J.R. Ingram Parent News

📢 Stay Connected This January!

Welcome to the second semester—we can hardly believe how quickly the year is moving! As we begin a fresh start in January, we are excited about all that lies ahead and the continued growth we know our scholars will achieve in the months to come.

In this edition of our school newsletter, you’ll find updates on upcoming events, important reminders, and helpful resources to support your child’s learning and success. The second semester brings new opportunities, goals, and experiences, and we cannot wait to see our students continue to shine.

If you prefer a printed copy of the newsletter, you are always welcome to stop by the front office.

We value your voice and partnership. If there is something you would like to see featured in future newsletters, please feel free to share your ideas with us. Your feedback helps us make this resource meaningful and relevant for our J.R. Ingram families.

Thank you for your continued support and collaboration. Together, we look forward to an outstanding second semester and all that is in store for our scholars.

Jan 5~Optional Teacher Workday

Jan 6-27~mClass MOY Window open

Jan 6~SIT Meeting

Jan 12-16~NCCI B; Grades 3-5

Jan 12~NCCI Science Grade 5

Jan 13~NCCI Math Grades 3-5

Jan 13~ LCS Board of Education Meeting

Jan 14~Report Card Day

Jan 14~2nd Grade conferences in am

Jan 14~5th Grade Conferences in pm

Jan 14~NCCI make ups

Jan 15~NCCI Reading Grades 3-5

Jan 16~NCCI Make Ups

Jan 19~No School/MLK Holiday

Jan 22~HWY 55 Spirit Night

Jan 22~Middle School Night

Jan 23~Elementary Chess Tournament

Jan 23~1st Grade parent conferences pm

Jan 28~3rd Grade Parent conferences pm

Jan 28 Spelling Bee Practice 6 pm

Feb 2-6~School Counselor's Week

Feb 9~3rd Quarter Progress reports go home

Feb 9-13~Love the Bus Week

Feb 12~Spring Picture Day

Feb 16~Optional Teacher Workday/No School For Students

Feb 20~PTO Family Dance

📢 Volunteer at the PTO Thrift Shop & Help J.R. Ingram! 🏫💙

We need your help to earn funds for our school! We must reach at least 150 hours to qualify for a share of the profits—funds that can go toward school improvements like our new playground! That's only 15 hours a month!! Get your friends, family, church family, neighbors, anyone can volunteer for our school!

📍 Location: 303 S Steele St, Sanford, NC 27330
📞 Phone: (919) 776-4142
🕘 Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 9 AM – 4 PM

✨ Who Can Volunteer?
✅ Parents, staff, family members, and friends – you can work in a student’s name!
✅ Students (ages 12-18) – must be accompanied by a parent (1 student per adult).
🚫 No students under 12 years old can volunteer.

💡 Volunteers may be asked to sweep, hang clothes, straighten racks, and more. Every task helps profits go back to Lee County Schools!

📅 Sign up today! Let’s work together to support our students and reach our goal. Contact the school or PTO for more details.

One of the most important skills children develop as readers is comprehension—understanding what they read, hear, and learn. The great news is that you don’t need special materials or long lessons to help at home. Simple conversations using easy questions can make a big difference!

Below are easy questioning strategies you can use during reading time, homework, or even everyday conversations.

The 5W + H Questions

These questions help children think more deeply and talk about their understanding.

Who?
• Who is the main character?
• Who was involved in the problem?

What?
• What happened in the story?
• What was the problem or solution?

When?
• When did this happen?
• When did the character make an important choice?

Where?
• Where does the story take place?
• Where did the event happen?

Why?
• Why did the character do that?
• Why do you think this was important?

How?
• How did the problem get solved?
• How did the character feel, and how do you know?

When Can You Use These Questions?

You can ask these questions:

• During bedtime reading

• After homework or a school assignment

• While watching a show together

• When talking about daily events (“How did your science experiment go today?”)

Tips for Parents

• There are no “wrong” answers—focus on your child explaining their thinking.

• Ask follow-up questions like, “What makes you think that?”

• Keep it short and natural—just a few questions go a long way.

• Praise effort and thinking, not just correct answers.

By encouraging your child to talk about their thinking, you are helping them become a stronger reader, learner, and communicator. Thank you for supporting learning at home!

