Crops that are currently in the garden for the winter season include:
- brussel sprouts
- onion
- lettuce
- cauliflower
- beans
- artichokes
- lima beans
- carrots
- basil
- mint and much more. YUM!!
Saturday, 13 February 2016
A trip to the garden with 5B
On Wednesday, January 27th after finishing up a unit in natural science about parts of the plant, photosynthesis, angiosperms and gymnosperms the class got to visit the school garden that has been growing over the past three years thanks to José Antonio, who has been in charge of the vision the school has for a community garden from the beginning.
Sunday, 24 January 2016
Climate in North Carolina
Currently most of the east coast has been snowed in for the past few days because of a blizzard called Jonas. 85 million people were told to stay inside throughout Washington D.C., Boston and New York and at least 10 people have already died because of the storm. My university, Elon University is located in a small town in North Carolina and class has been canceled for the past couple of days due to the snow. In the south, when it snows the city usually shuts down.
Click to see Photos of Snow Storm Jonas
Click to see Photos of Snow Storm Jonas
This past week we talked about climate with 5B and 6A. North Carolina is categorized as a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summer and mild to cool winters, so it is a big deal when it snows. San Diego, CA where my father lives has a mediterranean climate much like Southern Spain.
Wildlife in North Carolina includes deer, squirrels, alligators, bears, foxes and snakes. There are a variety of trees including red maple, red spruce, sugar spruce, cherry tree and oak.
Climate Change has caused problems with air pollution, floods, droughts, tornados, cyclones, and extreme heat. Here are two videos we showed in class to discuss what we can do about it.
For the full presentation you can see pictures of my university here:
Monday, 18 January 2016
The Empire State Building
Today with 5C we talked about a famous building located in New York City. Last week they learned about the Taj Mahal in India.
Click on the link to see the presentation:
The Empire State Building Presentation
The Empire State Building has 102 stories or floors.
It is located in Manhattan, New York City on 5th avenue.
It is 381 m tall, 443 m tall to the last tip.
™Construction started March 17, 1930 and I opened May 1, 1931.
Click on the link to see the presentation:
The Empire State Building Presentation
The Empire State Building has 102 stories or floors.
It is located in Manhattan, New York City on 5th avenue.
It is 381 m tall, 443 m tall to the last tip.
™Construction started March 17, 1930 and I opened May 1, 1931.
™It was the tallest building until the One World Trade Center which recently opened
in 2014.
™It was built by the architect William F. Lamb.
Here are some links to where it is located on google maps and the website where you can explore the amazing views from the top floor, take a virtual tour, view the films that the Empire State Building has appeared in and see what celebrities have visited there. In the presentation you can also see a clip from the famous film in King Kong where he climbs the building.
Sunday, 17 January 2016
Getting Around Town
In 4th grade the past week we have been talking about places and public transportation. Vocabulary includes: hospital, train station, café, police station, museum, supermarket, newagents, bus stop, cinema and shops.
Transportation vocabulary includes: car, double-decker buses, water boats, gondalas, bicycle, underground/tube, tram, road, canal, village, town, city, and taxi.
Here are some pictures I shared with the class as we talked about transportation in London, Venice and Amsterdam. Where would you like to travel and how?
While I have never been to Venice (yet), I have been to The Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Inside it looks like it is day during the day with the ceiling painted like the sky, and at night it changes to dark blue with stars and a plaza much like the St. Marcos Square in Venice. Can you see the Gondola in my picture?
Examples of an activity in class was:
I would like to travel to ____________ by __________. If you would like to travel to Las Vegas by plane here is more about the Venetian Hotel: http://www.venetian.com/
Transportation vocabulary includes: car, double-decker buses, water boats, gondalas, bicycle, underground/tube, tram, road, canal, village, town, city, and taxi.
Here are some pictures I shared with the class as we talked about transportation in London, Venice and Amsterdam. Where would you like to travel and how?
 |
| A traditional tramway in Lisbon, Portugal |
 |
| In Amsterdam there are more bicycles than people. |
 |
| Did you know in London they also call the Underground the Tube. In the U.S. we call it the Subway. |
 |
| A double-decker bus in London |
 |
| Did you know there are no roads or cars in Venice: Looks like a gondala or water boat is your only option. |
 |
| At the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. Did I fool you? |
 |
| The tramway in Istanbul, Turkey |
While I have never been to Venice (yet), I have been to The Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Inside it looks like it is day during the day with the ceiling painted like the sky, and at night it changes to dark blue with stars and a plaza much like the St. Marcos Square in Venice. Can you see the Gondola in my picture?
Examples of an activity in class was:
I would like to travel to ____________ by __________. If you would like to travel to Las Vegas by plane here is more about the Venetian Hotel: http://www.venetian.com/
Monday, 21 December 2015
Merry Christmas v. Feliz Navidad
Throughout the month of December Maestra Isabel Alvarez has been preparing several lessons in anticipation of Christmas Vacations. As a result, I thought I should share some of the differences I have learned between Spain and the United States over the past two years.
Decorations
To begin with the decorations are pretty different. In the United States almost everyone has a large Christmas tree with a star at the top similar to some families in Spain. However, the biggest difference is that we don't typically put a nativity scene "portal de Belen" in our homes with a Virgin Mary, Baby Jesus in a manger, Joseph and the three wise men. We do however decorate the outside of our homes with lots of lights and different colors, more so than I would say in Spain.
Food
Also, this year with some of my private classes I got to make Christmas cookies a great tradition I have at home with my family. We made sugar cookies and decorated them with a present, stocking, reindeer, wreath etc. Generally my family has a big Christmas dinner with turkey or ham, mashed potatoes, cakes and vegetables similar to Thanksgiving.
