Where do children and teachers spend several hours each day?
In school of course, and that's our "special place" to share with you in this project.

H. W. Mountz Elementary School

We wrote an "important poem" about our school and an acrostic poem about our classroom.

The children randomly selected a part of the school to write about. These contributions were used in our collaborative poem based on the format found in Margaret Wise Brown's, The Important Book. 

Computer Lab

Gym

Several children were familiar with Goodnight Moon so they were prepared for another great story.

Once again, Brown's book enchanted students hearing her words for the first time.  It took a bit of discussion to agree on the most important thing about our  school, but that interaction makes a collaborative literacy activity such a good learning experience for children.

Library Swamp

Playground

H. W. Mountz School

The important thing about our school is that it's
the place where we come to learn.
Our school is red and it has 3 floors.
We have Kindergarten to 8th grade classes.
In our classroom we learn about reading, math, science, new places, maps,
and using the computer.
We also learn about sharing, taking turns, and
being a good friend.
The school office is the place where you drop off
the attendance card.
Mr. Palmer, our principal, works there.
Our school nurse helps when we are hurt or get sick.
In the Art room we get to make scarecrows, snakes,
and pictures of the ocean.
In the Music room, there's music on and you
play games and instruments.
We learn how to speak Spanish and play games
in the Spanish room.
We pick out books at Library and sometimes
use the computers.
We have our own computers to use in the computer lab and
we learn how to use them.
We read in the Library Swamp and sit on big, soft cushions.
In the lunchroom we eat and talk.
In Gym we play games like basketball.  Gym is fun!
The playground is good because you get to play tag.
We like to play soccer on the field.
But the important thing about our school is that it's
the place where we come to learn!

Acrostic Poetry

The children were introduced to this poetry form by listening to selections about fall and from Autumn : An Alphabet Acrostic by Steven Schnur.

Each student wrote their own Name Poem using this form.  Finally, we wrote an acrostic for our classrom, Room 104.

The acrostic form is effective for all age and skill levels, as we can see from so many different classes contributing to the "Oh, The Places We'll Go"  project.

    

Room 104
Mrs. McGowan's First Grade

Our Other Special Places!

~More About Spring Lake, NJ~

~ Our Class Website ~

~ Our Town Is Important ~

~ Name Poems ~

~ Fall Poetry Project 2000~

This project is in alignment with the following standards:

New Jersey Core Curriculum Standards

Language and Literacy
3.2 listen actively in a variety of situations to information from a variety of sources.
3.3 write in clear, concise, organized language that varies in content and form for different audiences and purposes.
3.4 read various materials and texts with comprehension and critical analysis.
3.5 view, understand, and use nontextual visual information.

Social Studies
6.7  acquire geographical understanding by studying the world in spatial terms.

National Educational Technology Standards for Students. (NETS)

Use technology communications tools:
Students use telecommunications to collaborate, publish, interact with peers, experts, and other audiences.

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