~ FANTASTIC FRIDAY ~

Around the School

December 3rd - 6th - Santa's Workshop
December 7th - Winterfest 
from 5:30 to 7:30
December 12th - E-Learning Day
December 21st - End of 2nd Grading Period
December 24th - January 7th - Winter Recess
January 8th - Class Resumes

We only met one day this week because of the snow day on Monday.

2nd GRADE:  THE MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF EDWARD TULANE:  

  It has been a crazy few weeks of activities around the school, which has affected our 2nd grade schedule.  We utilized this week as a catch up day, since it has been 2 weeks from our last class.  I read aloud the previous two assigned chapters.  We held a discussion on all of their reading and had lots to discuss.  We have reached an emotional part of our novel where we see a physical connection permanently break.  This led us into a discussion on if we still have a connection with a person after they pass away.  We decided that we still have our memories and photographs to help us remember this person.  The memories allow us to still have a connection with someone even though they are gone.  We had some time left at the end of class to look over our final set of predictions.  We will continue with this step next week.

This week the students were assigned to read Chapters 20 and 21.


3rd GRADE:  ANNOTATIONS:
  This week the students were introduced to annotations.  Annotations are different codes and symbols we use combined with notes to help us in close reading.  We combine annotations with notes in the margins to help us comprehend our reading.  We looked over the different symbols they gave us on a bookmark for annotations.  We also discussed using annotations on different forms of writing.  When you are given a paper to keep - mark it up because it is yours to keep.  If you are given a paper or book you must return, use sticky notes to keep track of your notes.  Next week we will practice using our annotations.



4th GRADE:  CHANGE IN LANGUAGE:
  This week we looked at how our language has changed over time.  I quickly showed them are vocabulary maps and discussed the origin box on this handout.  We also discussed how the meaning of a word can change just by adding a prefix or a suffix onto a word.  The students explored a packet on Greek and Latin words to see the change in our language.  They will continue exploring the change in language next week.

  

2nd GRADE:  INTRODUCTION TO AREA: 

 This week we looked over the chapter check-ups.  To wrap up measuring in length we played a round of Kahoot which covered most of the material from Chapter 1.  Next, we moved onto the new math concept for chapter 2 - it will be all about area. 

Dru and Teller need our help in discovering how many sleeping bags can fit comfortably in tents.  I displayed for them a 12x12 sheet of scrapbook paper and we discussed why this would be called a square foot.  We measured each side to see that each length is exactly 12 inches.  

We also discussed how to properly label a number when referring to area by using the 2 as the exponent.  To end the day, we worked on a range of an area to comfortably fit one sleeping bag.  Each student made a guess to how many square feet they thought we needed and this became our range to test out.  We had time to test out the lowest number in our range of 15 square feet.  We will look at the largest number they gave next week.

We will continue to explore area next week.

3rd GRADE:  AREA:

  This week we looked over the chapter check-up.  Then, we moved onto the new math concept for chapter 2- area.  We briefly looked at area at the end of chapter 1 with perimeter when selecting the largest pen.  We concluded one way to determine the inside space was to count the squares.  
To continue with this concept, we looked at the area of irregular shapes.  Each student outlined the shape of a fried egg.  First, they were asked to estimate the area of their shape.  Then, they needed to find a way to calculate the actual area.  Most of them already had a number of whole squares from this being their strategy to find their guess.  We looked at a trick of drawing a square or rectangle within the irregular shape and then applying the formula for area - a definite time saver!  Now they needed to find a way to incorporate their partial squares into their area.  They went about this in two different ways: One way was to piece the partial squares together like a puzzle.  The second way was looking at the partial squares as fractions and combing the partial squares in this way.  Some of my friends combined both strategies.  We will continue exploring area next week.

4th GRADE:  ORDERING FRACTIONS:

  We started with a mini-review of ordering fractions, since we had a large gap with break.  Then, we looked at two fractions and compared them by finding common denominators.  This was a review for us as we talked about this strategy earlier in the year.  

Next, they finished their independent practice with ordering fractions.  To end the week, we looked at question 5 from their worksheet - they were asked to order 14 fractions.  As a class we sorted the bags using benchmarks to work with the fractions in smaller groups. 

 This allowed us to have 3 smaller groups of bags to sort -a set between zero and a half, a set between a half and one whole and the last set over one whole.  The class split into 3 groups and organized these 3 different sections.  They were able to sort out all the bags on the first try!  We will wrap up ordering fractions next week.

