Mrs. Stewart's Class

Summer Is Here!

It has been a busy but fun year teaching Target here at Kincaid. Our last few weeks flew by as we wrapped up our units. The second graders had a great time with our MYOB (Mind Your Own Business) Day. My third graders finished their Puzzled by the Past unit by learning about the Mayas and Incas, and my fourth and fifth graders wound up their Courage unit by learning about the Japanese Interment Camps of World War II.

I would like to take a moment to thank all the parents and students for their support this year. With both Mrs. Robertson and myself being brand new Target teachers this year, we have had a huge learning curve. In fact, I decided that my learning curve was as steep and as high as Mount Everest! I had lots of new forms, new paperwork, and new procedures to learn. December was extremely hectic as we tested and re-evaluated a multitude of students in 1st, 3rd, and 5th grades. But we added lots of new students to the gifted program as a result of that. So I am very proud of how we have increased the number of Kincaid students being served through the Target program. In addition to all this, I had brand new units to learn as I taught them to the students. Whew! It has been a wild, exhausting year - but a fun one also. Thank you all for your patience as I found my bearings and made this big adjustment from classroom teacher to Target teacher.

As I write this, it is the last day of post-planning. I am sitting here in a sparse, undecorated classroom with all my furniture wrapped in plastic and my possessions packed away in boxes. As you know, we are getting new lights, new ceilings, and a new heating and air system this summer. So Kincaid will be under construction. But in addition to that, I am also changing classrooms. Right now I am waiting on Mr. Henry to come and move all my things down the hall. I won't be going far - just a few doors down to the 5th grade area. We are adding a new 4th grade classroom in August, so they needed my current classroom for another 4th grade teacher. It has been a busy few days as I readied everything for another room change. (I'm getting pretty good at this, it seems!)

It has been a pleasure teaching your child in Target this year. You will find your child's final Target progress reports in the envelopes being mailed out with your child's regular report card. I wish everyone a happy, safe, and restful summer. I plan to do lots of reading, tackle some projects around the house, hit the gym every day, and even get away to a nice beach vacation where I can stick my toes in the sand for a while. Summers are a great way to "recharge my batteries" so to speak. I hope all of you will take time to enjoy your family and relax with life at a slower pace. I will be looking forward to seeing everyone in August as we start another fun Target year. Take care!

3rd graders Present their GBR's

We had a short day on both Wednesday and Thursday of this week with my third grade Target students. We lost some class time on Wednesday due to the Teacher Appreciation Luncheon, and we lost time on Thursday due to our Early Release schedule for the student-staff kickball game. Of course, the Teacher Appreciation Luncheon was a pleasant diversion for me as I enjoyed the lovely meal PTA provided for the Kincaid staff. And we wound up having to reschedule the Relay for Life kickball game due to poor field conditions from all of our recent rains. Hopefully, we can reschedule the kickball game for one day next week. It is a very busy time of year around our school!

The highlight for both 3rd grade classes was sharing all the wonderful GBR's with classmates this week. We had an outstanding variety of projects brought in this week. Some students shared original skits they had written while some brought in beautiful 3-D models and dioramas. Many students created team games with handwritten trivia questions about ancient civilizations and carefully designed game boards. Several students shared powerpoint presentations. They were all very impressive and reflected a lot of hard work. Way to go, third graders!

By the time we shared all of the GBR's on our shortened time schedule, we had only a little time left over for learning about the Inca and Maya civilizations. I did give the students a handout which contains a brief overview of both cultures. Although I won't see the Wednesday group again this year (due to Field Day next Wednesday), I will spend a little time next Thursday with the rest of the third graders doing some research on these fascinating Pre-Columbian civilizations. We don't know for sure just when our Relay for Life kickball game will be next week. But stay tuned for further details, and have a good week!

3rd grade Archaeology unit update

Our Target meetings have been a bit scarce the past few weeks due to CRCT testing and schedule changes. But my 3rd grade students have been busy working on our Puzzled by the Past unit nonetheless.

