In Language Arts I introduced the kids to a research project. The students will be researching a famous person by reading a biography book. We will use the research portal "SIRS" to read articles and gather more information. And then last, we will use Biography.com, Brain Pop, and United Streaming to watch and listen to videos about their famous person. All of the skills/steps the students need to take will be modeled in class. The first step is taking notes and organizing those notes. We are using a portfolio system. The kids and I brainstormed all of the different categories/facts found in a biography or life story. We then set our purpose for reading...to find facts that fit each category. So we read an article about Harriet Tubman in the Scholastic Storybook magazine. While we read, the students took notes (one note per card...this helps later in the organizing of their writing)...and we decided how to sort the facts into the different categories. We will continue to work on this project for the next couple weeks.
We finished up our Social Studies unit on immigration and government. We ended with a Readers Theater about Ellis Island, and while we read and performed it, we discussed the characters' different perspectives. It was fun and very enlightening! We ended with a lesson on public services provided by our tax money. The kids became experts of one service and then taught all of us. After learning about each service, the kids wrote acrostic poems to share their knowledge. Those poems are in their composition books. Ask your child to bring it home so you can read it...they are fantastic!!
In Math we have been working on dividing up things into equal shares. Many times the kids found that when you try to divide something into equal shares, the result is a fraction. It was a great introduction to division and a quick review of basic fractions. This week we will be diving into many different strategies to use when dividing numbers that have a remainder. We will use repeated subtraction, number lines, 100s charts, tens blocks, and more! The students are encouraged to always use more than one strategy to ensure conceptual development, as well as to check their work!
REMINDERS:
Last week a note went home about our Valentine's Day Party...it is Friday, February 15th from 1:15-2:15. We are asking parents to donate $3 per family. Please send your donation in an envelope marked Valentine's Day Party with your child's name on it. Thank you!!
And today, a bright yellow paper went home informing you about our class basket for the PTA Silent Auction. Our wonderful PTA holds a silent auction each year. This is their biggest fundraiser and they use these funds for programs/materials that directly benefit your children. Our classroom basket is a boy's bicycle. We will collect donations and then purchase the bike which will be auctioned off that evening. Please read the letter and donate if you are so willing/able.
Thanks to Mrs. Filburn and Mrs. Canaday for organizing the party AND basket for our class!!
Have a great week...stay warm!
