Bizz Buzz

One student goes first and says the number "one." Play continues around the circle with each player saying the subsequent number. The twist is that any number divisible by three is replaced by the word "bizz " and any number divisible by five is replaced by the word "buzz." Numbers divisible by both three and five become "bizz-buzz." When a player says "bizz-buzz," direction of play is reversed. Any player who makes a mistake is out and play starts over

Write For Laughs

To start, one person writes a silly sentence, then passes the paper to the second person. The second person folds the paper to hide the first sentence, writes a second sentence and passes the paper to the third person. This continues around the circle until the last player, who writes an "ending" to the story with only the previous sentence to go from.

Telephone Pictionary

Each person in the group gets a pencil and a piece of paper. Each person thinks of a simple sentence and writes it on the top piece of paper. Then each player passes her stack of paper with the sentence on top to the person on her left. That person must then move the top paper to the back of the stack and draw a picture on the second piece of paper to illustrate the sentence. The stack is passed again, with the next player writing a simple sentence based on the drawing he sees. Finally, each person shares how her sentence changed as it went around the circle.

Heads or Tails

Students stand up and place their hands on their heads or hips to indicate how they think a coin toss will wind up. The teacher flips a coin and if it lands heads up, those students with hands on their hips (or "tails") must sit down. Continue playing until one student remains.

Outburst

Divide the class into two or more equal teams. Provide each team with paper and pencil. Instruct the teams that they will be competing to brainstorm and write down as many words starting with a certain letter as they can in 30 seconds. Repeat with different letters (try "harder" letters such as "Q" or "Z") to find the winner of two out of three

Zoom & Re-Zoom

• This engaging group activity helps develop communication skills, perspective taking, and problem solving skills.
• This game is based on the intriguing, wordless, picture books "Zoom" and "Re-Zoom" by Istvan Banyai which consist of 30 sequential "pictures within pictures". The Zoom narrative moves from a rooster to a ship to a city street to a desert island and outer space. Zoom has been published in 18 countries. The Re-Zoom narrative moves from an Egyptian hieroglyphic to a film set to an elephant ride to a billboard to a train.
• To create the game from the book, separate the picture pages of the book into one page sheets and laminate or place in clear plastic sleeves to protect them and prolong usage.
• Hand out one picture per person (make sure a continuous sequence is used).
• Explain that participants may only look at their own pictures and must keep their pictures hidden from others.
• Encourage participants to study their picture, since it contains important information to help solve a problem.
• The challenge is for the group to sequence the pictures in the correct order without looking at one another's pictures.
• Participants will generally mill around talking to others to see whether their pictures have anything in common. Sometimes leadership efforts will emerge to try to understand the overall story.
• When the group believes they have all the pictures in order (usually after ~15 minutes), the pictures can be turned over for everyone to see.

Squeeze My Hand

This activity works especially well for large groups. First, you must divide into two lines of equal numbers. These people need to be standing with legs spread out and hands held. One one end of the line you need a chair with a tennis ball on it. On the other side of the line you need a volunteer to stand with a coin. This "referee's" job is to hold the coin and flip it. It is the job of the two people in the front of the line (who are the only ones who have their eyes open) to look at the coin and if it is heads up, they need to silently squeeze the next person in line's hand. Then that person squeezes the next person's hand all the way to the end of the line. The last person must pick up the tennis ball, and the winning team gets a point. If a team picks up the ball without having heads or at the wrong time, they will lose a point. All players' eyes should be shut with the exception of the referee and the first one in line. It may be a good idea to use blindfolds so no cheating occurs. Also, if you want, you can rotate first person by having the front person move to the end of the line after each game so everyone gets a chance at the beginning and at the end.

