Weekly Update- 3/11

This week in shared reading we read the book, Mysterious Magnets.  This book talked about the different uses of magnets and offered examples of experiments that the students could perform using magnets.  While reading this book the students took notes in a graphic organizer.  They later used their notes to complete a summary of the entire book.  In guided reading the students read the book, The Legend of the Bluebonnets.   The skill we practiced was understanding plot.  The students completed a graphic organizer that outlined the problem, main events in the story, and solution.  Today the students worked with partners in the computer lab to make a PowerPoint presentation about this book.  They used their graphic organizers to help them complete their presentations.  The students had fun editing the color of the slides, and adding animation and clip art!  The students also continued to work on their Donavan's Word Jar assignment.  They are doing an excellent job responding to the questions.  Next week we will begin a new book, The Chocolate Touch.

In writing we began our unit called: Writing to Explain and Learn.  The students learned about and wrote their own how-to paragraphs.  The students also illustrated their work.  Next week the students will learn how to write double-entry journals.

In science we completed our unit on the sun, stars, and moon.  We watched a few videos on space and the moon, reviewed for the test by playing Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, and took the test today.  Next week we will begin a social studies unit called, Kids are Consumers.  The students will learn about advertisements and shopping smart!  This unit will lead us right into our meal planning for ShopRite and our trip on April 6th.  Thank you to all the parents who have volunteered!  We are really looking forward to this day.

The students are doing a great job with division in math.  The fact that they learned their multiplication facts so well really helped them with this chapter.  This week we played some games to  practice our facts.  The students' favorite game is Battle.  Here are some pictures of students "battling" with their facts!  We will be having our chapter 7 test next Thursday the 17th.

In Fundations we have continued to learn about r-controlled vowels.  We will be finishing our unit next week.  In grammar we continued talking about verbs and learned about the helping verb, be.  In Spanish we finished learning the days of the week.  Next week we will begin to learn the months of the year.

Today we watched a live feed of an eagle's nest in Virginia on our SMARTBoard.  The eggs are supposed to begin hatching tomorrow.  The students were very excited to watch the nest and to see the parents taking turns warming the eggs.  If you want to take a look at home the link is: http://www.wvec.com/marketplace/microsite-content/eagle-cam.html

Have a great weekend!  Don't forget Daylight Savings Time on Sunday- Spring Ahead!