Weekly Update- 10/7

This week in math we completed Topic 2.  We learned about equations, how to estimate differences, and how to check if an answer is reasonable. We will start Topic 3: Using Place Value to Add and Subtract on Tuesday.

We have continued to learn about states of matter in science.  This week we learned about the particles in solids, liquids, and gases.  The students acted as though they were the particles and then created a project. 

SOLID PARTICLES

LIQUID PARTICLES

GAS PARTICLES

The students also learned about physical changes such as melting, freezing, evaporation, and condensation. We looked at some websites and watched videos.  We also performed some experiments to illustrate these processes.  To show evaporation, we dumped water outside and measured the distance across the puddle (19 inches).  Twenty-five minutes later we went back outside to measure the puddle again and it had disappeared!



In reading, we read the book, Folk Tales of Latin America.  The students loved hearing these folk tales which gave explanations for why armadillos burrow underground and have detailed shells and why coyotes howl at the moon.  The students practiced retelling the stories by including only the most important details from the beginning, middle, and end of the story.  We also read the book, Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days.  The students completed comprehension questions and activities related to the story.  They will finish this book next week.

In writing, the students continued to work on their descriptive paragraphs about their favorite places.  This week, we took our writing pieces through the drafting, revising, and editing stages.  The students practiced peer revising and peer editing to help each other add more description and correct grammatical errors. 


We started Spanish this week.  The students were introduced to Senora Sullivan and each picked out a Spanish name and designed their Spanish nametags.


In Fundations, the students learned about 1-1-1 words.  These are words that have 1 syllable, 1 vowel, and 1 consonant after the vowel.  Some examples are; grip, stop, brag.  The students also learned that when adding vowel suffixes (-ing, -ed, -es) to 1-1-1 words, you double the last consonant before adding the suffix.  For example, STOP becomes STOPPING. When adding a consonant suffix (-s, -ly, -ment), you just add the suffix like in the word STOPS.  In grammar the students learned about simple sentences. 


For the month of October, we will be focusing on the character trait of respect.  We are reading the book, The Hundred Dresses which illustrates this trait.  The students are doing a great job of filling each other's buckets!

Enjoy the long weekend!