5.21.21

 

Specials Team Contact Information

 

K-2 Art - Rebekah Grover   Rebekah.Grover@greatheartswesternhills.org

3-5,  Art – Kendall Baxter  Kendall.Baxter@Greatheartswesternhills.org

6 Art - Celeste Lindsey Celeste.Lindsey@greatheartswesternhills.org

K-2 Music - Laura A. Johnson  Laura.Johnson@greatheartswesternhills.org

3 Music - Kiana Burciaga  Kiana.Burciaga@greatheartswesternhills.org

4,5,7 Music - Douglas Brown Douglas.Brown@greatheartswesternhills.org

K-2 P.E.  Kori Johnson Kori.Johnson@greatheartswesternhills.org

3-7 P.E. Mihai Manta Mihai.Manta@greatheartswesternhills.org

K-1 Spanish Rebecca Ortega Rebecca.Ortega@greatheartswesternhills.org

2-4 Spanish Catherine Manning Catherine.Manning@greatheartswesternhills.org

5-7 Latin Aleksandra Novikova Aleksandra.Novikova@greatheartswesternhills.org

 

Art

Kindergarten

This week in Kindergarten art we used glue and tissue paper to make a monochromatic collage. Scholars painted glue onto their paper and then added tissue paper squares to make the project colorful.  

First Grade

In first grade this week we used warm and cool colored crayons to add lines and designs to our paper. Then we used watercolor paint to create a crayon resist drawing. We saw how the watercolor paint went over the waxy crayon designs.

Second Grade

In second grade this week we used warm or cool colors to decorate and color hearts. After the whole space was filled in students cut out their project.

Sixth Grade

Last week, students created their own versions of diptychs (2-panel artworks) and triptychs (3-panel artworks) in pen. This was their last art project of the year.

Music

Our composer of the Month for May is George Gershwin!

K-2

 This week we are bringing home our portfolios!

 Third Grade

 What a beautiful week we have had! Our sweet third graders had the privilege of performing for our PSO parent volunteers this week. We even “premiered” our short song dedicated to Western Hills parents. Can you believe they learned a tricky new song in just two days? Great job, Third Grade!

 To finish out our year, we’ll learn a fun game to attach to a song from Quarter 3: Little Sally Walker. Portfolios of graded work will be sent home early in the week as well.

 

                                        Western Hills Spartan Parents Thank You Song

                                                              Spartan Parents,

                                                          You’re simply divine,

                                                            Sharing and caring

                                                       In rain, snow, and shine.

 

                                                        With virtue and heart,

                                                      You lend helping hands.

                                                         There’s no denying

                                                    You’re the best in the land.

 

                                             We are thankful, we are so thankful.

                                                 For who you are, for all you do,

                                                             We thank YOU!

P.E.

Everyone can feel summer in the air.  We are counting down the days, tying up loose ends and having fun.  We will continue to finish our fitnessgram testing, and if time allows, let the students play some well-loved games.  Keep sending those water bottles.  It’s getting hot outside.

 

World Languages

Spanish K-1

This week in Spanish, we are celebrating the end of the school year with treats and traditional Latin American activities in the classroom! 

 Have a great summer, scholars! 

Spanish 2

This week, we will be focusing on what we have learned throughout the year in Spanish. I am so proud of all of the hard work and passion the second grade scholars demonstrated throughout the year.

Spanish 3-4

This past week, we finished reading El capibara con botas. This week, scholars will complete an activity to summarize what they learned about Ecuadorian geography and culture, capybaras, and high-frequency Spanish words. I have loved adventuring through Ecuador with them this year!

Latin 5-7

Salvete!

This week in 5th grade, scholars studied numbers 1-10 in Latin. Next week, they will read the story “pugna.”

This week in 6th grade, scholars began reading the passage “tremores.” Next week, they will continue to read the same passage.

This week in 7th grade, scholars studied the 3rd conjugation -io verbs. Next week, they will look at 3rd declension adjectives.

Valete!

