Teamwork Turkey

This week everyone participated in a great cooperative art project.  Each student was given a small piece of paper that used to be a part of a bigger picture.  They had to transfer what was on their small piece of paper to a bigger one.  They had no idea what it would turn out to be.  They were very excited to see the finished picture come together.  They did an awesome job!!!!

Meet Our Southwest Tutor

Every quarter we have a student from Southwest Junior High who comes to our classroom to help us out.  This quarter we are lucky to have Hannah spending time in our classroom.  Hannah is a seventh-grader who plays softball and dances.  She also likes to scrapbook.

Birthday Party Read-In

On election day the second graders voted on how to celebrate our November birthdays.  They could vote for a movie, game day, or a read-in.  The read-in won by a landslide!!  Our readers were very cozy as they read  and enjoyed popcorn.

Hedgehog Bakes a Cake

Our cooking show audience.

Our reading story this week was Hedgehog Bakes a Cake.  Hedgehog finds a yellow cake recipe. His friends try to help him out but end up ruining the whole cake.  We decided to try out Hedgehog's recipe.  Everyone helped and it turned out yummy (even though there were a few eggshells we let slip into the batter)! When the kids came back from specialists the entire second grade hallway smelled delicious as it was filled with the aroma of three freshly baked cakes.  Here is the recipe if you'd like to try it at home.  The recipe is for a 9 inch round cake.  We doubled it and baked it in a 9 x 13 pan. 

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter

3 eggs

1 1/4 cup self-rising flour

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Mix butter and sugar.  Add eggs one at a time.  Mix in vanilla and then flour.  Put batter in a buttered pan and bake for 30 minutes (longer if you double the recipe).

Critters & Company

Sibley students learned some great lessons on teasing and bullying from some very special friends.  Greg Olson from Critters & Company shared his animals with all of us.  Each animal had a special lesson to teach everyone.  The hedgehogs taught us that even if we don't think we are teasing, another person might think we are.  We must think of how the other person feels about it.  The iguana lost his tail being attacked and teased by cats.  Even though it grew back it wasn't ever as nice as it had once been.  The students learned that sometimes teasing and bullying can leave scars and hurt feelings for a very long time-maybe forever.  They were amazed by the size of the porcupine and surprised to learn they could have 10,000 quills.  The chicken taught them to not pick on those who seem like an easy target or to have pecking order like groups of chickens do.  The hawk had been shot by someone for fun.  They were sorry they did it but it was important for them to promise not to do it again.  This lesson was shared with a statement that "Sorry is good......Change is better!"  Each class was given a pledge for to sign if they agreed to treat animals and people with respect and courtesy.  I am very excited to say that everyone in our class agreed and signed the pledge!!

Veteran's Day

The second grade classes worked together to make a paper chain flag in honor of Veteran's Day.  Each child was given two stars to take home and personalize with the name of veteran.  They were excited to see the flag hanging in the hallway near our library.  Those who brought in stars searched to find theirs.