This week...

October 7- October 11, 2013

Reading:  This week, students worked hard applying a summarizing strategy to various readings.  They practiced completing story maps for texts that focused on the weekly theme: putting on a performance.  The texts included “The Wind and the Sun”, and “The Strongest One”.  We also spent time working with antonyms.  The text feature of the week involved students analyzing the purpose of captions in nonfiction articles.  At the end of the week, students read various articles from National Geographic and completed an FQR chart (Fact, Question, Response).  We talked about the importance of “metacognition” while reading (thinking about our thinking).  Students identified important facts, developed questions related to the facts, and then shared their responses/thinking about the information presented in the article. Reading Logs are due Wednesday, October 16.  (100 minutes)

Math: We began unit 3!  An informational letter was sent home detailing important concepts of the unit.  Measurement was the main focus of the week!  We read the story How Big Is A Foot? to understand the importance of standard units of measure.  Students did a hands-on activity where we found our average class shoe size.  They also practiced measuring line segments to the nearest whole, half, and quarter inch.  At the end of the week, students measured the perimeter of polygons.  By measuring each side of a shape, students realized they could determine the perimeter.

Science: Students enjoyed planting their very own seeds!  Over the next few weeks, students will be monitoring plant growth and making careful observations.  Students sang the photosynthesis song to remember the important steps a plant takes in order to make its own food.  Students also participated in a hands-on paper cutting activity that demonstrated how the Illinois prairie is rapidly disappearing.  Students learned that development and farming are major factors that have contributed to the decrease in prairie acres.  We also finished our hermit crab research presentations!  All students learned valuable information from each other regarding the hermit crabs and their habitats.  Next week, we will be learning about various biomes!

Writing: Students worked on a new skill: showing!  Students learned to differentiate between telling and showing sentences.  Showing sentences give readers a clear visualization of what is happening at a certain moment.  In grammar, students discriminated between common and proper nouns.

Cursive/Spelling: Students took their week 7 spelling test.  We also wrote the cursive “v” and “e” in our cursive packets.

Miscellaneous:  On Monday, students participated in a bus evacuation drill to review and practice important bus safety rules!  Just a reminder, there will be no school for students on Monday (Columbus Day) or Tuesday (School Improvement Day).  Enjoy the long weekend!