2012-2013

“Learning Today-Leading Tomorrow”

Banks Elementary will prepare all students for success in a global

society utilizing 21st Century Skills, high expectations, engaging instruction, and

advanced technology.

Carpool Information

•Drop off begins at 7:40 a.m. and ends at 8:05 a.m.

•Anyone picking up a student is required to have a blue or yellow tag.

Title I Information• Banks Elementary is a Title I school• Federal Funding Supports

–Three teaching positions and one Ta position

–Technology–Instructional supplies–Parent involvementTo Learn More About Title I, contact Mrs. Faulkner at 252-527-9470.

How are Parents involved through Title I

• Parent, Student, Staff compacts are signed yearly

• Parents are presented with the Title I Parental Involvement Policy

• Regular communication through notes, agendas and connect-ed messages

• Title I meetings• Popcorn for Parents

Dates to Remember

• December 3-7 – Holiday Shoppe for Kids PTA

• December 4 – Progress Reports• December 19 – Early Out• December 20 – January 1 – Holiday • January 2 – School resumes

Birdsby Ms. Edwards’ 4th grade class

2012

PeacockBy Anna R.

• The adaptations of a peacock include their bright feathers to impress females.• They also have eyes on the sides of their heads to easily spot predators.• A peacock’s short beak helps him easily chew seeds and grains.• Some interesting facts about the peacock include that the female peacocks aren’t

called peacocks. They are called peahens.• Also their lifespan in the wild is up to 20 years. In captivity, they live up to 30 years.• Peacocks are also considered turkeys. They are the largest members in the turkey

family.• The weight of a peacock is 8.75 to 13 lbs.• The height of a peacock’s body is 35 to 50 inches. Their tails are 5 ft long and their

wingspans are 1.4 to 1.6 meters long.

www.wikipedia .org peacock

Birds. Amber books Ltd. 2009.

Birds. Amber Books Ltd. 2009.

www.wikipedia.org.peacocks

• The snow owl’s lifespan is 28 years.

• Their weight is 40-70 ounces and length is 20-27 inches. Their wingspan is 4.5-5.5 feet.

• Their special adaptation is that they have sharp talons.

• It eats ptarmigans. • It lays 7-9 eggs.• The male is white.• The female is like a zebra. • They swallow their prey

hole.• They are found in

northern Scandinavia, northern Russia, and northern Canada Birds.

Snowy Owl

Birds Amber Books Ltd. 2009. www.wikipedia.org Snowy Owl

Ashton W.

Egyptian Vulture

•They can be found in southern Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. • Their special adaptation is their brain. They are smart enough to put pebbles in their mouth to drop on eggs to eat. • The Egyptian Vulture’s height is about to a man’s knee.

By: Beecham H.

• Its wingspan is 5 to 6 feet.• It mostly eats eggs and carrion (rotting flesh).• It can live up to 37 years.• The incubation period is about {42} days.• The number of broods is 1 a year.

Birds. Amber Books Ltd. 2009www.wikpedia.org Egyptian vulture

Martial Eagle• The Martial Eagle’s special adaptation is he uses his outstretched sharp talons to hold down his prey and kill his prey.

• The eagles are 30.7-33.8 inches. They weigh about 14.3 lb.

• They live in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially Zimbabwe, and South Africa.

• They can live up to 16 years.

• A bird’s leg has enough power to break a man’s arm!

• They can kill a prey that can weigh up to 44 pounds.

• While the female sits on the egg, she feeds off the leaves of the nest.

• When the egg hatches, the male brings food for 50 days, then it’s the female’s turn.

Bryan D.

Birds. Amber books ltd. 2009. Wikipedia.org. Martial eagle.

Grey Crowned Crane by Brycon H.

•The Gray Crowned Crane can weigh about 8 pounds. It can grow as high as 5.2 feet. A grown man is only a few inches taller.•It is located all around west Africa.•They have an elongated hind toe that gives them extra security for unwanted predators.•The Gray Crowned crane can dance to communicate.•Its wing span can be as large as its whole body!•If you look closely, the Grey Crowned Crane has a red sac on its neck.•The crane’s legs bend backward from human’s legs.•The life span of a Black Crowned Crane can be up to 22 years.

