A School is a Family

This is a lovely bulletin put together by Mrs. Williams 1st grade class.

3D Optical Illusions - Hidden Image Stereograms

Here is something fun to try out. The picture looks like a mish-mash of green leaves, but if you stare at it, real close, as if you are looking at something in the distance, you will see the secret 3d picture inside. It's kind of tricky. I pretend I am looking at trees far away and then the hidden picture appears and I can slowly move my eyes away to enjoy the special effects of the art. 

See if you can figure out what this is and enjoy!

This next one should be pretty easy . . . but take your time and see if you can make the 3d art pop out at you . . . 

Click to pop out the picture

Don't be discouraged if you can't see the 3d picture. I wasn't able to do this trick until recently. You've got to relax those eyes . . . 

Teddy Bear the Porcupine

This beloved porcupine is enjoying some pumpkins. He is known for his vocalizations and he even seems to say, "pumpkin."






I know I've shared this before .. .. but I just can't resist watching and listening to this little character.

Animation

Making your own animations is fun and easy, especially at ABCya:
http://www.abcya.com/animate.htm

Check out this silly little GIF I made:

See what you can do at that web site.

Owl on Playground

Owl

On September 22, 2016 an owl was trapped under the playground shelter. It finally was able to free itself and being exhausted rested on the chain link fence. One of our 4th grade teachers, Ms. J. Williams, was able to get this snapshot of the bird. Many of the kids enjoyed this vision until it was gone. 

Since we are near the Kenilworth park, with all its big trees and spaces we have been able to see some great birds. In the past we have seen Bald Eagles, Red Tailed Hawks and other birds of prey and many flocks of song birds.

I am thinking that this owl is a Great Horned Owl. Here is a link to find out more about this bird: http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/great-horned-owl

 

Teachers' Blogging

Mr. Fischer

The teachers are learning to blog! We already have several blogs published. Remember that a blog will change as time goes on. Just like mine does.

The teachers will learn how to add pictures, videos, links, slide shows, documents and all kinds of exciting things. They might even add homework assignments. Now I am sure that you will love that!

Check out this PortaPortal with links to the teacher's pages: https://guest.portaportal.com/groutkids

Not all the teachers have posted yet . ..  but a few have.  So much fun to come.

Lean on Me

Lean on me .. .. song for music class:










***************************************

Sometimes in our lives we all have pain
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there's always tomorrow
Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on
Please swallow your pride
If I have faith you need to borrow
For no one can fill those of your needs
That you won't let show
You just call on me brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you'll understand
We all need somebody to lean on
Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on
You just call on me brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you'll understand
We all need somebody to lean on
If there is a load you have to bear
That you can't carry
I'm right up the road
I'll share your load
If you just call me (call me)
If you need a friend (call me) call me uh huh(call me) if you need a friend (call me)
If you ever need a friend (call me)
Call me (call me) call me (call me) call me
(Call me) call me (call me) if you need a friend
(Call me) call me (call me) call me (call me) call me (call me) call me (call me)

Written by Bill Withers • Copyright © Universal Music Publishing Group

Digital Citizenship

Together, we will learn to be polite and safe on the Internet. We will remind ourselves that anything we put on the WWW (World Wide Web) will often be available to anyone . . . anywhere. We will learn that anything we put on the Internet will be a reflection of ourselves . . . is it kind? is it cruel? These are important lessons for us all. We will learn to respect ourselves and others at all times.  In the Portaportal under the "Technology" headings I have links to Digital Citizenship games.
Here is one we use often for 3rd - 5th grade:
https://www.digitalpassport.org/educator-registration/studentLogin
username = 1st initial and last name | Password = 1st and last initial and birthdate

I borrowed this from  ( http://www.kidscomjr.com/games/safety/safety.html )  :
 Notice that I have "cited" the original owner of the text . . . so I didn't steal.

Always have good manners and be polite when talking to someone else online.

Ask your parents to spend time with you while online so that you can show them some of the neat things you can find online.

