C.A.M.P. Van Nimwegen

Welcome

Hello, and welcome to Murdock Elementary School.  My name is Tasha Van Nimwegen and I have been an educator since 1991.  Most of my years have been spent in the intermediate grades, mainly fourth and fifth.  I love teaching and helping students discover new concepts.

My goal as an educator is to develop strong thinking skills and a lifelong passion for reading and learning.  I also stress the importance of the lifeskills of responsibility and organization.

The goal of this blog is to give you a better understanding of my expectations for my students as well as resources to help them achieve their personal best.

Healthy Snack Contest

Dear Murdock Families,

 

You are invited to help your child participate in our school wide health challenge! Studies have shown that there is a strong relationship between sugar consumption and obesity. In order to promote healthy eating awareness, Murdock is having a contest based on the snacks that the children bring to eat each day. Your child will write on a class recording sheet their snack name and the number of sugar grams the snack has. In order to help your child, if the snack they are bringing is not prepackaged with a nutritional label, please write the amount of sugar that the snack contains either on the container or baggy or on a slip of paper.

The contest will last for two weeks. The first week, beginning Tuesday, January 17^th, is a trial week to give children and their families an opportunity to learn and discuss healthy snack choices. The second week is the week that counts! Each day classes will report the average amount of sugar consumed for class snacks. The classes that keep their sugar values within the healthy snack range will receive an extra outdoor recess time. The teachers of the top 3 classes that keep their sugar values the lowest will receive a monetary reward to use in their classrooms!

 

http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/

 

“"0”"

during the contest?

We appreciate your support with helping our future leaders be healthy leaders!

 

 

More about Food Groups: SWEETS

 

What is Sugar?

 

 

How Sugar Affects our Body

Sugar Addiction:

Degenerative Diseases:

Over consumption of refined sugar can upset the balance of calcium and phosphorus in our bodies, which leads to such degenerative diseases as kidney stones, arthritis, hardening of the arteries, cataracts and plaque on the teeth.

Decreased Immune System:

Refined sugar can reduce the ability of white blood cells to kill germs. The immune-suppressing effect of sugar starts less than thirty minutes after ingestion and may last for five hours.

Decreased Ability to Learn:

Various studies have shown that some children and adults have a more difficult time learning and paying attention after eating excessive amounts of refined sugar.

Energy high and lows:

The result of simple sugars being absorbed so quickly into our blood stream is a powerful surge of insulin (energy) followed by a quick drop in blood sugar levels (fatigue).

Mood Swings:

The quick ups and downs of blood sugar levels can cause some people to experience mood swings.

Empty Calories:

Refined sugar has been stripped of the vitamins, minerals, enzymes and fiber that nature needs for proper digestion. Therefore, the body needs to use the body's stored nutrients in order to metabolize refined sugar. The depletion of these stored nutrients puts stress on the body. That is why sugar is referred to as "empty calories" and is possibly worse than eating nothing at all. The body knows very well how to maintain a perfect balance of glucose unless it is presented with unnatural amounts. Therefore addiction to sucrose or white table sugar occurs when the normal mechanisms that allows your body to produce glucose from complex carbohydrates, proteins and fats, shuts down due to a steady diet of simple sugars. Thus your body becomes dependent on outside sources of glucose, which is usually sucrose or white table sugar.

Identifying Sugar in Foods

Food labels list sugar quantities in grams: 4 grams of sugar = 1 tsp. It is very important to pay attention to the serving size when analyzing sugar content of foods

Sweet Snacks with NO added sugar

Dried Fruits Fresh Fruits Berries Unsweetened Apple Sauce
Sweet Potatoes Red Peppers Carrots Beets

 

This is the common term used to describe the sweet carbohydrate (sucrose) found in every fruit and vegetable. In our body, sucrose is then broken down into two simple carbohydrates called glucose and fructose. Glucose is the major source of energy for the muscles and nervous tissue of the body. We can produce all the glucose the brain needs by digesting whole natural unprocessed foods.

 

Natural sugars

found in fruits and whole grains, are accompanied by vitamins, minerals, enzymes and fiber. These foods break down slowly into small units of glucose that enter the bloodstream through the small intestine where they are burned gradually as the body requires energy.