Recently we have been learning all about ancient Rome. Last week students watched a video clip from Discovery School which told about the government systems of Rome and the influence rulers like Julius Caesar had on history. Students also received an informational handout about the history and achievements of the ancient Romans to keep in their binders, and they added new vocabulary words to their sets of archaeology flash cards.

Last week students completed a fun brainteaser called "Doing Math the Roman Way". They were challenged to solve basic computation problems using Roman numerals only. It was especially fun when they got to create their own Roman numeral math problems to share with their classmates. We also looked at the influence the Latin language has had on our modern English language. Students used this website for examples of Latin words and similar English words and meanings:

http://www.greeknstuff.com/module-l.html

For example, the Latin word "nox" means night, and we get our English word "nocturnal" from this. As you know, an animal which is nocturnal is active at night. Students chose different Latin words to look up and then created posters showing the Latin word, its meaning, a related English word, and an illustration. They turned out really cute, and it was a fun way to emphasize the huge influence Latin has had on our own modern language.

Several students shared their GBRs last week. Most of the students obviously did a great deal of research on them and did a fabulous job presenting their efforts to the class! Remember that the last opportunity to share GBRs for this semester is Wednesday, May 6th and Thursday, May 7th. My last day to meet with my Wednesday group this year will be this Wednesday, May 6th. That's because of  our scheduled field day the following Wednesday the 13th. The last day I will be meeting with the Thursday Target group will be Thursday, May 14th. So our time together for this school year is coming to a quick end.

The very last activity we did on ancient Rome last week was to look at the Roman art form of mosaics. I found a fun interactive website where students could create their own mosaic designs. Some of the students ran out of time last week to try it, so I promised that I would put a link to the site for them here on my blog. If your student would like to try this activity at home, here is the website:

http://rome.mrdonn.org/mosaics.html

Students can click on the link which says "make your own mosaic online." It really is kind of fun and relaxing!

We will be spending our last days wrapping up our Puzzled by the Past unit by looking at the Pre-Columbian civilizations of the Maya and Incas. I look forward to seeing the last of the GBRs this week as we close in on our final lessons for the year. Hang on... summer's almost here!

4th and 5th grade Courage unit update

Our Target meetings have been a bit scarce the past few weeks due to CRCT testing and schedule changes. But my 4th and 5th grade students have been busy working on our Courage unit nonetheless. Students have been enjoying our read aloud sessions with the historical fiction book Who Comes With Cannons? As Truth and her uncle make their way to Robert Bardwell in the Union prison in New York state, they have an amazing encounter with Frederick Douglass and Mary Todd Lincoln. It has been a wonderful story which emphasizes the bravery shown by our country's abolitionists.

Students have also been exploring Japanese internment camps and the courage shown by Japanese Americans during World War II. Here are a few websites which contain information about this interesting chapter in American history:

http://www.historyonthenet.com/WW2/japan_internment_camps.htm

http://memory.loc.gov/learn/lessons/99/fear/intro.html

http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/japanese_internment/lesson1_main.html

4th and 5th graders have also spent this week sharing their Going Beyond Requirements projects (GBRs). We have really enjoyed learning more about topics related to our Courage unit. Some of them have been really outstanding! We have looked at dioramas and models, Powerpoints and timelines, and even listened to original poems and skits. Students have done a great job sharing all that they have learned from their research. Good job, everyone!

I will be meeting with 4th and 5th grade Target students next Monday and Tuesday, May 11th and 12th, for the last time this school year. I will be sending home student work and projects with students at that time as we wrap up our year together. There is no homework this week since students have already shared their GBRs. We will use our days next week to finish up our Courage unit. Summer's nearly here!

