• Facebook
  • Mail
  • District Home
  • Our Schools
  • Staff Resources
  • Facebook
  • Mail
McKay Phone: 541.966.3000
McKay Creek Elementary
  • Home
  • School Information
    • Announcements & News
    • Calendar
    • Continuity of Services
    • Daily School Schedule
    • Immunization Reports
    • Principal’s Page
    • Title IX
  • Parent Resources
    • 2023-24 School Supply List
    • Conscious Discipline
    • Early Intervention Services
    • Eastern Promise
    • Nutrition Services
    • Parents Club
    • Parents Guide to Google & Chromebooks
    • Parent Links & Resources
    • ParentVUE
    • Registration Forms
    • Report a Concern
    • Smarter Balanced Assessment
    • Student/Parent Handbook
    • Student Transportation (Bus)
  • Student Resources
    • Clever
    • Google Classrooms
    • Inside Recess Computer Activities
    • i-Ready
    • iXL Math
    • SORA – eLibrary
    • Student Access
    • StudentVUE
    • Think Central
  • Contact Us
    • Staff Directory
    • Report a Concern
  • Search
  • Menu Menu

3rd Grade Animal Adaptation Project at McKay Elementary

October 23, 2023/in District Site News, McKay Creek School News /by rthornburg

Third graders in Noele Mead’s classroom at McKay Creek Elementary recently worked on a project combining reading, writing, and a little bit of science. The students had to choose an animal to read about and research and then write about the animal.

On the wall outside Mead’s classroom are the resulting reports created by her students, with animals ranging from a koala to a Gila Monster to ocean creatures.

Third grader Gwen said she read and wrote about the Blue Marlin, one of the largest, fastest, and most recognizable fish in the world due to the long bill that grows from the front of its head. Gwen said she chose the marlin because her teacher said to pick an animal, probably nobody else would, so she searched in the fish category. Gwen discovered a Blue Marlin could weigh over 1,800 pounds and live in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans.

A main part of the assignment was to research adaptations of the animal you chose. Andrew, a third grader, said, “An adaptation is one of their special body parts that helps them survive.”

The sharp, spear-like nose on the Blue Marlin is an adaptation that helps it catch its prey, and it’s also a very fast swimmer, Gwen said.

Andrew chose to report on the King Cobra since he likes snakes. He said he learned that the hood of the snake, an expansion of their neck skin, makes it look threatening, and the snake’s bite can kill an elephant. It lives in forests and deserts and eats rats, squirrels, and frogs. The King Cobra’s adaptation is its threatening hood, and one type of cobra can spit venom into a predator’s eyes.

Both students explained that after reading about their animals, they completed pre-writes of their report, which their teacher reviewed and edited to be ready for publishing. Mead, their teacher, said the process of reading a variety of information, in addition to incorporating what they already know, helps them determine the most important items to include in the report. “This is a skill students need to develop that will help them be successful for future third grade lessons, but also as they progress through school,” Mead said.

In addition to their own animals, Andrew said he liked fellow student Noah’s report on the beaver, because he is a big Oregon State University Beavers fan and he also liked the Glass Frog. Gwen said she liked the report on the Gila Monster.

“In this project, I liked learning more about the Blue Marlin,” Gwen said. Would she want to see one in the ocean? Yes, she said, but “I would like to have a safe distance from it.”

McKay Animal Project McKay Animal Project McKay Animal Project McKay Animal Project McKay Animal Project McKay Animal Project

 

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail
https://mces.pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/10/IMG_1864-scaled.jpg 1920 2560 rthornburg https://mces.pendleton.k12.or.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2020/03/Mckay-Logo.png rthornburg2023-10-23 10:58:472023-10-23 10:58:473rd Grade Animal Adaptation Project at McKay Elementary

News Archives

  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • August 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020

