Encore Newsletter

About Us:
Art: Mrs. Sara Minnick minnisar@wcps.k12.md.us
www.artwithmrsminnick.weebly.com

Fountaindale Elementary November 2012

Encore is Learning and Fun!

What a great year of learning we are having so far! Your child has had many opportunities to experience the arts through singing, playing, dancing, and creating! Our Enduring Understandings:

Dance: Mrs. Amber Karkan karkaamb@wcps.k12.md.us

Music: Mrs. Jennifer Roberts

www.fountaindalemusic.weebly.com

Music, Dance, and Art are languages for communicating thoughts, feelings and ideas! PE: Be Fit with a Purpose! A Healthy Person has an Active Body and a Mind for Life!
Art:
The tentative arrival of Sqaure1 Art product orders : The week of November 26th.

www.mrsrobertsmusic.com roberjen@wcps.k12.md.us PE: Mr. Patrick Sweeney sweeneype.weebly.com sweenpat@wcps.k12.md.us STEM: Mr. Erick Vreeland vreeleri@wcps.k12.md.us Instrumental Music: Ms. Jenny Jones jonesjen@wcps.k12.md.us

This marking period all grade levels will be focusing on the big idea: Art teaches us about other cultures and time periods as we learn about Native American and Aboriginal art!

Looking Ahead:
Pizazz and Gr. 4 Music and Dance Performance Rock and Roll Forever Nov. 20, 2012, 6:30pm Gr. 5 Band and Strings Concert Dec.12, 2012, 6:00pm Pizazz and Eagle Ensemble Valley Mall Dec. 13, 2012, 7:00pm Jump Rope for Heart Feb. 2012 Gr. 2 Music and Dance Performance Gettin Down with Mama Goose April 2013 Student Art Exhibition April 2013 Gr. 4 and 5 Band/Strings Concert May 2012

Dance:
In the next few months dancers will be looking at rhythm and multicultural dance. We will look at Native American dance, travel around the world, and learn how to move our bodies to match beat and rhythm in music. After all , dance is a way to learn about our world, other cultures, and time periods.

Music:
You can learn more about current events in music class, as well as see photos and student work by checking out the student blog at www.fountaindalemusic.weebly.com Check back regularly for updates from the students. Check out my website www.mrsrobertsmusic.com for exciting music links and information about our music class! Throughout the school year all students are focused on learning these big ideas:
e Variety makes music interesting. e Music is a unique language. e Practice makes us better musicians. e Music has different purposes. e Music allows us to express ourselves. e Music helps us learn about our world, other cultures, and time periods.

PE:
Students in grades K-5 are going to be starting Basketball skills later this month. The focus will be on skills used in the sport of basketball and how they relate with other activities/skills. Grades 2-5 continue to work towards reaching their personal fitness goals and reflect on how everything we do in Physical Education help them reach their goals in the big picture of things.

STEM:
How have students been experiencing STEAM at Fountaindale? In the past few weeks, 5th grade students have continued their study of the Chesapeake Bay by exploring watersheds and how humans impact it. They studied the art of Alexander Hogue and the Dust Bowl to better understand how erosion can affect the environment. After building model watersheds and experiencing runoff and pollution first hand, students researched and designed methods to prevent erosion. In first grade, students have been studying drama and the setting of stories. They are using their measurement skills to design and create believably sized set elements, such as, the backdrop, set pieces, and props.

Instrumental Music:
Fourth graders are really showing progress in their instrument playing! You should be hearing many songs from your beginning instrumentalist. Band parents, be sure to check your students practice journal weekly. Strings parents, continue checking your students book and using it to check your students progress. Fifth graders have learned new techniques and notes on their instruments and are now using them to prepare concert music. You should be able to hear your student practice concert music daily. Band parents, please continue to check your students practice journal. String parents, check your students book. All students are doing great things and we look forward to sharing our hard work at the Winter Concert! COMMUNITY CORNER: Sounds of the Seasons!
Throughout the month of December various music groups from Washington County will be performing at the Valley Mall. While you are out shopping come out and support us! Fountaindale Pizazz and Eagle Ensemble will be performing on Dec. 13 at 7:00 pm!

FREE Tickets!
The Maryland Symphony Orchestra offers FREE tickets for students to all of their masterworks concerts! What a GREAT opportunity! Check out their website (www.marylandsymphony.org ) or call the box office for more information!

Question Starters to Talk to Your Child About the Arts:

About their own work: *How did you create your artwork/composition/dance? What new techniques/skills did you learn? *What made you select those colors, shapes, materials/notes, lyrics/movements? What was your inspiration? *What are you most proud of? Is there anything you are going to work harder on next time? About the work of others: *What was your first impression of this artwork/music/dance and how does it impact you? *What part of the art/music/dance stands out in your mind? *With what personal memory or experience does this art/music/dance connect?