Otsego Newsletter 9-27-10

Otsego

Wl

Kindergarten students in Mrs. Polestino’s class make observations and collect data.

Week of Sept. 27, 2010

A Message from the Principal Quote of the Week

Stacey Bernstein The start of the school year is an exciting time! As I visit our classrooms, I am greeted with happy faces and wonderful stories. The children have eagerly been sharing their learning experiences with me and talking about their favorite school activities. Many of our students have outlined their goals for the year and have already been working towards achieving them.

A highlight of our school year, thus far, has been the opening of our new STEM (Science, Technology,

Future Otsego Happenings

2010

Engineering, and Mathematics) Lab. We are fortunate to have this great space for learning and excited about the curriculum activities that are planned. Our classes will each visit the lab weekly and participate in hands-on lessons to encourage collaboration, problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, and innovation – the skills our children need to be successful in the 21st century. We are looking forward to utilizing this lab to enhance our instructional program.

“Men love to wonder, and that is the seed of science.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

This Week’s Agenda Wednesday, 9/29- Photo Day Friday, 10/1- PARP (Parents as Reading Partners) Begins * More information about PARP to follow *

Tuesday, 10/5 – Evening Book Fair, 6:00pm Wednesday and Thursday, 10/6-10/7 – Book Fair Wednesday, 10/6 – PTA Executive Board, 6:30pm and PTA General Membership Meeting, 7:30pm Thursday, 10/7 – Gift Wrap Sale Ends Saturday, 10/16 – Fall Festival, 1:00pm

National Geographic Kids Click the link above for details on 5 Fun Experiments 1. Balancing Eggs-periment Balance an egg on its end with some skillful coordination, a little salt—and maybe even a little help from the sun's gravitational pull!

2. Try to Make an Ant Get Lost Ants keep track of where they are, where they're going, and how to get there. Can you make an ant get lost?

3. Magnetic Pick Up Here's a fun and easy way to fly a kite.

4. All Charged Up All objects—even you—are made of tiny particles called atoms. These atoms interact and create a charge that has some surprising results.

5. Create a Motion

Ocean

Common household items create a dazzling decoration for your room.

PBS Parents Please click the link below to access the complete article from PBS Parents What can grown-ups do?

Suggestions for integrating science into your daily routine.

Ms. Scognamillo’s class prepares for their first experiment in our STEM Lab.

Parent Talk What can you do at home to nurture kids' natural sense of wonder and help them become enthusiastic lifelong learners?

1. Encourage Questions- When kids ask questions and try to find answers, they are doing science.

Don’t be afraid that you won’t know what to say.

Not even scientists have all the answers.

2. Value Curiosity- Give children chances to try new things and take reasonable risks. When we cheer them on, children learn to trust in their own ability to explore the world.

3. Become Master Observers- Help children use all of their senses to notice details about objects, events, and people. Look for similarities (compare) and differences (contrast) 4. Make Predictions- Help children use what they know to predict an outcome or consequence.

5. Make Science a Part of Your Daily Routine- You don’t have to stop and set up special experiments to do science. Opportunities to observe, compare, contrast, record, and describe are all around us.