Australia

School Year Ends- Flat Friends Fly Back to England

Roadrunners

You’ve been around the globe lately and once again you are put in a box to fly off to England.  Mrs. Todd took you home to enjoy a nap before your journey began on Saturday.  The weather was a perfect spring day so you loved the sunshine.   You were put in a box that say Flat rate.

 Mrs. Todd had to tell the man at Parcel Plus what was in the box with you.  She put in a surprise or two but we can’t tell you what it is!   She had to write the address down then he typed it and put it on the box so it would go back to North Yorkshire, England.  She filled the box full so hopefully you aren’t to smashed.  

You are on your way home after  weeks in America.   You’ve had  many adventures around Monroe while here.  Baseball games, soccer games, theme parks, the beach, malls (large shopping areas), out to eat and games at home.  There were rainy days that remind you of home and sunny warm days too.  There were thunder storms too.

Some things we’ve done with you at school  is our final assessments in math, reading and writing  , doing  final projects, reading one last book and signing autograph /year books.  We went to lunch and you got to meet our new friends from New Zealand the Snail and the Whale.  

The last few days you helped draw flags for 73 countries.  We had field day and recess and you cheered us on as we had fun.     We learned how children in different parts of the world all play a form of hopscotch.  You got to meet our Flat Friends as they returned home to Rocky River.  You got to taste Tin Tams and Vegemite from Australia.   You got to help clean and pack up the room.

We had an indoor picnic lunch the last day of school.  You got to see us climb on the big yellow buses to head home for the summer.   Some of us went by car or van.  You got to have blue crushed ice and ice cream sundaes and watch a movie about the coral reef.  You also got to see Sleeping Beauty and Snow White to celebrate our Fairy Tale unit.  You got to help us with Reader’s Theater.    You got to see us get our awards for World Education games and reading and math awards.  We had three students come to school all 180 days-  James, Elliott and Nicolas was here every day.   Elliott has been in school every day for three years.  Congratulations to these boys.  You got to learn about the Queen’s diamond jubilee and we looked at the Olympics in ancient and modern times.   You should arrive home in time for the real Olympics.

Flat Friends Arrived in Gold Canyon, Arizona and from North Yorkshire, England

Roadrunners

The Flat Friends have been busy traveling around from place to place.  First it was off to Australia for our Flat Friends and we got some Flat  Friends in return from Australia. They spent several weeks with us  and then off everyone went for a second trip on their journey around the world.

The second round found our Flat Friends heading for Arizona even if it’s in the USA like us it’s across the country in a totally unique environment.  And we got a new set of Flat Friends  from North Yorkshire, England- Middleham Primary School.  No jet lag allowed for these young Flat Friends.  They instantly took off for more adventures! 

Our Flat selves have arrived in Arizona.  We wondered what they were getting into with students at Peralta Trail Elementary in Gold Canyon, Arizona.  Last week we got to skype with these eager third graders.  We got to meet new friends that had received our Flat Friends.  We got to hear about a legend from their area.  Watch for a second post about the skype and the legend.

We are hoping they don’t encounter that mountain lion.

 

We have been busy with our Flat Friends from England and writing journal entries to send back with them.  It was Mother’s Day so our Flat Friends helped make Mother’s Day cards on Friday to give to our moms.   We want to say HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO ALL THE MOMS AROUND THE WORLD!   Our friends in England celebrated Mother’s Day in March.  

What are we finding to do with this new set of friends?  You’ll have to wait a few days to find out.

Flat Selves travel — Journey 2

Roadrunners

 

Wonder what adventure awaits our Flat Selves as they travel again?

This time they will visit with Mrs. Fraher and students at Peralta Trail Elementary,  which is  nestled in the foothills of the famed Superstition Mountains.  These mysterious mountains shadow their community, Gold Canyon, Arizona.

How many miles is it to Gold Canyon, Arizona?

What kinds of animals and plants will they see?

Will it be anything like North Carolina?

Can they find that mysterious Roadrunner creature?

What will they get into in Arizona?

 

Miss Migan’s Class Takes Flight

Roadrunners

Our Flat Friends from Sydney, Australia have taken off back to Victoria, Australia.   We had such a blast playing with them and learning with them.  We took them by the cafeteria to work  for a while and by the computer lab.  We went by guidance one of our last days.  We spent time saying goodbye and writing final thoughts of the adventures.    We wanted to keep them all summer for more adventures but finally decided to do our last post and the next thing we knew they had taken off for their flight.

Final Goodbyes to Flat Friends on PhotoPeach

Sadly we have to report that one of them decided he’d stay longer in the United States.   We couldn’t find Andy anywhere but John and his family will continue  to hope  he shows up.  We’ve read a lot about people immigrating to the United States over the years so perhaps young Andy decided he should to.   We know we have people who came to live in the United States from places like Scotland, England, Ireland, Spain, France, Canada and Russia.  We have a lot of classmates from Mexico, Peru, Colombia and other South and Central America countries and also China,  Philippines and Vietnam.  They’ve come here to visit and then some came to make this their home.  That’s why we are so diverse.  Perhaps he is like our Visiting International Teacher and came to work for a year or two.  People have settled in different parts of the United States from South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia.   Some people have traveled here for educational reasons.   Most of our Flat Friends were ready to travel again.

In our Social Studies we study how people came here on the Mayflower and we’ve read about immigration and people coming to Ellis Island.  We know some came for religious purposes and some to have a better life.  We know some came for work.  They settled near water for transportation purposes in olden days.  Materials and people traveled by boats, carriages, trains and horses.   People moved to the west and spread out.   Modern transportation includes cars and airplanes so travel has become faster.  Cities grew and more and more people came and today people move about a lot.  The United States spread out and became 50 states.  People continue to move from place to place for different reasons.

