Article posted April 5, 2013 at 04:05 PM GMT-5 •
comment (1) • Reads 7977
This is our fourth Roald Dahl video, James and the Giant Peach. All your favorite characters are here; James, Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker, the old green grasshopper, the worm, Ladybug, the spider and the caterpillar. There are also 502 seagulls, sharks, the Empire State Building and even the rhinoceros!
Be sure to scroll down and check out our other videos; The BFG, Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Article posted April 5, 2013 at 04:05 PM GMT-5 •
comment (1) • Reads 7977
Article posted February 28, 2013 at 04:21 PM GMT-5 •
comment • Reads 6837
This is our third Dr. Seuss stop-motion animation. We made The Cat in the Hat as part our Read Across America day in celebration of the birthday of Dr. Seuss. You probably should not watch this when your mother is out. If you like it, check out our other two movies, Horton Hatches the Egg and And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street.
Article posted February 28, 2013 at 04:21 PM GMT-5 •
comment • Reads 6837
Article posted February 6, 2013 at 07:59 AM GMT-5 •
comment • Reads 5085
This song was made popular by The New Seekers in the 1970s as a Coca Cola television commercial. Today the Brainwaves sing their version of "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (in Perfect Harmony) in honor of the birthday of Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The picture of the Earth on their shirts was taken by Apollo astronauts from the moon.
Article posted February 6, 2013 at 07:59 AM GMT-5 •
comment • Reads 5085
Article posted January 29, 2013 at 09:34 PM GMT-5 •
comment (1) • Reads 1868
March 2 is the birthday of Dr. Seuss. This is our second video in his honor. Check out our other video, "And to Think I Saw it on Mulberry Street."
Horton is the story of friendship and keeping one's word. "I said what I meant and I meant what I said. An elephant's faithful 100%".
We hope you enjoy this video one hundred per cent!
Article posted January 29, 2013 at 09:34 PM GMT-5 •
comment (1) • Reads 1868
Article posted January 20, 2013 at 08:09 AM GMT-5 •
comment • Reads 2825
Here they are, all your favorites; Harry, Ron, Herminone, Hagrid and Dumbledore. There's even a three-headed dog, a dragon and a troll!
This stop-motion animation was made by the Brainwaves. We are second graders. As our teacher read the book aloud, we made a flow chart. Next, we wrote a script. Several students recorded the words, (the narrators). Some of us made the pictures, (the illustrators), others moved them and took the pictures, (the animators).
Article posted January 20, 2013 at 08:09 AM GMT-5 •
comment • Reads 2825
Article posted November 15, 2012 at 05:51 PM GMT-5 •
comment (4) • Reads 19542
How to Eat Fried Worms, written by Thomas Rockwell, was first published in 1973. It is number 96 on the American Library Association list of most commonly challenged books, 1990-2000. Rockwell is the son of American artist Norman Rockwell. According to Wikipedia, "He was the recipient of the Mark Twain Award, the California Young Reader Medal, and the Sequoyah Book Award for How to Eat Fried Worms, which was made into a TV movie in 1985 and was filmed as a theatrical release in 2006. He lives in Poughkeepsie, New York."
Article posted November 15, 2012 at 05:51 PM GMT-5 •
comment (4) • Reads 19542
Article posted October 16, 2012 at 05:11 PM GMT-5 •
comment (2) • Reads 11740
This is the 75th anniversary of Dr. Seuss's first book "And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street. According to Wikipedia, the book was written and illustrated by Dr. Seuss and Robert Carington and was first published in 1937. "It was Seuss's first children's book, originally titled 'A Story That No One Can Beat,' the manuscript was rejected by over 43 publishing companies (precise numbers vary, even from Seuss himself, who counted 27 and 28) but was eventually published by Vanguard Press. Seuss has stated that he nearly burned the manuscript before its publication after being rejected by so many publishers."
The Creedence Clearwater Revival 1970 song "Lookin' Out My Back Door" was partly inspired by the book. Lead singer John Fogerty stated in interviews that the song was actually written for his then three-year old son, Josh. Fogerty has also said that the reference to a parade passing by was inspired by the Dr. Seuss book, "And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street". We included the song during our closing credits.
Article posted October 16, 2012 at 05:11 PM GMT-5 •
comment (2) • Reads 11740
Article posted September 4, 2012 at 09:36 PM GMT-5 •
comment (1) • Reads 10585
This animation was made on the fifth day of first grade. The Story of Ferdinand was written in 1936. Walt Disney won an Academy Award for his 1938 animated film entitled Ferdinand the Bull.
Article posted September 4, 2012 at 09:36 PM GMT-5 •
comment (1) • Reads 10585
Article posted June 1, 2012 at 06:56 AM GMT-5 •
comment (1) • Reads 3441
Here's is our final video of the year. The Brainwaves singing Randy Newman's "You've Got a Friend in Me" from Toy Story. This year we made a number of videos with the theme of peace and friendship; "Give Peace a Chance", "International Peace Day Video Project", "Pinwheels for Peace 2011", "Nobel Peace Prize Winners", "We Shall Overcome" and Taylor Swift's "Mean".
Article posted June 1, 2012 at 06:56 AM GMT-5 •
comment (1) • Reads 3441
Article posted April 26, 2012 at 02:41 PM GMT-5 •
comment (1) • Reads 11041
Here is our stop motion animation book trailer of E.B. White's classic. Surprisingly, it did not win the Newbery Medal but did receive the Newbery Honor. Happy birthday Charlotte, you are 60 years old. Hard to believe isn't it?
Please leave us a comment.
