January Issue
Page 1
Newsletter
Future Fun Stuff
Cool Links
Gabrielle's Grab Bag
Page 2
Book Review
Poetry Corner
Math Challenge
Page 3
History-Anct. Civilizations
Page 4
Happy Birthday, Mozart
For Christmas, my sister and I received some new computer games. I have been playing my 6th grade learning CD on which you do math, history, problem solving, spelling and science. It's an adventure game where you have to rescue your friends from an underground kingdom. I really like the game. Gabrielle got a kindergarten and first grade game. We both received a game called "Tchaikovsky'sThe Nutcracker Music Game" where you learn about the ballet The Nutcracker, its music, the orchestra instruments and the composer, Tchaikovsky. We have been playing it together and having great fun. All together we had a great Christmas and New Year celebration.
We enjoyed a visit from our Grandma and Uncle who live in Chicago. They stayed with us for the weekend. The time went by fast, but we had a chance to visit with them and play, too.
This month we started back at ice skating lessons with one new twist: my mom and dad are taking lessons, too! Right now Gabrielle and I are reviewing some of the skills we learned last year and we will soon learn new skills. My mom and dad are doing well, also. They are finally learning to skate backwards! School is going well and we continue to have fun with our busy schedule.
I want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year!
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Born in 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts, Ben Franklin was a remarkable man. He was a scientist, inventor, politician, publisher and writer! He had ideas that were well ahead of his time. It was thanks to Franklin that the French joined America in their revolution against the British. There is lots of information about Franklin on the Internet. Just type in "Ben Franklin 300" into your search engine and check out some of the special websites!
Gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill on January 24, 1848.
India gained its independence from Great Britain on August 15, 1947, but their constitution didn't come into effect until January 26, 1950. Try to learn something new about India or try a delicious dinner of Indian foods!
Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria in 1756. He later lived and wrote in Vienna. Both Salzburg and Vienna are having big celebrations to mark the anniversay.
This year is "The Year of the Dog." People who are born in the year of the dog are said to be "loyal, kind and generous." Benjamin Franklin and Jane Goodall were both born in the Year of the Dog (By the way, so was I!)
In celebration, doorways of Chinese homes are often decorated with Chinese couplets called "Chun lian" that give a hopeful message for the new year. Wear red clothes this day for good luck, write poems on red paper and give children small gifts of money in red envelopes.
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This day celebrated the day in 1865 when President Abraham Lincoln signed the 13th Amendment of our Constitution which abolished slavery.
This is a good day to say "thanks" to the person who brings your mail no matter what the weather! This could also be a good day to take a trip to the post office and find out what happens to a letter after it goes in the mailbox.
The opening ceremony of the Olympics in Torino, Italy will be held this night. The XX Olympic Games will be from February 10th until the closing ceremonies on February 26th.
In honor of the birthday of Thomas Edison, this day has been declared National Inventor's day in the U.S. Many other countries around the world also celebrate their own Inventor's Days. This would be a great day to start on the great idea you've had for a long time--or just find some old stuff around the house and see what you can come up with. Who knows, maybe one day, we'll be celebrating your invention!
This week is designated as a week to "Do Kindness" from small random acts you can do alone (like smiling at a stranger who looks like they might need cheering up) to group projects (like working with your school, scouts, youth or church group to accomplish a community project.) The Random Acts of Kindness week in the U.S. is part of the larger World Kindness Movement where over 15 countries have organizations to promote kindness in their country.
This is a day of celebration before the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday, March 1, 2006. Mardi Gras is usually celebrated with parades, carnivals and parties. Fastnacht is celebrated by eating a traditional fried doughnut with sugar and cinammon. Shrove Tuesday is celebrated with the eating of pancakes.
www.simeonmagic.com
This site features on-line magic. Some of the tricks are pretty cool and you'll have to think hard to figure out how it's done!
www.planetozkids.com/index.html
This is a fun kids site that has a mystery to be solved, fun online and download games and a section with myths and folk tales from around the world.
www.guinnessworldrecords.com
Want to know how long the longest ear hair was? Do you want to know about the fastest stair climber? Or maybe you want to know about the fastest fish, tallest tree or other interesting and useful (or not!) facts.
www.torino2006.org/
This is the official site of the XX Winter Olympics in Torino. You can follow the progress of the Olympic flame, read about the sports, learn about the history of the Winter Olympics, and much more. Check out the "Kids Village" link for information and activities geared just for kids. The website is available in Italian, French and English.
Gabrielle is very interested in unicorns right now. She likes to draw unicorns, build them out of clay, and she even made a Unicorn Pinewood Derby Car!
In Kindergarten, Gabrielle is learning to read and spell words. She is very good at telling time and adding and subtracting. She also really likes science and has had fun experimenting with the mirrors and prisms during our unit on light.
Gabrielle loves to play games. She has learned to play Backgammon and beat our mom 5 games in a row!! She also likes to play Stratego and is very good at a card game called, "Blink."