Birds .Amber books ltd 2009 Grey Crowned Craned, clip art

Red Billed Streamer TailBy: Cody G.

•The weight of the Red Billed Streamer Tail is 5.2 g.•The length of this bird is 22-30 in., including his tail which is 8.7-11.8 in.•They are only found in Jamaica.• They lay eggs during October-March.•Their incubation period is around 14-21 days.•The fledgling period is around 14-21 days.•The number of eggs is 2.•The number of broods are up to 3 times a year.•Their call is a loud metallic ting, ting, ting. •The tropical diet is nectar.•They do not migrate. •It was once believed that the tail made the humming sound .•The bill is coral with a black tip. It grows 2.5 cm.•Only males have the streamer tails.•The special adaptations are in common with all humming birds. The Red-Billed Streamer Tail needs a calorie rich diet. The nectar is high in sugar and provides this. To reach the nectar, this bird has an elongated bill and a specially adapted extendable tongue allowing it to access the nectar.

•Birds. Amber books Ltd. 2009.•www.wikipedia.org/ Red – streamer tail

Steppe Eagle

Their habitat is the Russian steppes, and that is how they got their name.

Special adaptationsThe Steppe Eagles can take advantage of a wide range of environments.

Vital Statistics•The length is 62-74 cm (24.4-29.1 in).•The wing span is 1.6-1.9 m (5.2-6.2 ft).•Their sexual maturity is at least 1 year.•The number of eggs is 1-3 eggs per year.•The incubation period is 45 days.•The fledgling period is 55-56 days.•The number of broods is 1 a year.•Their typical diet is birds, mammals, insects, and carrion•The life span is up to 41 years in captivity.•The Steppe Eagles have remarkable eyesight. It is believed that they can spot a grasshopper from the air at 100m (328 ft) away.The eagle’s wings are tipped with fingerlike primary feathers. These are splayed to reduce friction and give more control in the air. Steppe Eagles are an adaptable and successful species.

Birds. Amber Books Ltd.2009

By Colby T.

www.wikipedia.org.steppeeagle.http://

White-Tailed Eagle• A male’s weight is 4.3 kg

(9.5 lb).• A female’s weight is 5.5 kg

(12 lb).• Their length is 76-92

cm.30-36.2 in.• Their wingspan is 1.9-2.4 m

(6.2-8 ft).• Their lifespan is up to 28

years.• Their prey is fish, birds, and

small mammals.• Their incubation period is

38 days.• Their fledging period is 70-

75 days.• They mate every 4-5 years.• The number of eggs the

female lay is 1.• Their special adaptation is

their raucous call.

By Demetris

Birds . Amber Books td . 2009 .www.wibkipedia. Org White-tailed Eagle

Bald Eagle• The Bald Eagle weighs about 9 lbs for

the male and 13 lbs for the female.• The length is around 28-38 in.• The wingspan is about 5.6 to 8 ft.

Birds.AmberBooksLtd.2009.

By Dylan S.

• The number of eggs a year is 1-3. • The diet is fish, small mammals, birds

and Carrion.• The life span is 50 years.• Its special adaptations are sharp claws to

rip flesh and to grab on to their prey.• The Bald Eagle lives only in North

America.

Willow Tit

•The Willow Tits are widespread throughout sub-artic Europe and Northern Asia. •The Willow Tit weighs 12g ( 0.4oz). •The length of the Willow Tit is 12cm ( 4.7in).•Its wing span is 19cm ( 7.5in).•The Willow Tit has 6 to 8 eggs each year. •Its diet is Intebrates in the Summer and seeds and berries in the Winter.

By: Grayson S.

