Classroom Update

Math: We started topic 11 on  comparing and ordering fractions. Students created fraction strips to develop a strong understanding of what a fraction is. We then used these strips and number lines to model other skills we are learning. Students focused the last few weeks on finding equivalent fractions, comparing fractions, and ordering fractions. Students will have a topic 11 assessment Tuesday.

Fractions on a number line!

Reader's Workshop:

Sharing books we love through book talks!

As a continuation of our recent interactive read-aloud Little Dog Lost, we have started our unit on non-fiction reading skills. We have explored text structures and text features of non-fiction text. Students have also learned how to determine the main idea of a text and select important details to remember. To practice these skills students are reading a variety of non-fiction text and watching videos to determine which dog would be the best dog for their family. Students spent the last few weeks reading and collecting information to make this decision. Just last week students learned how to take this information from multiple sources and create a non-fiction summary. Students have selected the right dog for their family and will now write using evidence from their research to support their decision. 

Writer's Workshop:
Our new genre of writing this month is essay writing. We began the unit with Essay Bootcamp, learning the structure of an essay by creating a shared writing piece of why we like ice cream. Students learned new strategies for generating opinion ideas. We also learned how we can uses boxes and bullets, and to think about our thesis when we are working to take notes while reading non-fiction text and sharing this information in writing.

Science:

In our first week back this month we had a very special opportunity to SKYPE with researcher and scientists Mrs. Pennycook from a breeding colony at Cape Royds in Antarctica. As Mrs. Pennycook sat with the penguin colony she is researching, she shared with us her knowledge of penguin adaptations and what is it like to be a scientists studying penguins in Antarctica. We also, had a special meet and greet with a few of her friends!

 Thank you to the Kennedy PCC for funding and arranging another exciting learning opportunity for us. The Museum of Science presented to students on animal adaptations. Students were able to observe the adaptations of both a snake and ferret! Such a great opportunity to kick off our next life science unit on animal and plant adaptations!

Social Studies:

Now that we have completed our studies of our neighbor's to the north and south, we will spend the next several months studying our own country. We have begun our "travels" to right here in the Northeast region. We are will be studying this areas' physical and political geography. Your child will need to learn the states and capitals for each region. We have created flash card rings in class that can be kept at home for nightly studying.

PBL:
In Project-Based Learning we have started a new project on our Nation's National Parks. Students will select a National Park to research and create a product to convince others to visit their national park.

Important Dates:

1/24 Dog Day (notice sent home)
1/26 Early Release Day

2/1  World Read Aloud Day
2/5 Early Release Day

Dancers of the Week!