Mrs. Filkins' 5/6 Class

1996-1997

Once again our class is fortunate to visit the Hood Museum at Dartmouth College every month as part of the Images program. The program is designed to bring an art experience to elementary schools that combines a history component with a studio component. Some of my past students' comments after one of their visits are indicative of their thoughtful involvement in the experience:

• "We looked at prints today...It was hard to understand some of the prints; they just didn't speak to me." I. Hanson
  
  
  "I saw a bird's eye view at the Hood that kept me mesmerized for a half an hour. I was trying to figure out what it was. I thought it was a record player. It made me dizzy." M. Jordan
  
  "I think that some of the prints were weird. I saw some that looked like some kids did them. My favorite was "Swan Engraving" because of the shapes and the size. I think that working in the studio was better. I liked making the prints. My print had a lot of texture." K. Lozeau

At the end of the year we will again exhibit our work at a gallery at the Hopkins Center with schools from around the Upper Valley.

Thanks to our community for sponsoring such a worthwhile part of our curriculum.

Reading Buddies

(photo by J. Filkins)

As part of our language arts curriculum we feel it is important to have our students act as mentors to a first -second grade class every year. This year, Mr. Crutchfield's class joins us every Friday morning to share books, illustrations, and a variety of language arts experiences. Reading is one basis for many new friendships. After all, "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."(unknown source)

A new challenge this year is the institution of a school newspaper that these classes will work on jointly. Some of the features will include:

• "Dear Maggie and Tessa," an advice column
• comics
• poetry by published poets and students
• editorials
• news stories from oour school, community, and the world
• a Fun Page with riddles and word jumbles
• Contests, surveys,
• And MUCH, MUCH more

We expect publication sometime in early October.

In 1996-97 we have begun an important unit on the American Revolution. As part of the unit we have paired up with schools in Essex and Hampshire, England to share different points of view on at least five important events from the Revolution. Our sharing will occur over e-mail in the form of essays. We are also committed to playing chess with our partners to re-enact the battle of the Yanks VS the Brits. As part of the unit, our class will construct a scavenger hunt of web sites highlighing some of the important events and facts of the Revolution. (Check back here soon for a chance to play our scavenger hunt.)

Thanks for visiting.

If you have comments or suggestions, please e-mail us at:

gvsjudy@cyberportal.net

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