 

5.14.21

 

Specials Team Contact Information

 

K-2 Art - Rebekah Grover   Rebekah.Grover@greatheartswesternhills.org

3-5,  Art – Kendall Baxter  Kendall.Baxter@Greatheartswesternhills.org

6 Art - Celeste Lindsey Celeste.Lindsey@greatheartswesternhills.org

K-2 Music - Laura A. Johnson  Laura.Johnson@greatheartswesternhills.org

3 Music - Kiana Burciaga  Kiana.Burciaga@greatheartswesternhills.org

4,5,7 Music - Douglas Brown Douglas.Brown@greatheartswesternhills.org

K-2 P.E.  Kori Johnson Kori.Johnson@greatheartswesternhills.org

3-7 P.E. Mihai Manta Mihai.Manta@greatheartswesternhills.org

K-1 Spanish Rebecca Ortega Rebecca.Ortega@greatheartswesternhills.org

2-4 Spanish Catherine Manning Catherine.Manning@greatheartswesternhills.org

5-7 Latin Aleksandra Novikova Aleksandra.Novikova@greatheartswesternhills.org

 

Art

Kindergarten

This week in Kindergarten art we used glue and tissue paper to make a monochromatic collage. Scholars painted glue onto their paper and then added tissue paper squares to make the project colorful.  

First Grade

In first grade this week we used warm and cool colored crayons to add lines and designs to our paper. Then we used watercolor paint to create a crayon resist drawing. We saw how the watercolor paint went over the waxy crayon designs.

Second Grade

In second grade this week we used warm or cool colors to decorate and color hearts. After the whole space was filled in students cut out their project.

Sixth Grade

Last week, students made a value scale and value sphere using marker-pens; they learned new drawing techniques, such as hatching, cross-hatching, and stippling.

Music

Our composer of the Month for May is George Gershwin!

K-2

All grades are listening to George Gershwin! We are wrapping up our portfolios and getting ready for the end of year.

Third Grade

This week, third grade enjoyed a reading of the story The Music Inside George’s Head by Suzanne Slade, highlighting George Gershwin’s composition process for his famous piece, Rhapsody in Blue.. We have also begun learning two extra special end of the year songs. Stay tuned for a surprise!

Friday rotation classes have learned the new game, “Bulldog”, which is all about keeping a steady beat with friends and singing a silly song! To play the game at home, follow this presentation link for the instructions: https://www.canva.com/design/DAEeY-ju688/OanNU5CKhVpgvvM8WEgMUg/view?utm_content=DAEeY-ju688&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink

To listen to the book, use this Safe Link: https://video.link/w/jfItc

To purchase this book on Amazon, use this Link: https://www.amazon.com/Music-Georges-Head-Gershwin-Rhapsody/dp/1629790990#:~:text=A%20picture%20book%20biography%20of,a%20whole%20lot%20of%20razzmatazz!

 

P.E.

Everyone can feel summer in the air.  We are counting down the days, tying up loose ends and having fun.  We will continue to finish our fitnessgram testing,  and if time allows let the students play some well-loved games.  Keep sending those water bottles.  It’s getting hot outside.

 

World Languages

Spanish K-1

Last week in Spanish, scholars learned a new cheer and a new tongue twister about tigers, or tigres.  Scholars were able to cheer their friends on as they battled against each other in academic competitions centered on vocabulary.  They did great!  

This week, we are focusing on the verb “dar” - which means to give.

Scholars are learning another simple cheer and the first part of “The Pinata Chant” in preparation for our end of the school year mini celebration(s)!  Both of these fun activities use the conjugated form “dale.”

 In our second Spanish lesson of the week, scholars are learning the traditional Mexican folk dance: The Hat Dance, or La Raspa.  Scholars get to conversate with each other, dance, have fun, and move around while learning!

Latin 5-7

Salvete!

This week in 5th grade, scholars studied numbers 1-10 in Latin. Next week, they will read the story “pugna.”

This week in 6th grade, scholars began reading the passage “tremores.” Next week, they will continue to read the same passage.

This week in 7th grade, scholars studied the 3rd conjugation -io verbs. Next week, they will look at 3rd declension adjectives.

Valete!

