Symmetrical and asymmetrical...Look, we can show you what this is!

Our "local university" (remember Room 8 readers - no names here!) has a class called 'interpretive dance.' The instructor sent out an email asking if we would be interested in having a couple of the students come to our classroom and teach some 'interpretive dance.'

"Um," I was thinking. I thought for a little while - maybe 3 1/2 minutes or so...and then sent back an email saying SURE!

I told Room 8 that I had NO IDEA what they would teach, but that we would, of course, all be very polite and appreciative...and we would all participate. (The "pep talk")

Well, two wonderful students - Erin and Nicole - came Tuesday and it was WONDERFUL! I think all Room 8ers had a grand time and learned a lot. We didn't necessarily understand the "dance" part of it...but we sure learned what it means for something to be symmetrical or asymmetrical.

Of course, being the blogging fiend and photo fiend that I am, I took not 10, not 20, not 30...no, I took 55 pictures and Erin and Nicole were only here less than an hour. I think I'll just put them in a slide show. Watch:

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Let me explain: After gathering in a circle, we each made symmetrical and then asymmetrical shapes with our bodies. (Y is a symmetrical, K in not) Then in groups, we made asymmetrical statues .... showed the rest of the group... then made symmetrical statues ... and showed the whole group. Following that, we paired up and shadowed each other. Kind of like a mime. One would make symmetrical and asymmetrical patterns and the partner had to follow.

Thank you Erin and Nicole!

COMPUTERS CAN BE SO FRUSTRATING!!!

I cannot tell you how FRUSTRATED I was today! As much as I love working on computers, today I didn't feel that way.

We've been studying food chains and today we were going to start research for our FOOD CHAIN PROJECT. Well, the computer lab was uncooperative .... AGAIN. I had to remember what we are in Room 8 .... FLEXIBLE ... so the students did KidPix or Chess. They loved it, I stayed frustrated!

We'll try again! Only next time, I have asked Nancy B., our technology WIZARD to be in there with us!

TWINS!

In room 8, we have four twins...one half of four different sets, three of which are identical. Often, I'll see a twin and will have to ask, "Are you mine or are you the twin of mine?"

There are more twins than these in our school... I think last year we had 8 sets! Take a look:
Casey and Courtney...
Dillon and Hunter
Edin and Galen
Elijah and Aimee
Ryan and Nick...Ryan is a former room 8'er...one of the 'Master Builders.'

I always thought it would be so much fun to be a twin...or to have twins...neither of which happened to me.

Those Egyptians should see our pyramid!

Well, maybe the ancient Egyptians wouldn't be too jealous, but everyone has to start somewhere, right?

Out at recess on Friday, I saw this 'mound' out in the field. Casey (in the black sweatshirt) was beside me so I asked him what it was.

VERY matter-of-factly, he informed me it was their pyramid. The plan is for it to get larger. I'm not sure who all the construction crew is, but from the left we have: ?, Edin, ?, Ryan, Galen, Cassidy, and Casey... master builders!

Taking a science quiz

In science, we've been studying about food chains - producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, tertiary consumers (have you ever heard that one?), decomposers, herbivores....etc. Friday, we had an 'open book' quiz.
Amber and Michael
AustinEmma

Kyle W.Macey
Mary finished her test so she worked on a crazy puzzle.Tyler

Just ask us anything about food chains...we're experts!

Do you still do the blog?

Yes....

Some Room 8ers from last year have been asking that question...

Here are some of them - all of which I miss!
Joshua and Connor
Nikkiah and Adam
ColeSydney and TiffanyBailee

Spelling relay

Miss C taught us a new game for PE this week. It was a spelling relay...and boy was it fun!

There were 10 hula-hoops set up in the gym, 5 on each side. On one side, the hoops had individual letters in the center. On the opposite side of the gym, Room 8 was lined up into teams. When Miss C gave the word, the first person in each line would race to the other side, retrieve ONE letter, and race back to the opposite side and place the letter in the empty hula-hoop. The next person in line would then run to the hoop with letters, and retrieve the next letter...until the word was spelled.



When a team completed their word, they would raise their hand so Miss C could check.
To spice things up, the teams only actually RAN once. Miss C made it interesting by having them run backwards, hop on one foot, jump on both feet, run sideways...and the bear crawl!



I knew I needed to put a video on here so you could see Room 8 in action:

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Black/white, sepia, and cyanotype

I've been playing with my new camera...a lot! Earlier in the week, I was playing with the camera while we were out for our morning run. Here's some of the photos
Branndon...in black and white
Danielle in cyanotype...

Danielle in sepia....Mary in cyanotype....

Lining up in tornado alley....in cyanotype...
Austin in cyanotype....
Mary and a friend...in black and white...Walking after our run...to cool down...in cyanotype...

New toys (my camera!) are fun!