Have a Great Weekend,

Ms Losinski

~ THANKFUL TUESDAY ~

*This is a combined blog from last week and our two days this week.

I wanted to wish everyone a HAPPY THANKSGIVING and I hope everyone enjoys the time off with family.

Around the School

November 21st- 23rd - Thanksgiving Break - No School
November 26th - School Resumes
December 3rd - 6th - Santa's Workshop
December 7th - Winter Fest 
from 5:30 to 7:30
December 12th - Elearning Day
December 21st - End of 2nd Grading Period

2nd Grade:  THE MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF EDWARD TULANE: 

 This week our focus was on metaphors.  We defined a metaphor as a figure of speech that compares two things saying one thing is the other thing.  They completed a worksheet matching some common metaphors to what they really mean.  Then, they had the opportunity to create their own metaphor.  
Next, we took a moment to read an excerpt of The Testing Tree by Stanley Kunitz.  I shared with the students that Kate DiCamillo included this poem at the beginning of her novel.  This led us into a discussion on how this may have been a metaphor she shared with us for her entire story.  We looked at the poem and analyzed how it compares to our novel.  They concluded that it is teaching us to Never Give Up, similar to the lesson we see Edward discovering on his journey.
The students have NO HOMEWORK over the break.

3rd Grade:  INTRODUCTION TO JANE GOODALL: 

This week the students watched a clip from 60 minutes to introduce a strong background into Jane Goodall.  The students learned Jane was a scientist who studies animal behavior which is an ethologist.  We began to look at her autobiography called My Life with the Chimpanzees.  Together we looked at a set of excerpts from her book and identified the interaction that took place. Then they had to look at the generalizations and identify which ones the interaction represented.  Independently, the students continued looking at excerpts from her book and looking for the interaction.  After identifying the interaction they had to define how it fit into the generalizations.  
We will continue studying interactions with Jane Goodall next week.

4th Grade:  CHANGE: 

This week we concluded working with the system of money.  To end our lesson on change of money, we worked through a series of questions together.  Then, each student wrote a paragraph on how money changed in 100 years.  Next, we switched gears to focus on the change we see in systems.  For the remainder of the year, we will focus on this generalization within systems.  We looked over a list of generalizations we have for change:
Change is everywhere.
Change occurs at different rates of time.
Change can be viewed as positive and negative.
Change can be caused naturally or by humans.
Change can be systematic or random.
To end class this week, the students brainstormed a list of things that change.  We will add onto their list throughout the year, as we study change.

2nd Grade:  MORE CRASH TEST FUN:

  This week it was all about modifications.  The students were allowed 4 minutes to modify their car seat from last week.  Then, we attempted a second crash test.  This time we successfully had 4 eggs stay safe in their car seats!  

We took a moment to look over the designs.  We had 4 different techniques: a lap belt, over-the-shoulder, double harness, and a single harness.  We looked at the individual designs and discussed our observations from the test.  We were deciding which designs we could recommend for our friends Dru and Teller. The big thing we kept in mind was if we increased the speed of the car or the height of the ramp, which designs would continue to pass the crash test.  This led us into a great discussion about the different strategies the students used in their designs.  To end the week, the students completed a chapter check-up.  This tool allows us to see if there are any areas that need more support before we move onto our next chapter. 

3rd Grade:  CHAPTER CHECK-UP:


  This week we took a moment to look at the inside space of our pens.  We had to decide which would be the best pen with the most space.  We discovered that although a pen may have the largest number as a dimension it does not mean it would have the most space.  Next, it was time to wrap up or chapter.
  At the end of a chapter, the students complete a check-up over all of the lessons.  This is a great tool that allows us to see if the students mastered the math concepts or if there is an area that we need to go back and review before moving onto the next chapter.  We ended the week with a quick round of Kahoot on perimeter.  This was a great review for them to continue practicing this skill.

4th Grade:  COMPARE & ORDER FRACTIONS:

  This week we completed several different activities to practice the different strategies for comparing fractions.  I let them try to complete their ordering of fractions from last week - we ended in a tie with the boys and girls with each having the same two fractions switched around.  
Next, we put fractions on the board and the students had to quickly decide which one would contain more candy.  They did a great job using different strategies to solve these and sharing their ideas they used.  They are beginning to find their favorite strategies.  I heard some students discussing strategies they prefer to use based on if it is a mixed number or a proper fraction.  The preferred methods I am seeing with the student is cross-multiplying or the rules for missing parts.


  We will continue working with the different strategies next week.



Ms Losinski

~ FLURRY FRIDAY ~

Can you believe it...Our first snowfall of the season on 

November 9th!

