Two Weeks in Room 21!

In Reading, we finished Saving Winslow before vacation which we all loved! While reading the story, we focused on developing deeper understandings of the main characters and identifying themes (life lessons). After that, the students became authors and wrote the last chapter of the story by identifying a problem and solution. They had a lot of fun being creative!

After vacation, we discussed what characteristics make a hero. In partners, the students read nonfiction articles featuring several heroes and discussed what made them a hero. Next, they'll be making connections to the characters in Saving Winslow.

In Math, we began a new topic which includes how fractions and decimals relate to each other. They are learning to compare and order decimals by applying their understanding of place value. They've also been using money and playing games such as "Decimal War" to help deepen their understanding of decimals.


In Science, we finished up our Animal and Plant Adaptation unit by investigating the interior and exterior structures that help plants survive. First, we reviewed the different parts of a plant and their functions. Then we put celery stalks (with leaves) in water with blue food coloring and observed them over the next few days. The class noticed that the celery had blue along the stalk and even in the leaves! We agreed that was strong evidence that wherever we saw blue was where the water had traveled for photosynthesis!

In addition, by coloring paper with crayons, we made a model of how plant leaves can have a waxy coating to prevent water loss.

Right after vacation we kicked off the beginning of our Washington, DC project! First, we watched a video that highlighted the history of several monuments and memorials and then we used Google Expedition to take a virtual tour of the National Mall and the White House.

Our Teamwork Tuesday challenge was to work as a team to lower a hula hoop to the floor with just our fingertips.

Finally, our dancers of the last 2 weeks!