Only use the Internet when your parents tell you it's OK, and only for as long as you are supposed to.

Don't give out personal information like your address, telephone number or school name to anyone unless you have permission from your parents.

Never meet with a cyberfriend or key pal unless your parents go with you or you have their permission to go alone.

Don't break copyright rules by taking words, pictures or sound from someone else's Web site without their permission.

Don't respond to any e-mail messages you get if they are strange, mean or upsetting to you, and tell your parents or teachers right away.

Don't send pictures of yourself or your family to anyone unless you have permission from your parents.

Stop right away if you see or read something on a Web site that upsets you and tell your parents or teachers about it.

Don't put words, pictures or sounds on other people's Web sites without their permission.

Summer Fun!

Hi all,

Hope your Summer is making you healthy and happy. I hope you are finding good books to read. 

I am enjoying my summer. My two cats, Sylvia and Lucy, are so happy to have me at home.  I have been enjoying reading a few books and getting some chores done and hanging out with friends.

I've taken a few pictures of creatures in my back yard and in my house. I have a new picture of a cellar spider (Daddy Longlegs) with her newly hatched babies. I put that picture in the "Be Kind to Spiders" page (linked on the right of my blog). Here is one of a Swallowtail butterfly on a purple butterfly bush flower in my back yard. I took this one and shared it on public media and then Ms J. Williams shared one she took of the same subject!:

Ms. Wolfsong

Ms. Williams

I have been having the best time of all following groups of scientists on their study of the ocean. This is the Nautilus explorations which they broadcast live via this link: http://www.nautiluslive.org/. They discuss the creatures of the deep and we can watch and listen as they discover species, take samples and just marvel at the richness of the sea.

Here is a shot of "A Swiftia Pacifica stretching out behind a crinoid, with a few shrimp clinging to its structure. A shark, ray or skate egg casing is seen to the left. " This was seen off the Oregon Coast.


Right now the Nautilus (the ship) is off the coast of California. The scientists have their equipment and cameras on board the ship and manipulate the equipment on the diving vehicle, the Hercules. 

Hercules

Go to http://www.nautiluslive.org/  and watch the activities live. Even if they are not diving you can watch the scientists and others working on the ship. 
I have been making lists of some of the creatures I have seen so I can look them up later in Google or a marine web page: Glass sponge; brittle stars; bamboo coral; tunicate; sea pen; black coral; bivalves; sea cucumber; primnoid; basket star cup coral; squat lobster; and sea star wasting disease . . . and more!

Keep enjoying your Summer and keep track of the cool things you see, learn, and do. 

Hugs to all! I will add more here if I come across anything more interesting . . . back to watching the Nautilus activities.

Ms. Wolfsong

Fifth Grade Promotion 2016

We love you and we will miss you!





******************************

2016 Field Day Slideshow

Grout has the coolest students, staff and volunteers . . . The Best in the West!





Well, the temperatures were in the 90's . . . but we're cool!
*********************************************

Play Works at Grout

Our own School on "Out and About" . . .  early, early, early in the morning.




************

Congratulations Mrs. Van Clock

Honoring One of Our Own:




**************************************

Grout Arts Gallop

What fun we have when we run and run and run:





*************************

Grout's Great Readers

Look who we caught reading!






************************************************

Grout Recognition February 2016

There is no doubt about it . . . Grout kids are the best of the best!





**************************************

Dr. Seuss Stuff . .. and maybe a cartoon or two . . .

HORTON HEARS A WHO:





*************************************

THE CAT IN THE HAT:







***************************************
 GREEN EGGS AND HAM:






***************************************

THE LORAX





****************************************

 THE BUTTER BATTLE BOOK




****************************************
 Link for Dr. Seuss games: http://pbskids.org/catinthehat/games/






*****************************************

Playground Dance

WOW do you guys have the moves:

Look at the Kinders and Third Graders Dance:







*******************************
 Now its the turn of the First and Fourth Graders .. ... Look at those teachers go:






******************************** 
 Second and Fifth graders got the moves:







********************************