Finale

The kids have been busily finishing up their Rube Goldberg experiments and getting their lab reports written. Seth and Tyler needed to weight their experiment in grams, so Mr. Finn showed them how to use the scale. If you've never used one of these, they're really amazing. Whenever I get weighed at the doctor's I always want to play around with it, but manage to restrain myself. All the kids have learned to use it and have weighed all their pieces as well as measured them in meters. In Math class, they have been calculating the speed of their experiment. This has been fitting in nicely with what the 5/6 class is working on since they're into ratios and proportions. This afternoon, the kids will be setting up their experiments and sharing them with the community. We'll keep our fingers crossed that lots of light bulbs will be turning on at the end!

Getting Down

Lest you think that it is all work and no play at Frenchboro School, we have some exhibits for your general amusement. We ARE a goofy bunch over here. Bradley is frequently seen doing a little jig around the schoolhouse or outside, wherever he is might be the best place for a dance party.
And then there's Johnny. It goes without saying that not a day goes by without at least three epic gyrations from this little guy. He usually ends up on the floor.
Sometimes we dance alone.
And sometimes we dance with friends.



Needless to say, we may get a lot done, but we do know how to party.

Tools, Tools, Tools

These kids get a lot of hands on experiences in our school. Though Mr. Finn did almost all the cutting with the circular saw, the kids did pretty much everything else. They got to use drills...
From all angles.
Tape measures.
Carpenter's square (on our heads.)
Pliers.
More drilling.
Even more drilling.
Rulers and squares.
Tape measures.

Even MORE drilling, after measuring.And time for a rest.

Close Ups

I'm missing a couple who were particularly elusive, but I'll nab 'em when they're least expecting it!

Picnic Table Construction

The kids do service projects every year, both to improve the school and the community and they decided the picnic tables down at Eastern Beach needed a serious rehaul. As in, start over from scratch. Mr. Finn happens to be super handy when it comes to...well, just about everything, so he got a blueprint for picnic tables and we were off and running. We purchased the supplies with fundraising and grant money, but Mr. Finn donated the use of his tools since it would be pretty expensive to buy a set of those for the school. The kids have built several things over the years and it's a great way to apply math, reading, science, etc. to real world scenarios. The kids were up for the task, as usual. Here Jayde and Seth are using the carpenter's square to mark the board for cutting.
We had a couple groups going at the same time. Fifth and sixth grade were working on one table and K-4 were working on another. There was a lot to do: measuring and marking boards, cutting and assembling the table, lots of moving of lumber, detail work on the edging, etc. It was hopping outside, with Mr. Finn all over the place helping each group.
It took a lot of teamwork from carrying the boards,


...to measuring and marking,

...to moving the assembled pieces,



...to drilling the screw holes,
...to finding the correct place to attach the table tops. As I said, it was hopping. And that is not an Easter pun.

Fitness Test: Situps, Jumping Jacks

Every month, each student sets their own goals and tries to increase the amount of situps, pushups, pullups and jumping jacks they do. Several kids are over the hundred mark for situps, and their pushups have become seriously impressive! We're even able to do pullups now, which is a tough one.
I love how Brody has one little guy on each foot.


The K-3 group does an increase of jumping jacks by 5 every month, and the 4-6 group increases by 10, so they are now doing over 100. Well, I used to guide them and call out the number but when they hit 90 I nearly passed out trying to say the number while jumping. I swear, my calves charlie horsed so badly they were sore for a week. Now Mr. Finn does them, thank the stars.
Everybody was a huffing and a puffing last time. Bradley was the only one grinning from ear to ear the entire time, though.
Everyone else was extremely serious.
I know I was exhausted just watching them. They all guzzled the water after this event, and then luckily we went outside for the 40 yd. dash so everyone could cool off. Have you tried doing 120 jumping jacks lately? Get back to me on how that goes.