In P.E. this week, Early Childhood students have enjoyed improving their throwing and catching skills using various objects ranging from balloons to volleyballs. Meanwhile, Elementary students are wrapping up their volleyball unit and continue to work on passing, setting, and hitting. Most of these activities have been performed indoors in our gymnasium due to the rain! Ed Whelan and Cheyenne Kibblewhite, P.E. Teachers...
Recently, the third graders worked on a violin still life project in art class. Students are familiar with violins because they are learning to play this beautiful instrument in music class this year. Students rendered the instrument with pencil and pen and then created an abstract watercolor background to convey the sound and feeling of the music made by playing the violin. They turned out beautifully. Susan Walters, Art Teacher...
As part of the Grade 1 social studies curriculum, students learned about national symbols and monuments. One big question that came out of their homeroom discussion was, “Why is the Statue of Liberty green?” In science, we set out to answer that question. We talked about the oxidation process that some metals go through when exposed to certain environmental elements. One of those metals is copper, which the students excitedly shared, “That’s what the Statue of Liberty...
The Gillispie Library serves all students on our campus. Early Childhood students enjoy songs, fingerplays, and activities related to the books they hear during library storytimes. Students in Kindergarten, First, and Second Grades have been listening to a series of books by award-winning author/illustrator Christian Robinson and sharing their responses with partner classes as part of the Global Read-Aloud. Upper elementary students recently learned how to search our Library catalog and how to use Google Book Preview...
Every Elementary cycle, I display an image of a work of art in our art class. These are selected from across a broad spectrum of countries, cultures, artists, media, and time periods. We have a short discussion about what we see, the significance of the artwork, and the connections we can make with our own experiences. Images shown this year include The Great Wave by Hokusai, The Listening Room by Rene Magritte, The Forest by Gustav Klimt,...
Students in Spanish class have been learning about Hispanic Heritage Month. Students learned about Mexico's Independence Day (September 15) by watching videos and making comparisons with 4th of July celebrations. Students are also being taught about different Hispanic celebrities. First graders are learning about Frida Kahlo and her love for nature, while fifth graders are doing a research project about famous Hispanic people in the United States and their contributions to society. Nieves Ruiz, Spanish Teacher ...
To kick off the school year, students designed projects to warm up their hands and brains while remembering the importance of caring for their classroom communities. First and Second graders built mazes, based on a popular project from last year. In teams, they designed, planned, made, tested, and remade these cardboard-and-tape structures following the Design Thinking model, while brushing up their best communication and collaborative skills. Once done, they carefully followed specific directions, limiting how they were allowed...
This holiday celebrates and honors Native American history and culture. There are 18 federally-recognized Indian reservations in San Diego County, more than in any other county in the United States! Click here for 9 Ways to Observe Indigenous Peoples' Day with Children. Click here for more information on the Indigenous Peoples' Celebration at the San Diego Safari Park....
Calling all Gillispie students in Grades 2-5 who wish to showcase their talents in our school-wide talent show. All talents are welcome – musicians, magicians, scientists, gymnasts, mathematicians, visual artists, and anyone else who is interested in presenting at the show. We can't wait for this fun event! ...
This month, students are studying musicians of Latin American or Hispanic heritage for Latin American Heritage Month. Being a Costa Rican-American, this month is particularly special to our Music Teacher Mr. Lewis. Students are learning about Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Selena Quintanilla, and Carlos Santana, to name a few. Did you know that music has many benefits to the brain and to the education of the whole child? Here is what research from National Association for Music...