• The Willow Tit’s lifespan is up to 10 years.• They make their nest out of soft decaying tree stumps, which are much easier to excavate.• The special adaptations are their short bills which are used to peck insects or seeds on the

ground , but are equally useful at probing bark for insect larvae. • The Willow Tit is half the size of a human’s hand.

Sources: Birds. Amber Books Ltd. 2009

Hawaiian GooseBy: Hannah

•The Hawaiian Goose is up to a man’s knees.•It is about 22.0-27.6 tall.•It weighs up to 1.4-2.5kg.•Their wingspan is 41.3-53.1inches.•Their life span is up to 30 years.•They have a diet that is grasses, leaves, fruit, berries, insects, and spiders.•You will only find them in Hawaii and the Maui islands.•My bird lays 1-3 eggs a year.

• The goose has adaptations which are reduced webbing to walk on old volcanoes and lava plains.

www.wikipedia.org and Birds. Amber books LTD. 2009.

Emperor Penguins• Emperor Penguins

live in the coldest continents like Antarctica.

• Their special adaptation is that they are clumsy on land but can swim very well thanks to their paddled shape feet.

• Emperor Penguins’ predators are Sea Lions.

• They are about 48 inches feet tall. The weight is about {48.0- 81.6} ounces.

• Emperor Penguins provide insulation to keep warm.

• Their feet are used to keep their baby warm.

• Their layers of coat help keep them warm.

• They live from 23 years-27 years.

• The number of eggs is 1.

By Jamir JG

Birds.AmberBooksLtd.2009.

The Silver Gullwww.wikipedia.org/

The Silver Gulls can live up to 5 years. They lay only five eggs. Only one or two eggs will hatch. They eat small insects, carrion, berries and small squid. It takes them twenty-two to twenty-seven days to develop and hatch. They live in New Zealand, Australia and New Caledonia. They weigh 13.2-55.0g. The length is 15.7-17.7 in. The size is 35.8 in.

By JP W.

Common CanaryBy; Mackenzie W

Birds Amber Books Ltd 2009 WWW.wikipedia.org Common Canary

•The Common Canaries' special adaptation is their traits.•The Common Canaries' traits occur as selective breeding.• Their weight is 15 to 20 grams. They're so light!• Their length is 12.5 centimeters (5 inches).

•Their life span is up to 15 years.• Their wings are short and edged for flying through tight spaces.• Common Canaries are one of the earliest song birds.• These birds are named after the Canary Islands.

Hen HarrierBy Madelyn S.

• The Hen Harrier lives in Europe , Asia and North America.

• A Hen Harrier is a bird that only eats mammals.

• Hen Harriers live in open habitats, such as vegetation or farm land.

• Baby Hen Harriers are often killed while they are in their nest.

• Most adult Hen Harriers can live up to eight years.

• Hen Harriers who live in Europe and Asia migrate to a warmer climate during the winter.

• Their predators are raccoons, skunks, badgers, and owls.

• They also eat frogs, insects, rabbits, and ducks.

• Their weight is 290- 400 g. for the males and females weigh 390-750 g.

• Their length is 16-20 inches.

Birds . Amber Books ltd 2009 hen harrierwww. Wikipedia. org

Golden Fronted Leaf Bird

• The Golden Fronted leaf Bird has a slender tail. • It has wings that blend in with big canopy leaves. • It lives in Sri Lanka , Burma , India , and Thailand.• At Sri Lanka, science shows that scientists are not

sure if this bird is a part of this species.• Their thick feathers help them when birds grab onto

them. The feathers pull out easily.• The life span of my bird is unknown.• Its diet is fruit, nectar, and insects.• It weighs 40 to 70 oz.• It’s 18 – 20 cm .• They lay 2-3 eggs per year.

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Golden-fronted_Leafbird_(Chloropsis_aurifrons)_at_Jayanti,_Duars,_West_Benga_W2_Picture_305.jpgBirds : Amber Books Ltd. 2009

The blue Flycatcher

33

• Its weight is 15-18 grams.• His length is 13 centimeters or 5.1 inches.• The wingspan is 20-25 centimeters or 8-10 inches.• The height is that he is smaller than a person’s hand. • The female Blue Flycatcher lays 1-2eggs each time.• The bird’s special adaptation is he uses his tail and eats

the insects that are in the tree’s bark.

