Have a safe and enjoyable spring break!
Thursday, March 12, 2020
Weekly Update 3/12/20
We had a fun trip to the Botanical Gardens! The students listened to the story Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens in order to learn about the parts of a plant. The children learned about various fruits and vegetables they eat. They also were each able to plant a radish seed to take home. We explored the Climatron, the Temperate House, and the orchid show.
Our week was focused on wrapping up our units before break. Our science unit on matter has concluded and we will be switching back to social studies when we return. In math, we have finished up our chapter on data and graphing. After spring break, our next unit will focus on telling time. The children finished their published copies of their informational writing books. They celebrated by reading each other's work and awarding each other certificates of achievement based on what they felt was the strength of the person's writing. They had a great time presenting each other with their awards!
Friday, March 6, 2020
Weekly Update 3/6/20
In math, we have been learning about different ways to collect and display data, including tally tables, picture graphs, bar graphs, and line plots. We will finish up the last lessons next week and review for a test on Thursday. Please watch for review pages to come home.
In science students were finally able to take all they have learned about materials and use it to create models of penguin habitats. The children worked in teams based off of the materials they chose. Using two materials of their choice in addition to a cardboard box, tape, and rubber bands they had to solve two problems. They first had to find a material that was transparent so zoo visitors can see the penguins. Then, they had to choose a material that would provide insulation to keep the penguins cool in the hot St. Louis sun!
Finally, all habitat models were tested under the heat lamp with penguin ice cubes inside. Students recorded the data and found that the penguin that melted the least was in a habitat made from bubble wrap and foil.
In writing, students are continuing to finish up publishing their informational books. We have also started to create mini informational books to merge what we have learned in science and writing. Each student has selected a new zoo animal and is researching that animal's natural habitat. They will then use that information to write about how they would then design a corresponding zoo habitat. Elephants, zebras, and lions are just a few of their choices!
In reading, students are working on comparing and contrasting similar characters in books. We are currently reading The Paper Bag Princess and the Princess and the Pizza to see what is the same and what is different about the two main characters.
In science students were finally able to take all they have learned about materials and use it to create models of penguin habitats. The children worked in teams based off of the materials they chose. Using two materials of their choice in addition to a cardboard box, tape, and rubber bands they had to solve two problems. They first had to find a material that was transparent so zoo visitors can see the penguins. Then, they had to choose a material that would provide insulation to keep the penguins cool in the hot St. Louis sun!
In writing, students are continuing to finish up publishing their informational books. We have also started to create mini informational books to merge what we have learned in science and writing. Each student has selected a new zoo animal and is researching that animal's natural habitat. They will then use that information to write about how they would then design a corresponding zoo habitat. Elephants, zebras, and lions are just a few of their choices!
In reading, students are working on comparing and contrasting similar characters in books. We are currently reading The Paper Bag Princess and the Princess and the Pizza to see what is the same and what is different about the two main characters.
Friday, February 28, 2020
Weekly Update 2/28/20
In math, we finished up our unit on counting coins. Students participated in a 3 Act Math challenge called It All Adds Up! to review what they learned. They watched a video that set up a mystery to be solved about what combination of coins went into a bank to equal $1.00. We discussed what we noticed and what we wondered after watching the video. After getting a few clues, students worked in partners to solve the mystery! Our next unit is on graphs and data. Students have already learned about tally charts and picture graphs.
Students listened to some wonderful read alouds this week to help them practice summarizing the big ideas of a fiction book. They were able to pick out story elements and think about the beginning middle, and end of the book to summarize.
In writing, we are nearing the end of our informational unit. Students finished up their 2nd drafts by revising with partners and using editing checklists. They are now publishing one of their two drafts to prepare for our writing celebration.
This week's science investigations were focused on finding materials that would be good to use for designing prototypes of penguin habitats. Students observed a variety of materials like felt, foil, bubble wrap, plastic wrap, and more to determine which had the properties of being insulators and which were transparent. We tested the materials under the heat lamp to record temperature changes. Then, students used this data to pick which materials they would include in their design sketches. Students completed individual sketches first. After that, they formed teams based on common material choices. They worked together to collaborate and create a revised team sketch that used the best of everyone's ideas. The students are excited to build their prototypes next week!
Students listened to some wonderful read alouds this week to help them practice summarizing the big ideas of a fiction book. They were able to pick out story elements and think about the beginning middle, and end of the book to summarize.
In writing, we are nearing the end of our informational unit. Students finished up their 2nd drafts by revising with partners and using editing checklists. They are now publishing one of their two drafts to prepare for our writing celebration.
This week's science investigations were focused on finding materials that would be good to use for designing prototypes of penguin habitats. Students observed a variety of materials like felt, foil, bubble wrap, plastic wrap, and more to determine which had the properties of being insulators and which were transparent. We tested the materials under the heat lamp to record temperature changes. Then, students used this data to pick which materials they would include in their design sketches. Students completed individual sketches first. After that, they formed teams based on common material choices. They worked together to collaborate and create a revised team sketch that used the best of everyone's ideas. The students are excited to build their prototypes next week!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)