Article posted April 26, 2012 at 02:41 PM GMT-5 •
comment (1) • Reads 11041
Article posted March 19, 2012 at 07:09 PM GMT-5 •
comment (1) • Reads 3464
The Brainwaves sing Taylor Swift's "Mean". In keeping with our theme of promoting peace at home, in school and in the world through understanding. We are trying to improve our school climate and prevent bullying. We hope you enjoy our music video.
Article posted March 19, 2012 at 07:09 PM GMT-5 •
comment (1) • Reads 3464
Article posted March 9, 2012 at 04:57 PM GMT-5 •
comment (2) • Reads 3086
Mrs. Hen's class in Israel has asked us to join them in a study of Nobel Prize winners. The Brainwaves made this video celebrating the 17 Americans who have been awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace.
Article posted March 9, 2012 at 04:57 PM GMT-5 •
comment (2) • Reads 3086
Article posted February 17, 2012 at 10:40 AM GMT-5 •
comment (1) • Reads 4231
The BFG is the Big Friendly Giant. It was written by Roald Dahl, who also wrote Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach and Matilda. We hope you enjoy the newest stop-motion animation from the Brainwaves. Be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think.
Article posted February 17, 2012 at 10:40 AM GMT-5 •
comment (1) • Reads 4231
Article posted January 23, 2012 at 05:39 PM GMT-5 •
comment (4) • Reads 5193
Here is our first green-screen video, Mary Norton's The Borrowers. We read the book, making a flow chart as we went along. Next we wrote the script. We divided up the tasks. The set designers did the art work for the background, the cast acted out the parts, the narrators read the script and the director added the music. Our teacher shot the video in front of a green screen. The "human beans" and the "Borrowers" had to be shot separately so that we could shrink the students who played Arrietty, Pod, Homily and Uncle Hendreary without shrinking the "human beans". We hope you enjoy the results.
Article posted January 23, 2012 at 05:39 PM GMT-5 •
comment (4) • Reads 5193
Article posted January 9, 2012 at 10:31 PM GMT-5 •
comment (15) • Reads 2762
January is Civil Rights Month and we also celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. this month. Mr. Ferguson, a fourth grade teacher at Lafayette Regional School in Franconia, NH organized the Global Peace Video Project last September. We sang "Give Peace a Chance" for that project. This time Mr. Ferguson has organized a Civil Rights project. Here is our contribution, we sing "We Shall Overcome", which became the anthem of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States during the 1950s and the 1960s. The song has since spread globally and is now sung around the world by people fighting for their civil rights.
Article posted January 9, 2012 at 10:31 PM GMT-5 •
comment (15) • Reads 2762
Article posted December 7, 2011 at 08:02 AM GMT-5 •
comment (2) • Reads 7554
Here is our stop-motion animation of Sid Fleischman's Newbery Medal winning book The Whipping Boy. They are all here, Jemmy, Prince Brat, Cutwater and of course our favorite Hold Your Nose Billy.
If you visit our second grade classroom you can even see the braid of garlic they we hung up in his honor.
Article posted December 7, 2011 at 08:02 AM GMT-5 •
comment (2) • Reads 7554
Article posted November 19, 2011 at 04:10 PM GMT-5 •
comment (1) • Reads 4754
The Invention of Hugo Cabret was written in 2007 by Brian Selznick. In 2008 the third grade Brainwaves made a green screen video of Hugo Cabaret. In 2011, this year's second grade Brainwaves have produced a stop-motion animation of the same book.
The Invention of Hugo Cabret was award the Caldecott Medal as the best picture book of the year, even though more than half of it's 500 pages are text. Academy Award winning film maker Martin Scorsese has made a 3D movie called Hugo. It opens November 23, 2011. We have posted both our 2008 and 2011 videos here.
"Sit back, open your eyes and be prepared to dream."
Article posted November 19, 2011 at 04:10 PM GMT-5 •
comment (1) • Reads 4754
Article posted October 21, 2011 at 11:41 PM GMT-5 •
comment (2) • Reads 7354
We just finished reading the Newbery Award winning Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. We named our monster Mrs. Frisby and made a stop motion animation of the book. We hope you are inspired to read this book.
Article posted October 21, 2011 at 11:41 PM GMT-5 •
comment (2) • Reads 7354
Article posted October 19, 2011 at 10:17 PM GMT-5 •
comment (13) • Reads 3618
This is our fourth time participating in the Monster Project. We joined 42 classes from the USA, Canada, England, Australia and Russia in this month long project. Our Monster is named Mrs. Frisby after Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. We can't wait to see the other Monsters when they visit Monster Central. We want to thank Mr. Terry Smith for organizing this project every year. It's a monstrous undertaker. Oops! Did I just say undertaker? I meant this is a monstrous undertaking. WARNING! Do not watch this video before going to bed as we can not be responsible for nightmares.
Article posted October 19, 2011 at 10:17 PM GMT-5 •
comment (13) • Reads 3618
Article posted October 12, 2011 at 05:28 PM GMT-5 •
comment (3) • Reads 2743
This is a celebration of International Peace Day on September 21, 2011. It was organized by Mr. Ferguson's fourth graders from Lafayette Regional School in Franconia, NH. In honor of this day, we created a multi-cultural vision of peace. We collected movies from classrooms around the globe containing their messages of peace. We used Dropbox to collect 24 videos from 14 countries on five continents: Canada, Guatemala, England, Bulgaria, Ghana, Israel, Russia, India, Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, South Africa, South Korea, U.S. Virgin Islands and the USA. Mr. Ferguson's class then edited a 4-minute mashup of all the videos. Look for the Brainwaves, we are the very last class singing "Give Peace a Chance".