By: Paytyn

My sources are Birds book by: Per Christiansenhttp://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/resources/grzimek_birds/Monarchidae/Elminia_longicauda_male.jpg/view.html

The Blue Flycatcher

Griffon Vulture

By. Shane S.• Its weight is about [13.2-28.6lb.].• Its length is about [37.4-43.3 in.].• Its wing span is about [7.5-8.7 ft.].• Its incubation period is about 151-53 days.• It has one brood a year.• This bird’s typical diet is large carrion such

as goats and sheep.

A Special AdaptationWhen the Griffon Vulture soars in the sky its

amazing eye sight helps it find dead animals to feed on.

Cool FactThe Griffon Vulture is found in isolated pockets

through parts of Southern Europe, Southern Asia, and Northern Africa but has been exterminated from most of its other ranges.

Birds. Amber books Ltd. 2009www.wikipedai.org.Griffon Vulture

Zebra Finch

• The Zebra Finch is located in Timor, the Lesser Sunda Islands in Australia, and Cape York Peninsula.

• Its bill is bulky and bright so it can be identified.

• The bird got its name from the zebra print pattern on its neck, tail, and end.

• The Zebra finch’s special adaptation is not having to find a different mate but keeping the same one until it dies. This helps the species of bird because they are reproducing the same kind of bird without any changing.

• You can tell the difference between males and females because the males sing a lot, but the females do not sing as much. The males especially sing during Mating Season so they can find a mate and reproduce with her.

• With the Zebra Finch’s plump body and its seed cracking beak, it is the most finch-like bird there is.

• It is about the size of a woman’s hand

• The males have rusty brown cheeks and the females have bright red ones.

By: Shelby L.

Sources:Birds: Amber Books Ltd. 2009

www.Wikipedia.org/ZebraFinch

The life span is about 5 years.

Harlequin Duck

•They are found in coastal areas along the eastern side of Russia, southern coast of Greenland, and Iceland.• They are a little bigger than a woman's hand.• Their adaptation is their colorful body patterns which helps it blend into their surroundings.• One interesting fact is the male is more colorful than female.

Sydney S.

Birds Amber books Ltd.2009.http://www.polar.ca/organisms /bids/ marine/ ducks/ harlequin .htmhttp://nationalzoosiedu/scbi/migratory bids/featured bids/default.cfm?bird =harlequin duck.

•Another interesting fact is their body provides protection in the cold rivers.

• Their diet is snails, aquatic insect larvae, and crayfish.

• Their wingspan is 57-75 centimenters.

• Their number of eggs is 4-10.

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

• The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird has long , straight bills to get deep in nectar .

• Also. they can beet their wings 80 times per second.• The Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds are 7-9 cm long.• The males have red necks and females have white necks.• They weigh 2-7 grams. • The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird is found in the eastern

part of the USA.• The special adaptation of this bird is shoulder joint.

Taylor P.

Birds . Amber books ltd. 2009.

Northern Lapwing

•The length of the Lapwing is 28-31 centimeters. That is 11.0-12.2 inches.• The Lapwings’ wing span is 45-58 centimeters and 17.7-22.8 inches.• The numbers of eggs it lays a year is 4. The number of broods a year is 1.

By Thomas H.

•Birds. Amelia books ldt. 2009 . www.wikipedia.Org.

Peacock http:// twootz / bird / Lapwing.

•It has a typical diet of insects, spiders, earthworms, snails, and grubs.•The life span is up to 17 years.•The special adaptation is the tall narrow head crest can be a defense against predators.• Their habitat is in a pasture, the wet meadows, or on migration estuaries.

Bateleur Eagle

• The Bateleur Eagle needs its secondary feathers to help lift itself in the air.• Their long fingers help them control their glide for hours.•This bird lives in Sub-Saharan Africa.•They are 51 to 61 cm. 22 to 24 in.• This eagle is named after French tightrope walkers. By Trevor s.

