient in both addition and subtraction basic facts.  Amari scored 99% and is in first place on her facts.  Way to Go!!

"Books Are Fun" Book Fair

It's time for the book fair again at S.E.S.  The "Books Are Fun" book fair will be set up in the school library on Monday 2/28 until Friday 3/4.  There will be lots of books to choose from so bring your money and get some great new books!

Chick Data from Day 10

"Just the Facts" First in Math Top Scorer for 2/21

Congratulations to Takarian for being today's top scorer on "Just the Facts" in First in Math.  We have a goal to be 100% proficient in both addition and subtraction basic facts.  Takarian scored 96% and is in first place on her facts.  Way to Go!!

Clean baby food jars needed

In celebration of our learning while reading Little House in the Big Woods, we are going to try a few projects that go with the book.  One thing we want to try is to make butter.  In order to do this, each child needs a small clean baby food jar.  If you have any you could send, please do so!  WE thank you in advance!!

Our Class Exercises to the WAY Fitness DVD

WAY in the News!

WAY in the News!

First in Math Top Players in Mrs. Chappell's Room (updated)

Top 5 Players:	01vivid18al (803) 09vivid18al (659) 13vivid18al (654) 23vivid18al (508) 20vivid18al (479)
Player of the Day:	20vivid18al (+143)

Day 8 of Sycamore Chick Hatch

It's day 8 and all is well in the incubator.  The eggs are really starting to look nice.  They are even getting heavy!  I wish that I had weighed them on Day 1 so that we could compare the weight throughout the incubation process.  I will have to remember that for next time!  


I want to thank Helen of Bluewater Ranch again for sending such a great assortment of eggs. The picture of the adult Black Australorps are hers as well.  


Just short of two weeks and hopefully we will have lots of baby chicks!  Please mark March 3rd on your calendar. 

First in Math

Great Job Amari A., you're the top player in First in Math today!  You earned 120 stickers today. :-) Keep up the good work!

Day 3 of Chicken Hatch Project

Day 3 is underway and the eggs are looking fine!  I've candled the lighter colored eggs and from what I can tell, they look good.  I'll wait about 4-5 more days to candle them again.  By that time, we should be able to see some chick development.  For my students, I'm including pictures of what our chickens should look like when they hatch and when they are adults.  


BUFF ORPINGTON

BLACK AUSTRALORP

BLUE COPPER MARANS

AMERICAUNAS

BLUE LACED RED WYANDOTTE

Mrs. Pounders Returns!!!

Mrs. Pounders will be returning from her maternity leave on Monday the 14th!  She will be sad to leave baby Jacob and the girls but we will be HAPPY to have her back.  Her class has been in the awesome care of Mrs. DeLee in her absence.  Thank goodness Mrs. DeLee isn't going anywhere....she'll be hanging around in 2nd grade teaching small groups and working with us on projects! Yay!!!

Accelerated Reader

You can easily find the Accelerated Reader Page by clicking the link on our blog.  Keep taking lots and lots of quizzes!  Our class totals are getting really high. :-)

Accelerated Reader Homepage for S.E.S.

First in Math Top Players in Mrs. Pounders' Room

14paris41al (512)
18paris41al (319)
19paris41al (307)
11paris41al (213)
13paris41al (207) 

First in Math Top Players in Mrs. Chappell's Room

09vivid18al (659)
13vivid18al (638)
01vivid18al (567)
23vivid18al (508)
20vivid18al (336) 

Ustream Live Webcam of Chick Hatch Project

Ustream Live Webcam on Chick Hatch 2011

Pledge of Allegiance VIDEO

2nd Graders at Sycamore Elementary School in Mrs. Chappell's class learn to sign the "Pledge of Allegiance" in ASL. Enjoy the unedited video.  We plan to remake the video complete with props and patriotic dress.

Pledge of Allegiance

I found the pictures from making the Pledge of Allegiance Mixbook.  I thought I would post them before I forgot.

Days 1 and 2 of Chicken Hatch Project

Day Two of the Chicken Hatching Project:
It's Saturday, Feb. 12 and today is Day 2 of the project.  The incubator has been live for several hours and all eggs are resting nicely.  There are a total of 24 eggs.  Several have been named.  There are several different breeds of chickens included in the 24.  In the incubator we have Black Australorps, Black Americaunas, Buff Orpingtons, Blue Copper Marans, Blue Laced Red Wyandottes and a couple "mutts".  We also have one olive green egg that I'm not sure what breed it came from.  I'm excited to see what will hatch from it because it is such an unusual egg.

Plans for Monday with the students:  (1) Finish naming the eggs (2) Make our charts (3) Check out the "Chicken Whisperer" Podcast and (4) Watch the webcam.

Here are some pictures from the setting up of the incubator yesterday.

The eggs arrived wrapped in bubble wrap.  They were purchased from BlueWater Ranch in Texas.

Lacie stored the eggs for several hours after unwrapping them in Mr. Chappell's Keurig coffee pod stand.  The eggs are supposed to be stored with the big end up to allow the air sac to resettle after shipment.

All the eggs have been numbered and marked with "X" and "O" to aid in keeping track of rotations in the incubator and to track hatching.

The incubator all set up and ready for the webcam!  

I hope to start candling the eggs on day 3-8 to see if any chicken embryos are developing in the lighter shelled eggs.  The Marans' eggs may not be so easily candled.  Just noticed my webcam has a photo button on it in order to capture still pictures.  This might come in handy!