Student Blog Post April 2015

BG Reading by Kelvin

At school we have been reading about endangered species. We have been watching nature videos each week.

BG Writing by Melia

This week in BG writing, we are working on our last medal for Olympics, the Gold Medal. We have to do the medal on Non-Fiction books, do an Annotated Bibliography and a 5 Question Test as usual, but, this time we have to do something much bigger than normal; A Research Paper which is super difficult, but the BG’s  can handle it, because Kim is doing such a great job telling us how to do it! YAY! See you later! <3 Melia

KFC Writing by Emma W and Isa

In KFC writing we are working on the “Who are the Americans” and “The war begins” packets. In those packets we are answering questions about the American Revolution. Occasionally we read extra articles (that have to do with the American revolution) and write paragraphs about them. One we wrote went like this “Before reading this article I thought…” and “After reading this I thought…” and then we wrote “In conclusion…”.

KFC Reading by Sid

This week in KFC reading we are working on the “Who are the Americans” packet and “The War Begins” packet. We have to take a lot of notes to prepare for the final test. After each packet we read, we have to answer some questions and/or write a paragraph, about what we learned about the Revolutionary War. We are working hard and learning tons about the Revolution. With help from LIBERTYS    KIDS.

KFC Social Studies by Athmar

This week in social studies we have been continuing our progress in learning about the Revolutionary War. We have been doing that by reading articles, watching more episodes pn liberty kids while taking notes, and writing paragraphs at the end of our reading. Our test is next Thursday. Make sure to bring ALL of your Liberty Kids notes! They are your best source for the test! I should be a breeze if you were paying attention to the facts and lessons that were being taught. If not, bring your Liberty Kids notes ( and your brain) They will help you alot!

5^th Grade Math by Jacob

We started Exponents and multiplying and dividing decimals Kim, like, 10⁴ = 10,000. Also we finished Volume with Cassie and finished our sculptures. Does 5⁷= 78125? True or false?

True!

4^th Year Math by Joey

This week we are working on multiplying and dividing fractions. We also finished our math calendar with perimeter and area.

BG Science by Ava G

This week in B.G. science we learned about how the earth was made. Last week we watched a video,

Beginning Orchestra by Mira

Beginning Orchestra is getting ready for their concert on May 14,and are going to be playing 5 songs. Although we are all having fun  we are also very busy learning the rest of our songs.

Spring Jazz Night by Antonio

On thursday april 23, 2015 madrona had a spring jazz concert at Edmonds Woodway High School. Madrona’s jazz bands I and II played with Edmonds Woodway High schools jazz band III finishing off the show. Madrona’s jazz band II played first and they played the songs It Don't Mean a thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), Caravan and Killer Joe. Madrona’s jazz band I played next playing Groovin’ Hard, A Night in Tunisia, One O’clock Jump, Groovin’ High and Sticks.

Edmonds Woodway High School’s jazz band III finished the show playing In a Mellow Tone,

Art by Bam

Last week in art we made Solis. Solis are like little kitchen witches. We made them out of pipe cleaners and hollow wooden balls. The students made them for a parent, guardian or older sibling. It was very exciting and we all had fun.

Soleil Student Blog - Week of March 9th - 13th

Here is a short blog post from a short, half-day filled week.

BG Reading by Kelvin

This week in reading we are reading about endangered species and making essays and infographics about northern spotted owls, woodland caribou, and leatherback sea turtles.

BG Science by Melia

This week in BG Science, we are finishing up our black and white copies of our infographics, that we will print, and starting, or editing, our colored infographic, that we will post on the internet, and maybe on the Soleil blog. We are doing them on endangered animals such as the Leatherback Sea Turtle (LST),  the Woodland Caribou, or reindeer and the Northern Spotted Owl (NSO). We are having a great time and Cassie is helping so much!

KFC Science by Athmar

We have finished our essays and so that leads us to writing our posters. All of the groups have finished cutting and now we are jotting down ideas about what to write and what to draw for the background. We are doing endangered animals not just any regular animals. Our posters are Due soon on the 19th of March. We have also been doing pour infographics and those were due a while ago but M, Kim, and Cassie want us to revise and pure edit with the teachers. Then we will get our grade. There are many ways you can access the infographics at home too. Of course it is easy to get a 1 or a 2 but to get a 3 is pretty if u put effort. ( there is a effort grade too,(; ).

Posed Pictures from March 17th by Cassie

Our rule in Soleil is no posed pictures unless told.  Our hope is that this rule allows students to be more focused on working instead of having their picture taken.  

Soleil Student Blog - Week of March 2nd - 6th

BG Writing by Livia

This week in writing we are writing about our endangered species   

Student planning out paragraphs for a non-fiction piece. Photo by Bam

BG Science by Naomi

In Bubble Giraffes science we have been working on our infographics about our endangered animals which are the Leatherback Sea Turtle, Woodland Caribou, and the Northern Spotted Owl.  