2nd Graders and Business Skills

Second grade Target students focused on business skills this week as we look ahead to an end-of-year activity called M.Y.O.B. Day (or Mind Your Own Business Day). We began the day - as we usually do - with a brainteaser. This week we tried a new kind of logical thinking/math skill puzzle called Tanglers. Students work together in small groups to solve a problem so that it promotes cooperative learning. Since we are studying money and business skills with 2nd grade, I chose a set of clues where students had to determine the amount of money spent at a restaurant - based on a set of clues given. The tricky part about Tanglers, though, is that students must sort important clues from irrelevant ones in order to solve the problem correctly. It was a tough puzzle, but the 2nd graders worked together nicely and (with just a few little nudges from me) were able to reach the solution. I think they enjoyed this new kind of brainteaser, and I was very proud of their efforts.

Several students shared their GBR projects this week, and I think we all enjoyed hearing what these students had learned from their research. We learned about the steps of entrepreneurship, the current exchange rates of money in countries around the world, and more! Remember that all GBR projects must be brought in and shared by Friday, May 8th. Look back in the March archives of this blog if you need to reread instructions and ideas about Target's GBR assignment. I can't wait to see everyone's extra efforts.

Our quote this week helped us to review the meaning of entrepreneurs. It is by Victor Kiam and it says this: "Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity." We reviewed some of the entrepreneurs we had studied earlier (Milton Hershey, Truett Cathy, Frank Gordy, Henry Ford, etc...) and the obstacles that they turned into business opportunities. Next, we watched a short video clip about the founders of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream. And, yes, their real names are Ben and Jerry! They told about how they started their business with very little money and, by using clever marketing strategies and innovative flavor combinations, grew into a very successful company. The best part of their story, though, was hearing how they give back to the community by donating portions of their profits to charities and causes they believe in. Students noticed that nearly every entrepreneur we had studied had focused on improving the lives of others by offering donations, education and scholarships, and other opportunities to those in need. What a great character lesson our study of entrepreneurship turned out to be!

Next, I handed out an instruction packet for MYOB Day - Mind Your Own Business Day. This event will be held on Friday, May 15th, here in our classroom. Basically, students are to think of a product which they can make and "sell" (with pretend money in their Target Town Bank account) to their classmates. This packet has step by step instructions which we went through together in class. We brainstormed a long list of ideas for products. I encouraged students to think of products which are inexpensive and easy to make and we came up with three major categories: food items, simple toys or games, and school supplies. We also decided that every student should make 12 of their product so that they could keep one and "sell" the others to their classmates. I suggested looking for dollar store items that they could make unique by adding special touches and personalization. They could buy something like dice or playing cards, etc.. and create their own game around it. Students could even draw their own game boards on squares of poster board if they liked. They could use the computer to print sets of game cards, too. The possibilities are endless. I just want the students to think like an entrepreneur and create a product that would be appealing and marketable to their classmates. In the next Target session we will talk a little about marketing and advertising so that students will learn what makes a product attractive to consumers. There is also a space in the MYOB packet where you can help students calculate the cost of making their product and how to set the price, based on a 10% profit. So you may want to hold onto receipts as you purchase materials so that you can help students with this part at home. Just remember three words: Keep It Simple. With our emphasis on budgets and wise spending choices this semester, I really want students to not go overboard with products that are expensive to produce. Many of the students seem to already have an idea in mind. Talk with them at home about it, and contact me if you have further questions. They are very excited about MYOB Day coming up on May 15! It should be a fun day of learning as we tranform our classroom into a marketplace.

Finally, we did our Target Town Banking and ended up with $266 in our pretend bank account! We also finished reading the chapter on "Making Doughnuts" from the book Homer Price by Robert McCloskey. If you aren't familiar with this classic children's book, Homer takes over his uncle's diner and uses the doughnut making machine with such enthusiasm that he creates WAY too many doughnuts to sell. So Homer uses his clever business sense and some creative problem solving skills to find a way to sell the doughnuts so that everyone is happy. It was a hilarious story and a great way to end our day together. Ask your child to tell you how the chapter ended.

