ELECTION DAY!

One Magic Classroom Elections

Ella wants to know if you're ready for the greatest 3rd grade speeches of all time.  Well...are you?

If you've listened to the news at all over the past several months, we can agree on one thing - there's been far too much negativity going around.  We here at One Magic Classroom are determined to send some positive kid vibes your way, and I'm confident we will.  These kids may only be in third grade, but they've got a lot of important things to say.

"We will work together to completely stop bullying."

-Haydan

We spent several days discussing what makes an effective speech.  These students sure know how to PERSUADE their audience, and speeches alone were simply not enough.  They made campaign t-shirts, posters, cards, and last but not least "educational candy bags" (as I call them...ha).  

Check out some of the persuasive tactics our candidates used below.

Posters!

Slogans!

"Ella is FREEZING COOL!"

Campaign "Goody-bags" complete with Post-it notes and a pen to write your "needs" and "wants" on.  There's one word for that: C-L-E-V-E-R

[Not pictured: sugar packets (Bella), fruit snacks (Larissa), suckers (Lily), Cole (pencils)]

Before we get ahead of ourselves in a campaigning frenzy, let's go over some very important voting rules:

• Voters must be U.S. citizens.
• Voters must be eighteen years or older (unless you are voting for 3rd grade class president).
• Voters must register to vote in the state that they reside in (see definition below).  

For 3rd grade elections, our simple handmade "Voter Identification Card" will work just fine.

I'm told "BRICKS AND IVY" is Cubs terminology.  

I don't know sports related facts or terminology, my 3rd graders teach it to me.

Kaden can hardly wait...to vote for HIMSELF (just kidding).

A self-portrait says SO much about our voters.

Anyone notice Gracie's election themed nail polish?

HEY KIDS!  Any chance you can hold up some really important terminology cards?

(Thanks).

• Register: a prerequisite to voting, in which you sign up ahead of time to legally place your vote
• Campaign:  people working together to achieve a common goal (i.e. elect a given candidate)
• Ballot:  a process of voting, typically in writing and in SECRET.

Where does the secret "ballot" process take place?

At the SECRET Reading Fort!

I VOTED!

We cannot forget to share with the world our civic duty of voting, so wear your sticker proudly and shout to the world "I VOTED and I'm proud of it!"

MEET OUR CLASS PRESIDENTS!

Vice President Z. Tierney (pictured left) and President H. Dutler (pictured right).
Yes, I told them to do a presidential pose.

On a serious note.  I really do hope each and every one of you go out and vote tomorrow.  I don't care to hear your negative rants (this late in the game), just go place your SECRET ballot and wear your sticker proudly.  

In honor of Cole's cardigan, I've got to end this blog post with a Mr. Rogers quote:

I have always wanted to have a neighbor just like you,
I've always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you.

So let's make the most of this beautiful day,
Since we're together, we might as well say,
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?
Won't you please, be my neighbor?

                      -Fred Rogers

Let's all learn from Fred this year and be NEIGHBORLY, no matter who we vote for, or who ends up being president...TOMORROW!

MEDIEVAL TIMES

MEDIEVAL TIMES!

The Case of the Missing Crown:
a One Magic Classroom Production

Yeah, this is cute.  I know.

Whether you're seven or seventy-seven years old, you've probably dreamed of being a king or queen  of the manor (castle) at some point.  I recently visited Medieval Times in Chicago with other adult "nerds" who wanted an excuse to dress in robes and eat with their hands.  Not only did I purchase a seventeen dollar light-up wand, but I also got a photo with "FALCON MAN".  This little experience left me in a magical "la-la-Lily-land" of sorts, and inspired me to write a play for my students.

Download your own copy of "The Case of the Missing Crown" for free here! 

Introducing: The One Magic Medieval Royalty.  They may look friendly, but they will take everything you own if you mess with them. 

The Medieval Period took place more than 500 years ago in Europe, 476 (AD or CE) - 1500 to be exact.  Truth be told, life was NOT easy for the majority of those who lived in "Medieval Times".  Unless you were among the 10% who were knights, nobles, or clergy-- life was a bit like one long detention, full of hard labor on someone else's land.  If you were really unlucky, you may have ended up being a "gong farmer", which means you cleaned the toilets out at night.  (For kids who complain about everything…Take that!)

The King and Queen of One Magic Castle.

