Bean Maze

We are starting our exploration of heat. One of the objectives to better understand how the sun, as the source of light and heat, influences plant growth. To this end, we are starting a new experiment today...

http://www.epa.gov/superfund/students/clas_act/summer/amazeing.htm

Will the beans grow through the maze(s) students create? I think we may have to take some photos and build a composite, time lapse movie to see how they do.

This should be interesting!

Today's Must See Video

It will make you feel good about living on Earth!

Win Free audiobooks

I follow the folks over at Recorded Books K-12. They are pretty active on the social networks of the internet. Each month they give away some free audiobooks. You may want to take a look and see what they have to offer and/or just enter to win some good listening for the summer.

This month's contest and how to enter @ http://recordedbooks.wordpress.com/2009/06/01/contest-fly-away-with-recorded-books/

On June 4, 1783, Joseph-Michel Montgolfier and his brother Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier completed the first public demonstration of a hot air balloon in order to claim their invention. Their prototype, which flew for approximately 10 minutes and traveled 1.2 miles at altitudes above 5,000 feet, finally made air travel for humans a possibility, though many were still skeptical of both the practicality and safety of hot air balloons.

To celebrate, we’re giving away audiobooks! The winner of our contest (see rules below) will receive one copy each on CD of:
Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne
The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pène du Bois

Cache Valley Rendezvous: School Days!

Next Tuesday, May 19, we will be going to the Cache Valley Rendezvous located up Left Hand Fork of Blacksmith Fork Canyon. The rendezvous showcases traditional 1835 Fur Trade era crafts and skills. This is the oldest rendezvous reenactment in Utah. There will be a traditional crafts, demonstrations, and activities to better understand the important role these early explorers played in Utah's history.

Permission slips went home today. (Thursday) Please return by Monday. We will be taking buses.

Chef Heather is prepared to send us with sack lunches. If your student is planning on bringing their lunch from home, I need to know before Monday.

Since we will be outside, students need to plan appropriately. Even in good weather, it can be a bit cold in the mornings.

tennis shoes/boots = good
sandals = bad
water bottle = good
dehydration = bad
light t-shirt = bad
jacket = good
shorts = bad
long pants = good

As always, if you have questions, contact me. It should be a fun day!

Book Clubs/Book Orders: May 2009

Last Chance!!!! Last Chance!!!! Last Chance!!!! Last Chance!!!! Last Chance!!!! Last Chance!!!! Last Chance!!!! Last Chance!!!! Last Chance!!!! Last Chance!!!! Last Chance!!!! Last Chance!!!! Last Chance!!!! Last Chance!!!!

This is the last book order of the year. I have enjoyed watching your student’s metamorphosis from reluctant book picker-overs to avid readers. It is so much fun to talk to them now about books they are enjoying, books they want to read, and how cool it is to have some free time just to read a book. I am sooooo very proud of them and their hard work to learn how to enjoy books.

Don’t let that good feeling stop. Get them involved in reading this summer. There are a lot of excellent choices in the enclosed book orders. Buy them a few books for the summer. Take them to Borders for a cup of hot chocolate and a session of book browsing.

Remember, There are two options for placing orders: send to me at school OR place the order online. To order online, go to the Web address below and enter our class’s personalized user name and password.

www.scholastic.com/parentordering
Class User Name: kurtusu
Password: kurtusuebls

Placing your online credit card order is completely safe and secure. I’ve used it in the past. It was very easy.
Return orders/place orders online on or before:
May 13 (Wednesday)

Now, a few of Mr. Johnson’s recommendations from this month’s book order…


Scholastic Arrow
• The Big Wave: a great story (a little more serious) about life, death, and community.
• Newbery Pack: A great collection of nine books with a wide variety of genres and styles.
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw: The third in this great graphic novel series.
• 11 Planets: From National Geographic, nominated for several book awards.

Scholastic Lucky
• Roald Dahl Pack: The bestest children’s author ever! Four books that are all great reads.
• A Series of Unfortunate Events #1: If you haven’t read this series, try it out. A good summer read on the easier side of things.


As always, thank you for your support. If you have any questions, would like book recommendations, or just want to chat, please feel free to contact me.

kurt.johnson@usu.edu (435) 797-3085
http://kurtj.usu.edu http://kurtusu.blogspot.com/

Mr. Johnson Out of Town

Mr. Johnson is leaving town next week for the International Reading Association's Annual Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I will be gone all week. Ms. G, our awesome teaching assistant will be acting as the substitute.

I will be checking in on everyone via video chat and email. If you need to get a hold of me, feel free to email.

Congrats to Miss G!!!!!

Breaking news... Miss G, one of our teaching assistants just received two prestigious awards.

1. Academic All-Conference - Western Athletic Conference, Woman's Indoor Track and Field
2. Whitesides Scholar Athlete of the Year - Utah State University, Department of Athletics

Way to go!!!!!