Pumpkin Explorations

Yesterday we walked to Safeway to get our pumpkins!  Walking there and back, we earned those pumpkins and had some fun on the way!  Then we had a whole afternoon of pumpkin investigation: we measured, counted, drew, wrote - all about pumpkins!  The only thing we didn't do is eat pumpkin - if you get the chance in the next week try making a pumpkin pie:

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 large eggs
• 1 can (15 oz.) Pumpkin
• 1 can (12 fl. oz.) Evaporated Milk
• 1 unbaked 9-inch (4-cup volume) deep-dish pie shell
• Whipped cream (optional)

MIX sugar, cinnamon, salt, ginger and cloves in small bowl. Beat eggs in large bowl. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Gradually stir in evaporated milk.


POUR into pie shell.


BAKE in preheated 425° F oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350° F; bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 2 hours. Serve immediately or refrigerate. Top with whipped cream before serving.

Enjoy!  And let me know how it comes out!

Rise and Shine!!

We have started learning the rest of the lyrics to "Rise and Shine:"

Rise and shine
And give God the glory, glory
Rise and shine
And give God the glory, glory
Rise and shine
And give God the glory, glory
Children of the world.

The Lord said to Noah:
There's gonna be a floody, floody
The Lord said to Noah:
There's gonna be a floody, floody
Get those children out of the muddy, muddy
Children of the world.

So Noah
He built him, he built him an arky, arky
Noah
He built him, he built him an arky, arky
Built it out of hickory barky, barky
Children of the world.

Ms. Lucchese's Wish List

I have thought long and hard about a few items that might improve our classroom and came up with this list.  In school this week we found a "fairy," one of those fluffy seed pods, and the students and I all thought of a wish before I blew it off into the wind.  These are just a few of my more tangible wishes, listed from the most lofty to the most realistic:


1.  A document camera, like this


2. A big book holder, like this


3. A solid tape player


4. Hula hoops
*Donated by the White Family - thank you!


5. An Etch-A-Sketch


6. White Board Markers
*Donated by the Huerta Family - thank you!


I was so humbled when this was suggested at Back to School Night, just knowing that First Grade has such a supportive group of parents makes my wishes come true. Thank you!

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

We have started reading The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and are loving it!  Dorothy has met the Witch of the North (the good witch), and she and Toto have headed off on the road of yellow brick to find the Wizard of Oz.  She has just met the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion.  When we finish the book we'll watch the movie to compare.  Turns out, in the book Dorothy has silver shoes instead of red ones!!