Playwrights - March 6, 2008

Playwrights
We are putting the final touches on our class play about the adventure of drops of water as they travel through the water cycle (the title of our play is one of those final touches).  The entire class has been involved in the writing process.  We came up with a cast of characters that takes the audience on an entertaining trip through the water cycle.  Our list of characters includes Ocean Water, Water Vapor, Sun, Cloud, Tap Water, Wailele Water, Turtle, Crayfish, Manoa Stream Water, Drain Water, and Ala Wai Water.   The story begins and ends in the lovely ocean.  And the middle of the play?  Well, that's the exciting adventure!

It's truly been a team effort to write our script.  The students have been engaged in lively discussions about what happens in the story and how it occurs.  With the help of technology, we can stay up to speed with the discussions.  As a child shares their idea or line of dialogue, I type the comment on the computer, which all the students can read on the SmartBoard.  Let me tell you, the children are fabulous editors and tactful commentators.  They catch everything that is misspelled or doesn't make sense.  Our class goal is to have our play completed before Spring Break.  We're going to do a virtual performance (again, thanks to technology).  The students will create a puppet for their character. I will videotape their puppet show/play and then put the play online!

Water Engineers
Yesterday afternoon, we discovered the path of water from Wailele to the drains on campus.  Using Google Earth, the students viewed the landscape of MPI from a bird's-eye view.  We then walked the route that water takes from Wailele to the drain at the bottom of the football field to the drain in the canal between MPI and UH.  The students made keen observations about the level of the land and how the drain by the football field was much lower than the drain where water leaves Wailele, so the water must be flowing downhill.  The students then drew their own maps showing the path of water.  Based on the visual representations created by the students, we have some future architects and engineers in our class.  Our expedition was a perfect connection to our Wailele water cycle play!

Thank You
Thank you to Wendy Handa for celebrating Girls' Day with our class on March 3.  The students enjoyed learning about the many traditions associated with Girls' Day, making peach tree fans and origami, and eating delicious spam musubi and mochi!  Thank you to KL and ER for bringing in mochi and rice crackers for Girls' Day.

Posted at 10:59 AM| Permalink

Ho'olaule'a Details: March 5, 2008

Ho'olaule'a on Friday, March 14

On Friday, March 14 (the last school day before Spring Break), we have an afternoon of excitement!  At 11:00 a.m., the entire Elementary School will head down to the Middle School/High School to celebrate the MPI community at our annual Ho'olaule'a.  The students will eat lunch and participate in the activities.  Next week, in preparation for the event, the students will talk about how they plan to use their money to buy food and play games.  We will discuss the price of various items and rehearse giving scrip to purchase food or play games.  Our class will spend a couple of hours at the event, and the children will be responsible for making independent choices (with supervision) and pacing themselves - both financially and physically.  With all the commotion of Ho'olaule'a, I would love to have some parents join their child and possibly assist with chaperoning a few students in our class.  If you are interested in attending Ho'olaule'a during the school day, please e-mail me or telephone the classroom.

Some logistics for Ho'olaule'a

• Purchase Scrip by Thursday, March 6.  It is suggested that you purchase $5-$7 for your child to eat lunch and play some games.  Please do not purchase more than $7 unless you will be attending Ho'olaule'a with your child.
• If you are joining our class, meet at Room 11 by 11:00 a.m., and we will all walk down together.  If you are coming later (but before 2:00), you can meet us at the event.
• We will return to our classroom at 2:00 p.m.
• If you are taking your child home from Ho'olaule'a, please sign them out with me before you leave.
• There will be after-school care and auto-line pick-up as usual.
  

Posted at 10:57 AM| Permalink