Article posted October 12, 2011 at 05:28 PM GMT-5 •
comment (3) • Reads 2743
Article posted September 19, 2011 at 07:29 PM GMT-5 •
comment (5) • Reads 6651
The O.R.E.O. Project is not just a math project but also includes, art, music, language arts, science, and nutrition. The students estimate, predict, count, add, subtract, graph and compare.
This global project is organized by Jen Wagner's "Projects by Jen". Students around the world can compare how many cookies they stacked, before they tumbled, with other classes. Oh did I forget to tell you that they also get to eat Oreos.
C is for cookie but they all get A's. As The Count would say, "We love to count!"
Article posted September 19, 2011 at 07:29 PM GMT-5 •
comment (5) • Reads 6651
Article posted September 17, 2011 at 03:34 PM GMT-5 •
comment (1) • Reads 1191
The Brainwaves continue their participation in the International day of Peace celebration by participating in the Pinwheels for Peace Project. They wrote messages and drew pictures of peace on their pinwheels. The wind then carries these messages into the sky and around the world where they joined the messages of millions of children around the world. It is estimated that in 2010 there were 3.5 million pinwheels sending messages of "Whirled Peace".
Article posted September 17, 2011 at 03:34 PM GMT-5 •
comment (1) • Reads 1191
Article posted September 16, 2011 at 09:40 PM GMT-5 •
comment (4) • Reads 1021
In 2001 the United Nations unanimously declared September 21 to be International Peace Day. As part of this year's celebration the Brainwaves have joined the Peace Day Video project organized by Mr. Ferguson's fourth grade class in New Hampshire. Over 20 classes from around the world, on ever continent, are making messages of peace videos, each in their own language. Mr. Ferguson's class will make a mashup from all the videos. The final video will be posted on September 21, so check back.
Until then, enjoy the Brainwaves singing the chorus of John Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance".
Article posted September 16, 2011 at 09:40 PM GMT-5 •
comment (4) • Reads 1021
Article posted September 2, 2011 at 09:31 PM GMT-5 •
comment (3) • Reads 3994
Meet the New Brainwaves in our first video. We experienced an earthquake, hurricane and we were relocated to another building because of construction problems. We are resilient and we expect great things. Join us as we prepare for the future. You matter.
Article posted September 2, 2011 at 09:31 PM GMT-5 •
comment (3) • Reads 3994
Article posted May 29, 2011 at 10:17 PM GMT-5 •
comment (2) • Reads 21909
Far, Far, away in Sparks, Nevada, on the planet Earth, Mr. Crosby's fifth grade class launched a balloon. The balloon carried written messages of hope from students in distant places. These hopes were carried high, almost twenty miles to be exact. The balloon also carried experiments, three colored balloons and a bag of Cheetos. Yes, Cheetos! The students wanted to know what would happen at high altitudes, The balloon also carried digital cameras and video cameras programmed to record everything. The balloon landed behind a twenty-foot high fence, guarded by a tank, in a Top Secret Area. It took some explaining but the students finally got their experiments and cameras back. Two weeks later they shared their amazing story via Skype with Mr. Greenberg's second grade class, known as The Brainwaves. They are also located on the planet Earth in the City of Bridgeport, CT.
Article posted May 29, 2011 at 10:17 PM GMT-5 •
comment (2) • Reads 21909
Article posted April 5, 2011 at 08:24 PM GMT-5 •
comment (5) • Reads 13898
From Huberman School in Petah, Tikva, Israel, Mrs. Hen writes, "I first saw the song "Imagine" on the show 'Glee', I remembered a student who was once in my class and was hearing impaired. My class is an acoustic grade, and once a week a teacher comes for enrichment in addition to classroom learning. Variety is positive and interesting.
Everyone has special talents, and the things you can learn enrich everyone. Thanks to my student, every class has learned a lovely song from John Lennon, because of the limitations of the English language, we learned to sign only the chorus of the song.
Our next step was to meet with hearing impaired students. We taught them sign language and to sing the chorus of 'Imagine' ".
We were inspired by Mrs. Hen's class to make our own video of "Imagine". Below from Israel is their version.
Article posted April 5, 2011 at 08:24 PM GMT-5 •
comment (5) • Reads 13898
Article posted April 4, 2011 at 07:53 PM GMT-5 •
comment (6) • Reads 1537
We just finished our seventh stop motion animation, Roald Dahl's Matilda. The Brainwaves have been invited along with 29 other classes in Connecticut to exhibit at Tech Expo. We will show the Connecticut State Legislators our videos and how me made them. Our project is called Bringing Books to Life.
And now get your popcorn and enjoy Matilda.
Article posted April 4, 2011 at 07:53 PM GMT-5 •
comment (6) • Reads 1537
Article posted March 30, 2011 at 08:47 PM GMT-5 •
comment (8) • Reads 2216
When we saw the Glee Cast version of Imagine on Mrs. Hen's third grade class blog, we knew we had to make our own video. We have three students in our class who have deaf relatives. One of our classmates even knew American Sign Language. He and his older brother coached us. We hope you like the results.
Please visit Mrs. Hen's class and checkout their video. They also learned to sign Imagine. Their link is on the left side of this page. They are in Israel so you'll have to use Google Translator to read the Hebrew. Don't worry the video is in English.
Article posted March 30, 2011 at 08:47 PM GMT-5 •
comment (8) • Reads 2216
Article posted March 16, 2011 at 10:48 PM GMT-5 •
comment (6) • Reads 3986
We exchanged gifts with Mrs. Hen's class at Huberman School in Petah Tikva, Israel. We sent them an American Bald Eagle and they sent us a Lion, the symbol of Jerusalem.
