On Feb. 14, the sixth-grade classes at Clive Elementary School had a poetry coffee shop. Each student was asked to choose a poem to present to the class. The poem was to be memorized and presented with appropriate expression and intonation. Students enjoyed a coffee shop atmosphere by sitting in groups at small tables with table cloths and drinking hot chocolate and treats. This activity reinforced the district’s curriculum of speaking and listening.
Clive has scheduled its 10th fine arts day, Potpourri, on March 11. An all-school assembly will start the day, followed by visits from dance instructors, a jazz singer, African drummers, Carol Taylor’s puppets and more. Every class will have artistic adventures throughout the day.
In an effort to welcome the new students at Crestview, ongoing welcome luncheons are now being scheduled in our media center. The students enjoy getting to know each other, telling stories and reciting their favorite poems.
Chris Bergman’s fifth-grade class at Crestview Elementary went outside to enjoy some winter activities. As part of a team-building exercise, the class pulled together to create a snow fort, despite powdery snow conditions. Afterward, students enjoyed hot cocoa with whipped cream.
The fifth-grade students have been deeply involved with replicating colonial town storefronts in social studies class. This annual event always is a favorite of the children. This activity culminates the colonial America unit that the students have been studying since November. The students choose a trade that they are interested in such as a blacksmith, milliner, apothecary, general store and others. Their challenge is to create a storefront that represents their trade. Each storefront features a window that “townspeople” can use to “window shop” for items found in that particular business. This colonial village will be displayed in the hallway nearest to the nurse’s office.
Our students have been learning to write “how-to” pieces using the weather for inspiration. The first pieces students chose to write told readers how to make snowmen. Students discussed their experiences playing in the snow, creating snowmen and discovering how many steps it actually takes to get this job accomplished. Students learned lessons in organization and sequencing. Each student developed his or her own, unique way to make a snowman and enjoyed reading his or her final writing piece to classmates. Now, we are anxiously awaiting the next big snowfall to put their ideas to the test.

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