Reading
This week, students continued working on their non-fiction reading unit. Our main areas of study this week focused on skills that were needed in order to read non-fiction well. Students first worked on tackling the hard parts of an informational text, by realizing there's much more to this type of book than just large headings and pictures. Often times, reading can get confused, so its important to know how to navigate a non-fiction book by using text features such as a table of contents, index, or even glossary. Students were also introduced to book hybrids that include both narrative and informational writing, and they were given the skills needed to decipher between the two. Students also spent some navigating tricky unknown words, and we taught the importance of looking both inside (root words, prefixes/suffixes) and outside (context clues) the word to gain an understanding of its meaning.
Inquiry
This week, students continued working on their new PYP unit which focuses on How The World Works. In order to have a better understanding of Natural Disasters, and how people using scientific knowledge to respond to a changing Earth, students completed many different readings and participated in some hands on activities. On Monday, we used a visual representation of a hard boiled egg to better understand earth's layers, then we used graham crackers and frosting to imagine how plate tectonics works. Students loved visiting the USGS Earthquake Map to build inquiry about events that are happening all across the world, and they also loved plotting volcano examples of the past, to gain a better understanding and visual image of the "Ring of Fire". Next week, we will continued our natural disaster exploration be exploring landslides/avalanches, as well as wildfires, and floods/droughts.
Math
This week, students continued to work on gaining a better understanding of division by practicing multiple strategies such as area model, place value charts, and the standard algorithm of long division. Students did all of this to solve real word story problems using three and four digit by one digit division story problems. Next week, students will revisit multiplication one last time before taking their end of module exam on the Friday before Winter Break.
Next week’s math: Lessons 35-38, and the End of Module 3 Math Test
Next week’s vocabulary test: Earth Changes
Gingerbread House Donations
This week, students will be participating in a class party to celebrate the Holidays. We will be making Gingerbread Houses, and participating in many other fun activities on Friday, December 21. I would like to invite you to partake in the event by sending your child to school with supplies needed that can be shared by everyone. Please bring the following store-bought supplies by this Friday.Boys: Please bring in one box of Graham crackers AND one bag of nut free candy (Ex. skittles, m&m’s, gummy life savers, marshmallows, mike and ike’s, red hots, candy canes, licorice, hershey kisses, etc.) to be shared by everyone.
Girls: Please bring in one container of WHITE frosting AND one bag of nut free candy (Ex. skittles, m&m’s, gummy life savers, marshmallows, mike and ike’s, red hots, candy canes, licorice, hershey kisses, etc.) to be shared by everyone.
If you cannot donate at this time, we completely understand, and will still have enough items for everyone to partake. Thank you so much for your continued support!
Upcoming Dates
This week, students continued working on their non-fiction reading unit. Our main areas of study this week focused on skills that were needed in order to read non-fiction well. Students first worked on tackling the hard parts of an informational text, by realizing there's much more to this type of book than just large headings and pictures. Often times, reading can get confused, so its important to know how to navigate a non-fiction book by using text features such as a table of contents, index, or even glossary. Students were also introduced to book hybrids that include both narrative and informational writing, and they were given the skills needed to decipher between the two. Students also spent some navigating tricky unknown words, and we taught the importance of looking both inside (root words, prefixes/suffixes) and outside (context clues) the word to gain an understanding of its meaning.
Inquiry
This week, students continued working on their new PYP unit which focuses on How The World Works. In order to have a better understanding of Natural Disasters, and how people using scientific knowledge to respond to a changing Earth, students completed many different readings and participated in some hands on activities. On Monday, we used a visual representation of a hard boiled egg to better understand earth's layers, then we used graham crackers and frosting to imagine how plate tectonics works. Students loved visiting the USGS Earthquake Map to build inquiry about events that are happening all across the world, and they also loved plotting volcano examples of the past, to gain a better understanding and visual image of the "Ring of Fire". Next week, we will continued our natural disaster exploration be exploring landslides/avalanches, as well as wildfires, and floods/droughts.
Math
This week, students continued to work on gaining a better understanding of division by practicing multiple strategies such as area model, place value charts, and the standard algorithm of long division. Students did all of this to solve real word story problems using three and four digit by one digit division story problems. Next week, students will revisit multiplication one last time before taking their end of module exam on the Friday before Winter Break.
Next week’s math: Lessons 35-38, and the End of Module 3 Math Test
Next week’s vocabulary test: Earth Changes
Gingerbread House Donations
This week, students will be participating in a class party to celebrate the Holidays. We will be making Gingerbread Houses, and participating in many other fun activities on Friday, December 21. I would like to invite you to partake in the event by sending your child to school with supplies needed that can be shared by everyone. Please bring the following store-bought supplies by this Friday.Boys: Please bring in one box of Graham crackers AND one bag of nut free candy (Ex. skittles, m&m’s, gummy life savers, marshmallows, mike and ike’s, red hots, candy canes, licorice, hershey kisses, etc.) to be shared by everyone.
Girls: Please bring in one container of WHITE frosting AND one bag of nut free candy (Ex. skittles, m&m’s, gummy life savers, marshmallows, mike and ike’s, red hots, candy canes, licorice, hershey kisses, etc.) to be shared by everyone.
If you cannot donate at this time, we completely understand, and will still have enough items for everyone to partake. Thank you so much for your continued support!
Upcoming Dates
- Tuesday, December 11th-Reading Logs/Vocabulary Due
- Friday, December 21st- Winter Class Party: 2 pm
- Monday, December 24th-Friday, January 4th- Winter Break: NO SCHOOL
- Monday, January 7th- Students return from Winter Break