Article posted March 16, 2011 at 10:48 PM GMT-5 •
comment (6) • Reads 3986
Article posted March 9, 2011 at 05:40 PM GMT-5 •
comment • Reads 2192
We are exchanging stuffed animals with Ms. Hen's class in Israel. We sent them an American Bald Eagle. Her name is Morning Glory. They posted the following message on their blog along with an Animoto. We are anxiously awaiting a package from Israel. We will post a video showing us opening their gift. Can anyone guess what they sent us?
You can visit Ms. Hen's class blog by clicking on the link on the left side of this page. When you get there you will need to click on translator at the top of the page as the blog is in Hebrew.
Hello Mr. Greenberg and the Brainwaves,
We were very excited to receive the Eagle - Morning Glory . We hugged him tight and took him to a tour in our school. He visited the principal in her room, the vice principal and our animal corner.
The children made sure to let him feel pleasant and warm. Maya took him to her ballet class, Yuval took him to his basketball class.
Soon kids will publish their writing and I will post the pictures.
Morning Glory will visit my students in their homes. He will go on trips. He will celebrate with us the Feast of Purim, and more ...
Our national bird is: Hoopoe.
Our package was sent and should arrive to you. We will be happy to know-that everything is fine with her.
Keep in touch
Ms. Hanita Hen's Students
Article posted March 9, 2011 at 05:40 PM GMT-5 •
comment • Reads 2192
Article posted March 3, 2011 at 06:25 PM GMT-5 •
comment • Reads 1949
This is our fourth Kate DiCamillo book trailer. We also read The Tail of Despereaux, The Magician's Elephant and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Can you tell the Brainwaves love Kate DiCamillo. To see our previous videos scroll down the page. Now go get some popcorn and enjoy Because of Winn-Dixie.
Article posted March 3, 2011 at 06:25 PM GMT-5 •
comment • Reads 1949
Article posted February 11, 2011 at 08:16 PM GMT-5 •
comment (2) • Reads 3629
This week we participated in our very first group video call. It was facilitated by Joanne Kaminsky of Wisconsin. The other classes were Ms. Kidd's Kindergarten in North Carolina and Ms.Wells' 4th grade class in Kansas. Mrs. Kaminski, known as The Skyping Reading Tutor, read us the book Millions of Snowflakes by Mary McKenna Siddals. All three class and Mrs. Kaminski shared our temperature and snowfall. Here in Connecticut we have had seven snow days and several delayed opening so far this year. We have had almost four feet of snow in January alone.
You can read more at http://skypingreadingtutor.wordpress.com/
Article posted February 11, 2011 at 08:16 PM GMT-5 •
comment (2) • Reads 3629
Article posted February 11, 2011 at 12:22 PM GMT-5 •
comment (1) • Reads 1439
In the United States we celebrate the achievements of African Americans during the month of February. It is known as Black History Month.
Do you know who Henry "Box" Brown was? Did you know that the first professional magician in American was the son of a slave? You will learn this and more while you watch this VoiceThread made by our second grade Brainwaves.
Article posted February 11, 2011 at 12:22 PM GMT-5 •
comment (1) • Reads 1439
Article posted January 7, 2011 at 06:04 PM GMT-5 •
comment (5) • Reads 5894
"At the end of the century before last, in the market square of the city of Baltese, there stood a boy with a hat on his head and a coin in his hand." These are the words the Kate DiCamillo chose to begin The Magician's Elephant.
This is the third Kate DiCamillo book that the Brainwaves have read this year. We hope you enjoy the video that we made. Please let us know what you think by leaving a comment.
Note: Tiany worked very hard on this animation. Her name was inadvertently left off the credits. So, on the count of three let's all cheer for Tiany. Ready? One, two, three! Yea Tiany! Thank you.
Article posted January 7, 2011 at 06:04 PM GMT-5 •
comment (5) • Reads 5894
Article posted November 29, 2010 at 08:56 PM GMT-5 •
comment (3) • Reads 9199
The Brainwaves and the Livewires read Matt's Million by Andrew Norriss. What would you do with a million dollars? Would you spend it all on yourself? Do you think you'd be happier? Ten year old Matt Collins is faced with these choices and more.
We finished the book last week and rushed to complete our stop motion animation before the Livewires go on Summer break. We hope you enjoy it.
Article posted November 29, 2010 at 08:56 PM GMT-5 •
comment (3) • Reads 9199
Article posted November 4, 2010 at 10:36 PM GMT-5 •
comment (8) • Reads 6871
We just completed reading The Tale of Despereaux. This is our second Kate DiCamillo book. Last month we read The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. We made a stop motion animation with narration. This month we made a Despereaux video and added a green screen video combined with the stop motion animation and narration. Let us know what you think of it by leaving a comment. Enjoy.
Article posted November 4, 2010 at 10:36 PM GMT-5 •
comment (8) • Reads 6871
Article posted October 22, 2010 at 06:10 PM GMT-5 •
comment (4) • Reads 2757
This is our third Monster Project. Head monster builder Terry Smith describes the Monster Project better than I, so I'll let him do the talking. We take you now to Monster Central. Here now is Terry Smith.
Article posted October 17, 2010 at 06:36 PM GMT-5 •
comment (3) • Reads 1637
This is third year participating in Jen Wagner's O.R.E.O. Project, (Our Really Exciting Online Project). We had to predict how many Oreo cookies we could stack before they tumbled. Each student had two attempts. We recorded the results. We determined the average and compared our second grade class results with other classes around the world. Here is our video. You may also wish to check out the O.R.E.O. Project video made by Mr. Ferguson's class. The link to their page is listed on the left under "Related Links".