KFC Reading by Giselle

In KFC (Kool Fun Cookies) we are reading and learning about the Revolutionary war, and what it was like. We have also been studying a new form of note taking, called and named the Cornell note taking system. So far, we have organized it so it will be easier to find information, and have tried it out with a few different topics.

KFC Writing by Ezra

In KFC Writing, we just finished up writing our last essay for endangered animals, and our new project is making a giant round poster. These posters are about our endangered animals, and every group is going to make their own. These will probably be shown in the Art Walk, so everyone who comes can see the beautiful art of Room 12.

Collaboration is key when students work on Endangered Species Posters. Photo by Bam

KFC Science by Charlotte

In science this week we are working on our endangered animals species posters they’re for the art walk sadly I can’t give you any more information except that we are doing seven different species the red fox, the dugong, the loggerhead sea turtle, the bald eagle, the saola, the snow leopard, and  the galapagos giant tortoise. I guess you just have to find out more information for your self at art walk night 2015.

5th Year Math students are using cubes to calculate volume.

6^th Year Math by Athmar

This week in 6th year math we have started a new subject, algebra. We have not completely started it but M has notified us that we will be taking out test soon and after the test we will start our algebra lessons. We have just about finished up our ratios. M is helping us review what the 4th years are doing to so we can help them out with there homework.

Students reflect on their Hopes and Dreams for the school year in a card to self. Photo by Bam

Art by Amy

In Art, we are writing cards to ourselves and decorating them. These cards are to check on how we're doing, since at the beginning of the year, we made our Hopes and Dreams. We wanted to see if we achieved our Hopes and Dreams. You should make some Hopes and Dreams and check on how you’re doing once in a while! :)  

Jazz Band 2 by Charlotte

In jazz band II we are working on 3 songs. It don’t mean a thing if it ain't got that swing, Inside Out, and Killer Joe. For these songs I play the piano and so I play the bass line in my right hand and the saxophone part in my right haNd. These can be extremely hard because there can be swing rhythm in the right hand and a steady beat in my left hand.

Intermediate Orchestra by Athmar

This week in orchestra Mrs. Nelson (our teacher) gave us a new piece called Joust. It starts out small and boring but then the firsts come in and help us do the really hard notes. YAY!

in the middle we get some really upbeat and fun notes then get to the coda and play it one more time. We really have a lot of fun playing with the notes and acutely playing the notes.

Beginning Band by Jacob

In Beginning Band, on are new music book (Essential Elements ) On page 13, 14 and 15 we all have been learning new notes like “LOW G”, “LOW A”!

Advanced Band by Emma C

The quad concert went extremely well. We have begun practicing our songs for our next concert already. The songs we will be playing are, “Pirates of the Caribbean”, “Classic Overture”, and “Ancient Moon”. Make sure you practice because, we will be missing lots of advanced band practices due to breaks!

Thomas Edison shared about his life during Class Meeting on Friday. 

Albert Einstein also dropped by during Class Meeting! 

Soleil Student Blog - Week of February 23rd - 28th

Welcome to this week's blog post! We are figuring out the best way capture our learning with pictures. This week's method is not the one. Look for more pictures next week!

BG Writing by Kelvin and Ben

This week BG writing, we are taking notes on our endangered animal. We got to choose an animal out of these three: Northern Spotted Owl,  Leatherback Sea turtle, and Woodland Caribou. We will use the information we got to make infographics.

BG Science by Livia, Naomi, and Melia

This week in science we are working on infographics. Pictochart is an app that you can create infographics and presentations on a certain topic. Our topic is endangered animals that live in Washington, and those animals are: Leatherback Sea Turtle, Northern Spotted Owl, and  We are having a great experience!

KFC Science by Sydney P

This week in science we are working on our infographics. An infographic is a special type of informative poster that is done digitally. We are making them through this really cool sight called piktochart, and they are about the endangered animal we chose to study a few months ago. Our infographics include threats to the species we chose and also how we can help save them. All of the infographics are looking really cool, plus they are fun to do!

4^th Year Math by Nicolai and Ethan

This week in math we are  learning fractions. On the 23rd we played with fraction cards to learn more about fractions. We learned about different fractions such as unit fractions.

5^th Year Math by Saki

We are learning about multiplying fraction with whole numbers! It is FUN!!!!

6^th Year Math by Charlotte

This week we didn’t have 6th grade math. We are starting to work on Algebra we will have our unit test next week! AHHHH! ;)

Intermediate Orchestra by Athmar

This week in intermediate orchestra we went to the Edmonds Woodway HS for a re hursel and concert with other middle schools and elementary schools in one giant concert! Madrona as well as the other elementary schools played HUnters chorus, Dragon Hunter, and Cripple Creek tougher! And the others played awesome music! We had a rehearsal then the concert! It was awesome and we all had a lot of fun. Everyone did a amazing job!

Soleil Student Blog Week of January 26th, 2015

BG Writing by Ava G and Livia

This week in writing we are doing non-fiction and   comparing it to other genres.  You got to pick your

subject and wright as much as you know about it in two days.  We also brain stormed ideas of what non-fiction is and how to write it. In conclusion All of us had a lot of fun learning about non-fiction.  

