Treehouse Ape Cave & Tree Molds Adventure!

Treehouse Ape Cave and Tree Mold Adventure on Mount Saint Helens!

October 6th, 2011

The beginning of the Ape Cave, the longest lava tube in the U.S.. "This lava tube formed from an eruption of Mount St. Helens 1,900 years ago. A lava tube formed when the surface of a lava flow cooled and hardened, but the molten lava beneath the surface continued to flow.

Yhe cave averages 42 degrees Fahrenheit. This route that we took was the lower route, 0.7 miles (each way)."

The beginning of the Ape Cave, with no ladder; lovely stairs.

The "Meat Ball": "a block of cooled lava which fell from the lava tube ceiling while lava was still flowing through the cave. Floating on the surface of the lava flow it was carried downstream until it became wedged in a narrow spot above the present cave floor."

Next set of steps. No ladder, again.

Coming out!

The tree molds:

"Discover the molds or impressions of an ancient forest engulfed by a lava flow nearly 2,000 years ago, and an emerald forest that has risen from the black basaltic lava. If you bring a flashlight along, there is one opportunity to crawl throught the mold of a tree that stood at this site 2,000 years ago."

Students crawling through one of the tree molds.

Thank you to all of the drivers and parents for driving and picking up the students at a late hour. The students had an amazing time!

(facts found on USGS web site)

Talk & Dress Like a Pirate Day! Sept. 19th

Ahoy, Mateys!

Septmeber 19th is National Talk Like a Pirate Day. Miss Ashley and I will be your captains on the ship the Treehouse. Arrrrgh!

Please feel free to dress and talk like a pirate at school. We will be doing pirate themed activities that reinforce what we are doing in math, social studies, science, and literacy.

So batten down the haches me hearties it will be a Jolly day!

Captain,

Miss Cindy & Miss Ashely

Welcome Tree House Friends!

Hello 3rd & 4th grade families!

Our first day was a huge success! This going to be an outstanding year in the Tree House! We have a few housekeeping things to share:

The folder that says "Take Home Folder" will be brought home every night with home work items. The assignments will be written down in your child's planner. The planner and folder should come home each afternoon and return to school each morning.
Please check this daily for any notes or homework that may be sent home. A weekly "clean out" is highly recommended.

We have a water cooler in our classroom and each student should have a water bottle (with a lid) at school. Don't forget to write your name on it.

We will have a morning snack break each morning and your child should have a HEALTHY snack each day. Fruit, crackers, cheese sticks, and yogurt are a few ideas. Any chips, cookies, or sugary treats will be saved for lunch.

Another suggestion for each student's backpack is an extra pair of socks; we had many soggy ones last year.

If you have any questions, please let us know!

Activities of the week:
Keys to success: Miss Ashley and I have asked each student to come up with 5 ways/ keys that will help them be successful in our classroom. The students took a kind of test to help them figure out what kind of learner they are and this test aided them in figuring out their keys. The keys range from: "I like to work in a small group," to "I need a list to complete many tasks." This is some deep self awareness and the students really are happy that we plan to honor their way of being successful.
Math Assessment: 3rd & 4th level math started an assessment to recall what we learned last year. This gives Miss Ashley and I chance to see which topics need to be reviewed before we move on. Many students did practice multiplication tables, addition, and subtraction facts this summer and it shows! Keep up the great work!
PE: Cooperation Games: We played many games in groups that the students were challenged to work together to complete a task. They did great!
Volcanoes: We will be going on a fieldtrip to Mount Saint Helen's October 6th. We will be leaving at 7:30 in the morning and returning later in the evening, 7:00pm. We will be stopping to go to dinner.

We look forward to seeing every one at curriculum night Wednesday, September 28th.

Please check the calendar for upcoming events.

Have a great day!

Miss Cindy and Miss Ashley

Pioneer Village

Pioneer Farm

As we wind up our studies about the Oregon Trail, we took a field trip to Pioneer Farms in Eatonville.

The students got to be pioneers for half of the day. They experienced life as a pioneer child.

Jake the Black smith.

A lovely sheep that gave us a bit of wool to make a little piece of yarn.

Off to school. This was the school bus back then.

Dress up. Some items that the young girls would have worn.

4th Level Math Forts:

Day 1

Construction

Salmon Safari 2010

Salmon Safari 2010!

Students got to see the life cycle of the salmon right in front of them in the stream.