Gymnosperms?

What is a gymnosperm?  Thanks for asking!  A gymnosperm is a plant we commonly call evergreens or conifers.  The word is from the Greek word gymnospermos which means "naked seed."  The seeds of these plants are enclosed in a cone, not in a fruit like the angiosperms.

For the last few days the 5th graders have been taking a close look at the 8 gymnosperms that grow in Northern Minnesota.  I am hoping that the students learn the names of these trees so they can identify them in the woods.  In January we will go out into the school forest to test their skills.

Good Bye Miss Nelson!

Today was Miss Nelson's last day with us.  We surprised her with cake and a scrapbook we made this week when she was observing in other classrooms.  She has been an amazing student teacher and everyone is going to miss her (especially me).  We wish her luck as she graduates from Bemidji State University and starts her job search.

Christmas Time

We are probably one of the last schools in the United States that is allowed to have Christmas trees in our rooms.  I am okay with that.  I know some schools have done away with celebrating all holidays in order to find more time for test preparation.  Ugh, that is so sad.  I am happy to work at a school that knows how to balance work and fun.

The month of December has been full of Christmas festivities.  We decorate our Christmas tree with ornaments made by the kids.  The theme is "Winter Fun" so we make snowflakes, sleds, snowboarders, hats, and snowmen to hang on the tree.  These ornaments will become gifts for the special people in my students' lives.

Deer Heart Dissection

Last night my friend, Andy, gave me a deer heart.  It was a beautiful heart - clean, with not a scratch on it. Thanks, Andy!

Today my kiddos learned about the heart and our circulatory system.  I read somewhere that a deer heart is very similar to the human heart, so this was a perfect way for the 5th graders to explore what their own heart looks like.  We passed it around and everyone (well, most everyone) stuck their finger in the aorta.  Then we cut it open to get a closer look at the thick muscular walls and the inside cavities of the ventricles and the atria.  We could even see the valves and the "heart strings" -the chordae tendineae that open the valves.

Notice the squeamish girls in the background.

Miss Nelson didn't like it very much!

Change for Vets

The fifth graders were asked to organize this year's fundraiser for area veterans.  They formed committees and worked hard writing up flyers and announcements.  They also decorated containers and collected the money every day.  Today we walked to Woodland Bank with our big plastic container of money in a little red wagon.  The bank teller counted it and the grand total was.... $379.40!!!  This money will go to buy gas and grocery cards for area veterans in need.  Thanks to everyone who donated.

Throwing the Atlatl

What is an atlatl, you ask?  It is an ancient spear thrower used by the people who lived in this area hundreds of years ago.  The class made atlatls in Mr. Tulla's Social Studies class and then practiced throwing them out behind the school.  Some of the spears really went far!

Veteran's Day

Elementary students present gifts to area veterans.

Guest speaker, Paul Sailer

Hill City School Choir

Gwen and Maycee explain our fundraiser project

Hill City School Band

Isaiah reads a special essay he wrote

Hill City School sure knows how to celebrate Veteran's Day!  This is the second year we had a program attended by the entire school and many community members.