Web link here

Meet Me Bingo

Everyone knows how to play regular bingo, but this type of bingo has a twist that makes it perfect for kids who are just getting to know each other. Either give students bingo cards or have them create their own. On the bingo cards, they need phrases, such as, "I speak two languages," or " I don't like to watch t.v." or "My favorite food is chicken." The job of the students is to go around the room and interview people about the phrases on their bingo board so that they can be the first to call "Bingo!" This is fun and gets the students up and moving.

Web link here

Compliments Game

This is a great activity to do with children after they have had a few weeks to get to know each other. Each student will have a piece of paper that they will write their name on. Put the papers on the desks. The students then will rotate seats until they have the chance to visit every other student's desk and paper. While they are at each desk, they are to write a compliment to that person. They are not to write anything mean. Share lots of examples with students because they are typically not familiar with giving compliments to one another and may have some difficulty coming up with unique compliments. Often you hear, "You're a great friend," or "You're nice." Teach the students how to elaborate on these concepts. This is a keepsake for children that they will treasure, the kind compliments from their classmates. The teacher can participate too. It feels great!

Web link here

Never Have I Ever

This is a fun game that kids will enjoy. Have everyone sit in a circle. Have students hold their hands and all ten fingers out on the floor in front of them. As you go around the circle, each student will tell something that they have never done before. For example, they might say, "Never have I ever eaten strawberry ice cream." If the other players have done that event, they must remove a finger. Therefore, it is a good strategy for students to say things that most people have done but they haven't. This can be a fun and humorous game that will allow the children to learn about each other.

Web Link Here

Koosh Ball

1. Everyone stands in a circle. One person starts by throwing the koosh ball to another person.

2. Continue passing the ball around so that everyone gets the ball once. The ball should end up with the person who started it.

3. Remember the order and then time how fast the group can get the ball through everyone.

4. See if the group can beat their fastest time!

Skills -- Concentration and Team Work

Web link here

Counting

1. Class forms a circle, looking down with no eye contact.

2. One person at a time, but in no preplanned order or pattern, the group needs to count from one to ten.

3. If two people speak at once, they have to start over.

4. If you get past ten... see how high you can go!

Skills -- Ensemble, Giving and Taking Focus

Web link here

Zig Zag Zop!

1. Everyone is in a circle. One person starts by saying, "zig" and looking at another person.

2. That person now says, "zag" while looking at another person.

3. Now the third person says, "zop" while looking at another person and pointing to them with a fully extended arm. Only "zop" has the arm motion. If a person moves their arm on "zig" or "zag" he/she is out and must sit down. If a person does not move their arm on "zop" he/she is out and must sit down.

Advanced -- Speed it up. If a person hesitates, he/she is out

web link here

November Newsletter

Endeavor Hall Volunteer Organization

November 2011

It’s hard to believe that the first quarter is over! We have heard so many wonderful things from parents and students about our administration, staff and curriculum. It makes us happy and excited to hear how much you are loving Endeavor Hall. If you would like to share any stories or thoughts about the first few months of school with us or with our Board of Trustees, please send an email to info@endeavorhall.org. We’re sure the Board would appreciate hearing from you!

Thank You!

Our Spreebird email fundraiser was a HUGE success! We collected 1,397 emails which will turn into $1,397 our school will receive in January. Way to go! The money raised from this will help support events in the spring including our end of year Field Day.

We had a successful Halloween Carnival and are grateful for your help! Thank you for donating your time and/or candy & supplies for the games.

We are also grateful everyday to those who help with traffic & at lunch time. We can always use more help with these ongoing things. If you can help with even one day, please comment.

Reminders

Has your child had a chance to join the Birthday Book Club? To celebrate their birthday, have them give a copy of their favorite book to our library. Or, choose one off of the school’s wish list. Birthday Book Club labels are available in the front office and in the library. If you have questions about this “club,” please comment.

The Green Fiber Recycling bin filled up super quick! Our custodian is working on getting it emptied so we can fill it again. Please be patient and keep watching for that glorious day.