Thank you to all of those that have served our country.

Around the School

November 11th - Veterans Day
November 15th - 4th Grade Music Program
at 6:30pm at Chesterton Middle School
November 19th - Grandparents Day at Yost
for Kindergarten and 1st Grade
November 20th - Grandparents Day at Yost
for 2nd, 3rd & 4th Grade
More Information Coming Soon
November 21st- 23rd - Thanksgiving Break - No School
November 26th - School Resumes

Due to the E-Learning Day, my Language Art students only met one day this week.

2nd Grade:  THE MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF EDWARD TULANE:

To wrap up our text-to-text connection the students completed a writing assignment in their journal.  To summarize our Venn diagram, they were asked to compare and contrast The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane verse The Velveteen Rabbit.  To end the day, we shared a read aloud of chapter 15.  

The students were assigned to read chapter 16 & 17.

3rd Grade:  THE FLOWERS:

We had one last box on are reading analyzer to complete from last week.  We reread the poem for a reminder and then the students had to identify an interaction.  They noted the author of the poem and his feelings of happiness while sharing his memory of the garden.  Next, we learned about a vocabulary map.  This was the first time we completed one of these, so we filled it out together.  We defined the word naturalist.  While completing this activity, the students were introduced to Jane Goodall.  Then to end the day the students looked at the meaning of the word activist.  In their journals, they answered what it meant to be an animal activist.  These last two activities are beginning to introduce the theme of our next lesson.  We will start studying the works of Jane Goodall in the next few lessons.

4th Grade:  MONEY, MONEY, MONEY:
  This week we watched a slide show showing us the history of how money came about.  We saw the change of money go from bartering with item to shells to actual currency we see today.  We also discussed the new change with money with technology today - the debit card!  Next, we switched gears back to the change in the value of money over time.  We had just a few moments left in class, so we started to analyze the charts from their packet.  Next week we continue to study how the value of money has changed over time.

2nd Grade:  CRASH TEST: 

 This week the students finished illustrating their designs.  The class had to make a decision by only the drawing if they thought a design would pass or fail the crash test.  Now it was time to run our first crash test.  The students did a great job with their car seat designs.

  I saw many designs that had a click/unclick design to allow the eggs to go in and out.  Another great idea I saw with many designs was the ability for the seat belt to tighten or loosen based on the fit of the egg.  We had a mixture of results for our first test.  We had 2 students who had the egg stay in the car seat.  3 students' car seats flipped resulting in 2 of those 3 eggs breaking.  I heard comments immediately thinking of their designs and corrections to make.
Next week, we will begin our Think Deeply, which we will allow them to modify and retest their car seats. This week I included their designs as the blog pictures to allow you guys the ability to predict if it will crash or stay safe with each design.  




Make sure to check back next week to see if your predictions were right with videos of their crash tests!






3rd Grade:  A PEN FOR THE YETI'S PET:

This week we completed our lesson on perimeter.  First, they had to create a new pen using a total of 56 feet of fencing.  This group started to figure out the pattern last week, so I challenged them to create 3 pens.  They also had to share the mathematical steps to show proof their dimensions totaled 56 feet for the perimeter.  
Now we were ready for our Think Deeply.  This asked us to share our pens and find a way to order them.  We had a total of 8 pens, but could only use 5 of them as they quickly realized they each used the same dimensions.  They were asked to explain any patterns they identified.  One of my students identified last week that if we decrease the width, the length will increase by one.  This was the answer we were looking for and today they were able to visually see it with our 5 ordered pens.  To end their Think Deeply, I challenged them to test out their pattern and complete a chart of all the pens we could have created.  They were able to achieve this with their theory and a chart, without the need to draw out each pen.  They did a great job with this lesson!

4th Grade:  COMPARING FRACTIONS:

  This week we moved onto our new lesson.  We looked at different strategies to compare 2 or more fractions.  We looked at a total of 5 different strategies:
Common Denominators
Common Numerators
Benchmarks
Missing Parts
Cross Multiplying
After working with each of these strategies, it was time to challenge the students with a game.  

Each student created a fraction from a range between 1/99 to 98/99.  Then, we split the class into two teams - for this challenge we went with girls verse boys.  They each were given the same 10 fraction cards to place in order from largest to smallest.  They could use any of the 5 strategies to find the correct order.  They ran out of time to finish their order, but the girls had the most correct at the end of class.  
We will continue with this activity next week.


Have a Great Weekend,

Ms Losinski