Do you think we are a “melting pot”?   We read we were.  What do you think that might mean?

Goodbye Flat Friends– Hope your travels are safe and fun.

 

Flat Friends Traveling Around

Roadrunners

A few weeks back we joined with 4 other classes on a Flat Friend journey.   Some of us got to travel to the desert area in Arizona, some to see a castle and history in England, some to Australia to visit the beach, and sites in  Sydney and Victoria .   We received some Flat Friends from Sydney Australia at Curl, Curl,   They’ve gotten a chance to go to some of our special area classes and go home with us.   We’ve had them two whole weeks staying busy as beavers.     Ours got sidetracked on their journey to Sydney in the postal system so we had to go to a back-up plan and send them through email.  We are hoping the originals  arrive soon in Sydney and will be waiting for them when they return to school from their holidays.   Ours came with these wonderful journals and we’ve enjoyed writing in them over their time at Rocky River.

We wonder what everyone has been getting into with their Flat Friends.  You can check out the adventures around the world at this site:      http://flat-stanley-adventures.posterous.com/

Australian animals and landforms

Roadrunners

Students learned about the Great Barrier Reef and Uluru (Ayers Rock) during the study of physical features of Australia and drew some pictures  to share.

They also worked on animals posters.   Then they taught children at New Town in Monroe, NC all about these during a Skype session.

 

Teaching Peers About Other Places

Roadrunners

G’Day,

Kia Ora, 

Hello

What do  second graders from Rocky River and New Town two schools in Union County, NC learn when they get  together for a Skype session ?   They teach each other about places miles and continents  away that they are learning about this year.    The students at Rocky River have  been learning about Australia  so they answered questions about animals, food, schools, sports and landmarks.  They shared pictures and a song  about a Kookaburra under a gum tree  with New Town students.  They shared  about the Great Barrier Reef,  Uluru/Ayers Rock and the Outback.  The students  had drawn  pictures of Kangaroos, dingoes, wombats and koalas  to share.   Ms. Lologa asked about the special package that had arrived from Australia.  We were  surprised they knew about our Flat Selves arriving from Sydney.   She mentioned they had looked at our Going Global blog site right before the skype.  We were excited they had been one of our visitors.    The second grade classes from New Town had several questions and shared a song and dance with us.  Their teacher, Ms. Lologa,   from New Zealand is a VIF teacher in Union County.     There were two classes  participating from New Town.  Although our connection was not the best we still enjoyed sharing with them. 

 

Ms. Lologa  answered questions about New Zealand.  Students counted in Maori for us.   We hope to Skype again and have some more time to ask questions about New Zealand.  Students asked about schools and volcanoes.    They heard about landforms and sports like cricket and rugby.

When the  Skype session ended one of the students mentioned he even saw a friend.  Connections new and old being made all in a short time.

 

Flat Stanley Takes Off for Australia

Roadrunners

Flat Stanley is heading for Australia in our collaborative project with several schools around the globe.  We wonder what adventures he will find while there.  We’ve been reading a book about Flat Stanley in Australia.  We wonder if he will have some of the same adventures.  We wonder if he’ll get to visit with a kangaroo, a koala or a dingo.  Will he get to walk on the Sydney Bridge or see the Sydney Opera House?  We’re seen pictures of both of these.   Wonder if he go to the outback, the Great Barrier Reef or see the Gold Coast?  Where will our flat friends arrive and what will they see?  There will be 19 little flat friends traveling together to Curl Curl School in Australia.   We hope they will arrive safely and meet some other friends from A Room with a View.  We skyped with them last week and saw their post today so we know they are also on their way to have adventures in Australia.  We are looking forward to receiving some flat friends to take on adventures here in Monroe, North Carolina.  Miss Migan’s class will host our flat people and share adventures with them.  Wonder what they will see and learn about on their journeys?   We hope they have an amazing journey into the unknown.   Be aware, that the wind is dangerous for Flat people!   Hold on tight to them if it’s windy.

 

Traveling the Atlantic Ocean

Roadrunners

As we follow along and read the adventures about  Tom on his bike we also follow what’s happening with the author Alastair Humphreys as he rows across the Atlantic Ocean in his newest adventure.   We are now in  Ethiopia as we continue to read about his bike trip to the end of Africa.  As we read we discuss different culture values and beliefs from different areas and we are following his trip with our Atlases.  His diary pages give us information about different places.

Why would a boy on a bike with his supplies be considered rich in one country and poor in another?

Why do two people who work near each other but are from different countries not talk until Tom comes through the border?

When will Alastair Humphreys and his crew  arrive on land again?  See where he is and read about the author’s other adventures.

http://www.transatlantik.si/eng/

http://www.alastairhumphreys.com/

 

As you can see reading takes place even in the Atlantic Ocean. Fishing we’d expect in the water.    We think some things would be important to have on this trip.   What else would they really  need?  We are getting ready for our economics unit in a few weeks and we will disucss needs and wants.   They may want other things but are they really needed?  What do you think the top 10 things they should have with them in the Atlantic Ocean?  Will the weather be stormy or fair?  Wll it be hot or cold?   How will this change what they will need with them?

  • A compass
  • A map
  • food
  • water
  • sunscreen
  • hat
  • sunglasses
  • sunscreen
  • raincoat
  • something to sleep on

We think you would be hungry, sunburnt, wet and tired.

It’s amazing to us that students in England. Australia, North Carolina are all following his trip.   They received phone calls from him so check out their sites to learn more

A Room with a View (England)  http://middlehampri2.posterous.com/an-adventurer-calls

4KM and 4 KJ ( Victoria, Australia)   http://4kmand4kj.global2.vic.edu.au/