 

5.7.21

 

Specials Team Contact Information

 

K-2 Art - Rebekah Grover   Rebekah.Grover@greatheartswesternhills.org

3-5,  Art – Kendall Baxter  Kendall.Baxter@Greatheartswesternhills.org

6 Art - Celeste Lindsey Celeste.Lindsey@greatheartswesternhills.org

K-2 Music - Laura A. Johnson  Laura.Johnson@greatheartswesternhills.org

3 Music - Kiana Burciaga  Kiana.Burciaga@greatheartswesternhills.org

4,5,7 Music - Douglas Brown Douglas.Brown@greatheartswesternhills.org

K-2 P.E.  Kori Johnson Kori.Johnson@greatheartswesternhills.org

3-7 P.E. Mihai Manta Mihai.Manta@greatheartswesternhills.org

K-1 Spanish Rebecca Ortega Rebecca.Ortega@greatheartswesternhills.org

2-4 Spanish Catherine Manning Catherine.Manning@greatheartswesternhills.org

5-7 Latin Aleksandra Novikova Aleksandra.Novikova@greatheartswesternhills.org

 

Art

Kindergarten

We finished our ladybug color mixing projects this week in Kindergarten art class. We reviewed the primary colors and how we can mix them together to make the secondary colors.

 First Grade

In First Grade art class this week we started a warm and cool color landscape project in our sketchbooks. We reviewed warm and cool colors and started a step by step drawing of a sunset.

Second Grade

In Second Grade art class this week we started a pointillism art project inspired by Georges Seurat. We are using dots to paint a sailboat scene similar to Seurat’s work “The river Seine at La Grande-Jatte.”

 3-5

Sixth Grade

This week, students have been racing to complete the “Super Ultimate Mega Art Word Search” puzzle for a chance to win a box of Sculpey oven-bake clay.

Music

Our composer of the Month for May is George Gershwin!

K-2

 We are still working on our music portfolios and learning about George Gershwin!

 Third Grade

 Coming up, third graders will complete their learning of our new song, “Rosie, Darling Rosie”. Since the folk song incorporates a syncopated rhythm, we are going to practice how the song feels against a steady metronome beat. We will also practice singing in canon.

Let’s have a great STAAR week! Rest up, test-takers!

 

P.E.

This week is all about the fitnessgram once again.  Coach Manta and I are going through each and every 3rd-7th grader and recording their flexibility, mile run, height, weight, push-ups and sit-ups.  This isn’t a test that they can fail, this is only to help them reach their potential.  Kindergarten through 2nd grade are enjoying some game time and activities.

 

World Languages

Spanish K-1

This week in Spanish, we are learning a cheer and a tongue twister.

Spanish 2

This week, scholars will be learning about the celebration of Cinco de Mayo and its roots. Scholars will receive their end of book Edi el elefante quiz on Monday. They should have it signed and returned on Wednesday with any necessary corrections in red pencil. On Wednesday, we will have a short quiz on Cinco de Mayo. Scholars may study their notes to prepare for the quiz.

Spanish 3-4

This week, scholars will be reading chapter 12 of El capibara con botas. Alongside the events of the story, we will be learning about the Galápagos Islands. During their second class session of the week, scholars will have a short quiz about the events of chapter 12. After the quiz, we will be taking time to talk about Cinco de Mayo.

Latin 5-7

Salvete!

In 5th grade this week, scholars practiced with recognizing verbs in the imperfect and perfect tenses and translating them into English. Next week, they will learn numbers 1-10 in Latin.

In 6th grade this week, scholars practiced translating and producing the 1st and 2nd imperfect and perfect verbs. Next week, they will review stage 12 vocabulary.

In 7th grade this week, scholars learned 3rd declension neuter nouns. Next week, they will review chapter 10 vocabulary.

Valete!

4.30.21

 

Specials Team Contact Information

 

K-2 Art - Rebekah Grover   Rebekah.Grover@greatheartswesternhills.org

3-5,  Art – Kendall Baxter  Kendall.Baxter@Greatheartswesternhills.org

6 Art - Celeste Lindsey Celeste.Lindsey@greatheartswesternhills.org

K-2 Music - Laura A. Johnson  Laura.Johnson@greatheartswesternhills.org

3 Music - Kiana Burciaga  Kiana.Burciaga@greatheartswesternhills.org

4,5,7 Music - Douglas Brown Douglas.Brown@greatheartswesternhills.org

K-2 P.E.  Kori Johnson Kori.Johnson@greatheartswesternhills.org

3-7 P.E. Mihai Manta Mihai.Manta@greatheartswesternhills.org

K-1 Spanish Rebecca Ortega Rebecca.Ortega@greatheartswesternhills.org

2-4 Spanish Catherine Manning Catherine.Manning@greatheartswesternhills.org

5-7 Latin Aleksandra Novikova Aleksandra.Novikova@greatheartswesternhills.org

 

Art

Kindergarten

This week in Kindergarten art we started a ladybug color mixing project. We talked about the primary and secondary colors and then glued down the bodies and wings of the ladybugs.