Refined sugars

have been stripped of all the vitamins, minerals, enzymes and fiber that's needed for proper digestion. This glucose, not accompanied by nutrients, gets directly digested. However, not realizing that this glucose has already been digested, our pancreas secretes insulin to metabolize the glucose. This results in an immediate energy boost, which is then followed by a drop in energy and fatigue. By over-consuming sucrose, you eventually lose the ability to metabolize sugar and keep it in a healthy range within the cells. A normal blood sugar and normal glucose tolerance test, simply means that your pancreas is still healthy enough to shunt a large load of sugar to inside cells. It is within the cells themselves where the sugar does its damage. Dr. John Yudkin of Queens College states that, "All human nutritional needs can be met in full without having to take a single spoonful of white, brown or raw sugar."

 

 

Standard: Consuming more water, fruits, vegetables grains and calcium-rich foods

 

 

 

At last, we have made it to America!!

What a fabulous day we had at our Ellis Island simulation!!  Everyone did a wonderful job, knew the information, and played the role beautifully.  We all made it through except for poor Hankelene Varsa.  Doughnuts were enjoyed by all.  Thanks for your support with this project and sending in the delicious goodies for us to enjoy after the simulation.  I am attaching pictures for you to enjoy.  I tried to get all of the students.

Ellis Island Simulation

 

Parents,

This year the 5th graders are going to participate in a simulation of the experience that an immigrant would have had arriving at Ellis Island at the turn of the century. Your child has been given the identity of either an immigrant arriving at Ellis Island in 1900 or an Ellis Island processor who came to America as an immigrant 20 years earlier.  In order to make the simulation a productive and enjoyable learning experience for all, we are asking that for homework your child should work with you to research and learn about where his/her identity came from, why he/she emigrated, about his/her personal beliefs, and personality.  The students may also want to try to learn a few words in the immigrant's native language! 

On Friday, December 16th, the students will participate in the simulation of arriving and going through Ellis Island.  Each child has been given a handbook describing this day and his or her individual responsibilities that you may also want to read.  Each immigrant will have a checklist that he or she will carry through Ellis Island and is filled out at each check point by a processor.  Who will earn enough points to remain in the New World?  Who will have to return to their homeland? We will find out on the 16th.  On that day, students will be expected to dress as their immigrant or processor role.  Costumes/props should be brought to school in a bag, and the students will change after specials. Immigrants should also bring their name tag, and processors should bring their desk plate.  Instructions on how to make these will be given in class.  We are also asking that students bring in a food item from their role's country of origin.  This should be an hors d'oeuvre type of food that can be brought to school in the morning, kept in the classroom, and served easily after lunch.  The food is not a requirement, but the more people who participate, the bigger the feast! 

Thank you for your help in making this learning activity a success. Please note: This is a student activity in a small area of the school, therefore parents cannot attend. 

Information on Ellis Island and Holiday Stores

Your children have listed "Ellis Island Role" and "Holiday Stores" in their planners as part of their homework. They will be listed each day. This will remind them that they need to prepare for both Ellis Island on the 16th, and the 5th Grade's Holiday Stores on the 21st.

To prepare for Ellis Island the students should:

1. Become familiar with their role as described on the slips of paper listing the "open" and "closed" information.

2. Be able to find their country of origin on a map.

3. Assemble a costume/props.

4. Learn a few useful words in the language of their native country that can be used to answer the questions they will be asked.

5. Plan a food item to bring in (optional).

6. Create their name tag (immigrants) or desk plate (processors).

7. Practice answering the questions at each station (these are listed in the student packet). Immigrants should use several words to answer each question. Only two of the words may be in English. Try not to use just "yes or no" answers.

Processors should practice asking the questions at their station and awarding points based on answers.

The following information is about the 5th Grade Holiday Stores. It is also posted on the class blog. This year 5th graders will have a holiday activity that is fun for anyone who likes to go shopping!

The students have to create 20 products to bring in on Wednesday, December 21st. If working with a partner, the pair must create 40 products (20 each). They can also bring things to make their store more popular with the holiday shoppers! These items could include store name signs, table coverings, etc.

Each child will have an opportunity to shop at other stores as well as sell the product they created. They will be given a holiday "debit card" with 20 "dollars" to use for purchases at their peer's stores. Therefore, each child will receive 20 different products to replace the ones he/she created. We ask that each child also bring in a bag (plastic grocery is perfect) in which to put their purchases.