•The Bateleur Eagle’s chick’s can’t leave until a hundred days .•Their diet is snakes, reptiles, mammals, insects and carrion.•The Bateleur Eagle’s height is up to a man’s knees.• My bird lives up to 23 years.

Birds. Amber books Ltd. 2009en. Wikipedia.org/wiki/Bateleur

Northern Pintail • The Northern Pintails are long, slender ducks with long, narrow

wings. This earns them the nickname Greyhound of the Air.• The Pintails are very fast fliers, holding their wings at a swept – back

angle in the air, rather than straight out.

Birds. Amber Books Ltd. 2009.http://www.ducks.org/hunting/waterfowl-id/northern-pintail.

Trey K.

• The female has a special adaptation of shorter tails and mottled, light brown plumage. The females will lay down in their nests and straighten out their bodies. They do this to protect the eggs from predators.

• The female Pintails look very similar to many other species of female waterfowl. The female Pintails are drab in color for safety. It is the female`s job to incubate the eggs, so it is important that females are well camouflaged.

• A male Pintail`s weight is 900g , and a female`s weight is 700g.• Lakes, rivers and wetlands are perfect habitats for Pintails.

• The Blacksmith Lapwing is found in Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, and Angola.

• The length is 28-31 cm ( 11.0-12.2 in.).

• The special adaptation is it can react to the presence of other lapwings within its territory with aggression.

• The Blacksmith Lapwing lives up to 20 years.

• The weight is 125-225 grams (4.4-8 oz.).

The Blacksmith Lapwing

Vraj S.

Birds. Amber books Ltd. 2009www.Wikipedia.org

• The size is twice as big as a hand.• The head, throat, breast, and most of

the wings are black.• The typical diet is snails, water, insects,

crayfish, and small mussels.• The forehead back of the neck and

belly are white.• The bill is used to crack shells of snails

and small shellfish.• When the Blacksmith Lapwing

swoops down, its alarm sounds like a hammer hitting an anvil.

Ava and Anna

Ants

The ant lives under ground to be safe from its enemy. Ants are very small. The ones that are red are called fire ants. You need to stay away from them. The leader of the colony is the queen ant. There are also black ants. Ants can carry big pieces of food on their backs.Ants make their homes out of sand. The queen ant makes the ants do the work but she does not.

Ava Anna

They are trying to hide from their enemy and make sure all the ants are safe and in the hole.

Carley-Grace and Claire

Let’s Go Camping!

Henry and Mudge went camping. They saw deer, raccoons and bears. Then they went on a hike. An hour later, they found a good camping spot. We had a big tent in our classroom. We love camping!

Carley-Grace and Claire

Camping S’more Camping S’more Camping S’more Camping S’more Camping

This is how you make a s’more, first get two graham crackers, some chocolate and some marshmallows. Then, take one of the graham cracker and lay it down. Then, put chocolate on the graham cracker. After, put a marshmallow on the chocolate. Last, put the other piece of graham cracker on the marshmallow. That is how you make a s’more.

Carley-Grace and Claire

Hunter and Weston

The Life Cycle of a PumpkinA pumpkin is a fruit. They can be orange, white, yellow, or red. A tiny plant is curled in each seed. They are jagged and prickly . Tiny leave push up into the sunlight. The vine twists and creeps along the ground. The pumpkin vine blooms with many yellow flower.

Hunter and Weston

We watched the magic show. We road on the Haunted Hay Ride! We learned how to make apple cider. We drank apple cider. We fed the animals.

Mike’s Farm Field Trip

We carved three pumpkins in the class room. At Mike’s farm everybody picked a pumpkin. We counted the seeds. We waited three pumpkins in the class room. Mrs. Granny May told us that back in the old days nothing was the same as now.

Hunter and weston

Morgan and Maribel

Weather Watching

In the spring the weather starts to get warmer.