In Spain I got to try polvorones, a cookie generally with almonds inside and turron, a hard or soft nougat with almonds and honey on the inside and can be chocolate or many different kinds. Another speciality is the King's cake which I have yet to try.
The Three Magic Kings
The correct name in English is actually the three wise men (los reyes magos), but everyone in Spain knows they are the ones to bring the presents on the three kings day. However, in the United States we receive presents from Santa and open them on Christmas morning December 25th. Some children make lists for him of the presents they want him to bring and make sure to stay on the "nice" list instead of the naughty list.
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Decorations
To begin with the decorations are pretty different. In the United States almost everyone has a large Christmas tree with a star at the top similar to some families in Spain. However, the biggest difference is that we don't typically put a nativity scene "portal de Belen" in our homes with a Virgin Mary, Baby Jesus in a manger, Joseph and the three wise men. We do however decorate the outside of our homes with lots of lights and different colors, more so than I would say in Spain.
 |
| A house decorated with Christmas lights |
 |
| Nativity Scene in Seville |
Food
Also, this year with some of my private classes I got to make Christmas cookies a great tradition I have at home with my family. We made sugar cookies and decorated them with a present, stocking, reindeer, wreath etc. Generally my family has a big Christmas dinner with turkey or ham, mashed potatoes, cakes and vegetables similar to Thanksgiving.
In Spain I got to try polvorones, a cookie generally with almonds inside and turron, a hard or soft nougat with almonds and honey on the inside and can be chocolate or many different kinds. Another speciality is the King's cake which I have yet to try.
 |
| Polvorones |
 |
| Turrón |
The Three Magic Kings
The correct name in English is actually the three wise men (los reyes magos), but everyone in Spain knows they are the ones to bring the presents on the three kings day. However, in the United States we receive presents from Santa and open them on Christmas morning December 25th. Some children make lists for him of the presents they want him to bring and make sure to stay on the "nice" list instead of the naughty list.
5B and The Spread of Disease
This past unit in Natural Science has been about infectious and non-infectious diseases and how to stay healthy which is perfect for this time of year when the weather is getting colder and people are getting sick with fevers and colds. 5th grade learned about antibiotics, bacteria, viruses, diseases such as cancer and diabetes as well as how to stay healthy from these illnesses. Staying healthy included eating fruits and vegetables, doing exercise, getting eight hours of sleep and keeping clean by washing our hands and brushing our teeth.
On the last class before the holidays we performed an experiment to show the spread of disease.
The Spread of Disease Activity
To do the experiment we used plastic cups in groups of two and three. The students poured water into other cups in different groups to represent "coughing or sneezing" on another student. One group's cup was infected with a mixture of baking soda. After, I poured a few drops of homeade phenolphthalein solution (indicator for basic solutions) and the water turned a light green. The darker the green the more infected the group was.
The class then had to determine which group was originally the "infected" one and how now other groups had been contaminated.
On the last class before the holidays we performed an experiment to show the spread of disease.
The Spread of Disease Activity
To do the experiment we used plastic cups in groups of two and three. The students poured water into other cups in different groups to represent "coughing or sneezing" on another student. One group's cup was infected with a mixture of baking soda. After, I poured a few drops of homeade phenolphthalein solution (indicator for basic solutions) and the water turned a light green. The darker the green the more infected the group was.
The class then had to determine which group was originally the "infected" one and how now other groups had been contaminated.
 |
| Pouring water to spread disease |
 |
| Recording the results |
 |
| Sharing the infection: "coughing or sneezing" |
 |
| They are not infected! |
Saturday, 5 December 2015
Constitution Day: Are you smarter than a 5th grader?
There was a popular American TV trivia show called "Are you smarter than a 5th grader" somewhat like Who wants to be a Millionaire where they asked educated adults the same questions that 5th graders were learning in their class. In case you are unfamiliar here is a link to the show.
Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader
Constitution Day is being celebrated tomorrow December 6th, this week we discussed the American constitution in my fifth and sixth grade classes.
Here is the presentation I shared with them which includes:
- Our Constitution Day
- The Constitution is the supreme law of the United States
- It protects our Rights and sets up the government
- It begins "We the People"
- It has 27 amendments, or changes to the constitution
- The first 10 are known as the Bill of Rights (with 2 videos)
- The three branches of government are the legislative, executive and judicial
- The Coat of Arms - Which can be found on the U.S. Dollar which I showed them along with a passport
The Constitution of the United States
Shake it Off - Bill of Rights
After we took an American Citizenship Exam. The same Naturalization Exam that immigrants have to prepare for in the United States, I had with flashcards.
Here you can have a look at the questions and see "Are you Smarter than a Fifth Grader???"
Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader
Constitution Day is being celebrated tomorrow December 6th, this week we discussed the American constitution in my fifth and sixth grade classes.
Here is the presentation I shared with them which includes:
- Our Constitution Day
- The Constitution is the supreme law of the United States
- It protects our Rights and sets up the government
- It begins "We the People"
- It has 27 amendments, or changes to the constitution
- The first 10 are known as the Bill of Rights (with 2 videos)
- The three branches of government are the legislative, executive and judicial
- The Coat of Arms - Which can be found on the U.S. Dollar which I showed them along with a passport
The Constitution of the United States
Shake it Off - Bill of Rights
After we took an American Citizenship Exam. The same Naturalization Exam that immigrants have to prepare for in the United States, I had with flashcards.
Here you can have a look at the questions and see "Are you Smarter than a Fifth Grader???"
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