Did you know all FCPS students have a public library card (unless you opt out)? Check out these books to read aloud with your student online or in person. You can even listen to an audiobook together using the Libby App on your device! Students also have access to FCPS digital library using their Google sign on.

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

Receive a free book every month for every child ages 5 and under! Register here.

Mindfulness In mindfulness, we are learning about empathy and how empathy leads to compassion. Compassion is defined as seeing someone in need, caring about their feelings, and doing something to show that person that you care. Students have been participating in role-play activities to better understand what it looks and sounds like to show empathy and compassion to others. Role-play also helps students prepare for real-life situations that may indicate a need for empathy and compassion.

Art Kindergarteners and 1st graders have been learning about weaving, the elements of art and how we can use art to express ourselves. We've also been traveling around the world in the Art room with 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th graders. Some of the types of art and cultures we've looked at are Chinese Blue and White Pottery, decor from Día de los Muertos celebrations, African masks and sculptures, and tile designs and architecture from countries in the Middle East. Soon we'll use what we've learned to make our art work for the schoolwide Art Show at Lansdowne's Multicultural Night on March 16th! Mark it on your calendars!

STEAM Students have been hard at work this month in the STEAM LAB conducting investigations and creating physical models to solve real-world problems. Listed below are the units and learning targets for your child’s grade-level:

• Kindergarten: Weather and Climate: Students use and share observations of local weather conditions to describe patterns over time.
• First Grade: Light and Sound: Students use tools and materials to design and build a device that uses light to communicate over a distance. Space Systems: Students use information of the sun, moon, and stars to describe patterns that can be predicted.
• Second Grade: Earth’s Systems: Students make observations that Earth events occur quickly or slowly.

• Third Grade: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems: Students construct an argument that some animals form groups that help members survive.
• Fourth Grade: Processes that Shape the Earth: Students generate multiple solutions to reduce the impacts of natural Earth processes on humans.
• Fifth Grade: Earth’s Systems: Students develop a model to describe ways the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere interact.

Music Kindergarten and 1st grade students are working together to get their spring concert performance ready for you! We will be singing four songs as part of our concert on Thursday April 20th. The school performance will be the morning of the 20th, and the evening performance for parents will be at 6:00pm that evening along with our band and orchestra students. Students should return back to school at 5:30. More information will be coming home this month.

2nd/3rd grade students have also been working on their concert songs. We look forward to seeing you on Thursday March 16th to celebrate our multicultural night at Lansdowne! All 2nd/3rd grade students should return to school that evening at 5:30. The concert will begin at 6:00pm.

4th and 5th grade music students spent some time learning how to read notes on the treble clef staff in order to start preparing to play on the recorders. Each student has their own recorder for the next 5 weeks. We are learning to play notes B, A, and G, along with 5 different levels of songs!

*The 4th and 5th grade orchestra and band concert will be on Thursday April 20th at 6:00pm.

PE Good Morning, Afternoon or Evening Lansdowne Families.

Right now the students should know the 3 movement concepts (Locomotor, Non-Locomotor & Manipulatives). Kinder should be able to name at least two from each list. Though I have some first graders who can name all 3 concepts and provide up to 4 examples. Manipulatives are the concept of focus currently. 4th & 5th are working on pickle ball, 2nd & 3rd have been doing scoops—tossing for distance, to a target and to catch. Two scoops and a cone—call it ice cream. All the equipment we need. Kindergarten and 1st grades have been tossing anything we can get our hands on—bean bags, yarn ball, kickball, tennis ball and now working on hitting targets. Simple toss and catch activities are perfect at home involvement ideas to engage with your child. We toss keys, socks, popcorn, pillows and Pennie’s at our house. Teach them how to flip a quarter while you’re at it. Collect as many as you can and add it. Enjoy your time together.

Actively,

Mr. Brass

Library (K & 1) We are reading through the 10 books nominated for the Kentucky Bluegrass Awards (KBA) so we can vote for our favorite at the end of the month. In March, we will read Redilocks, Change Sings, The Day We Learned to Fly, and The Elephants Came Home. First grade works on research skills, writing, and collaboration in activities based on these books.