Please know that this Friday, April 24th, I will be administering the CRCT to 4th and 5th graders in the morning. So our time together for Target will be interrupted. I am hoping that I will be able to meet with my 2nd grade Target students for a short time in the afternoon - unless  I am needed to do make-up tests in the afternoon. We will just have to be flexible and know that I will pull my Target students from their regular class if my schedule allows. I also know that 2nd grade has a field trip scheduled for Friday, May 1st. So our time together is dwindling quickly. That is why I have been careful to give you and the students  these GBR and MYOB deadlines and expectations in advance so that much of this could be done at home. I had a feeling that my teaching time would get interrupted at this time of year, so I have tried to plan ahead. Students have everything they need by now to work independently - with just a little parent supervision from you. At least we will have the day on May 8th to share all the final GBRs and discuss plans for MYOB day on May 15th. It should all work out just fine, but let me know if you have further questions. Thanks for your patience and flexibility at this hectic time of year.

3rd Graders Say Hello to Ancient Rome

This week my third grade Target classes were introduced to ancient Rome. As we reviewed some of what we had learned about ancient Greece, students enjoyed making comparisons between the civilizations of Greece and Rome.

Since students have completed all the Hands-On Equations lessons for this year, I am bringing in some new logical thinking / math skill puzzles for them to solve. This week we tackled a new cooperative learning activity called Tanglers. Essentially, students must work in small groups to solve a problem. Because of our archaeology focus in 3rd grade, I chose a Tangler where students had to use a set of clues to figure out when the Manchu dynasty of China began and when it ended. The tricky part is that with Tanglers some of the clues are necessary while some are irrelevant. So, students must use some logical thinking to sift through the clues and decide what is really important. It was interesting for me to sit back and watch their interaction and their strategy. Most of the groups were successful, and I think the students enjoyed this new kind of brainteaser this week. I know I did!

After the brainteaser this week, we talked about GBRs. Many students completed theirs over Spring Break and were able to go ahead and share theirs with their classmates. What fun that was! Gabriel shared his model of the famous Step Pyramid of Djoser and told interesting facts about these famous Egyptian landmarks. We all agreed that it must have taken him a lot of time to stack and glue all those sugar cubes he used in the model, but it still did not compare to the twenty years (or more) it took to complete a real pyramid! Aidan brought a model of an Egyptian death mask that was painted and decorated in the style of a real Egyptian artifact. He shared facts about the masks which he had found in his research and then told us exactly how he made it. We decided that Aidan's dad had gone "above and beyond the parenting call of duty" by lying still while his son applied plaster tape strips to his face - especially when we heard that his dad had to lie there for 30 minutes while it hardened! The students were really intrigued by this creative project. Then Emily shared some pictures and information about the Mayan civilization. This is a culture we have not studied yet, so it was fun to have a preview of what we will get to in the weeks to come. She did a great job sharing all that she had learned, and I loved how she gave a quiz at the end - just to make sure everyone was paying attention! It is always fun when students involve their classmates in a little bit of active learning. Great job, third graders! Remember that students need to finish and share their GBRs no later than May 6th or 7th (depending on which day of the week they have Target). I can't wait to see everyone's extra efforts.

We added a few vocabulary words to our archaeology flash cards today. Then we did a critical thinking map activity to introduce the Roman culture. I gave everyone a simple map of Italy and asked them to pretend they were city planners who needed to decide where on that map to build a city. I told them to consider carefully the geographic placement and to give three reasons for choosing their particular area. Students had some good ideas -like placing it near a river for fresh water and for food, or placing it near the mountains so they could watch out for enemies. It was funny to hear a few students say that they chose land near the mountains so that when it snowed, they could go sledding! Our poor, snow-deprived Southern kids seemed to think this was really important! Once the students shared their choices, I showed them where the real city of Rome was built and how over time it eventually spread out to include many, many neighboring lands as it became the Roman Empire. It suddenly made that expression "Rome wasn't built in a day" ring true to them. We talked about Rome's location along the Tiber River and the famous seven hills of Rome as we did a quick geographic overview.