Article posted October 17, 2010 at 06:36 PM GMT-5 •
comment (3) • Reads 1637
Article posted September 29, 2010 at 05:09 PM GMT-5 •
comment (9) • Reads 3399
One our favorite authors is Kate DiCamillo. She wrote The Tale of Despereaux and Becuase of Winn Dixie. We just finished reading The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by, you guessed it, Kate DiCamillo. We have been focusing on identifying the main idea and sequencing. Our second grade class wrote the script, narrated the film and did the animation. Sorry, we don't know how to get the popcorn to you.
Article posted September 29, 2010 at 05:09 PM GMT-5 •
comment (9) • Reads 3399
Article posted September 20, 2010 at 02:29 PM GMT-5 •
comment (4) • Reads 2085
Celebrating International Day of Peace 2010. It is estimated that there were 3 million pinwheels spinning on September 21, 2009 in countries around the world. Imagine... whirled peace! This is our contribution to the Pinwheels for Peace Project 2010.
Article posted September 11, 2010 at 07:59 PM GMT-5 •
comment (15) • Reads 2433
We've got high hopes! The Brainwaves made their very first music video, a remake of Frank Sinatra's Academy Award winning song "High Hopes". This song is from the 1959 movie A Hole in the Head. The Brainwaves have been working on their "hopes and dreams" for the future. They will graduate from college in 2025. Enjoy their energy, excitement and passion. Ladies and gentlemen please welcome the Brainwaves singing High Hopes.
Article posted September 11, 2010 at 07:59 PM GMT-5 •
comment (15) • Reads 2433
Article posted April 4, 2010 at 08:46 PM GMT-5 •
comment (14) • Reads 20150
We have done toy exchanges with Ms. Knight's Livewires in New Zealand and Mrs. Tarasevich's students in Aban, Russia. We sent a Bald Eagle to Russia and they in turn sent us Misha the SIberian Bear. Here is their video showing them opening the "Box from America". If you continue to scroll down you can see our video showing Misha's arrival in America.
Article posted April 4, 2010 at 08:46 PM GMT-5 •
comment (14) • Reads 20150
Article posted March 17, 2010 at 10:48 AM GMT-5 •
comment (5) • Reads 4837
Mrs. Brown, of Haultain School, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada found this amazing video and posted it on her class blog. A middle school in Florida changed the words to the Black-Eyed Peas song "I Gotta Feeling" and the results are fantastic! We love the video and we love to read. We want to share this video with you.
Article posted March 17, 2010 at 10:48 AM GMT-5 •
comment (5) • Reads 4837
Article posted March 16, 2010 at 10:05 PM GMT-5 •
comment (4) • Reads 1407
We received a package from Aban, Russia today. It was part of a toy exchange. Inside was a Russia bear. It is a Siberian bear. Its name is Misha. Its full name is Mikhail. It is also called Mishka, Mishutka. Mrs. Tarasevich told us, in her letter, that "bears are often characters of Russian folktales. In Siberia bears live in taiga. It is a forest. They like honey and berries. They hunt other animals. There is taiga 100km from our school. Sometimes in spring and in summer bears come near the village and hunt cows and calves. It is dangerous to pick berries in taiga sometimes (Some people in our place go to the forest to pick berries.)"
"This teddy bear was made in the toy factory in Krasnoyarsk, the center of our territory." Mrs. Tarasevich wrote, "The meaning of the name of our town 'Aban' is 'bear's corner'. He can sing. He sings, 'I'm merry. Let's play with me, 1,2,3,4,5. I'm going to look for you' The game is hide and seek."
Article posted March 16, 2010 at 10:05 PM GMT-5 •
comment (4) • Reads 1407
Article posted February 27, 2010 at 11:49 PM GMT-5 •
comment (12) • Reads 3978
A package arrived from the Livewires in New Zealand. We wondered what was in the box. We had sent a Bald Eagle to Miss Knight's class. They posted a video so that we could watch them open our package. You can see their video "What's in the Box?" by clicking the link to their class under Related Links on the left side of this page. Since we made a video for them showing us opening their package, we called our video "What's in the Box? Part 2.
Article posted February 27, 2010 at 11:49 PM GMT-5 •
comment (12) • Reads 3978
Article posted February 25, 2010 at 09:33 AM GMT-5 •
comment (1) • Reads 1471
We are participating in a worldwide project called Voices of the World. Classes from all around the world complete monthly tasks and post them on their class blogs or the Voices of the World wiki page. At the end of the month, we will be able to view the task and listen to the same words spoken by children in their native languages. You can visit Voices of the World by clicking the link listed on the left under Related Links.
Article posted February 3, 2010 at 09:02 PM GMT-5 •
comment (7) • Reads 3486
Here is our contribution to the "Our School" project organized by Mrs. Tarasevich, of Abanskaya school 3, Aban, Russia in the Siberian Territory . Columbus School is located on the campus of the University of Bridgeport in the State of Connecticut in the USA. We are here for two years while our "old" school is being renovated.
Article posted February 3, 2010 at 09:02 PM GMT-5 •
comment (7) • Reads 3486
Article posted January 22, 2010 at 09:51 PM GMT-5 •
comment (5) • Reads 2915
We are participating in Vancouver 2010. It is a global collaborative project. There are 50 classes from 10 countries: Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, Ireland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, South Africa and the USA. The project is coordinated by Ms. Brown of Saskatchewan, Canada. You can find a link to her class blog on the left side of this page. We hope you enjoy our tribute to the XXI Olympic Winter Games. They will begin on February 12.
