Color Outside the Lines

Coloring Outside the Lines
by Craig Kinsley

Something from nothing is where our story begins
When everything was created from beginning to end
Like salt from a shaker, beauty fell on the earth
And with a heart full of love the heavens gave birth
Each plant and each tree held splendor beyond reason
It was a sight to behold the unfolding of four seasons
Like a body with two eyes, two legs and a nose
Each part had a purpose, and their differences showed
Every piece was unique even beyond measure
The Creator said it was good and that it was His pleasure
Even the snow and its flakes were never the same
Each one was distinct as if created by name.
And even when two are created in one
Their fingerprints are different, whether daughter or son.
Not one created twice is His rule of thumb
Different purposes and callings to the earth have we come.
But in this day and age, as children begin to grow
The uniqueness that once was ceases to show
With our big ‘ol green roofs, and SUV’s in the drive,
a white picket fence and we say we’ve arrived
Like a single piece of cloth, we’re all cut just the same
“Become just like us, it’s the American Dream!” they exclaim
“How can we create that which doesn’t exist?
We’ll just follow the crowd, that’s the best” they insist.
Like a cookie or cake, it’s a sight to behold
One would think just by looking that we’re from the same mold
From the first to the last, from the hair to the clothes
There’s not one single difference and that’s good we suppose.
Assembled and packaged, like a gift from a store
They come right off the line and right out the door
Their bows and their braids, their neckties and pants
They’re packed up and wrapped up, not standing a chance.
Do this and do that and don’t say a word
“Could we do something different, well that’s never occurred”
As the years come and go, one after another
Our past hopes and dreams grow further and further
Life’s just too busy, there’s simply no time to think
It’s all passing by, we’re scared just to blink
The new is no more and creation has ceased
Something from nothing? No not in the least
But there once was a boy named Alfie who never did things very plain
Who dared to be different and never quite looked the same
He had the heart of an artist and the spirit of a pioneer
He seemed to always take the narrow road, this much was clear
As he sat there in class, there was no way to know
That this was the day that little Alfie would grow.
The teacher announces, I’ve got a project for you
There’s no need for anything different or to create anything new
I’ve done it all for you with my photocopy machine
You each get 1 color either blue red or green
As the pictures were passed, the teacher exclaimed
“There are lines on the page so they’ll all look the same”
“Just pick up your paper, sit down in your seat
Stay inside the lines where it’s nice and neat
Simply pick up your color, the blue one will do
You don’t have to think, the works been done for you
The work had begun on the coloring sheets
The students worked hard, not missing a beat
But Alfie had a dream, a desire in his heart
It was different from most right from the start
He created his masterpiece quite different from his friends
It might not have seemed pretty, but it was his in the end
As the teacher arrived, little Sally was through
She had used every color from yellow to blue
Her picture was perfect, from bottom to top
She even used paint down to the last drop
The colors were shaded and graded with particular care
All the teacher could do was sit there and stare
As the teacher arrived to Alfie’s small seat
Her stare was quite different and not quite as sweet
“I’m confused little Alfie, I don’t get your designs
Why not look at little Sally, she stayed inside the lines.”
“What have you done, I don’t mean to complain
But it’s new and it’s different, why don’t you explain”
“It’s a tree!” he exclaimed as he held the picture to show
“It’s swaying and rocking as the wind starts to blow!”
“A tree’s not what I see and no blowing wind
What I see is just scribble and scrabble my friend”
Alfie thought to himself, “I don’t understand
I drew it and thought it, it came from my hand”
“It might not be perfect, but what does that mean
Perfect is different when with the heart it is seen.”
“If I do it the same, will I see wonders and signs
No me I prefer to color outside the lines.”
From that day forward Alfie began to create
Something from nothing because a dream did await
He was created and crafted, so he did as well
With every new day he found his dream did excel
Each was quite different and hardly ever the same
Till one day his dream to reality it came
A great generation, that’s never existed before
Millions of lovers and dreamers that prophets called for
They all weren’t the same, they had various looks
But had one heart and mind as foretold in a Book
They had one common goal that began with a picture
That a King would arise and our love would grow thicker
So here is your canvas, made of paper and wood
Do what is different and what you never thought that you could
You see, dreams from the heart, are not a mistake
But cause people to rise and the earth to awake
That earth is now crying and waiting on you
To arise and awake and do something new

Wordle

SchoolTube - Nick's Washington DC Presentation

SchoolTube - Nick's Washington DC Presentation Here is Nick's presentation about his trip to Washington DC! Yippee!

K Nex Build/Math Connections

We have been discussing simple machines--levers, pulleys, incline planes, gears etc. We also discussed how math relates to these ideas. In examining ratios and proportions, we learned that in simple machines: F1/F2 = D1/D2 where F = force, and D=distance. Students had a chance to do some inquiry based learning by creating structures with K Nex and experimenting with force and distance.

Parent Newsletter 5-15-11

Field Trip to the State Capitol

Field Trip Information

Monday, May 9,2011

Our tour is scheduled to start at the capitol at 9:30, and they would like us to arrive at 9:15am. In order to make this happen, we need to be on the 32nd & Osceola RTD 8:28am bus. That means that we need to meet at school at 8:10am, and leave the school at 8:15am. With all three 4th grades heading downtown, I wanted to be pro-active in ensuring that we are on-time. I was hopeful that we could help each other by carpooling, etc to make sure we can all be here on time, ready to experience our downtown adventure!
Please let me know if you have any questions and/or concerns, so we can work together to get everyone here on-time and ready to go on Monday!
Thanks so much! Amy


Remember: Backpacks should contain water, lunch, camera(optional), notebook, pencil or pen.
Wear comfortable shoes because we will be doing some walking!

Homework Due 5-12-11

Homework Log Sheet
Homework is assigned on Thursdays and due the following Thursday. Students will be given time in class to record assignments.

THIS WILL BE THE LAST WEEK OF HOMEWORK!

Assignment #1: MATH PUZZLE OF THE WEEK. PLEASE COMPLETE GUIDELINE QUESTIONS TOO!

Regular hexagons are inscribed in and circumscribed outside a circle - as shown in the illustration.

If the smaller hexagon has an area of three square units, what is the area of the larger hexagon?



Assignment #2: Study Vocabulary words. Word list consists of the names of all 50 states. Students will be given a map and be asked to properly identify each state on the map.

Quote of the Week: Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.
Buddha

Assignment #3: Read 20 minutes each night, or some combination that totals 100 minutes between Thursday and Thursday.

State reports will be due on May 23rd!
Read your literature unit book at home so you will be able to use class time to work with your group on assigned activities!

Parent Newsletter 5-5-11