In the summer we have the longer hours of day light. Summer is a great time for swimming. The weather is hot.

In fall the days grow shorter. The leaves change colors.

In winter we have the fewest hours of day time.

Sanaa and Julia

A Walk in the Desert

Plants of the desert

The prickly pear fruit can be found in the desert. The cactus fruit has red fruit. The saguaro cactus grows white flowers. A prickly pear fruit Is sweet and juicy. The hedgehog cactus has pink flowers on it. The teddy bear cactus looks like it has spikes.

A woodpecker pecks on a cactus. A tiny fennec fox is little and has big ears. A jack rabbit jumps very high. A rattle snake is dangerous. A kangaroo rat is fat and has a long tail. A tiny kit fox can hear well.

Animals of the deserthttp://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/animal-bytes/animalia/eumetazoa/coelomates/deuterostomes/chordata/craniata/mammalia/carnivora/fennec-fox.htmSanaa and Julia

Seth and Josue

Fun FactsA spider knows how to make thread called silk. It is strong. Spiders catch food in their webs. They eat bugs.

Their webs are very stretchy. Scientist use ideas from spider webs to make flexible buildings. SETH AND JOSUE

Butterflies are insects with different colors wings. Some butterflies migrate. Butterflies eat pollen. Butterflies can be poisonous.

SETH AND JOSUE

The Robot teacher’s face looks like a T.V. They have no arms and no legs. They roll on wheels. The robot teacher is a machine. Seth and Josue

Shamoni and Preonna

Landforms

A hill is smaller than a mountain. A mountain range is bigger than a mountain. A plain is flat like a desk. A compass rose tell you ware to go and east, west, south, north.

An ocean is the largest kind of water on the earth.

An island is surrounded by water. A river is curly like hair. A lake has many kinds of sea creatures.

A island is surrounded by water.

A river is curly like hair.

A lake have see creatures

A hill is little than a mountain.

Preonna and shamoni

Tanner and Braden

Second Grade Math!

Adding three numbers helps us add and subtract. We also learned about LOTS of story problems.

Tanner had 2 drinks and Braden has 2 drinks. How many do they have in all? 2+2=4

Partner houses help us see fact families.

Partner houses

Tanner and Braden

Tanner and Braden

Math mountains help us add.

Counting on is a strategy to help us use our hands to count on.

Counting on

5+2=7

Tanner and Braden

Tori and Raven

Exploring Space and Astronauts

An astronaut is a person who goes into space. A space shuttle can also be a space ship. Eileen Collins was a famous astronaut. Toilets have a type of seat belt and sleeping bags are tied to walls! Astronauts do experiments. A space shuttle is a giant tool box! They took an x-ray to outer space. There is zero gravity in space but there is a little bit on the moon. Inside the shuttle astronauts are on their way to learn more about space.

Tori and Raven

Eileen Collins was the first woman to be a leader of a space shuttle trip. Astronauts exercise to stay strong. Five, Four, Three, Two, One, BLAST OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Exploring Space and Astronauts

Asteroids sometimes hit astronauts space ships.

Tori and Raven

Rocket ships go into space. Rocket ships leave smoke when they blast off!!!

Raven and Tori

This is our solar system.

Tori and Raven

This is the Earth.

Tori and Raven

This is how we get electricity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Were so excited about space!!!

Trey and Laci

Christopher Columbus

He wanted to find a shortcut to Asia. He had three boats the Pinta, Nina and the Santa Maria. He sailed the ocean blues in 1492. He planned to find gold, spices and silk. It took him 37 days cross the Atlantic Ocean. He actually found pineapples, canoes and hammocks. The Santa Maria has 5 sails. He thought the world was small. He landed on an island that he named San Salvador. The very first Columbus day was celebrated in 1792. He was born in Italy.

Trey and LaciChristopher

ColumbusHe was 41 when he sailed the ocean blues. He begged to find San Salvador again.

Trey and Laci

San Salvador

Many towns have parades , marching bands and floats. Learning about Christopher Columbus is fun.