I also gave each student a nickel to look at and asked them to see if they could find 2 examples of Roman influence on the nickel. Students guessed some funny things, but they came to see that Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello, is a good example of Roman architecture. And the phrase "E Pluribus Unum" is a Latin phrase (Thanks for the Latin language, ancient Romans!) which means "out of many, one." They agreed that yes, we have many different states, but we are all a part of one country, America. It was a fun activity to get them thinking about the influence the Romans have had on us.

We ended the day with a simple informational powerpoint about ancient Rome as well as a really good video clip from Discovery School about this fascinating civilization. The boys especially seemed to enjoy watching the Roman legion and the weaponry demonstrations, and they were all fascinated with the engineering behind the Roman roads, aqueducts, and public bathhouses. We'll spend some more time with this topic in the coming weeks.

Next week students will be involved with CRCT testing each morning, and I will be needed to administer these tests to small groups as well. So I will not see third grade Target students on a regular Target schedule next week. I may also be needed in the afternoons next week to help with make up testing as well. I have told their teachers that  I may try to see them next week - if only for an hour or so in the afternoons - if my schedule allows it. We will just have to "go with the flow" when it comes to testing. It all depends on how many absent students we have and how many of us teachers are needed to conduct make up tests in the afternoons. The following week, April 29th and 30th, may also cause a little interruption in the Target day since we will be finishing up make-up tests even then. I will try to keep you posted as our busy testing week gets underway, but I thank you in advance for your flexibility and patience.

5th graders begin study of Muckrakers and Reformers

Fifth graders this week wrapped up their Civil War study and began a unit on American Reformers, Muckrakers, and the Progressive Movement.

We began the day with a brainteaser involving plexers (visual puzzles) before diving into Hands-On Equations. After allowing some time to solve algebraic equations with their number cubes and manipulatives, we moved on to sharing the GBR projects which several students brought with them to class this week. I could tell that these students had been busy over Spring Break, and they were anxious to share all that they had learned and the projects they had created. Fynn shared a project on the Creek War that he designed. He brought in a display of the Battle of Horseshoe Bend and reenacted the battle with tiny paper soldiers. I was so impressed at how he explained the events in great detail and even related it to what students had already learned about Andrew Jackson and the Indian Removal Act. The students were really interested in this part of our Trail of Tears unit. Then Riley shared a wonderful diorama she had made of the secret annex, the place where Anne Frank and her family hid while the Nazis took control of Amsterdam during World War II. She shared touching details from The Diary of Anne Frank, and students were intrigued by the courage and determination this young girl showed during this tragic time. Finally, Harrison had written a skit about the true story of Paul Revere and based it on research he had done about this courageous Patriot. After assigning speaking parts and giving cue cards to his classmates, the students loved participating in this production as Harrison narrated from his written script. It was great fun to watch everyone get involved as active learners. I was so impressed with the GBRs these students shared, and I think the other students got inspired to hurry up and finish their projects soon. Just remember that these need to be brought in and shared by May 5th. I am looking forward to seeing the rest of the GBRs.

I also read another chapter of Who Comes With Cannons?  this week. Students also finished up the regiment flags they designed last week and shared them with classmates. Some of them were really creative! I'll be displaying them on our Courage bulletin board this week.

Finally, I introduced our new topic of muckrakers and American reformers by showing a fascinating American History video on the Progressive Movement. It showed how industrialization and immigration and a high crime rate around the turn of the century led to problems in modern America. It also told of the courage people like Upton Sinclair, Ida Tarbell, and Jane Addams demonstrated as they "blew the whistle" on corrupt or unsafe practices in business, domestic affairs, and politics. This all led to a very interesting discussion of how these reformers made life better for people in the 1900s and today. In the weeks to come, we will explore this new topic in greater detail.

