The Amazing Race - ISSP Library Edition

For the past for four weeks the 4th and 5th grades participated in the Library Edition based on the TV reality show The Amazing Race.  Each class was divided into five teams of four members to compete in various challenges using reference books. These challenges required students to use the dictionary, thesaurus, and atlas to complete the weekly task.  The first challenge was the Dictionary Relay; followed by a Synonym Song challenge.  Students had to use the thesaurus to rewrite a song and perform it for the judges. An Atlas Search in which teams had to locate places around the world was the third challenge.  The last challenge was a Puzzle where teams had to match reference books with their purposes.  It was a lot fun and students had the opportunity to use and apply these skills as well as work as a team. 

David M. Schwartz Comes to ISSP

How Much is a Million? G is for Googol, Q is for Quark - are just a few of the many books that author David M. Schwartz has written. David loves big numbers!  He claims the M for his middle name stands for Million! He helped us understand large numbers to a million and beyond.  Can you guess how many pieces of popcorn are in the large bag he is holding in the photo below?  





What is a "googol"?
What is larger than a googol?

As a child David was full of wonder and questioned his teachers about the amounts of various things such as how many blades of grass on the field? how many stars in the sky? how many grains of sand on the beach? As an adult he used his passion for wondering to research information on different math/science related topics in order to write books for children of all ages.  His fascinating, beautifully illustrated books make math and science come alive for the reader. David has published about 50 books!
This is David's first visit to Vietnam and surely not his last.
You can visit his website at davidschwartz.com.


Answers:
10,000 pieces of popcorn
a number with 100 zeros
a googolplex

David Schwartz - Visiting Author

How lucky are we to have author David Schwartz visit our school on May 22!  You can check out his website at davidschwartz.com.  

Here is his biography:

As a child, I was filled with a sense of awe as I contemplated the universe. The huge numbers of stars and their sizes and distances never failed to amaze me. With binoculars and magnifying glass, I also focused on closer subjects like birds, flowers, frogs and bugs.But science and math weren’t my only fascinations: I also loved bicycles, baseball, boats…and ice cream. Years later, on a clear spring night, I looked up at the sky and a shower of memories descended. I suddenly remembered my childhood awe at the wonders of space.That night I was inspired to write my first book, How Much Is a Million?Now, almost 50 books later, I spend much of my time finding unusual, whimsical ways to make math and science come alive for kids and teachers, both through my writing and through speaking at schools and conferences. I also write science articles for magazines, including Smithsonian. To do the research, I’ve made exciting trips to some of the more remote corners of several continents. I’ve been to Africa to study hippos, to South America to visit an indigenous tribe living in the rain forest, and to far northern Scotland to track illegal egg collectors. But I still love the land outside my door in northern California, and the same distant stars that inspired me years ago.

Earth Day

Every day is Earth Day in the library!  In honor of April 22, an Earth Day related book was read to our classes.  These were a few of our favorites:

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 Stop by the library and check out some of our fiction and nonfiction environmental books.  How do you help protect our environment at your home?

Earth Day crowns and necklaces!

International Week

Bonjour!  Hola!  Konnichi wa!  G'day, mate!  Ni hao! Buenas Dias! Namaste!could be heard throughout the halls each day as we celebrated International Week!  It was a fun week learning about the flags, art, folklore, foods, and customs of different countries.  In the library we read a story from the country each class studied and did a follow-up activity.  For Japan we read Yumi and made Kokeshi dolls.  For Australia Mem Fox's Koala Lou was read and we learned about the unique animals of Australia, and began to make Aboriginal dot paintings.  On to France for Everybody Bonjours! and we put famous places and foods on a map of France. Ganesha's Sweet Tooth took us to India where we created Ganeshas with patterns and sequins.  For Mexico we read Frieda and talked about her life and art.  Two versions of Red Riding Hood - Ghana's Pretty Salma  and China's  Lon Po Po were also enjoyed.  It was a great week which gave students the opportunity to appreciate the diversity among us.

April is Poetry Month!

Jack Prelutsky

Since April has been designated at Poetry Month, we will be exploring the poems of Poet Laureate, Jack Prelutsky.   He was born in Brooklyn, New York on September 8, 1940.  His childhood was spent in the Bronx.  School was not his favorite thing, and he certainly did not enjoy poetry.  At that time, poetry was syrupy and serious - not appealing to children of any age. However, he loved music and drawing. When he was about 24, a friend encouraged him to submit his drawings of imaginary animals to a publisher. At the last minute, Jack added some humorous poems to the animal drawings. Since then he has published over 50 poetry collections and received numerous awards for his work.

Amazing Authors

During Reading Week the library focused on Amazing Authors.  We watched interviews with three popular authors: Lois Ehlert, David Adler, and Jon Scieszka and read a book each had written.  Next, each student created their own book. PreK created itty-bitty dog books. KG and grade one wrote their own stories on  little books.  Grade 2 made biography flap books.  Grades 3, 4,and 5 wrote short stories with 3-D illustrations and made 3 -D glasses. Stop by the library and check out our 3-D section.  ISSP has Amazing Authors!