Thank you for supporting your child with these activities.

Experience Marietta Civil War History

Saturday, November 12, 2011 Experience Marietta Civil War History 11:00am- 4:00pm   Tickets: $25 for 1 adult plus 1 child, $5 each additional child   Tickets include entry and activity at Root House Museum and Garden, Marietta Gone with the Wind Museum, Marietta Museum of History, and Marietta Cobb Museum of Art Contact program.coordinator@cobblandmarks.com for more information.   Visit Cobb Landmarks' website

Information for Science Fair

It's not too early to start thinking about the Science Fair.   Here are some interesting videos with ideas for possible topics.  More information to come at a later date.

http://www.brainpopjr.com/science/scienceskills/scienceprojects/

The Book Fair is Coming 11/11-11/18

Join us for an OUT OF THIS WORLD Book Fair! 

Grand Opening ~ Friday, 11/11, 5:30-7:30 pm. 

Family Fun Night ~ Tuesday, 11/15, 5:30-7:30pm.

Open Daily ~ 11/14 - 11/17, 7:30am-4pm and 11/18, 7:30 - 12:00.

Great books!  Great gifts!  Great fun! 

Check out the details and see the Intergalactic Previews!

Wow! What a week!

As you can probably imagine, we have had a busy week at CAMP Van Nimwegen!!  The students have worked so hard and I know you can tell.  Their performance last night was spectacular!  Thanks for making sure everyone was fed, on time, and appropriately dressed.  I appreciate it! 

While I rarely give tests on a Monday, this next week, I fear I must.  We will be testing Chapter 7 in social studies.  I will e-mail you a copy of the study guide with answers.  The students will know most of it, but will need to review the section on Indian Wars.

Because our week was so busy, I  have decided to push the book report due date to Friday, November 11.  Your child will still have an opportunity to work on it in class.

As always, thanks for all that you do.  Pioneers is drawing close to ending and then we will become immigrants and experience Ellis Island.  I have some fun ideas in store for WW I and WW 2.  Hopefully, we'll keep them engaged.

Informational Book Report

Each student has been asked to read a book in the genre of information.  Upon completion of the book, the student will make a board game depicting the important facts of the book.  Requirements of the game are:

 

1. Must be on poster board of at least 12 x 18 inches
2. Must have the book title and author on the game board
3. Must have the creator’s name on game board
4. Must include spaces for at least 15 facts
5. May contain chance cards
6. Must use a die to move markers (Die and markers are provided.)
7. Must contain at least 20 spaces
8. May contain empty spaces

The students have been shown examples in class.  They must have their books approved by me.  All books must be chosen by Friday, October 21, 2011.  Game board book reports are due on Wednesday, November 9, 2011.  This is a major grade for reading and language arts.  For each day that it is late, five points will be deducted from the final grade and recess will be missed.  Time will be given in class to work on the game, however it will need to be completed at home.  I will answer any questions that may come up between now and the due date.  Students will be given free reading opportunities the first week of November.  They may choose to read their informational book at this time.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. 

Happy Autumn

What a wonderful time to be teaching!!  We are having so much fun at C.A.M.P. Van Nimwegen this month.  We are in the midst of the Hacker Trail and what funny decisions the students have made.  We have had a group rob a bank, unsuccessfully, and become injured.  We have had a group trade peacefully with the Native Americans and earn friendship, supplies, and energy.  We also have three groups on the Burial Grounds Trail.  Oh, I can't wait until Monday for the fates to arrive!!! 

Thanks to all of you who have already conferenced.  I have enjoyed talking with each of you about your child.  Thank you for your promptness and flexibility!  If you are cleaning out over the weekend, I could use some new items for the guessing jar.  Please remember to count them and enclose the number for me. 

I have also posted on the blog information about our first book report.  I am also talking about it at conference time.  Let me know if you have any questions.  Just a reminder that dismissal next week is at 12:25 pm daily because of early release.  Our lunch time 10:12-10:37 if you care to join us.  If your child chooses to make food for Pioneer Challenge projects, please make sure to send in enough for 26 people (bite only) and plates/utensils.  I have talked with the students about this. 

Thanks for all that you do!!