Third and Fourth Grade Language Arts
As part of our Indigenous Peoples Unit we visited Mission Santa Cruz and explored Ohlone lifeways before and after the Mission Era, Students sharing and presenting information about natural resources and playing the Hoop and Pole game, a practice to hone hunting skills.
Students made tule mats using tule and twine. We toured the Mission and learned about life as a neophyte, a “new believer.” Students made candles, which was one of the jobs of a neophyte child.
Students created a group Thank you poem titled “We Are still Here” for Julie the Ranger, our guide at the Santa Cruz Mission. Student reflections on Ohlone life as a boy or girl and a neophyte boy or girl.
Students are reading Native American myths and legends, learning about traditional cultural values, and reflecting upon their lessons.
Gung Hay Fat Choy ~ 2022 is the Year of The Tiger! Students learned about the Chinese Lunar New Year and celebrated by making traditional red envelopes of well wishes for their pen pals. Students identified their Chinese Zodiac Year, animal, and characteristics. Everyone participated in the Dragon Dance to help scare away evil spirits.
Valentines Day - All You Need Is Love! List Poems, Cinquain Poems, Acrostic Poems and celebrating Jack Prelutsky’s creativity and poetic genius:-)
Evergreen Cemetery Field Trip - exploring one of the oldest cemeteries in California and learning about the first settlers in Santa Cruz. Students learned about family histories, sacrifices made, and contributions of the first settlers in Santa Cruz.
Presidents Day - Students learned many interesting facts about George Washington and Barack Obama. Ask your child to tell you about the symbols and meanings of “The Great Seal of the United States,” found on the back of the one dollar bill.
Black History Month - Celebrating Jazz Music and Louis Armstrong. Students learned about the origins of jazz music and the legendary spiritual “When The Saints Go Marching In.” We watched old video footage of Louis Armstong and his band and learned about the instrumental elements of a jazz, improvisation, and scatting.
Jazz and Democracy - How are they alike?
Freedom…Risk-Taking…Cultural Diversity…Innovation…Creative Collaboration~ oh yeah!