                                    

BG Science by Livia and Ava G

In BG science we are drawing a food tower/pyramid.  what you do...

     1.    choose a animal  

      2.   then make the pyramid

      3. first individual

       4. then population(a large amount of the anamal you      picked)

community

ecosystem

biome

biosphere(the world!)

KFC Reading by Athmar

In reading this week on M`s side, we have been reading about colonists and the history about the 13 colonies. We have been reading from books, articles and answering some questions.

KFC Writing by Giselle

This week in writing we have been working on 5-paragraph essays, and our Endangered Species projects. We have a series of 4 essays between January and March that M has assigned us. The 1st essay (which was due on January 20th, Tuesday) was already due. I hope that everybody has the 1st essay done. The next essay is due on February 3rd, and is a compare and contrast essay. You should have a partner to compare and contrast with for this essay. The essay after that is a cause and effect essay. And the final, and last essay (the 4th essay) is a “call to action” essay. You talk about how you can help your endangered specie of animal, and what groups of people are already working to save that specie.

KFC Science and Social Studies by Dorothea

In science this week we are talking about our endangered animals. We had to write an essay about our animal. Soon we will start to make posters for our endangered animals. And in social studies we are doing sail America. Sail America is a project we have to do in school about the thirteen colonies.

6th Year Math by Jack

In 6th grade math we have just finished with our Bits and Pieces book. The book (and M!) taught us how to add sales tax and percents. This will really help the 6th graders later in life because if we need to calculate tax for a meal or piece of clothing, we’ll know how to do it.

Winter Jazz Night 2015 by Antonio

Last week on Thursday all of Madrona’s Jazz Bands played at their concert. They both sounded really good. First Jazz Band II played. They played three songs including Basie Cally the Blues, Moanin and Take a Swing at this. There were a few soloist in those songs, and in Take a Swing at this the soloist got to improvise. Improvisation is where you make up a lick using the notes of a certain scale. In this song they were using the notes of the E Flat Major scale. After Jazz Band II played their songs Jazz Band I played. Jazz I played 6 songs including Topsy, Nardis, Milestones, Tenor Madness, Manteca and Sticks. They also had some soloist and improvisation, but they used the B Flat Major scale for improvisation. Overall it was a great night of music.

Soleil Student Blog Week of January 5th, 2015

Welcome to the first Soleil blog post of 2015! 

BG Reading by Ava G and Livia

this week  the bubble giraffes in reading are are getting together with kim and working on packets.  Each packet has a different topic like one was catwings that was a packet that we did response note on and answered questions. The response notes were for questions and sentences that give us hints about the setting. It was fun to have this packet I hope we do it again!

KFC Science by Charlotte

A Good Look at your Garbage Bin

This week in science we had a special guest come in to our classroom to teach us about garbage. Her name was Ali and she worked at the local Waste Management center. She explained where our garbage goes and how the average person  makes 4.5 lbs. of garbage a day. She taught us what goes in the recycle bin and what can’t, and what cannot be recycled. I found this to be quite interesting and useful. Did you know that as long as there is no food or liquid coming out you can recycle yogurt cups?!!

5^th Year Math by Giselle

Right now in 5th grade math we are working on using fractions and we have just started a new observation calendar. Our homework that was assigned to us by Cassie last Thursday is due today, Monday. Be sure to check that you have finished both pages and that they are ready to turn in! (If you finished them early, you can turn them in early.)

6^th year math by Nathanael

In 6th year math the 6th years are learning about percentage and discounts or coupons, we learned about how to change poles that have a total of votes that are not 100, and also we are learning about circle graphs. If you ask the 6th years favorite subject the will answer MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA TH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Art by Emilee and Athmar

In art this week, we have been drawing trees after they lost there brownness and turning a red/brownish color. In the background you would see a sun setting or rising sun depending on the drawers preference. We are using pastels to draw our trees.

Cocoa House by Grace

Previously, before winter break on January 12th Soleil celebrated Cocoa House. For parents don’t know what Cocoa House is, it is a winter celebration where 4th, 5th and 6th graders read poetry on a stage on Room 11 (M’s side). However, this year was a little different from last years Cocoa House because the rule was no poetry written by SHEL SILVERSTEIN! This was because our teachers, M, Cassie and Kim wanted to introduce Soleil to other poets other than Shel Silverstein. At first I thought that this was a terrible rule. I thought in my head NO SHEL SILVERSTEIN=ANGRY GRACE= UMMMMM……. WELL I DON’T REALLY KNOW... I FORGOT. Anyway, later on I found new poets I now prefer over Shel Silverstein. But, poetry isn’t the only thing we did at Cocoa House. Soleil got to have food! Such as, chips, sadly…. vegetables, wonderful fruits, donuts, cookies, candy canes and I bet you can’t guess what else………… ……………………………………………………………………Cocoa, what a surprise! For people sitting on Room 11 (Kim and Cassie’s side) got to see the Soleil Gratitude presentation. Overall, I thought Cocoa House was really fun!