I will not have 5th graders for a full Target day next week, April 21st. Students will be taking the CRCT in the morning at the same time that I will be administering the test to small groups of students. Then, that afternoon I may be needed to help with make-up tests or other CRCT tasks. I am telling the teachers that I will try to meet with Target students (as I am able) for perhaps an hour or two in the afternoons if my schedule allows. My time with Target students may also be affected the following Tuesday, April 28th, since we will still be doing make-up tests. It all depends on the number of absent students we have during testing and the number of teachers that are needed to help out. As I told the kids, we'll just have to "go with the flow." Thanks in advance for your flexibility and patience these next two weeks.

4th graders and the End of the Civil War

4th graders spent the day reviewing the major events of the Civil War before getting just a taste of our next topic on American muckrakers and reformers. Because the 4th graders have not had any regular classroom instruction on the Civil War, I found that I had to slow down and teach them a little differently from the 5th graders for this topic. It was a lot to absorb, but I believe they will be well prepared next year as they delve into Civil War history in 5th grade. One of the 4th graders even wrote on the tally this week that they could not wait to study the Civil War some more in 5th grade!

We started the day with some plexers (visual puzzles) as our brainteaser. Then we spent some time with Hands-On Equations and lesson 14. The students are making great progress in their algebraic thinking.

I also passed out copies of Children of the Civil War for the students to read through together. It is full of wonderful stories and photographs which truly illustrate the courage shown during this difficult time in our nation's history. Students also did some more individual research using the laptops and the Cobb Virtual Library to complete a "scavenger hunt" type assignment on Civil War events. Before the day ended, we spent time sharing what everyone had found and checking answers together.

We continued our read aloud of Who Comes With Cannons? this week. At this point in our story, one of the Bardwell sons manages to escape from the Confederate army and make his way home - with the help of other Quakers along the Underground Railroad. The family is hiding this son in their home while still worrying about the whereabouts of their other son. The suspense is building!

Finally, we ended the day with an introduction of American reformers and muckrakers. Our quote of the day was appropriate for introducing Americans who "blew the whistle" on corruption and bad business practices: "The right way is not always the easy way. Standing up for what is right when it is unpopular is a true test of moral character." - Margaret Chase Smith. We will spend more time on this topic when I see the students next week.

I plan on seeing the 4th graders next Monday, April 20th, for a full Target day. In the meantime, remind students to keep working on their GBRs - since they must be turned in by May 4th. The following Monday, April 27th, I will not be able to meet with 4th grade - at least not for a full day. Students will be continuing their CRCT tests that morning, and I am needed to give small group tests that morning and possibly even make-up tests that afternoon. I am letting the teachers know that I will try to meet with students (if only for an hour or two) as I am available. I guess it all depends on how many students need make-up tests and how many teachers are needed to help administer them. It will be a lesson in flexibility for us all! Thank you - in advance - for your patience and understanding.

3rd Graders and the Influence of Greek Civilization

Our essential question in 3rd grade Target this week was: How has ancient Greek civilization influenced our lives today? And, after a quick brainteaser, we spent the rest of the Target day looking at the answer to this question.

We looked at the Greek alphabet and number system and were surprised at how closely their alphabet resembled our own modern system. Students also enjoyed completing an activity where they practiced reading and writing numbers from the ancient Greek numeral system.

Students also received a packet of information which detailed more ways in which the ancient Greeks have influenced us. Obviously, most students already knew how our modern Olympic games began in Greece. They had also learned in Social Studies this year that our modern democracy has its roots in ancient Greek government. But many were surprised by the influence of some famous "ancients" such as Socrates, Plato, Hippocrates, and Herodotus. They learned that Hippocrates was the Father of Medicine and that even today physicians pledge the Hippocratic oath before practicing medicine, and they learned that Herodotus is known as the Father of History for his work in writing about the Persian Wars. Students enjoyed reading some well known Greek myths that still capture the imagination of readers everywhere, and they enjoyed knowing that the well loved Aesop's fables have their beginnings in ancient Greece.

