Today in science we learned how tools can be useful when making observations.  Today we started just using our memory and trying to draw the back of the dime.  Then we looked at it for a few minutes and then tried again.  Finally we looked at the dime with a magnifying glass and drew the back for a third time.  We talked about how our observations changed and why.  Look at some of their work. 

I wanted to send some important reminders for next week:

1. Monday, 9/2 is a school holiday and school will be closed.  Enjoy!

2. Tuesday, 9/3 is "Independence Day" at Cannon!  This means that all of our Cannon scholars will no longer require a parent to escort them to class in the morning.  Please discuss this important milestone with your student(s), so they will be prepared to enter school on their own and find their own way to their classroom.  We will have lots of staff available to assist students as needed.  We are proud of how our Cannon Cubs have become independent so quickly!  Thank you for your support!

3. Also beginning on 9/3, all campus offices will begin utilizing our new security system, Raptor.  Information about this system has been sent home previously, but please be prepared to present your Texas driver's license to office staff when visiting the campus for lunch or to volunteer.

Have a wonderful long weekend!

Today in Social Studies we worked on the continents.  I had written riddles about the continents.  They students worked in groups for today's challenge.  This gave them the opportunity to practice their group work rules they came up with yesterday.  They all worked really hard.  But congratulations to Trey, Jada, and Nandini for getting all 6 correct.  Tomorrow they will be writing their own ocean riddles.  I can't wait!!!!

In science/engineering today we continued to look at the engineering design process.  Yesterday the class was posed the problem of my poorly designed paper airplane.  They worked through the engineering design process to design a better airplane that could fly farther than the 1st design.  All groups made a successful design.  All planes flew better than mine.  Check out some pictures of the class hard at work designing.

Today we experienced our first building challenge.  I gave them the challenge but we did not discuss how to work in a group.  Some groups worked well together and other groups had some struggles.  Then we brainstormed as a class what we wanted out group work rules to be for the rest of the year so in the future we will not have any groups struggling. 
Their challenge was to build the tallest freestanding structure out of 20 pieces of spaghetti and 100 cm of masking tape.  Their structure must be topped with a large marshmallow and be able to withstand the weight. 
Congratulations to Mia, Hannah, Alexa, and Kameron for the only standing structure. 

Today we started our Maps project.  We will be learning all about map skills to help Captain Rob find his lost treasure.  Check out our project.   Any extra map work you can do at home is always welcome.  Look at the kids hard at work with their partners.

What an amazing first day.  We spent some time brainstorming some class rules.  They came up with some amazing rules.  We narrowed all their ideas down to REACH.  R-respect, E effort, A attitude C cooperation, H honesty.  We all agreed to REACH for our best every day.  I am so excited to be able to work with all your kids this year. 

We are so excited to welcome all of our Cannon Cubs back to school on Monday, 8/26!  Thank you to all of the parents who have already come to school to complete all of the required steps, in order to get an iPad assigned to your Kindergarten - 5th grade students - your child will be able to use their new iPad in class right away!   For those parents who have not been able to attend a Parent Orientation meeting yet, we will be offering our final meetings this week.  All parents MUST attend one of these meetings, before your child can receive an iPad.  Please make plans to attend one of the following meetings:

1:1 iPad Parent Orientation Meetings-Attend on ONE meeting date only:

Monday, August 26 at 8:30am

Tuesday, August 27 at 8:15am and 6:00pm
Wednesday, August 28 at 4:00pm
Thursday, August 29 10:00am and 1:00pm 

 

** All meetings will be held in the Cannon library

 

In order to save some time, parents can complete some of the required steps at home. Please read all information and carefully follow the instructions provided, if you choose to create your Apple ID at home.  (Note that you MUST start this process in iTunes, as stated in the directions)  Follow this link to learn how to complete Steps 1 & 2 at home.  http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Page/28421