Animal Research

In Writer's Workshop we have begun working on animal reports.  First we brainstormed several topics we could write about related to animals (using a "Telling Brainframe").  Next, each child chose an animal to research. Some chose to work in partners.  The children then created their own "Categorizing Brainframe", choosing three categories to research about his/her chosen animals.  Each category will become a paragraph in their final report.

Telling Brainframe

Categorizing Brainframe

Measurement

The students continued their practice of measurement skills this week by measuring each other! Partners worked to measure each other's arm span, head circumference, and height.

Real World Math

This week we worked on collecting data and creating bar graphs, as well as measuring in 

inches vs. centimeters and yards vs. meters.

Two Digit Addition

This week we learned a new math game called Two Digit Addition.  Ask your children how to play! You can you use a regular deck of cards, with Ace as one, and taking out the picture cards.

Buddy Writing

Today we had our first buddy writing session, where the children read each other stories they have written and gave each other feedback.

Being a Good Shopper

This week we continued our discussion of "need and wants" in Social Studies, and did a little "mock shopping" activity in groups. Ask your child to tell you about this! We also revisited our unit on "Goods and Services" and worked in mini assembly lines to create a product, to simulate how workers produce goods in factories.  Each child had a different job in the assembly line, and each "factory" created 5 games, one for each child to take home. The children showed some amazing team work and efficiency! 

The Exchange Game

This week we played a different version of our "Money Exchange Game", this time using base ten blocks instead. The concept of place value is a tricky one for many students to master, and also a crucial one in terms of making number sense.  Games such as this one help to reinforce the concept.