Article posted January 22, 2010 at 09:51 PM GMT-5 •
comment (5) • Reads 2915
Article posted November 4, 2009 at 08:46 PM GMT-5 •
comment (12) • Reads 10346
On October 30, 2009 four teachers and three classes held video conferences. Because of the difference in time zones this event was not easy to arrange. It began at 10 AM when the Brainwaves held a video conference with Mrs. Tarasevich's students in Aban, Russian, the Siberian Territory where it was 9 PM and very cold. They were having a sleep over at their school, but went to their teacher's home where the internet connection was better. An hour later, Mr. Smith's fourth grade, from Eugene Field School in Hannibal, MO Skyped with Mrs. Tarasevich's class. This was followed by a video conference with Miss Knight in New Zealand. She had to get up at 4:30 in the morning in order to call Russia. After lunch Mr. Smith's class Skyped with the Brainwaves. Mr. Rapice brought some of his TAG students to join us. We traded Monster jokes and even spoke Mandarin with each other. Whew! What a day! A day to remember. Here's a video with some of the highlights.
Article posted November 4, 2009 at 08:46 PM GMT-5 •
comment (12) • Reads 10346
Article posted October 30, 2009 at 07:26 PM GMT-5 •
comment (9) • Reads 1680
The Brainwaves are second graders from Columbus School in Bridgeport, CT. We participated in the Monster Project along with classes from all over the USA as well as Russia, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, England, Turkey, Uganda, Taiwan, and the Dominican Republic. This was a collaborative project. All the classes built monsters based on the body part descriptions suggested by each class. The whole project was organized by Terry Smith of Eugene Field School, in Hannibal, MO.
Article posted October 30, 2009 at 07:26 PM GMT-5 •
comment (9) • Reads 1680
Article posted October 29, 2009 at 06:12 PM GMT-5 •
comment (8) • Reads 1187
We made this stop motion animation as part of the Monster Project. We read Where the Wild Things Are. Next we made a flow chart and wrote a summary of the story. Then we made a story board. We wrote the script. We had to estimate how many pictures we would need to take at 10 frames per second to fit with our narration. Some of us worked on the project during lunch and gym. We want to thank Mr. Ferguson, of Lafayette Regional School in Franconia, NH. Mr. Ferguson came to our school last year and taught us how to make a stop motion video. Mr. Ferguson this one's for you and "wild things" everywhere.
Article posted October 29, 2009 at 06:12 PM GMT-5 •
comment (8) • Reads 1187
Article posted September 26, 2009 at 04:35 AM GMT-5 •
comment (20) • Reads 4799
We participated in the 11th annual O.R.E.O. Project. We estimated how many OREO cookies we could stack. We made predictions, tallies, graphs and charts. We even made cookie sculptures. We sang "C is for Cookie" and read If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. We will compare our results with those of hundreds of other classes from around the world at the O.R.E.O. Project website. Finally, we ate the cookies. A great time was had by all. Take at look!
Article posted September 26, 2009 at 04:35 AM GMT-5 •
comment (20) • Reads 4799
Article posted September 15, 2009 at 09:47 PM GMT-5 •
comment (3) • Reads 1609
We were finally able to meet our blogging buddies, The Livewires. On Tuesday, September 15, 2009 we had our Back to School Night in Connecticut. We scheduled a Skype call for 6:30 pm. It was 10:30 am, Wednesday, September 16 in New Zealand. Here, it was summer heading into autumn but in New Zealand it was winter heading into spring. We talked for twenty minutes. We had many parents in attendance as well as several of last years Brainwaves. Here are a few highlights from our video conference.
Article posted September 15, 2009 at 09:47 PM GMT-5 •
comment (3) • Reads 1609
Article posted September 3, 2009 at 08:27 PM GMT-5 •
comment (11) • Reads 1738
They are only seven years old. It's the third day of second grade, but already they are thinking ahead. They are the new group of Brainwaves and they will be graduating from college in the year 2024.
Article posted September 3, 2009 at 08:27 PM GMT-5 •
comment (11) • Reads 1738
Article posted June 19, 2009 at 11:08 PM GMT-5 •
comment (8) • Reads 3942
This is our final video of the year. School ends June 24. We will miss all the friends we made this year. We made this time lapse video and then ran it backwards. We did it twice first using a pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream. It took 65 minutes to melt. We estimated that it would take anywhere from 5 minutes to 60 minutes to melt. Next we tried Breyers ice cream and we used almost a quart (about a liter). It took over two hours to melt. We ran the video backwards because it's hard to buy melted ice cream and then freeze it. We might damage the laptop and webcam if we put them in the freezer. We hope you enjoy our video. Many of us plan to continue to blog over the summer, so please continue to leave us comments.
No, we didn't get to eat the Ice Cream Sundae, but Mr. Greenberg did buy ice cream sandwiches for the whole class. MMMMM they were gooooood!
Article posted June 19, 2009 at 11:08 PM GMT-5 •
comment (8) • Reads 3942
Article posted June 2, 2009 at 05:19 PM GMT-5 •
comment (1) • Reads 1958
Voices of the World is two years old and the Brainwaves have been there from the beginning. Each month over 60 classes around the globe prepare a project in their native language. Here is our May task. Sing along if you know the words.
Article posted June 2, 2009 at 05:19 PM GMT-5 •
comment (1) • Reads 1958
Article posted April 9, 2009 at 05:01 PM GMT-5 •
comment (2) • Reads 2605
We are participating in the My Favorite Toys and Games Project. It was started by Mrs. Tarasevich of Aban, Russia and Ms. Knight of New Zealand. To learn more about the project, join or see the work of other classes from around the world please visit the Favorite Toys and Games Project. The children are comparing the toys and games that they play with to the toys and games that their parents, teachers and grandparents played with when they were children. Each night a different Brainwave took a Flip video camera home and interviewed a family member, friend or teacher. You can see all eighteen videos by visiting their individual blogs.
