Estimation Jar Winners!

Last week, we had two Estimation Jar winners: Mariama and Jelani.  They both estimated 55 Smarties; the actual number was 50.  Congratulations!

Late Night Homework for Next Week!

This week, we read the story The Big Dipper.  We learned what the Big Dipper and Little Dipper constellations looked like.  We also saw pictures of Gemini, Leo, and Orion.  Next week, on one of the days we don't have school, please take a few minutes to go outside and look at the stars.  Help your child to find the Big Dipper and Little Dipper.  See if you can find the North Star, too!  If you have a smartphone there are some great apps that you can use to find constellations in the sky.  Try Sky Map for android phones -- and it's free!

Space Station Webcast!

Yesterday afternoon, our class was able to participate in an incredible experience!  We were able to join a live webcast from the International Space Station!  We were very excited to see the astronauts on our SmartBoard.  Here are a few things that we learned:

• The astronauts clean their urine through a closed filtration system and use it as drinking water.
• It takes the astronauts 8 1/2 minutes to get into outer space.
• We saw the microphone floating in space.
• The astronauts communicate with their families by videoconference.
• Their food is vaccuum packed or freeze dried.
• They use the sun's power or solar energy to power the space station.
• They get their emails every 2 hours.
• We saw the astronauts do flips and float in the air.
• We saw how the astronauts would perform CPR on another astronaut by doing a handstand to do compressions.