Students shared some of the research they had done on the laptops about ancient Greece last week. It gave the students a chance to tell their classmates about the various city-states they had investigated. They loved learning how each city-state had its own personality, and they were especially intrigued with the warlike, aggresive city-state of Sparta. Most of them agreed that they would not have enjoyed being a child in Sparta since boys as young as age seven were taken from their families and sent away to military school! Yikes! They also loved the story of the Trojan Horse and how the soldiers outsmarted their enemy and entered the walled city of Troy.

After lunch students got a real treat as I showed them a classic Disney film called "Donald Duck in Mathmagic Land." You're probably thinking - now what does that have to do with ancient Greece? Actually, the majority of the short film shows students what great architects and mathematicians the Greeks were. In a fun, visual way it tells about Pythagoras and how he and other great thinkers formed a secret club to study mathematics. It also shows how they used proportions to design an octave of musical notes for their stringed instruments. The film also explains the mysterious "golden rectangle" which the Greeks used so beautifully in fine art and architecture. The cartoons and visual highlights explain this idea far better than I ever could, and students were captivated by the use of the golden rectangle in the Parthenon. I remember watching this great little film back when I was in school, and out of curiosity I looked up the copyright date. Believe it or not, it was made back in 1959 - a time when I was still in diapers! Like so many other well-made Disney films, it is a classic indeed.

We finished the day with a lesson on Hands-On Equations. Next week we turn our focus to ancient Rome. I'm really looking forward to that. The only homework for students is to work on their GBR projects. Have a great week!

4th / 5th graders and A Soldier's Courage

My 4th and 5th grade students continued our study of the Civil War this week. We started the day with a Spring-themed brainteaser in honor of our upcoming Spring Break. The students seemed to enjoy this creative thinking/listening activity.

Today our essential question was: During the Civil War, how did children show courage? So we focused our attention on the role of young people both on the homefront and on the battlefield. Students worked in pairs to read about a Civil War soldier's life and then presented what they learned to the group. Students learned that they often went into battle undertrained and unprepared. They also learned that the soldiers had very little food and were paid very meager wages. Because of the crowded conditions of their camps, illnesses and diseases spread rapidly. But the most surprising fact seemed to be that most of the soldiers were less than 23 years old. In fact, it is estimated that 70% of the infantry men were ages 16-23, and a full 10% were less than 16 years old. Students also looked at a great book entitled Children of the Civil War  by Candice F. Ransom which contained actual photographs of somber, young-faced cadets in uniform.

This activity led beautifully into our study of Stephen Crane's The Red Badge of Courage. As you may know, in this book a young Union soldier named Henry Fleming confronts his fears as he enters the battlefield for the first time. We watched an abridged version of the classic story via an excellent Discovery School video. This narrated video clip reenacts the important scenes of the book while giving accurate historical information. I especially enjoyed the interviews where the veterans of WWII and the Vietnam War tell what it felt like to charge into battle for the first time. I got goosebumps hearing these otherwise ordinary men describe the courage and determination it took to risk their lives in war. Wow! It was pretty powerful stuff, and from our discussion afterwards, I could tell that it deeply touched the students also.

After spending time analyzing the courage of these young Civil War soldiers, we read a chapter of our read-aloud about the war - Who Comes with Cannons. We agreed that young Truth, the main character in this family of Quakers, demonstrated tremendous courage on the homefront of the Civil War. So it was nice to contrast the courage of those fighting on the battlefield as well as those left behind at home.

Finally, 4th and 5th grade students ended the day a little differently. The 4th graders did some research on the laptops which the 5th graders had completed a week earlier. And the 5th graders designed Civil War regiment flags similar to the ones we learned about in The Red Badge of Courage.

The only homework over Spring Break is to simply work on GBR projects (if necessary) and also relax and have a little fun. One student told me that while she is away visiting grandparents, she plans to set up a video camera and interview her grandfather about his military experience during the war. She plans to ask him to tell her some examples of courage that he either displayed himself or witnessed from others. This will be her GBR to share with the class. What a great idea! And that videotape is sure to be a treasured family keepsake in the years to come. So enjoy your time together next week and have a safe and restful vacation.