~ 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