We are collecting Box Tops in the common area by the front office. Simply place them in a baggie labeled with your child’s name & teacher to get credit for an upcoming contest. We will also be collecting empty Capri Sun pouches starting on Monday. The school will receive 2 cents for every package turned in. We’ve noticed that a lot of children have these with their lunches so know that the money will add up fast! There will be a box in the lunchroom for collection.

Volunteer Opportunities

Our library received a very large donation of books from the organization “The Reading Tree.” Volunteers have been preparing these books for our library, but there is still so much to do! We will be holding a Library Day on Saturday, November 19^th from 10am – 2pm. If you are able to come help, even for just ½ hour, we’d LOVE to have you. Please DO NOT bring children. The more help we have with this project, the sooner our students will have an amazing library. Bring a sack lunch if you’re staying for the whole time. Thank you!

We have found that each day there is a child or two who for whatever reason has no lunch. With the help of a few parents, the school has provided for these children. No child should go hungry. If you would like to donate to this cause, you can drop items off with Mrs. Gorringe in the front office. Non perishable items such as, applesauce, fruit cups, granola bars, chips etc work. Anything that can be easily stored and easily passed out is perfect. Another thing the front office could use is a few spare uniforms for students who may need to change for whatever reason. Anything your child has outgrown already would be great.

In an effort to better support our teachers, we are looking for a “Room Parent” for each class. This volunteer will work with the teacher to coordinate help in and out of the classroom. If you are interested in filling this need for your child’s class or for our art & music teachers, please contact post a comment.

Upcoming Events

We are incredibly excited to join the Utah charter school art contest, Inspirations! Information will be sent home with your student on Monday or Tuesday next week. You can get ahead if you want by checking out their blog at charterinspirations.blogspot.com. We can’t wait to see what our students create!

"Give Thanks Drive"

As the VO Officers contemplated what to apply the monies that have already been raised and future monies to, we decided that the best way to maximize our dollars would be towards recess and P.E. equipment for the school and are excited to announce the "Give Thanks Drive!" The drive will take place from Friday, November 18th - Friday, December 2nd and items can be dropped off right at the school. This year's "Give Thanks Drive" will have three main focuses that our school really needs: P.E. Totes - the goal is to have one tote per class full of indoor equipment that the kids can play with during recess hours; Outdoor Equipment such as a portable dome that the kids can climb on or an airplane teeter totter, or both if we have enough funds; and a class Activity Book - the activity book will consist of laminated games and ideas that teachers can use right in their class rooms. Both items and cash can be donated to go towards this cause and the VO is kicking in the first $500! A specific list of items to donate along with additional instructions will be sent to you via email and home with your child on Wednesday, November 16th and VO Officers will be outside on both Friday, November 18th and Friday, December 2nd to take donations if you'd like to drop them off when you drop off your child to school. Stay tuned for additional exciting details in the days to come...

Casual Conversations Breakfast – Friday, December 2^nd at McDonalds on 3500 S and 5600 W from 7:45am to 8:45am. Come for a friendly visit to talk about the amazing things happening at EH.

VO Quarterly Open House - January 26 from 7-8 pm in the school cafeteria

Please come and meet your VO officers and enjoy some donuts and hot chocolate while we discuss opportunities to be involved in the VO and answer any questions you may have.

Spirit Week - February 6-10

Get your Eagle pride on! Let us know if you are interested in helping plan a fun filled week of activities for the kiddos with lots of Eagle pride!

Literacy Week - February 27-March 2

Honoring Dr. Seuss, Read Across America Day, which is celebrated on March 2nd (Dr. Seuss' birthday), the National Education Association sponsors events to inspire reading in children throughout the U.S. We need volunteers who would like to help with the activities and events that will be part of Endeavor Hall's Literacy Week.

And lastly, if you are interested in joining the VO and haven’t yet, just leave a comment.

Have a wonderful second quarter!

Your VO officers,

Celeste, Pam, Chantelle, Debbie & Brittney