Upcoming Events

Loading view.
  • District Wide
  • Early Learning Center
  • Hawthorne High School
  • McKay Elementary School
  • Pendleton High School
  • PVLA
  • Sherwood Elementary School
  • Sunridge Middle School
  • Washington Elementary School
  • December 2023

Calendar of Events

M Mon

T Tue

W Wed

T Thu

F Fri

S Sat

S Sun

1 event, 27

2023-11-27

Late Start

Late Start

November 27

Late Start

0 events, 28

0 events, 29

0 events, 30

0 events, 1

0 events, 2

0 events, 3

4 events, 4

2023-12-04

Book Fair

Book Fair

December 4 - December 8

Book Fair

PELC is having a winter Book Fair the week of Dec 4-8.

2023-12-04

Late Start

Late Start

December 4

Late Start

7:30 am - 4:00 pm

SBHC @ the PELC

December 4 @ 7:30 am - 4:00 pm

SBHC @ the PELC

The Pendleton School Based Health Clinic is offering an Immunization Clinic and Well Child Checks that are available to all students in the Pendleton School District at no cost to […]

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

MES – Parent Club Meeting

December 4 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

MES – Parent Club Meeting

MES - Parent Club Meeting

3 events, 5

2023-12-04

Book Fair

2023-12-05

MES – Movie Night

MES – Movie Night

December 5

MES – Movie Night

McKay Creek Elementary, Parent Club, Movie Night!

8:00 am - 9:00 am

Board Work Session

December 5 @ 8:00 am - 9:00 am

Board Work Session

Held in the District Office Boardroom. 8:00-9:00 am

3 events, 6

2023-12-04

Book Fair

2023-12-06

MES – Holiday Programs (see different times)

MES – Holiday Programs (see different times)

December 6

MES – Holiday Programs (see different times)

9:30 am -- 1st and 2nd (Phillips, Whitten, Hancock, Leighty & Cook) 10:30 am -- 5th and Smith (Walters, Noble & Smith) 1:30 pm -- 3rd and Deutz (Deutz, Erwin […]

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Parents Club

December 6 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Parents Club

Sherwood Parents Club meets the first Wednesday of every month at 6:00 p.m. in the Sherwood Elementary cafeteria. Free childcare is provided to those in attendance. We hope to see […]

3 events, 7

2023-12-04

Book Fair

8:30 am - 2:00 pm

PELC Winter Concerts

December 7 @ 8:30 am - 2:00 pm

PELC Winter Concerts

The PELC students are pleased to perform their winter concerts on December 7, 2023. Otters, Coyotes – 8:30 AM Bees, Racoons, Beavers – 9:30 AM Squirrels, Bears, Owls – 12:20 […]

4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

FTC Robotics

December 7 @ 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

FTC Robotics

Meet 1 – PHS Gold Gym from 4-8 pm.

1 event, 8

2023-12-04

Book Fair

0 events, 9

0 events, 10

2 events, 11

2023-12-11

Late Start

Late Start

December 11

Late Start

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Board Meeting

December 11 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Board Meeting

Held in the District Office Boardroom. 6:00-7:00 pm

2 events, 12

8:30 am - 10:30 am

Winter Concerts

December 12 @ 8:30 am - 10:30 am

Winter Concerts

Sherwood will have their winter concerts on Tuesday, December 12 at the following times: 8:30 am – Grades 1 & 2 9:30 am – Grades 3, 4 & 5

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Choir Concert

December 12 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Choir Concert

Sunridge Middle School is pleased to present its Winter Choir Concert on Tuesday, Dec 12th at 7 PM in the commons.

0 events, 13

1 event, 14

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Instrumental Concert

December 14 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Instrumental Concert

Sunridge Middle School is pleased to present its Winter Instrumental Concert on Thursday, Dec 14th at 7 PM in the commons.

1 event, 15

10:00 am - 11:00 am

6th Grade Concert

December 15 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am

6th Grade Concert

Sunridge Middle School is pleased to present its 6th Grade Winter Concert on Friday, Dec 15th at 10 AM in the gym.

