Drawing Lesson

Hannah's mom was kind enough to come in two different days at the end of the school year to give the children some lessons on drawing. The first day she taught the children some drawing techniques to add texture, and the second day focused on drawing faces. The children were very excited to try out their news ideas and had a lot of fun.

Field Day Pictures

Tuesday's Thoughts

Tuesday’s
Thoughts

• Reading Workshop- This week we will finish up with Charlotte’s Web. The students have really enjoyed reading and discussing this book. We are focusing on comprehension and vocabulary, although other skills may spontaneously be interweaved into the lesson as we discuss the story together.



• Writing Workshop- We have been using writing workshop this week to finalize our phase three of project. Some students are working on Powerpoints, others on writing scripts for plays or movies.



• Spelling- no new words this week, only a dictation test.



• Math Workshop- first grade is working on a pretend vegetable garden this week. It incorporates geometry, measurement, and computation. Second grade is working on decimals and fractions.

Field Day is Wednesday rain or shine. Please be sure to have your child wear tennis shoes that day, and they may want to bring a change of clothing too.

The volunteer breakfast is also Wednesday morning. Please plan on attending if you are able. This breakfast is for anyone who has helped in any way this school year. I’d love to
see you there.

All library books are now due.

Reading Outside

Ooey, Gooey, Oobleck

We made oobleck in class after we read the book by Dr. Seuss: Bartholomew and the Oobleck. It was about a king who wanted a different type of weather to come down from the sky. Oobleck came down and got stuck on everything. When the students first saw the oobleck in class, they thought it would be a liquid, but then they were surprised when they touched it and it seemed like a solid. We debated about which form of matter it really was. It is actually neither a solid or liquid but has properties from both stages of matter. Formally it is known as a non-Newtonian subtance. This means that when a small amount of force is used, it acts like a liquid, but when more force is applied, it acts like a solid.

Oobleck Recipe

2 cups of corn starch, 3 drops of green food coloring, enough water to make a thick mixture (about the texture of pancake batter) It usually takes 1 part cornstarch to .5 parts water.

Chess

Students are learning to play chess in class. We started with just a few pieces and have gradually added more and more.

Tuesday's Thoughts

Tuesday’s
Thoughts

• Reading Workshop- We started reading Charlotte’s Web on Monday as a whole group.
  This is a new experience for the class with everyone reading the same book together. Different groups will still be doing different types of activities, and some will be
  reading with parents or me for more support. We will have large and small group
  discussions over the book as well.



• Writing Workshop- Students have free choice writing this week. Many are still working on poetry, but others have moved on to writing books again. Many are
  working together, and a few are interested in writing chapter books.



• Spelling- Everyone has a different list this week based on words they have been spelling incorrectly in their daily writing. A few students are instead studying Greek roots for vocabulary practice.



• Math Workshop- First grade is reviewing perimeter, area, and comparing fractions this week. We will still be working hard reviewing math facts. Second grade is continuing to practice adding, subtracting, and reducing fractions. There will be a quiz on Friday.



• Project- Students are researching their areas of interest and have decided on the method of sharing what they have learned.



• Thinking Skills- We are working with sudoku this week again. Many students have expressed an interest in chess recently. I am gradually teaching the pieces and their movement to the novice players, while the more experienced ones are enjoying playing each other and then practicing with the new learners

Thank you to everyone who has turned in the form to help with Field Day. I know Mr. Beattie is still looking for volunteers.
I need some extra volunteers on Friday this week. We will be doing a messy science activity from 12:00-1:00. Please let me know if you are interested in helping.

MEC is collecting magazines for recycling. Each pod in the school is competing to see who can collect the most. Please continue to send in any recycling you have at home to earn money for the school.

Lunch times have changed this week. Our class will now be eating lunch from 10:45-11:15 each day. Please be aware of the time change if you are planning to eat with your
child.

Project Research

Students use the laptops to research their individual interests in project. Some students are looking into a specific disease, some are comparing soap and hand sanitizer, others are researching diseases around the world or ones that are not common anymore.

Tessellations

Students in first grade math this week are working on tessellations as a culmination of their geometry unit. We have been learning about slides, flips, and turns, as well as the different shapes in math.

Monday Musings

Monday’s
Musings

• Reading Workshop- We are focusing again on cause and effect this week. This last month we are together, We will be reviewing many topics we have previously
  studied in Reading Workshop. The homework this week is a fairy tale and has a related cause and effect worksheet to go along with it.



• Writing Workshop- Students have free choice writing this week. Many are still working on poetry, but others have moved on to writing books again. Many are
  working together, and a few are interested in writing chapter books.



• Spelling- Everyone has a different list this week based on words they have been spelling incorrectly in their daily writing. A few students are instead studying Greek roots for vocabulary practice.



• Math Workshop- first grade will be working on their tessellations this week and finishing up any menu math work. We will have a review DMR test on Friday that will be over measurement, regrouping, fractions, and algebra. We will also be working hard reviewing math facts this week. Second grade will be taking their math test on Wednesday over chapter 25. All students were allowed to take home books today.



• Project- Students are using the laptops this week to research their topics to present their findings. Hopefully we will be able to finish up with stage three in the next week or so and be able to share what we have learned about germs.

• The play performance will take place on Wednesday, May 4^th at 10:15. We will also have an encore performance in the LGI Room on Friday May 6^th at 2:30 pm. I will record the performance and post it on the website if you are unable to attend. I hope to see you there!

Next week is the book fair. Our class will be visiting the fair on Monday morning.
If you would like to send in money at that time, please place it in an envelope or baggie so that it will not be lost. Flyers came home today, but there will be many more books there not listed on the flier. You may also come and take your child to the fair if that is easier for you. Recess, lunch, or first thing in the morning are the best times for me to allow your child to go with you.