Meet Mr. Flansburg!

Third graders Abbie, Josette, and Willow interviewed Mr. Flansburg.  Here are their questions and his answers:

1. What is your favorite part of the day?

I love what I do all day long but my favorite part of the day is probably when students enter the building because it holds the hope and promise of great things to come.  

2. If you had a different job, what would it be?

It would be fun to be a deep sea fishing guide off the coast of Hawaii or another tropical place.  It would also be fun to lead eco adventures in different parts of the world.  

3. What is your favorite food?

Seafood is my favorite.  It used to be my sister’s taco pizza but she doesn’t really make that anymore.

4. Do you have children?

Yes, I have two daughters.  Lauren is nine years old and Claire is five years old.

5. Where would you like to travel?

I would like to visit tropical spots.  I’ve never been on the big island of Hawaii and I think it would be fun to take a helicopter tour of the volcano there.  

6. What can kids to to help you with your job?

The best thing that kids can do is to show their CARES around the building.  

7. What is your favorite place in Valentine Hills?

My favorite place is definitely the classrooms.  I enjoy visiting all the classrooms here at our school.

8. When you were in school, what was your favorite subject?

I liked history and economics.  I thought I wanted to be a social studies teacher but decided I like elementary aged kids.  

9. What part of the school do you visit most?

I mostly spend time in the classrooms.  I like to see what kids are learning.

And here is a question Mr. Flansburg has for you.  If you would like to answer, please include your teacher’s name and your first name only (NO last names, please.)  Responses will earn a CARES coupon.  

Mr. Flansburg wants to know: What do you like most about Valentine Hills?

Welcome to 2013! It's A Brand New School Year!

Hello and welcome back for another great year of Technology coolness.  This year, our blogs will resume at the end of September.  Once again, if students post (NO last names, please!) to individual blogs, he or she will receive a CARES coupon.   Eventually, students will be helping to create blog posts. In the meantime, here's to getting back in to the routine of school.  It's going to be a fun year together!

This summer I explored the corn fields near my friend's farm in Southern Minnesota.  Careful!  You can get lost easily.

Where Would You Go?

Yes, believe it or not, the picture below is of a real animal.  It is a Portuguese Man of War, a kind of jellyfish that has a nasty sting.  This particular little guy got washed up on shore on Padre Island in Texas.  There are so many things on Padre Island that we do not have in Minnesota - pelicans, jelly fish, ocean, palm trees, dolphins.

For this post, think about a place you would like to visit.  Where would you go?  What would you like to see?  You can take an imaginary trip anyplace in the world.  Then take a moment and post your thoughts here.  And as always, don't forget to leave your first name and teacher's name!

A Portuguese Man of War - Don't get too close!  Ouch!

The Gulf Coast of Mexico in Padre Island, Texas

Well hello again, my technology superstars!  Our blogs are coming your way again and will be posted every other week.  Remember, when you reply, include your teacher's name and your FIRST name. Every time you reply, you will receive a CARES coupon.   Let's start this one off with talking about perspective. 

Perspective is the way that an individual looks at something - whether it is looking at it with your eyes or the way you think about it.  Here are two pictures of the same thing - but taken from two different perspectives.  

This is a very close up picture.  If you were teeny tiny, this is how the wolf would look.  

 This is a picture of the same wolf but taken from a further distance.  If you are human size, this is how the wolf would look.

So now YOU choose something to look at from two different perspectives.  It can be anything - something in your bedroom, a tall building, your little sister.  Describe what the object is and how two different things would "see" that object.  Also, please tell us what is viewing this object.  Is it a human, a flea, an airplane, or something else?  Use your imagination and have fun! 

Internet City!

Hey first and second graders!  Here's another chance for you to share your great thoughts and earn a CARES coupon.

This week in Technology, we have been exploring the internet by taking the Google "bus" and visiting the house of PBS Kids.  Remember that Cursor (friend to Faux Paw, the techno cat) says the internet is like a big city.   We've had some fun exploring the internet city.

Now it's your turn to think about cities and towns.  Let's say that you had a chance to design your own city.  What would your city look like?  Would it have a theme - for instance a "sports" city, a "movie" city, a "book" city, or even a "bubble gum" city?   Would the buildings look like ours now or would they be very different? Perhaps it is a city that is underground, or even in the sky.   Use your imagination and write at least one sentence telling us something interesting about your imaginary city.  Remember to post your FIRST name and your teacher's last name - and have some fun!  :)

A Kaleidoscope Buggy View!

Yup!  This is the way bugs see Ms. Wolf.  Some insects see the world through a "kaleidoscope" lens.  This week, you are taking kaleidoscope pictures in our class.   For this blog post, imagine that you could be as small as a bug for a whole day.  You would be safe (no one would squish you) but you could go places that only bugs can go.  Where would you visit?  The inside of a wall or beneath the floor?  What would you see or hear when you are so small?  Would you travel in a backpack or someone's purse?  Imagine the adventures you could have!

* Please remember when you post to include your teacher's name and your first name so Ms. Wolf knows who to give the CARES coupon to.   Have fun and be creative!

Larry the Lightbulb

Do you remember "Larry" the light bulb?  Well it is your turn to use your imagination and make other things "talk."  Go to your refrigerator and look inside.  Choose one thing; a gallon of milk, ketchup, some leftovers, ice cream in the freezer, whatever!  If this item could talk what would it most want the world to know?  Be creative and have fun!  Please make sure to include your teacher's name and your FIRST name so I know who to give the CARES coupon to.   Remember, technology is about thinking!  :)