0 events, 16

0 events, 17

2 events, 18

2023-12-18

Late Start

Late Start

December 18

Late Start

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Winter Choral Concert

December 18 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Winter Choral Concert

Pendleton High School will perform its winter choral concert at 7:00 pm in the PHS Auditorium

2 events, 19

9:00 am

Winter Concerts

December 19 @ 9:00 am

Winter Concerts

Washington Elementary is having its winter concerts. Grade 1 – 9:00 AM Grades 2 & 3 – 11:00 AM Grades 4 & 5 – 1:00 PM

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Winter Instrumental Concert

December 19 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Winter Instrumental Concert

Pendleton High School will be performing its winter instrumental concert at 7:00 pm in the PHS Auditorium.

0 events, 20

1 event, 21

2023-12-21

No School – Winter Break

No School – Winter Break

December 21, 2023 - January 1, 2024

No School – Winter Break

1 event, 22

2023-12-21

No School – Winter Break

1 event, 23

2023-12-21

No School – Winter Break

1 event, 24

2023-12-21

No School – Winter Break

1 event, 25

2023-12-21

No School – Winter Break

No School – Winter Break

1 event, 26

2023-12-21

No School – Winter Break

1 event, 27

2023-12-21

No School – Winter Break

1 event, 28

2023-12-21

No School – Winter Break

1 event, 29

2023-12-21

No School – Winter Break

1 event, 30

2023-12-21

No School – Winter Break

1 event, 31

2023-12-21

No School – Winter Break

November 27
All day

Late Start

  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
December 4
All day

Book Fair

All day

Late Start

December 4 @ 7:30 am - 4:00 pm

SBHC @ the PELC

December 4 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

MES – Parent Club Meeting

December 5
December 5 @ 8:00 am - 9:00 am

Board Work Session

December 6
December 6 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Parents Club

December 7
December 7 @ 8:30 am - 2:00 pm

PELC Winter Concerts

December 4
All day

Book Fair

All day

MES – Movie Night

December 5 @ 8:00 am - 9:00 am

Board Work Session

December 4
All day

Book Fair

All day

MES – Holiday Programs (see different times)

December 6 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Parents Club

December 4
All day

Book Fair

December 7 @ 8:30 am - 2:00 pm

PELC Winter Concerts

December 7 @ 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

FTC Robotics

December 4
All day

Book Fair

  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
December 11
All day

Late Start

December 11 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Board Meeting

December 12
December 12 @ 8:30 am - 10:30 am

Winter Concerts

December 12 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Choir Concert

  • There are no events on this day.
December 14
December 14 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Instrumental Concert

December 15
December 15 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am

6th Grade Concert

  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
December 18
All day

Late Start

December 18 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Winter Choral Concert

December 19
December 19 @ 9:00 am

Winter Concerts

December 19 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Winter Instrumental Concert

  • There are no events on this day.
December 21
All day

No School – Winter Break

December 21
All day

No School – Winter Break

December 21
All day

No School – Winter Break

December 21
All day

No School – Winter Break

December 21
All day

No School – Winter Break

December 21
All day

No School – Winter Break

December 21
All day

No School – Winter Break

December 21
All day

No School – Winter Break

December 21
All day

No School – Winter Break

December 21
All day

No School – Winter Break

December 21
All day

No School – Winter Break

View Calendar
psd shield logo

Pendleton School District
107 NW 10th Street, Pendleton, OR 97801
Phone:  541.276.6711  Fax:  541.278.3208

The Pendleton School District assures that no person shall on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability or income as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related authorities, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any Pendleton School District sponsored program or activity.

Accessibility Statement   |   Nondiscrimination Policy   |  USDA Nondiscrimination Statement  |  Public Complaint Procedure  |  Safe Oregon
© Pendleton School District 16R. All Rights Reserved

Superintendent Video Message – September 29, 2023Kevin HeadingsFirst StudentFirst Student Safety Stand-Down Week
Scroll to top