Article posted April 9, 2009 at 05:01 PM GMT-5 •
comment (2) • Reads 2605
Article posted March 1, 2009 at 01:06 PM GMT-5 •
comment (11) • Reads 4103
What do teachers do when they are on vacation? For Mr. Ferguson, fourth grade teacher from Lafayette Regional School in Franconia, NH the answer is find another class to teach. Mr. Ferguson traveled to Bridgeport, CT to spend the day with the Brainwaves. He taught us how to make stop motion animation, and showed us pictures of his trip to Africa. We also Skyped with Mr. Smith's class. They are in Hannibal, MO. That may have been a first: Missouri, New Hampshire and Connecticut, three teachers - one Skpe. Okay, Mr. Smith when are you coming to Connecticut?
Article posted March 1, 2009 at 01:06 PM GMT-5 •
comment (11) • Reads 4103
Article posted February 8, 2009 at 10:16 PM GMT-5 •
comment (9) • Reads 2238
We read this Newbery Medal winner with Mr. Ferguson's fourth graders. They are the Thrilling Thirteen, formely the Fantastic Fifteen of Franconia, NH. We held video conferences with them to discuss the book. This video has it all: music, jazz, history, the Great Depression, humor, "Rules for a Funner and Life" and literature. All this and twelve Brainwaves! Count 'em.
Article posted February 8, 2009 at 10:16 PM GMT-5 •
comment (9) • Reads 2238
Article posted February 2, 2009 at 08:48 PM GMT-5 •
comment (1) • Reads 1185
Here is our January task for the Voices of the World project. Classes around the world have submitted videos of their class singing "Make New Friends" in their native languages.
Article posted February 2, 2009 at 08:48 PM GMT-5 •
comment (1) • Reads 1185
Article posted December 23, 2008 at 01:05 AM GMT-5 •
comment (16) • Reads 3789
We read The Invention of Hugo Cabret along with our friends in New Hampshire, Mr. Ferguson's 4th graders, The Thrilling Thirteen, formerly known as The Fantastic Fifteen. Each week we held a video conference to share our writing and drawings. We hope you enjoy our video.
Article posted December 23, 2008 at 01:05 AM GMT-5 •
comment (16) • Reads 3789
Article posted November 25, 2008 at 09:59 PM GMT-5 •
comment (1) • Reads 2286
Article posted November 25, 2008 at 09:59 PM GMT-5 •
comment (1) • Reads 2286
Article posted November 18, 2008 at 05:59 PM GMT-5 •
comment (4) • Reads 1758
This was our November task for the Voices of the World. If you would like to see and hear how classes around the world say, "All for one, and one for all" click on the Voices of the World link on the left side of this page.
Article posted November 18, 2008 at 05:59 PM GMT-5 •
comment (4) • Reads 1758
Article posted October 15, 2008 at 08:08 PM GMT-5 •
comment (8) • Reads 2658
This is our chance to go and look at other classes and their blogs.
The "Seven Random Facts" gives us a chance to look for connections all around the world. We will write seven things about ourselves, everybody else writes seven things about themselves...we go around the world and leave comments!
It's fun and will teach us how to leave appropriate comments with other classes around the world. Thanks to Mr. Bourne's class in England for the idea.
Links to other schools are on the left hand side of this page.
Here are seven random facts about me.
1. I am a magician.
2. I once ran the Boston Marathon under three hours.
3. I have three children and four grandchildren.
4. I started teaching in 1969.
5. I love to read.
6. I love to go to Broadway Musicals.
7. I have three college degrees.
Article posted October 15, 2008 at 08:08 PM GMT-5 •
comment (8) • Reads 2658
Article posted October 12, 2008 at 08:05 PM GMT-5 •
comment (8) • Reads 1512
Hiwi the Kiwi arrived in the USA safe and sound. We were concerned because Kiwis are on the endangered species list. He is having a great time and making friends quickly as you will see in the video. We have heard that Cookie Monster is also making friends in New Zealand. We wonder if he has met any Kangaroos yet?
Article posted October 12, 2008 at 08:05 PM GMT-5 •
comment (8) • Reads 1512
Article posted September 13, 2008 at 03:26 PM GMT-5 •
comment (3) • Reads 1175
What do you want to be when you grow up? We are preparing for 21st century jobs that don't even exist yet. We have to start preparing for the future today. This video represents our hopes and dreams. The Brainwaves are getting ready to invent the future.
Article posted September 13, 2008 at 03:26 PM GMT-5 •
comment (3) • Reads 1175
Article posted September 8, 2008 at 08:13 PM GMT-5 •
comment (34) • Reads 1692
That's they way the cookie tumbles. We are participating in the O.R.E.O 2008 project. It is hosted by Jennifer Wagner and JenuineTech.com for the tenth year. We had to stack oreo cookies and count how many oreos we could stack before the oreos tumble. Before we ate the cookies we took out the cream filling and made sculptures.
Article posted September 8, 2008 at 08:13 PM GMT-5 •
comment (34) • Reads 1692
Article posted September 4, 2008 at 08:25 AM GMT-5 •
comment (4) • Reads 1483
We are excited to be collaborating in a year long project with Ms Knights's Livewires in New Zealand. The project is called a Room with a View. Each month both classes will take pictures showing the view from their classroom windows. Both classes will also be writing about the changes that they see as time passes. It should be interesting because when we have winter in the northern hemisphere they will be having summer in the southern hemisphere.
Please feel free to add a voice comment to our Voice thread below, and don't forget to tell us what school you're from and where you are in the world. Our first pictures were taken September 3, 2008.
Article posted September 4, 2008 at 08:25 AM GMT-5 •
comment (4) • Reads 1483
Article posted May 1, 2008 at 04:13 PM GMT-5 •
comment (3) • Reads 1837
Here's is our April task for the Voices of the World. Click on the picture below to see our video. To see and hear all of this month's projects check our Voices of the World link on the left side of this page. Last month's task, Days of the Week, saw 30 different schools participate, from 15 different countries. There were eight schools from the USA, seven from Scotland, three from Australia and one each from Canada, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Lebanon, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal and Sweden.
