INTREPID TRIP IN PICTURES!

 We had an amazing and educational trip to the Intrepid Museum. We learned that this aircraft carrier was used in war (Including World War II), and now carries a unique collection of planes. We went up and got to see planes used for spying, bombing, planes painted to frighten or camouflage, and planes that were given to the U.S. as gifts from other countries. Can you find Israel's gift, the "Kfir" with its Jewish Star painted on it?

We then went in (and out of the rain!) to the bottom of the ship for a workshop on aviation. We watched a presentation on the development of airplanes, and the forces involved in flying a plane. We experimented to better understand Isaac Newton's scientific law "every action has an equal but opposite reaction": we glided an open air balloon along a string and saw and felt the rush of air move to one direction, while the balloon glided in the opposite direction. We each made our own propeller as well. We then went to explore the great hands-on exhibits: we got to pretend to navigate an airplane, ride a ship, work with space-gloves, launch a rocket, and much more... Enjoy the pictures:-)

MASBIA: Pictures from Chessed trip to an eat-free restaurant

We had a fascinating trip to Masbia, an "eat-free restaurant" (not called a soup kitchen!), which provides daily, wholesome meals to people/families in need. We were surprised to find that Masbia was set up like a restaurant! This is all to serve the needy with dignity.

We had many questions for the director: how many people they feed each day, if there are other Masbias in the area, who volunteers and why, etc.

We asked the volunteers why they were willing to work so hard preparing 500 (!) meals a day. They told us that they enjoy helping other people - it makes you feel great! One volunteer told us that she began helping at Masbia for a school project, and continued because it meant so much to her.

This pot of soup is HUGE! It makes 500 servings every day! We got a quick tour of the kitchen, and saw how so much food can be prepared for so many people in a clean and organized way. We watched helpers and delivery personnel move boxes of food out for delivery for the other Masbia restaurants. Maybe when we are a little older, we can come back to volunteer...what a great mitzva of kindness!


For more info about Masbia and for volunteering opportunities:
http://www.masbia.org/

FOR THURSDAY: Bring your favorite fruit!

As mentioned on the Homework Log, Thursday will be Tu B'Shvat, the New Year for Trees. We celebrate the gift Hashem gave us of tree/plant life that is so vital to us. It is also meaningful: a person is compared to a tree whose roots must be strong and firm, and whose branches we hope will spread and bear fruit. Wholesome education and nurturing tend the saplings untill they grow with firm knowledge and solid character.

In honor of this special day we are having a Tu B'Shvat (translated as the 15th day in the Hebrew month of Sh'vat) celebration. We will celebrate the 7 special fruits of the Land of Israel, which will be provided by the teachers/school. We also ask that each child bring in their favorite fruit (whole and uncut/not peeled), to share with the class. Thank you!

Tomorrow's Trip!

Quick reminder: Tomorrow we go to the INTREPID Museum at 9:30-1:30.

Dear Parents,
In our Science Lesson your child is learning what causes weather and how it can be predicted. In the science chapter Water Cycle and Weather, our class has learned how Earth’s water affects the weather.

Students have also learned the difference between freshwater and ocean water and how the water cycle contributes to our freshwater supply.

In addition to learning about the water cycle, the students have also learned many new vocabulary words. Help your child to make these words a part of his or her own vocabulary by using them when you talk together about weather.

evaporation
condensation
precipitation
humidity
front
meteorologist
barometer
anemometer
wind vane


I will be sending home activity pages that you and your child can do together. By participating in your child’s education, you will help to bring the learning home:-)

Mini Trip this Tuesday to Local Soup Kitchen

Chessed/Kindness - 3rd and 4th grade trip - 'Masbia' - Tuesday January 11th , 10:30 - 12:00

We will be taking a mini trip this Tuesday to a soup kitchen on Coney Island avenue. We will be travelling by school bus.

As we are learning about chessed/Kindness this year we want to expose our older grades to charities that run in our community and to volunteer work. The children will have the opportunity to see a real soup kitchen in operation: volunteers preparing food, needy people coming to eat and maybe we will even be able to volunteer and help out a little ourselves.

UNIT 5 Math Test coming up Monday!!

We have our Unit 5 Math Assessment this Monday, January 10th. This unit has covered two types of multiplication (partial products and lattice multiplication), estimating with large numbers, place value, as well as EXPONENTS (Powers of 10). Your child did review work in school and at home, and was assigned to fix any mistakes in Unit 5 homework sheets. In addition to doing the review questions again over the weekend, I suggest reviewing any Unit 5 items in the Personal Reference books (little notebooks). Good Luck, and I'm sure all students who give it their BEST EFFORT will do well:-)