Speaking of royalty, let's talk about the social order during the Middle Ages (from highest to lowest ranking):

• King, Queen and Clergy (i.e. high ranking members of the church like Cardinals and Bishops)
• Nobles and Lords - Land owners who usually lived in castles
• Knights and Vassals - (vassals got land from Lords by doing work for them)
• Commoners - peasants or serfs who worked the land but never owned it

Can you tell these two are "entertainers" of the castle?  

A magician to your left and troubadour to your right.

Troubadours were medieval lyric poets.  They often sang or recited love poems.  Our troubadour Keoki even made a free-style dance to go with his poem. 

  

We also roll played a few other characters from the Middle Ages:

 

These four castle workers mean business.  The positions from left to right:

• Scribe - before printers, there were real people called scribes who made copies by hand.  Josh (above left) is not only a professional copyist, but a newly appointed knight.
• Grand Master - commander in chief of the medieval military (dang, those are big boots to fill!).
• Artillator - Medieval bow and arrow maker (master archery dude).
• Master of the Horse - Head horse trainer (before fast cars and jet planes).

The Gutierrez "Coat of Arms".  I highly recommend this as a means for locker identification in elementary or high school.

The coat of arms is a unique pictorial design that identifies families.  Each design has specific colors and symbols, which have different meanings.  For example GREEN (yes, my favorite color) represents hope, joy, and loyalty in love.  Important stuff.

I hope you enjoyed pretending with us today.  I'll end with with the greatest note ever written.  Thanks Audri.

At the AUCTION!

Ladies and gentleman, start your bidding….NOW!

Kid Picker Auctions INC. introduces you to the first ever One Magic Classroom AUCTION, with your host: Wyatt the Wrangler.

Wyatt getting ready for the first item up for bidding (a set of vintage Genesis records).

I collect everything.  I have thirteen vintage bicycles, four banjos, six guitars, twelve lanterns….you get the point.  I pretty much like stuff I don't need and have a very hard time passing any "Yard Sale" or "Auction" sign without stopping.  I've grown up amongst clutter and eccentric collectors my entire life (being raised in my father's antique store), so you could say it's literally in my blood.  Hands-down some of the best memories I had as a kid, were attending auctions with my family.  

Now this was a hot item.  My favorite childhood book (Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark) AND a creepy doll.  A great gift for anyone who loves camping or sleepovers.

(CLICK below for the LIVE AUCTION VIDEO)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xEP9P9V7r8&feature=youtu.be

So what's all this junk collecting have to do with your class Ms. Sprengelmeyer?

Everything.

You see, money management is a part of life.  You'll be handed plenty of money in your lifetime, the choice is yours what you are to do with it.  And what better way to bribe children into behaving like angels all day, than with "GOOD BEHAVIOR DOLLARS"?   That's right, when you make good choices you earn dollars to be spent at an auction; consequently when you make bad choices, you lose money (and yes, even go in DEBT).  We'll talk more about that later, but for now let's take a look at some really happy kids and discuss some important FINANCIAL terminology you'll use for the rest of your life.

Josh Skywalker is happy to receive some "bling" for his good choices.

And so is Audri.

And Kendra.

FINANCIAL LITERACY 101

Deposit:  When you ADD (or put) money into your account.

Withdrawal:  When you SUBTRACT (or take away) money from your account.

Interest:  The money your account earns for simply just sitting there for an extended time!  Unless you are borrowing money, in which case you will be charged interest (i.e. you will pay more).

DEBT:  This one isn't very fun kids.  If you make lots of "poor behavior choices" in One Magic Classroom (or life in general) you will OWE more money than you currently have.  And when you're offered a credit card in shiny envelope (with high interest) just say "NO"!

I'd like to end my blog post, with a few really cute pictures of kids in my class carrying one of the things I collect (LANTERNS).

Riley is guiding us out of the darkness.

And these kids are just messing around.  Put your name on the board.  All three of you!

It's a hard thing to write something that makes you want to laugh and cry at the same time.  I often think some of the best songs ever written take me on a roller-coaster ride of emotions.  I'll end with this.

The Little Boy and the Old Man

Said the little boy, "Sometimes I drop my spoon."
Said the old man, "I do that too."
The little boy whispered, "I wet my pants."
"I do that too," laughed the little old man.
Said the little boy, "I often cry."
The old man nodded, "So do I."
"But worst of all," said the boy, "it seems
Grown-ups don't pay attention to me."
And he felt the warmth of a wrinkled old hand.
"I know what you mean," said the little old man.

                                         -Shel Silverstein