Parents often ask how they can support learning at home, and our Family and Community Involvement Committee is excited to share cool ideas that make learning fun—no sled or snow boots required. Using everyday items you already have at home, these hands-on activities help families learn together while having a little winter fun.

This month, we’re heading into the winter wonderland with some of our favorite cold-weather animals—polar bears, penguins, and their chilly habitats. These frosty friends are a great way to spark curiosity, explore science, and bring winter learning to life. Below, you’ll find grade-level activities your family can enjoy together while practicing real-world reading, math, science, and creativity. Get ready to waddle, explore, and learn together!

🎯 Standards Alignment (NCSCOS)

Science:

• K.L.1.2 – Compare characteristics of animals that make them alike and different.

• K.L.1.1 – Observe and describe how animals need air, water, food, and shelter.

Literacy (English Language Arts):

• RL.K.1 – With prompting, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.

• W.K.2 – Use drawing, dictating, and writing to compose informative texts.

• SL.K.1 – Participate in collaborative conversations with peers and adults.

Math:

• K.CC.5 – Count to answer “how many” questions about objects.

• K.MD.3 – Classify objects and count the number in each category.

Art Integration:

• K.V.3.1 – Create art that tells a story about people, places, or things.

🧩 Activity Plan

1. Storytime: “Penguin Family Adventure”

📚 Read aloud a penguin book such as Tacky the Penguin (Helen Lester) or Penguin Families (National Geographic Kids).
Discussion prompts:

• How are penguin families like our families?

• What do penguins need to live?

• What do penguin parents do to help their babies?

🗣️ NCSCOS Links: RL.K.1, SL.K.1

2. Science Exploration: How Penguins Stay Warm

🧊 Experiment: Fill one bag with shortening (as “blubber”) and another without. Students dip their hands in each (inside a plastic glove) to feel the temperature difference.
Question: Which hand stayed warm? Why do penguins have blubber?

✏️ Extension: Draw and label a penguin with features that help it survive (flippers, feathers, beak).

🔬 NCSCOS Links: K.L.1.1, K.L.1.2

3. Math Fun: Count the Penguins!

🐧 Use penguin counters (or paper cutouts).

• Count groups of penguins (1–10).

• Sort by color, size, or pose.

• Graph the results.

🔢 NCSCOS Links: K.CC.5, K.MD.3

4. Writing & Art: My Penguin Family

🖍️ Students draw a penguin family that shows what each member does (Mom keeps the egg warm, Dad fishes, baby learns to swim).
✏️ Label the family members and write (or dictate) a sentence:

“My penguin family likes to huddle together to stay warm.”

🎨 NCSCOS Links: W.K.2, K.V.3.1

5. Movement Game: Penguin Waddle Race

👣 Use beanbags or paper “eggs.” Children place the “egg” on their feet and waddle to the finish line without dropping it!
💡 Variation: Work in teams—one partner is the “baby penguin” riding on the parent’s feet.

🤸 NCSCOS Links: Healthful Living K.MEH.1.3 (cooperative play)

6. Family Connection: Penguin Family Facts

Send home a Penguin Family Fun Sheet with prompts such as:

• “What is something your family does together to stay warm?”

• “Draw your family like a penguin family.”
  Families can share photos or drawings back at school.

🏠 NCSCOS Links: SL.K.1, W.K.2

This activity turns a 2nd-grade math lesson into a high-energy family game night. It’s perfect for practicing number recognition, sequencing, and fine motor skills while staying warm indoors.

I. Activity Objective

To be the first player to build a complete 3-tier snowman by rolling specific numbers in the correct order.

II. Materials Needed (Household Items)

• The Dice: One standard 6-sided die (or use a Digital Dice Roller).
• Snowman Parts:
  • 3 white paper circles of different sizes (Large, Medium, Small).
  • Alternative: Use 3 different sized white bowls, socks, or even rolls of toilet paper!
• The "Snowball": A white pom-pom, a cotton ball, or a crumpled-up piece of paper.
• Decorations: Markers, buttons, or a carrot (for the winner to add at the end).

III. How to Play

1. Set the Table
Give each player a "Construction Zone" (a placemat or designated spot on the floor). Place all the snowman parts in a central "Snow Pile."

