Cold Science

What a treat we had last Friday!  Rylin's grandparents and mom came by to talk to us about some very "cool" things.  We looked at the properties of dry ice and liquid nitrogen.  We even made some yummy ice cream with the liquid nitrogen!  Check out our pictures.

Dr. Warren poored the liquid nitrogen on the table and it looked like it poured all over the floor! 

Dry ice and liquid nitrogen!





Making our ice cream!





Dry ice in a balloon.  When we shook it, the balloon inflated.



100th Day Fun

The 100th Day of School has come and gone.  Thank you to all of the parents for sending in some yummy treats and dressing us up! 

We counted and counted and counted some more today.  Continue practicing counting at home!  We are learning to count by 10's, but will soon be counting by 5's and even 2's!  Be sure to help your child arrange items in rows to help with counting. 

We expect that students can count up to 10 items in a scattered arrangement.  However, that task gets tricky for higher numbers.  That is why it is important to teach students to make a neat arrangement to assist in the counting process.

Now that we only have 80 days of school left, the job of the parents is getting bigger.  Continue to read and write nightly.  Check your child's work folders for important notes, homework, and completed work.  This completed work can give you a window in on your child's progress.

Enjoy the pictures of the "elderly" that visited Little River today!

Snowy Pajama Fun!

Well, what a crazy day it was...

Not only was today Pajama Day, but we were going home early due to impeding winter weather!

Thankfully, it snowed just enough that we could enjoy it before we left for the weekend.

Winter Fun!

We have had a blast with our winter fun.  We have written weather-related stories and lists, read fun winter books, and made some fun snacks!  Check out our cute penguin snacks we made for Penguin Day!

Penguin Maddy shows off her penguins!

Jordan's Masterpieces

Check out this easy snack!  You just need black olives (small and jumbo), whipped cream cheese, and carrots.

Don't forget our next spirit day on Friday, January 25!  It is Pajama Day.  Wear your favorite PJ's to school!

Happy New Year!

I hope 2013 has found you in good health and spirits.  We are back on schedule this week and learning about lots of fun winter things.  We will spend January reading, writing, and crafting winter ideas.  We will talk about snow, ice, penguins, mittens, and snowmen. 

We have also started working on Author Studies.  Our first author is Ezra Jack Keats.  We have focused mainly on his books about Peter.  We have read Goggles!, Peter's Chair, The Snowy Day, and Whistle for Willie.  The children have really enjoyed learning about Mr. Keats and the many awards he has won for his wonderful children's books.  Ask your child what their favorite book has been.

I will continue assessing students for the next couple weeks.  I appreciate your help by reading nightly with your child.  I enjoy hearing about the wonderful books you share at home.  The children love to come to school to tell about the latest book they read with family.

We have come very far in our writing.  We have worked hard to write on topic.  Here is a piece we wrote together about snow.  Enjoy!

Happy Holidays!

What a busy month this has been!  We have been busy making lots of crafts, reviewing our sight words, reading, writing, and learning about 3D shapes.  Thank you for all of your hard work at home.

As we prepare for a break, keep in mind how much your child has learned in these last 77 days of school.  Please continue to enjoy books at home, encourage your child to write lists or journals and continue to count and use math skills daily.  It will keep your child on pace as we enter the second half of the school year.

Although we are all ready for a break and time with family and those we hold dearest in our hearts, I will truly miss your children.  I have been blessed to see their smiling faces and feel their warm hugs each day.  Thank you for sharing what is most precious to you with me.

Enjoy some pictures of our "Gingerbread Christmas Trees" from Germany!

Frosting our trees!

Look at that concentration...

Maddy really enjoys frosting.

Yummy!

What a beautiful tree!

More creations....

Adding our ornaments.

Welcome to Kindergarten!

Hello new Kindergarten parents!  Welcome to Mrs. Torian's Garden.  I hope you will stop by often to check in on the class of 2025.

As you know, we are now in the second grading period.  Your children have really blossomed since they joined Beaver Nation in August.  We have learned how to write our names correctly, count and represent numbers to 20, learned about animal movement, and began to write sentences.

We will continue all of that during the next nine weeks.  In addition, we have moved into properties of matter, sorting objects using several attributes, shapes and geometry, and the blends -th, -sh, and ch.  We will continue to write using the sounds we hear to create and spell words.

Thank you for all that you do!  Enjoy some pictures from the first nine weeks or learning!