Almost the End!

It is hard to believe that another school year is almost at an end. Phoebe has done so much in fifth grade!

In the Fall, her class studied the Civil War and took on the role of a Union or Confederate soldier. She and her friend Eesha did a concentrated study of women during the Civil War. They also dressed in historical garb for Civil War-era photos and wrote letters home based on their characters. Phoebe's is below.

After the Civil War came the Biography project. Phoebe chose to study Amelia Earhart, and the class put on a Wax Museum where everyone dressed as their person and gave talks about his or her life. All the lower grades also come to visit, so it is quite the event.

The 5/6 class also studied Immigration, and, as part of that, they did interviews of relatives and residents of a local nursing home to learn about what life was like "back when." Phoebe chose her Gramie/my mom for her relative interview, and I think they both enjoyed the experience.

Each class puts on a play, and the 5/6 one was Hatshepsut, Queen of Denial. Phoebe had a couple of roles as part of the production. As part of their prep, the class went to see the mummies at the Albany History Museum.

At the museum

Phoebe as a "Grumpy Egyptian"--with Juliet as Hatshepsut

Egyptian line dancing--Phoebe over to the right

Last week, the entire school had a show at the Troy Arts Center. All grades had art on display, two of the lower classes put on their plays, and the Taylor School Singers, which Phoebe is part of, performed. The singers also made a trip to a nursing home around Valentine's Day to sing for the residents. Each year the classes make quilts to auction off at the annual fundraiser, and all the students make a section.

Phoebe's square for her class's quilt--the panel in the center

One of her pieces from the school art show

Right now, the 5/6 class is finishing their Country Studies. Each class chooses one country to study, but the 5/6 students also choose a country for an individual study. Phoebe chose Wales for her independent study, and the class country was Ukraine, and they had foods, made painted eggs, and then did presentations on different aspects of the culture. Phoebe and her friend August presented on the Pysanky Eggs. Below is a photo of all the eggs made by her class--Phoebe's is the purple one in the top right.

Right now, Phoebe's class is learning about solar energy, and they are getting ready for their class overnight to Camp Chingacook, which is up near Lake George. Phoebe is really excited to go!

After school, Phoebe is in Chess Club and taking piano lessons again. She is still taking dance classes as well, but that is not affiliated with school.

I am sure I am missing tons of things she did in school so far this year--and the year isn't over yet! She has a variety of camps lined up for the summer: ceramics, computer game design, stained glass, Harry Potter, and two weeks of GirlSummer at Emma Willard.

We are still reading loads of books, of course. She recently finished Freaky Friday, and we are reading The Dark is Rising and The Cat Who Went to Paris together. We are almost done with both of those, and then we will be reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince this summer. She read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian, from the Chronicles of Narnia, because I was teaching them, and she came to class during her April vacation to participate in the discussion. She gave the college students a run for their money!

For her further geekification, we have finished the Star Wars saga as it currently stands, and watched Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade this past weekend.We also watched the film versions of the Narnia books she read.

It is no wonder Phoebe sleeps well at night!