2. The 1-3-5 Build Rule
Players take turns rolling the die. You must build your snowman from the bottom up:

• Roll a 1: Take the Large Base. (You cannot take anything else until you have this!)
• Roll a 3: Take the Medium Middle. (Only if you already have the base.)
• Roll a 5: Take the Small Head. (Only if you have the middle.)
• Roll a 2 or 4: "Wait for a Snowflake"—your turn ends.

3. The "Meltdown" Twist (Roll a 6)
If a player rolls a 6, they can yell "SNOWBALL FIGHT!" and gently toss the paper snowball at any other player's snowman.

• If the snowball hits the snowman and knocks a piece over, that player has to put their pieces back in the center pile and start over from the beginning!

4. Winning the Game
The first person to successfully roll a 1, 3, and 5 and stack their snowman wins! The winner gets to "decorate" their snowman with a face and accessories.

IV. Make it Educational (The 2nd Grade Connection)

• Math Talk: Ask your child, "What is the probability of rolling a 1? Is it the same as rolling a 6?" (Yes, they are all 1 in 6!)
• Sequencing: Have your child explain the "Recipe for a Snowman" using transition words: "First I rolled a 1 for the base, then I rolled a 3..."
• Fine Motor: Use tongs or a spoon to move the "snowball" pieces to the construction zone to add a physical challenge.

V. Quick Resources for Parents

• Printable Version: If you don't want to cut circles, you can print a Build-a-Snowman Template to use as game pieces.
• Variations: For a longer game, assign numbers for the "Arms" (Roll a 2) and "Hat" (Roll a 4).

Grade: 3rd Grade
Estimated Time: 45–60 minutes (feel free to break it up!)

This activity is designed to be simple, fun, and flexible. You do not need special supplies or prior knowledge—just curiosity and conversation. Choose what works best for your family and enjoy learning together.

🧰 Materials Needed

Most items are already at home:

• Pencil

• Paper or notebook

• Ruler or tape measure

• Calculator (optional)

Optional learning resources (choose one):

• A short polar bear video

• A children’s article or book about polar bears

Helpful Online Resources (kid-friendly):

• National Geographic Kids – Polar Bears:
  https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/polar-bear

• WWF Polar Bear Facts (simple and clear):
  https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/polar-bear

• YouTube (search): “Polar Bears for Kids” (3–5 minute videos work best)

📘 READING (ELA – Informational Text)

Activity: All About Polar Bears

What to Do Together:

1. Read a short article or watch a brief video about polar bears.

2. Talk about what you learned—there are no wrong answers.

3. Help your child answer the questions below using the text.

Questions to Ask Your Child:

• What is the main idea of what we read or watched?

• Tell me three interesting facts you learned about polar bears.

• What is one new word you heard? What do you think it means?

Skills Being Practiced:

• Finding the main idea

• Remembering details

• Learning new vocabulary

➗ MATH

Activity: Polar Bear Math

Polar Bear Facts to Use:

• An adult polar bear weighs about 1,200 pounds

• A baby polar bear weighs about 100 pounds

• Polar bears can swim 6 miles at a time

Try These Together:

1. How much more does an adult polar bear weigh than a baby polar bear?

2. If a polar bear swims 6 miles each day for 4 days, how many miles is that?

3. Measure 6 feet somewhere in your home.

   • How many inches is that? (Hint: 1 foot = 12 inches)

Parent Tip:
Let your child explain their thinking out loud—even if they make mistakes. That’s part of learning.

🔬 SCIENCE

Activity: How Do Polar Bears Stay Warm?

Talk About Together:

• How do polar bears survive in freezing temperatures?

• What special body features help them?

Questions to Ask:

• Name two body traits that help polar bears stay warm.

• Why do you think white fur is helpful in the Arctic?

• What might happen to polar bears if the ice keeps melting?

Hands-On Fun (Optional):

• Wrap one hand in a towel (this represents blubber).

• Leave the other hand uncovered.

• Hold both near something cold (a cold window or an ice pack wrapped in cloth).

• Which hand stayed warmer? Why?

🌍 SOCIAL STUDIES

Activity: Where Do Polar Bears Live?

What to Do:

• Look at a map or globe together (paper or online).