Article posted May 1, 2008 at 04:13 PM GMT-5 •
comment (3) • Reads 1837
Article posted March 30, 2008 at 05:42 PM GMT-5 •
comment (7) • Reads 1542
This is a tribute to the poets. They fill up our senses with the wonderous words that they write. This video is part of our celebration of poets and their poems. You will see children's poets and child poets. You will see grown up poets and Poet Laureates. Do you know what a Poet Laureate is? How many poets do you recognise? Whose poems have you read? Leave us a comment. We'd like to know.
Article posted March 30, 2008 at 05:42 PM GMT-5 •
comment (7) • Reads 1542
Article posted March 28, 2008 at 05:12 PM GMT-5 •
comment (3) • Reads 968
Here is our "Days of the Week" video. It was our March task for the Voices of the World project. To see and hear other classes from around the world singing the "Days of the Week" in their own languages click on the Voices of the World link on the left side of this page. We'd like to know what you think of our video. Please leave us a comment.
Article posted March 26, 2008 at 01:47 PM GMT-5 •
comment (7) • Reads 943
April is National Poetry Month. Are you a Shel Silverstein fan? If you are you will enjoy this "Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout" video. Do like Jack Prelutsky or Bruce Lansky? Who is your favorite poet? Two of my favorite poems are "Smart" and "Sick", both by Shel Silverstein. What is your favorite poem? Don't forget to check out the poetry videos on our individual student blogs. Check back often because they will be popping up soon. Hope you enjoy National Poetry Month and don't forget to leave us a comment.
Article posted March 15, 2008 at 01:00 AM GMT-5 •
comment (6) • Reads 837
We are so excited that classes around the world are beginning to tell us about the important women from their countries. The very first to respond were the students of Aban, Russia in Siberia. We have also heard from classes in China, Pakistan, Lebanon, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom and Indonesia. We have put together the VoiceThread below with the information that they sent to us. We will continue to update this VoiceThread as we hear from our friends around the world. We would love to hear from Spain, Germany, France, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Portugal and India. We don't want to leave anyone out. Please contact us.
Article posted March 15, 2008 at 01:00 AM GMT-5 •
comment (6) • Reads 837
Article posted February 21, 2008 at 11:02 PM GMT-5 •
comment (3) • Reads 861
March is Women's History Month in the USA. Each March we honor and recognize the contributions of women in all fields including, but not limited to; education, civil rights, government, science, sports and entertainment. To our friends around the world, please leave us a comment and tell us about the special women from your country. If we included all deserving women, this video would go on for hours. So if we left someone out please forgive us.
Article posted February 21, 2008 at 11:02 PM GMT-5 •
comment (3) • Reads 861
Article posted February 6, 2008 at 08:35 PM GMT-5 •
comment (5) • Reads 1025
We made this video as part of the Voices of the World project. To learn more about Voices of the World click on the link on the left side of this page. See videos made by classes from around the world speaking in their own languages. Since everyone in our class speaks Spanish as well as English, we decided to make this video in Spanish. Let us know what you think of it. Leave us a comment.
Article posted February 6, 2008 at 08:35 PM GMT-5 •
comment (5) • Reads 1025
Article posted January 13, 2008 at 01:46 PM GMT-5 •
comment (3) • Reads 1381
I have exciting news. We have been invited to participate in the Landmark Games 2008. This contest will last three weeks, January 28 to February 15, 2008.
Each Monday we will receive 3 clues. We will study the clues, and develop yes/no questions that will lead to the unknown landmarks of other teams in our playing level. ONE yes/no question may be asked by teams during each of the three weeks. A total of 3 yes/no questions can be asked of each site, but only one question per week.
Kids from around the world - 60 teams - 540 clues - 6 languages - 3 exciting weeks!
Article posted January 13, 2008 at 01:46 PM GMT-5 •
comment (3) • Reads 1381
Article posted January 6, 2008 at 07:13 PM GMT-5 •
comment (15) • Reads 971
This is our first full week in 2008. So, first check the new blogging assignment on the left side of this page. Click on teacher assignments.
I am excited. This weekend I heard from teachers in England, Canada and Spain. They were asking about our blog page and also helping us with ideas. Mr. Smith, a fourth grade teacher in Hannibal, Missouri read some of your blogs and left a comment. You will find a link to his class on the left side of this page. Go there. Read a blog. Leave a comment. They will be reading our blogs as well. My daughter Jessica, Eugene, Oregon, also read some of your blogs and left comments for some of you. The comments from your classmates are also now posted.
Finally, you will notice a world map on our page. The red dots will show us how many visitors we get and where they live. How cool is that!
Remember, "We are smart. but they don't know it if we don't show it!"
Article posted January 6, 2008 at 07:13 PM GMT-5 •
comment (15) • Reads 971
Article posted January 1, 2008 at 08:21 PM GMT-5 •
comment (4) • Reads 735
Welcome Back. I hope you all had a great vacation. Did Santa bring you everything you asked for?
We are going to begin to blog. What's a blog? Well, the word blog comes from the term web log. If you take off the first two letters, the "we" you're left with the word blog. It's just like our journal writing. The only difference is that I will not be the only person writing back. Anyone who reads your writing can leave you a message. This is called a "comment". They can be someone in our class, in our school or in another school. How cool is that!
This will all be done on the computer. You can work on your blog from any computer with internet access. We are going to have a great new year. Let the fun begin!
Article posted January 1, 2008 at 08:21 PM GMT-5 •
comment (4) • Reads 735
