Through their Valentine's Day store, the Baseball Plants raised about $152 for charity! As a group they decided to donate $100 to the Coalition for the Homeless and the remaining amount to the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). On our visit to the Coalition for the Homeless, we learned that on an average night, there are over 63,000 homeless people in New York City. That's more people than there are seats in Yankee Stadium! We also learned different ways you can help the homeless population and what resources they have available to them. We were also able to visit ASPCA (right next door)! The Baseball Plants learned about different ways veterinarians help the dogs and cats at the hospital located inside the ASPCA. The students also learned what food items are poisonous to cats and dogs. Ask your student what one of the most poisonous food items is! (Hint: Most humans LOVE it! :) ) The Baseball Plants were respectful and kind visitors on both field trips!
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ENTREPRENEURS RUN A PROFIT FOR CHARITY The Baseball Plants class got a taste of sweet success this Valentine's Day. Each year at Gillen Brewer, the oldest class runs a one-day school store as the culminating project for their economics unit. This year, it was the Baseball Plants’ turn to apply economics concepts and skills such as "demand," "raw materials," "mass production" and "advertising" to the exciting task of planning and running a Valentine's Day Store. They selected products based on what they felt would be in demand among the GBS students and staff, they created posters and created a commercial video, they borrowed capital from Linda, and they manufactured delicious chocolate-dipped pretzels. The students also enjoyed learning about Henry Ford's invention of the assembly line and seeing famous spoofs by Charlie Chaplin in "Modern Times" and the "I Love Lucy" chocolate factory scene. They then used assembly line production techniques to mass produce Valentine's cards, featuring sentiments written by them. In math, they worked to figure out costs and set sale prices, and practiced cashiering. Finally, the day of the store arrived. The students took shifts in pairs and the store was busy from opening to closing. In the end, they calculated their profit: $152! After research and discussion, the Baseballs Plants have decided to donate to both the ASPCA and Coalition for the Homeless. We hope to make a trip to each place to learn more about what they do and deliver the donations in person. Congratulations to the class on a job well done! On Tuesdays this winter at Asphalt Green, the baseball plants are learning how to play T-ball. They are working on their throwing, catching, batting, and most importantly teamwork skills! The Baseball Plants had the pleasure of participating in an Alvin Ailey workshop at Gillen Brewer. The dancers Arianna and Martell visited our classroom and taught us choreography from the dance pieces Wade in the Water and I've Been 'Buked. (Ask your student to show you a move or two!) The Baseball Plants were also able to visit City Center to watch the Alvin Ailey II production of Breaking Point and Revelations. All of the students were so engaged and respectful during the performance. We even got to meet and take pictures with Arianna after the show! The Baseball Plants brought in their favorite Thanksgiving dishes to help celebrate the season! They also wrote letters of gratitude to someone in their lives who they are thankful for. When our guests arrived, we all sat around a long table and talked about what special food we brought in. Thanks to all who attended and Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Classroom jobs are part of daily life for a Gillen Brewer student, as they work to develop awareness, a sense of community, responsibility, independence and leadership. In this classroom we emphasize leadership, so each day there is a different student leader who has certain privileges and responsibilities. These include leading the Pledge of Allegiance, assisting the teacher, caring for the class pet (a very handsome leopard gecko named Harry Spotter), leading lines and choosing their gym partner first. The student leader is expected to be a role model for others. We wanted to find more opportunities for our students to be at their best, embrace the possibilities that come with being “the big kids”, and be of real service in their school community. Thus the idea of our students being “Bus Monitors” was born. Each day at 1:45, the Student Leader and a classmate of their choosing help the preschoolers walk to their buses. So far, the response has been wonderful: Pre-K students, their teachers and the Baseball Plants themselves all love the new plan. Our students really get to shine and get the recognition they crave and deserve. There are a few pictures below from the first days; we will post more as each student gets their chance at this exciting new job. Check out the truly cool “Bus Monitor” pinnies! After weighing many fascinating options, the class formerly known as “Room 210” voted to become the Baseball Plants. Before spending time on the internet, none of us knew there was such a plant, but once discovered, it was pretty irresistible for many students. The other top contenders were dragon’s blood trees and redwood trees. When the research and discussion were over, each student cast an anonymous ballot. The winner received seven out of ten votes. Although choosing a group name can be challenging, especially for students who really do not identify with the winning name, it does give us a chance to broaden our knowledge on a theme, and to participate in a dynamic group process. Ultimately, as one student said, “We are still who we are,” or as Shakespeare wrote, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” If you have not had the chance yet, the next time you are in the building, please check out our bulletin board in the upstairs hall for details and pictures of our name selection process. |
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April 2018
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