 First Grade

First Graders this week in art class focused on warm and cool colors. We talked about how reds, oranges, and yellows are warm colors and blues, greens, and purples are cool colors.

Second Grade

Second Graders this week combined math and art to work on tertiary color equations. We also read a Monet book and looked for the primary, secondary, and tertiary colors in his paintings.

Sixth Grade

This week, students have been racing to complete the “Super Ultimate Mega Art Word Search” puzzle for a chance to win a box of Sculpey oven-bake clay.

Music

Our composer of the Month for April is Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns!

K-2

 We finished up The Carnival of the Animals with “Fossils”. All grades are working on their music portfolios showcasing what they learned this year.

Third Grade

 Graded Bass Clef Reading quizzes were passed back on April 30th. Those needed to do a makeup test were given a study guide to complete. The study guide must be finished before they can take their makeup quiz. If your scholar was asked to do a makeup quiz, makeup quizzes will be administered in the K - 2 Music Room during the week of 5.3 - 5.7 before school only (7:15 - 7:45 AM).

This week, scholars will enjoy an introductory lesson over the composer of the month, George Gershwin. They will also encounter low la in a new song.

P.E.

This week in PE we are working on fitness stations, Ready Body, Learning Minds.  We will also  be playing both Volleyball and Basketball and learning how to rotate.  Next week, we will be introducing a new game using small tennis nets.  It will be a combination of basketball and volleyball. 

 

World Languages

Spanish K-1

This week in Spanish, we are reviewing colors and numbers through coloring, repetition, and games. 

Next week, we will learn a famous cheer in Spanish and we will learn a cute tongue twister about tigers!

Spanish 2

This week, scholars will be learning about the celebration of Cinco de Mayo and its roots. Scholars will receive their end of book Edi el elefante quiz on Monday. They should have it signed and returned on Wednesday with any necessary corrections in red pencil. On Wednesday, we will have a short quiz on Cinco de Mayo. Scholars may study their notes to prepare for the quiz.

Spanish 3-4

This week, scholars will be reading chapter 12 of El capibara con botas. Alongside the events of the story, we will be learning about the Galápagos Islands. During their second class session of the week, scholars will have a short quiz about the events of chapter 12. After the quiz, we will be taking time to talk about Cinco de Mayo.

Latin 5-7

Salvete!

In 5th grade this week, scholars were introduced to the imperfect and the perfect tenses. Next week, they will have more practice with recognizing verbs in the imperfect and perfect tenses and translating them into English.

In 6th grade this week, scholars learned about all the imperfect and perfect verb forms. Next week, they will have more practice with translating the same forms into English.

In 7th grade this week, scholars learned about 4th conjugation. Next week, they will learn about 3rd declension neuter endings.

Valete!

4.23.21

 

Specials Team Contact Information

 

K-2 Art - Rebekah Grover   Rebekah.Grover@greatheartswesternhills.org

3-5,  Art – Kendall Baxter  Kendall.Baxter@Greatheartswesternhills.org

6 Art - Celeste Lindsey Celeste.Lindsey@greatheartswesternhills.org

K-2 Music - Laura A. Johnson  Laura.Johnson@greatheartswesternhills.org

3 Music - Kiana Burciaga  Kiana.Burciaga@greatheartswesternhills.org

4,5,7 Music - Douglas Brown Douglas.Brown@greatheartswesternhills.org

K-2 P.E.  Kori Johnson Kori.Johnson@greatheartswesternhills.org

3-7 P.E. Mihai Manta Mihai.Manta@greatheartswesternhills.org

K-1 Spanish Rebecca Ortega Rebecca.Ortega@greatheartswesternhills.org

2-4 Spanish Catherine Manning Catherine.Manning@greatheartswesternhills.org

5-7 Latin Aleksandra Novikova Aleksandra.Novikova@greatheartswesternhills.org

 

Art

Kindergarten

This week in Kindergarten art we finished our water lily Monet inspired project. Scholars used tissue paper to add the flowers and pastels to add the reflections in the water.

First Grade

In first grade art this week we used colored pencils and watercolors to paint “San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk” by Cluade Monet. We saw how the colors mixed and blended together in the sunset.

Second Grade

In second grade art class this week we continued looking at Monet’s flowers. We looked at single stems and focused on the details and colors seen in the flowers we drew.

