Jungle Business Day and Halloween Celebration

Wednesday was a CRAZY day in the Jungle! We held our 2nd Business Day and celebrated Halloween with some fun activities. Fun was definitely had by all! Students played multiplication BINGO with candy corn while they enjoyed some Halloween munchies after lunch! After we wrapped up the festivities in the classroom, we headed to the basement (affectionately called "the dungeon") for some scary story telling! The students spent the past two weeks writing scary Halloween stories, and our trip to the basement allowed them to share their stories with their classmates. We made the trek to the dungeon with nothing but our stories and a couple flashlights! It was so much fun! Thanks to a fellow staff member for keeping things 'interesting' for us by scratching on doors, making scary noises and whispers! I have to admit, even I was a little scared. So much fun, though!!!

Our awesome spider web GIANT cookies! Thank you, Room Mothers!

Each month, students have the opportunity to open their own business as an extra source of income for our classroom economy system. Each month, I am thoroughly impressed at the delicious and creative treats/goods that my students bring to Business Day! We have had 'scrumdiddlyumptious' desserts, handmade jewelry, crosses, magnets, and other various crafts. Shoppers pay with Jungle Bucks or write Jungle checks to purchase items. Real-life money skills are learned and Mrs. H always satisfies her sweet tooth...along with other students, parents, and faculty members.
Jade's mom stopped by Business Day this month to shop and browse the awesome inventory! Many students sold Halloween themed treats this month.

Many staff members look forward to our Business Days for the sweet treats and awesome homemade goodies that the Jungle Crew sells each month.

Madison sells her trendy 'duct tape belts' each month...what a creative idea!

Millie's customers try on her awesome handmade bracelets...definitely a popular item!

Reece surprised his classmates with handmade pencil pouches this month! All decorated with jungle animals, of course! Loved this idea!

Tuesday's Trivia:10/26

Good Evening! I hope you all are having a wonderful night and are excited about tomorrow's festivities! I can't wait to hear your scary stories! Did you eat all of your snozzcumbers at dinner? You don't want the Fleshlumpeater or Gizzardgulper knocking down your door tonight!

For an extra 'treat' tomorrow, write down Father John's nickname.
For an extra extra 'treat' tomorrow, write down the names of the two saints Father John talked about at this morning's mass!

Record your answers on a piece of paper titled, Tuesday's Trivia: 10/26 along with your name and hand it to Mrs. H first thing tomorrow morning! Remember: Don't discuss your answers with anyone else!

Here's to wonderful phizzwizards and no trogglehumpers! Sweet dreams, Jungle Crew!

-Mrs. H

Hoosier Native American Study

To wrap up our study of the earliest people to live in Indiana, students had the option to earn some extra credit by building a wigwam or longhouse. The finished dwellings were awesome! Good Job, Jungle Crew!

These students are proud of their creations!
I LOVE all of the different interpretations and creative ideas!

How authentic!

A HUGE thank you to Kylie's grandpa for visiting The Jungle with his collection of Native American artifacts! We had the opportunity to view arrowheads and other artifacts from our great state...all found by Kylie's grandfather! He has been collecting artifacts since he has been around 10 years old!

Pumpkins-A-Plenty

One of October's genre project options was to create a pumpkin character from a fantasy/sci-fi novel of the student's choice. These pumpkins were to depict the main character from the book, and the student was also required to write an "Important Person" poem about his/her pumpkin character. As you will see from the pictures above, the pumpkins were nothing short of fabulous! Happy Halloween to all! I love this time of year, don't you? -Mrs. H

"Being a Christian is a lot like being a pumpkin...God lifts you up, takes you in, and washes all the dirt off you. He opens you up, touches you deep inside and scoops out all the yucky stuff- including the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed. Then he carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside you to shine for the entire world to see!" -unknown

2010-2011 Jungle Crew

21 of the coolest kids I know!

The Jungle

Take a tour of our Jungle!

Better Late Than Never...

On this chilly Fall morning, I've finally sat down to post my first entry of the school year, and it's only October! I am NOT proud of myself for my lack of time I've had to devote to our classroom blog, as it is something that I enjoy creating for my students and parents. My goal is to be a better blogger this quarter!

With our school year well underway, the Jungle Crew has been busy with all sorts of fun and exciting learning experiences. In Reading, I have added a new element to our curriculum, the monthly genre study. Students study a different genre each month and complete a self-selected project to complete on a chosen novel from that specific genre. I usually give 2-3 project options for the students to choose from. In September, we studied biography. Students read a self-selected biography on a person of their choice and could choose from creating a time capsule, dressing up as their person and delivering a speech, or creating a presidential poster about their 'candidate'. Projects were AWESOME! I was thoroughly impressed with my students' efforts. This month, with the genre being sci-fi or fantasy, many 4th graders chose to create a pumpkin character about the main character from their sci-fi/fantasy novel. A couple students chose to create a newspaper about their novel, as well. Again, the projects were nothing short of FABULOUS! Keep up the good work, Jungle-ites!

Indiana salt maps are well underway, and I am anxiously awaiting the finished products to make their way back to The Jungle on November 2! Pictures to come...

As a teacher, each year brings new experiences and challenges to better yourself personally and professionally. I am certain that I do what I do because God knew the classroom was where I could best use the talents He gave me to 'make a difference'. What a difference my students make in my life! I have grown to love this group just like I have my classes in years past. Twenty-one children, each with their own unique talents, greet me each morning...for that alone, I feel truly blessed.

God's Blessings,
Mrs. H