• Find the Arctic region.

Questions to Ask:

• Where in the world do polar bears live?

• Name one country near the Arctic.

• How does the cold environment affect animals and people who live there?

Extension (Optional):

• Compare the Arctic to where you live.

  • How is the weather different?

  • How would life change if it were cold all year?

✍️ WRITING EXTENSION (Optional)

Writing Prompt:
Write one paragraph explaining:

• Why polar bears are important

• One way people can help protect them

Parent Tip:
Your child can draw a picture first or talk through their ideas before writing.

💙 Remember

You do not have to complete everything at once. Even 15–20 minutes of reading and talking makes a big difference. The goal is learning, connection, and curiosity—not perfection.

Estimated Time: 45–60 minutes (can be split into shorter sessions)

This activity gives students a chance to think like scientists and mathematicians while learning about polar bears. Families are encouraged to work together, talk through ideas, and have fun—there is no need for perfection.

❄️ Part 1: How Do Polar Bears Stay Warm?

(Science Experiment – Insulation)

What Students Are Learning:
Polar bears have special body features, called adaptations, that help them survive in very cold environments. One of the most important is blubber, which helps keep heat inside their bodies.

Materials:

• Bowl of ice water

• 2 zip-top plastic bags

• Shortening, vegetable oil, or petroleum jelly (to represent blubber)

• Timer or phone stopwatch

• Paper towel

What to Do:

1. Spread a layer of shortening inside one zip-top bag.

2. Place the second bag inside the first one and seal them together.

   • This creates a “blubber glove.”

3. Have your child place one hand in a plain bag and gently dip it into the ice water for 10 seconds.

4. Dry the hand with a paper towel.

5. Now place the other hand into the blubber glove and dip it into the ice water for 10 seconds.

6. Compare how each hand felt.

Talk About It:

• Which hand stayed warmer?

• How does the blubber glove act like a polar bear’s blubber?

• Why do you think fat helps keep heat in?

• How do real polar bears survive freezing Arctic temperatures?

Parent Tip:
If ice water feels uncomfortable, shorten the time or hold hands near a cold window instead.

✏️ Part 2: Polar Bear Math Word Problems

(Measurement, Conversion, & Multi-Step Problems)

Students should read each problem carefully and explain their thinking out loud.

1. Measurement & Conversion

• An adult polar bear can be 8 feet long.

• A cub is about 40 inches long.

Question:
How many inches longer is the adult than the cub?

(Reminder: 1 foot = 12 inches)

Choices:
A. 36 inches
B. 48 inches
C. 56 inches
D. 64 inches

2. Multi-Step Word Problem

A polar bear swims 5 miles to find food and then walks 2,640 yards across sea ice.

Question:
How many total miles did the polar bear travel?

Helpful Hint:

• 1 mile = 1,760 yards

Choices:
A. 6 miles
B. 6.5 miles
C. 7.5 miles
D. 8 miles

3. Weight Comparison

• An adult male polar bear weighs about 1,500 pounds.

• A female polar bear weighs about 550 pounds.

Question:
How much heavier is the male polar bear?

Choices:
A. 850 pounds
B. 900 pounds
C. 950 pounds
D. 1,000 pounds

🧠 Part 3: Polar Bear Adaptations (Observation Activity)

Look at two pictures of polar bears together (from a book or a safe website).

Common Adaptations to Notice:

• White fur → helps camouflage in snow

• Black skin → absorbs heat from the sun

• Thick blubber → keeps the body warm

• Large paws → help with walking on snow and swimming

• Sharp claws and teeth → help catch food

Reflection Questions:

• Which two adaptations do you think are the most important? Why?

• How does a polar bear’s body help it blend into its environment?

• What challenges would a polar bear face if it lived in North Carolina?

🎨 Part 4: Optional Art & Math Extension

Supplies: Graph paper and pencil

What to Do:

• Draw a polar bear on graph paper.

• Count how many square units make up the area of the drawing.

• Trace around the outside and discuss the perimeter.

Why This Matters:
This activity strengthens understanding of area and perimeter while allowing creativity.

💙 Family Reminder

You do not have to complete every section in one sitting. Even short conversations and hands-on experiences help build strong understanding. The most important part is learning together.

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