Sixth Grade

This week, students completed small drawing exercises that tested their listening skills, directional awareness, and their ability to control pencil-pressure.

Music

Our composer of the Month for April is Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns!

K-2

This week we all began to work on our music portfolios that highlight everything we have learned this year.

Third Grade

Miniature Third Grade Concert:

Each 3rd Grade homeroom performed a percussion/vocal presentation of the American folk song, “Dance Josey”, in the Music classroom on Wednesday. Their videos are set to be edited and ready by Monday, April 26. Keep an eye on your email to enjoy the fruits of their labor! We have held short rehearsals during our Music period over the past three weeks. Although it is not the usual, grandeur Great Hearts semester concert due to COVID restrictions, we still wanted to share a snapshot of what we’ve worked towards this year! They’ve each worked hard on this piece and should feel proud of their work. I’m proud of them! BRAVO!

Coming Up:

This coming week, scholars will continue their practice of Bass Clef Staff note reading, and will have a mini quiz on Wednesday, April 28. We will also take a dive into learning about one of Saint Saens’ major works, Carnival of the Animals!

We will be using the following link ( https://video.link/w/tMbnc ) to enjoy the Carnival of the Animals  in the classroom. Feel free to listen and discuss at home!

4,5,7

We have now come full circle, quite literally, with our study of key signatures with the Circle of Fifths, a tool that every learned musician knows and understands.  All scholars -- distance-learning and brick-and-mortar; 4th, 5th, and 7th -- now should be able to find their way around the Circle, identifying how many sharps or flats are in each major key.  Let them start at C Major in the 12 o’clock position and show you around the circle in both directions as far as they can.

 

P.E.

This week, the younger grades learned the basics and the mechanics of hitting off of a T, and teacher pitch baseball.  Coach Manta worked with the scholars on track and field starting positions and their reaction time.  Next week we will circle back to volleyball hitting, setting and serving. 

 

World Languages

Spanish K-1

This week, scholars are learning new songs! 

Next week, scholars will review learned material.

Spanish 2

This week, scholars will be reviewing the events of Edi el elefante on Monday. They received a one-page study guide on Friday in preparation for our final quiz over the book on Monday.

Spanish 3-4

This week, scholars will be reading chapter 11 of El capibara con botas. Alongside the events of the story, we will be learning about the city of Quito, Ecuador. On Wednesday, scholars will have a short quiz about the events of chapter 11. They may study their notes in preparation for the quiz.

Latin 5-7

Salvete!

In 5th grade this week, scholars finished the translation of the passage “actores.” Next week, they will be introduced to the past tenses.

In 6th grade this week, scholars learned about how to ask questions in Latin. Next week, they will learn about all the imperfect and perfect verb forms.

In 7th grade this week, scholars learned about the uses of the ablative case. Next week, they will learn about 4th conjugation and 3rd declension neuter endings.

Valete!

4.16.21

 

Specials Team Contact Information

 

K-2 Art - Rebekah Grover   Rebekah.Grover@greatheartswesternhills.org

3-5,  Art – Kendall Baxter  Kendall.Baxter@Greatheartswesternhills.org

6 Art - Celeste Lindsey Celeste.Lindsey@greatheartswesternhills.org

K-2 Music - Laura A. Johnson  Laura.Johnson@greatheartswesternhills.org

3 Music - Kiana Burciaga  Kiana.Burciaga@greatheartswesternhills.org

4,5,7 Music - Douglas Brown Douglas.Brown@greatheartswesternhills.org

K-2 P.E.  Kori Johnson Kori.Johnson@greatheartswesternhills.org

3-7 P.E. Mihai Manta Mihai.Manta@greatheartswesternhills.org

K-1 Spanish Rebecca Ortega Rebecca.Ortega@greatheartswesternhills.org

2-4 Spanish Catherine Manning Catherine.Manning@greatheartswesternhills.org

5-7 Latin Aleksandra Novikova Aleksandra.Novikova@greatheartswesternhills.org

 

Art

Kindergarten

In Kindergarten art class this week we looked at Claude Monet’s water lily paintings. We observed the color he used in his paintings and then started our water lily project. This week Kindergarten glued down green tissue paper to create the lily pads.

 First Grade

This week in art class 1st graders finished their color mixing popsicle paintings. We used the primary colors and mixed them together to paint the secondary colors for the middle layer of the popsicle.

