Hispanic Heritage Month - 3rd grade Research

Third graders at FPG recently spent some time researching various Hispanic countries around the world to find interesting information worth sharing with others. Using the NCWiseowl database, Britannica Online, and the first three steps of a research process called "The Big 6", students found lots of fun-filled facts! Their information is currently on display in the media hallway as part of a Hispanic Heritage display.

Kindergartners LOVE Books!!

Kindergartners began checking out books two weeks ago. They have been doing such a fabulous job and we are so glad they are taking such great care of their books. We're off to a great start and are quickly becoming eager readers.

And....ACTION!

Kindergarten students recently celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month by sharing in a folktale from Cuba entitled, "The Bossy Gallito". Using GoogleEarth, students explored Cuba's location in the world and learned that the Bossy Gallito is a famous folktale that kids who live in Cuba grow up hearing. After listening to the story, students practiced retelling by using stick puppets to act it out. Play the video below to enjoy watching Mrs. Molly's class in action!

Deandre's NC Symbol Scrapbook

Deandre - a fourth grade student at FPG - recently spent some time in the library media center working on a NC research project. One of the additions to his class project was to inform others about the symbols of NC. Here are just a few!

Kindergarten Fun!

Wow - what fun we have been having with Kindergartners this school year! We have enjoyed such books as "The Kissing Hand" by Audrey Penn as we learned to say goodbye to our parents and head off to our first day of school. We have also read "Ten Apples Up On Top" by Theo LeSeig to help celebrate National Apple Month and practiced counting apples when we made headbands to wear home with our own paper apples attached. As National Talk Like A Pirate day rolled near in September we read "How I Became A Pirate" by Melinda Long and practiced talking like real pirates. We have been busy identifying the different parts to a book. What a great month of school we have had so far.....

Copyright or Wrong??!

Fourth grade students recently explored the concept of copyright and plagiarism in preparation for an upcoming NC Regions research project. We had such fun learning about these concepts by using Reader's Theater to explore the ideas further. The students also took time to explore scenarios in which plagiarism was occuring.

Library Kick-Off Lessons!

Oh, what fun we have had welcoming students back to the F.P.G. library media center! We have been exploring "Just Right Books", delving into "Library Survivor" as students navigate their way around the media center, discussing our dreams/goals for the year ahead and eagerly getting books back into the hands of students!! The library is the heart of our school and we are so glad to have the year well underway. Come visit us today @ the FPG Library.

So What Does it all Mean?

Take a look at this intriguing video. It really speaks to the importance of information and technology literacy in the lives of students. How can we work to better prepare our students for the 21st century world?

Zoe's Book Recommendations

This summer I have had the pleasure of working with a former fifth grader who LOVED to read books! She was always coming into our school library keeping me up to date on the newest books she had read. We worked on a project in which she brainstormed a list of books, authors, or characters related to the ABCs. She then created a Voicethread to share her book recommendations with other students of FPG. We hope you enjoy hearing about some of these GREAT books. You can find these and more waiting for you at the FPG library. :)

Electric Company Easy Reader Song

I showed this video clip to the teachers at our school a couple years ago to get them excited about reading and library collaboration during the year ahead and you would be amazed at how many people remembered Morgan Freeman in his glory days! Think of Stanley as the Smart Board of the 1970's. I never get tired of watching this clip taken from one of the early seasons of "The Electric Company". I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Leah's Book Review

This summer I have been working with a rising third grader on a literacy project. We have read and discussed Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate Dicamillo. I hope you enjoy the Voicethread project we created together and may be encouraged to read the book yourself. It is a wonderful story that you are sure to enjoy!