2 Totally Cute Pictures of 4th at AHM and on the bridge at Good Sam--then lots of pictures of the kids at work helping rake leaves at Good Samariatan

With the Appaloosa Beauty how was on site. There are different horses there as owners loan

Touring the AMAZING ground of Good Samaritan. It is one of the major reasons that residents choose the facility, Mr. Jesse Watson said. He is in charge of Marketing and Outreach for the village and has given the kids great facts about what Good Samaritan does. It was a great surprise to have a sunny day after a week of rain. I had told the kids we would work come rain or shine and I had planned on supplying big garbage bags that would become large raincoat ponchos! :)

This is Mr. John talking to the kids about the place and what he does. He is the only maintenance worker and was glad to have the help. As with all the professionals we have met, he gave them facts about his job, as well as, how much he loves what he does. He taught them the difference between deciduous and coniferous trees. The kids laughed because at first they thought he said carnivours-- and we have spent so much time learning about the adaptation of those types of plants, it was a good chuckle and oooh!

1,2,3 and into the truck! The kids filled it up. It took quite a few trips of leaves loaded on to sheets. 

Yay! All done with one area and onward to the next place, but first a lesson in composting.

Appaloosa Horse Museum and Miniature Railway Experts-- both part of human engineering. Touring Good Samaritan Village

One of the many amazing posters created each year to celebrate the Appaloosa and are on display at the
Appaloosa Horse Museum

Thousands of years ago horses are drawn on cave walls---could these be leopard appaloosa?

The Nez Perce were breeders and creatorts of beautiful beaded ornamentation for themselves and their horses.

The museum is full of facts that the kids collected on their note catchers.

Using the Moscow Pullman Daily News for a Science Article study. The kids learn to look for text to self, other texts, and world connections to engage with the writing. We discuss the facts, learn to cite the location of the information and make deeper meaning about the material from a STEAM perspective.

Speaking of STEAM, 2 members of the Latah Miniature Railway Group came to educate the kids about the STEAM connections in the railroad industry. These two men, Mr. Joe Overstreet and Mr. Jerry Swatman have either worked or been involved in some way with trains their whole lives. Each presented in depth knowledge about all aspects of how trains were the premiere transportation model. It was super interesting and the kids will be able to visit the trains at the Latah Fairgrounds soon.  The explained steam to diesel, grades, and memories of work.

While the men were talking--someone thought about the Boxcar Kid Series and I pulled up a picture. Then Mr. Jerry gave lots of mathematical facts about boxcars from weight empty to how many are on a train to where the cargo is carried. 

About to enter the Good Samaritan Village for our first tour by Jesse Watson. The kids were able to see 16 different areas and learn about the what, who, and why behind  the whole organization. We also had an activity with some of the residents and planned our next visit. We will help do some service by raking leaves. That will be fun!

In the cafeteria and getting the information about how many meals are made, who eats there and how they organize the room.

A library with no check out---honor system. That was a new idea for the kids.

Happy together

A pumpkin pair

Pumpkins that hangout together.

Great personalities hang out together.

Just general good feelings were shared.

They were a true reflection of their creators. :)

Art comes to life.

Stickers and zombies did influence one tables creations.

The kids had the option to paint on the pumpkins too.

It was a very fun activity planned by Good Samaritan and the kids loved it. The staff was terrific to work with and our next step is matching up Pen Pals. The kids get so much out of writing letters in cursive and receiving letters in cursive. The excitement of making a new friend and help the kids learn about the past and people's lives is invaluable.

This gorgeous tree was across the tree from Good Sam.

In our classroom...

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These drawings on the whiteboard were done during Chinese as Teacher Fu has been teaching body parts. The class was broken into teams and each got a chance to add one part. And of course say the parts. We know a song now that helps to remember the language.

UI Math Block Student, Ms. Cowperthwaite teaching math.

Student Teacher, Mrs. Strawn helping direct the math learning.

First Field Trip-- Latah Public Library Tour

Off to the Library!

 The kids were ready and had communicated all the details to their parents about the trip to the Library through the Planner--well done--Raise the Roof. They did a great job getting signatures on the schedule, making sure to have lunch and were outfitted with their note catchers and partners.

The goals of this trip were to learn about our library and check out a fiction and non fiction book. The fiction could be their choice and the non fiction had to be related to plants which we are writing an expository piece with. Almost all the class remembered their library cards!

Ms. Julie starts the tour in the Non Fiction room and then into groups we go.

We met Ms. Julie, who is the Librarian for the Juvenile Section and she did a thorough job of explaining the history of the library and how resources are cataloged-yes!!--we talked about the Dewey Decimal System. Then the kids got to see how books and other resources are brought into the main branch and see how all these materials get distributed to other branches. They found out that 1100 items are processed each month. That is a good math question we get to focus on. She told them how to order materials, drop off books and understand that the library is so available for them. The kids were curious and had plenty of time to find what they wanted to read.

We traveled on the city bus and for this group--a new experience for a lot. One of the tasks to capture in notes was to write 2 observations going and returning. They also took down sketches and did labeling of places on the tour that they thought were really interesting. We'll talk about and collect in a data set. The third page was to write down the title, author, copyright, and publisher of their books.

Gavin's Dad joined us and the 401 UI student, plus our student teacher Kelly Strawn. It was a very wonderful day of learning and being out and about.


When we got back to school the kids evaluated their behavior based on the PBIS matrix for fieldtrips. Of the 5 areas, they only scored themselves as worthy of a token for 1, which was an honest reflection. They are learning to talk about how to improve actions and  not just what not to do. Then, we appreciated our partners. We got out the dictionaries and looked up the work appreciate. Big Light Bulbs. :}
Then, I started a sentence for them to express appreciation to their partner and to find three things or reasons. After, they shared with their partner, exchanged papers and these were stapled into their Planners as the TBaA.

 Finishing up notes from the day--reviewing and revising.

 Overthe past two weeks--
Everyone made the berry ink and then it dried up so I bought some ink at Micheal's and kids
have been bringing in quills and the kids are using them during Cursive and Grammar time.