There is always lots going on for fourth graders at Southside School, and the first week of February is no exception. The following activities, classes, and extracurricular events provide a snapshot of the learning, the demands and the fun that are integral to our educational experience.
All students were invited to participate in a wonderful theatrical experience with Children’s Stage Adventures, Inc. About 50 students chose to participate in a weeklong experience that began with auditions on Monday morning and culminated on Friday with a musical performance of “Oliver Twist,” complete with music, lights, and costumes.
Under the direction of Amanda Foreman and Erin Grubbs, students performed the show for Southside students and the public with talent and enthusiasm. Other students participated in theater workshops with the tour directors during the week. This theater experience certainly addressed the visual and performing arts standards from Maine’s Learning Results for grades 3-5 in the area of theater, which include the following: B.1 Students demonstrate blocking in a play by carrying out their assigned stage movements. and B.2 Students demonstrate the ideas, moods, and/or feelings of a character and demonstrate proper posture and breathing techniques to project voice through the use of script and improvisation based on stories. What a terrific opportunity with a truly enjoyable final presentation!
In the meantime, content area subject learning continues. Fourth graders have been learning about the town of Houlton and the state of Maine. After viewing “The Story of Houlton” DVD, exploring several websites and YouTube videos about the town, and hearing Leigh Cummings speak about the history of Houlton, students are continuing their Maine work by investigating famous Maine people.
They’re researching the biographies and preparing presentations for their classmates. Many standards are behind this project, and several are especially excited about either dressing up as one of these people and presenting an “I am . . .” talk or designing a presentation using the app, Explain Everything on their iPad(s). The Maine Learning Results standards addressed with this classroom work include the following: E1. Students understand various major eras in the history of the community, Maine, and the United States. A. Explain that history includes the study of past human experience based on available evidence from a variety of sources. Who were the first people of Maine (Houlton) and how did they use their environment to meet their basic needs? RI.4.9 Integrate information from two texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably. W.4.2 Write informative texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly. SL4.4 Report on a topic or text in an organized manner, using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.
Life continues after school. Many students are involved in the multi-faceted After School Program; cheerleading and basketball are in full swing, and Student Council provides leadership for much involvement in community service projects from walking for Bridge to Hope to helping the Backpack for Kids program on a monthly basis to buying many Kenna Care bags. Each month the council takes on a new charity and raises money with the help of the entire student body. We love Southside kids and seek to help develop lifelong learners who are excited to take active roles in their communities!
Cindy Peterson is principal of Houlton Southside School.
