Non-Fiction Writing & Ann Arbor Map Exploration

We have started a new unit on non-fiction writing. To begin, we explored several non-fiction texts (including the National Geographic magazine pictured below). We made a "telling brain frame" about the several characteristics we found in non-fiction texts.  We discovered several different formats and styles among the books we explored. We then made a list of what non-fiction texts are important for.

This week we also explored maps of downtown Ann Arbor. We partnered up to find the grid locations of several locations in our home town, including two places we traveled to on field trips! We also used the key (legend) to find parking structures and learn about the different districts of the downtown area. The maps coming home are for the children to keep.

Back in the Swing!

It has been a great week so far, seeing the children reunite and get back into the rhythm of life at Angell.

This week we started by reviewing what we learned about ear structure with Mrs. Brennan. We did so by connecting our science topic with what we are learning about paragraph formation in writing. The children had to put sentences of a complete paragraph in order with an Intro, three facts, and the "So What?" closing sentence.

In Math we have been using a few different types of diagrams to help us solve story problems. Below is the "Quantity / Quantity / Difference" model, which the children completed in partnerships.  This gave them the opportunity to verbalize their strategies with a classmate.  The students will have an opportunity to practice this further in this week's homework.

In Social Studies we've continued our map exploration by creating floor maps of our classroom or our homes!  The children created map keys to accompany each map.

Valentine's Day Celebration

We had a lovely Valentine's Exchange yesterday!  There will be no new homework over the break. Enjoy the time with your children!

Sound!

Yesterday in Science with Mrs. Brennan the students learned how the ear works by becoming a human model of an ear themselves.  Follow the link below to see a video of some of the students demonstrating how the ear works!

Click here to see the ear simulation video!

Yesterday, Aya celebrated her birthday with us by sharing some special photos and telling us more about herself.  She also showed us her traditional Japanese school bag, called a "lan-doo-selu".  

Thank you, Aya!

We had a visit this week from a librarian from the  Ann Arbor District Library, as a follow up to our field trip last November.  She brought lots of goodies to show us.  Many of the children were amazed to learn that you can check out things like die cutters and musical instruments from the library! We got to try both out.  If you'd like to see what types of items there are, go to http://www.aadl.org/, then click on "Catalog" and look towards the right under "Unusual Stuff".

Yesterday we also began to learn the basics of how to write a paragraph. We used a paragraph 

"brain frame" as our planning sheet.  Ask your child to explain how it works. After they fill in their brain frame, they use it to write their paragraph. (The last two pictures show one student's brain frame and next the paragraph she wrote.  I'm sorry the last sentence is cut off, it was on the back of the page!) 

Today in Social Studies we continued our map work by practicing compass directions, navigating our way to various destinations on a small map of a town.  There was a lot of discussion about that little digital compass that many of you parents have in your cars, 

and how you can see it change from N, S, E, to W as you turn on different streets.

Making Ten

On Friday, we learned a new Math game called "Turning Over Ten".  It is similar to memory, except that you are trying to make a sum of ten, rather than an actual match.  Please see the first photo below for directions. This would be a great game to play at home with a regular deck of cards, using Ace as 1, Jacks as 10, and omitting Queens and Kings.  The kids loved it!

Thank you to Elsa's family for the yummy Italian cake we enjoyed for snack!