Second Grade

We continued learning about color this week in art class. We talked about warm and cool colors. We also learned about color mixing.

Sixth Grade

This week, students have been doing drawing exercises that help them improve their observation skills, control their pencil-pressure, and increase their drawing speed and accuracy.

Music

Our composer of the Month for April is Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns!

K-2

In all classes we listened to Royal March of the Lion by our composer of the month. The Second Graders were introduced to the handsign “re”.

Third Grade

Our wonderful 3rd Graders are set to perform their percussion ensemble of “Dance Josey” on Wednesday, April 21. They have worked so hard over the past two weeks to put a strong performance on. We can’t wait for you to see!

Bass clef foldables have also been completed and our practice of bass clef note naming will begin in the next week. A short quiz over treble and bass clef naming will follow in early May.

4,5,7

Camille Saint-Saens, our composer of the month for April, utilized a new instrument that had just been invented for his work Carnival of the Animals.  But more on that in a bit…

The glass harp (one name for that collection of wine glasses filled with water and played by rubbing the rim of each glass) was an “instrument” that had really been in existence for centuries, but there were many problems with actually trying to put on a serious performance with fragile drinking utensils that take in excess of an hour to set up and can only produce two notes at one time.

In 1761, Benjamin Franklin changed that.  This founding father invented a new instrument – the glass harmonica – that solved most, if not all of the performance issues of the glass harp.  Twenty-five years later, Saint-Saens took the opportunity to use the glass harmonica in the “Aquarium” movement of Carnival, though we rarely hear it used in actual performance because the instrument is so rare.

Here is the video of the glass harp performance watched in class…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKRj-T4l-e8

...and here is the link to the glass harmonica being performed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkTUL7DjTow

See if your scholar can remember what we learned (both in class and online) about these instruments and why Franklin thought that the glass harmonica was such a great improvement!

 

P.E.

We are finishing soccer this week!  Our school loves SOCCER! Next week I will be teaching my classes the basics of Lacrosse- how to hold the stick, catching and passing.  Coach Manta will be working on fitness stations and track and field.  We will switch so your scholar will have an opportunity to do both.  PLEASE SEND A WATER BOTTLE. 

 

World Languages

Spanish K-1

Last week in Spanish, we reviewed The Three Little Piggies, Little Red Riding Hood, and Goldilocks and the Three Bears.  Scholars learned and reviewed vocabulary words related to the characters and the settings of the stories.  We also acted out and discussed these books in class.

 

This week, we are expanding on these themes through arts and crafts!  Scholars will be able to identify and distinguish characters while understanding basic classroom instructions given in Spanish.  I am looking forward to seeing our scholars express their creativity!

Spanish 2

This week, scholars will continue to review the events of Edi el elefante. We will have a quiz over the events of the story on 4/21. Scholars have a character chart and a storyboard they can review in their notebooks.

Spanish 3-4

This week, scholars will be reading ch.11 of El capibara con botas. We will be talking about the Cotopaxi volcano in the Andes mountains of Ecuador along with indigenous traditions in the Amazon region. Be on the lookout in your child’s planner for details about assessments.

Latin 5-7

Salvete!

This week in 5th grade, scholars began reading the passage “actores.” Next week, they will continue reading the same story..

This week in 6th grade, scholars are reading the story “controversia.” Next week, they will be introduced to stage 11.

This week in 7th grade, scholars learned about 3rd conjugation verbs in the present tense and the uses of the ablative. Next week, they will study the present tense of 4th conjugation verbs.

Valete!

4.9.21

Specials Team Contact Information

 

K-2 Art - Rebekah Grover   Rebekah.Grover@greatheartswesternhills.org

3-5,  Art – Kendall Baxter  Kendall.Baxter@Greatheartswesternhills.org

6 Art - Celeste Lindsey Celeste.Lindsey@greatheartswesternhills.org

K-2 Music - Laura A. Johnson  Laura.Johnson@greatheartswesternhills.org

3 Music - Kiana Burciaga  Kiana.Burciaga@greatheartswesternhills.org

4,5,7 Music - Douglas Brown Douglas.Brown@greatheartswesternhills.org

K-2 P.E.  Kori Johnson Kori.Johnson@greatheartswesternhills.org

3-7 P.E. Mihai Manta Mihai.Manta@greatheartswesternhills.org

K-1 Spanish Rebecca Ortega Rebecca.Ortega@greatheartswesternhills.org

2-4 Spanish Catherine Manning Catherine.Manning@greatheartswesternhills.org

5-7 Latin Aleksandra Novikova Aleksandra.Novikova@greatheartswesternhills.org

 

Art

Kindergarten

In Kindergarten art we continued learning about color. We talked about rainbow order and the color wheel.

