We concluded our science unit, Tools of the Trade, by having pairs of children use the engineering design process to create their own tool that a paleontologist could use to dig up bones. After brainstorming and sketching, each pair built a prototype out of a given set of materials. Many students were very creative and built tools that could have more than one function, such as digging and brushing. Finally, they tested the tools by digging various objects representing bones out of the sand trays. Pairs compared to see how many bones they could remove in three minutes.
Students are continuing to work on predictions in reading, including revising their predictions as they read and gain more information about a story. They have also been doing word hunts for sight words, contractions, and spelling patterns they see in their books.
Students have been working on a second personal narrative story in writing. In this draft students are challenging themselves to write longer on each page, use comparisons, and include strong verbs.
We were excited to welcome a guest speaker from the National Geospatial-intelligence Agency (NGA) to kick off our next social studies unit on maps and geography. He was able to introduce different types and purposes of maps, as well as parts of maps. Each child received a map to take home with them. To follow up in class, students practiced reading a map key of our classroom in order to find a "buried treasure" of bookmarks. They also learned about the compass rose and played a partner board game to become more familiar in following directions in moving north, south, east, and west.
Our next Flat Stanley arrived home from his visit to Tennessee. Stanley had many adventures like riding a tractor, playing the drums, and he even had a spa day!
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