First Grade

This week in art we worked together in 1st grade to make a tangerine tree mural. Students cut out circle tangerines and green leaves. We also talked about what two primary colors mix together to make orange and what two primary colors mix together to make green.

Second Grade

We continued learning about color this week in art class. We talked about warm and cool colors. We also learned about color mixing.

Sixth Grade

This week, due to STAAR-related scheduling changes, students have been coloring illustrations by Pamela J. Smart.

Music

Our composer of the Month for April is Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns!

K-2

The kindergarten worked more with so and mi handsigns this week. In First Grade, we wrote the rhythm to a song with a rest. The Second Graders continued to work with Absolute Note Names.

Third Grade

Much to our benefit, STAAR testing week did not affect our Music classes! Thus, each class was able to practice our ensemble rhythms on instruments… as a full class group! Room decorations will be going up on April 19 for our class performance video recordings. The prep and “performance” will be counted as a test/project grade for Quarter 4. This week, we will continue our learning about the Bass Clef staff reading system, while involving steps and skips on the staff.

If you have any questions, you can reach me at kiana.burciaga@greatheartswesternhills.org.

4,5,7

Our composer of the month for April is Camille Saint-Saëns.  In addition to the popular Carnival of the Animals, he wrote a symphony that contains both an organ and a piano (Symphony No. 3) and several wonderful piano concertos (like Piano Concerto No. 5).  Saint-Saëns was a Romantic-era composer who may have actually been the precursor to the Neoclassical style of composition like we heard in Stravinsky last month. Here are some links to the full performances of the music of Saint-Saëns that we may sample in the next few weeks in class.  Again, please use discretion when allowing your children to watch YouTube videos; these performances are all safe, but advertisements and thumbnails to other videos may not be so safe:

Carnival of the Animals https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBGEf4urGNo

Symphony No. 3, “with Organ” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWCZq33BrOo

 Piano Concerto No. 5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IEYtta_ZsI

Omphale’s Spinning Wheel (not a live performance) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvaSfwah9hg

 ...compare to Schubert’s “Gretchen at the Spinning Wheel” (which we heard in September) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIZwaaub46o

 

P.E.

Field day was such a great success!  I think every class and every grade had a blast.  Thank you to all the parent volunteers and all the donations that made our day so wonderful. 

This week in K-2, we are working on throwing and catching with accuracy.  The hand and the elbow above the shoulder, opposite foot steps forward and follow through with a throw.  In grades 3-7th we are working on the skills of handball.  Throwing, catching, passing and moving, positions and shooting.

 

World Languages

Spanish K-1

Last week in Spanish, we covered The Three Little Piggies, or Los Tres Cerditos.  The Kindergarteners and First Graders enjoyed listening to these stories and participating in interactive ways such as pretending to be the Big Bad Wolf. This week in Spanish, we are focusing on Little Red Riding Hood and Goldilocks and The Three Bears.  Scholars are learning and reviewing vocabulary words related to the characters and the settings of the stories.  We are currently acting out and discussing these books in class.

Next week, we will expand on these themes through arts and crafts!  Scholars will be able to identify and distinguish characters while understanding basic classroom instructions given in Spanish.  I am looking forward to seeing our scholars express their creativity!

Spanish 2

This week, scholars will be discussing the events of Edi el elefante and mapping out the story in preparation for a quiz over the events of the book next week.

Spanish 3-4

This week, scholars will be learning new vocabulary words in order to prepare for reading ch.10 of El capibara con botas. At the end of their second class session, scholars will have a vocabulary quiz. They may prepare for it by studying the words in their Spanish notebooks.

Latin 5-7

Salvete!

This week in 5th grade, scholars began to practice the recognition of plural nouns and verbs. Next week they will continue to perfect this skill.

This week and next week in 6th grade, scholars are reading the story “controversia.”

This week in 7th grade, scholars learned about the indirect statements in Latin. Next week, they will study the 3rd conjugation and the uses of the ablative case.

Valete!