April 5th

Hi Parents,

This week in writing we wrote about what we did on our Spring Break. It sounds like everyone had a wonderful break filled with lots of fun!  We also continued to work on our writing and reading skills through Literacy centers.

In Math this week we reviewed addition and started subtraction. We discussed how subtraction is also called taking away and when we subtract two numbers the numbers get smaller. We also discussed that with subtraction, instead of part, part whole like addition, its whole, part, part. We used cubes to help us practice our subtraction skills.

Our words of the week this week were: more, take, two, well
Our words of the week next week are: because, could, much, when

In science this week we reviewed our 5 senses and brainstormed what our five senses would see, hear,  smell, taste and touch in the season of Spring. We then drew and wrote about these things in our visual journals.
We also started our building unit this week. We read the stories "Rosie Revere Engineer" and 'The Magnificent Thing" which taught us to never give up, even if we fail and our structures don't work out.. we keep trying because "The only true failure can come if you quit".  We also read the story "Iggy Peck Architect".
To begin this week we discussed how engineers and architects need to have a plan before they begin. Students were told they could use between 20-30 unifix cubes to make a structure or design. They then went and drew out their plan before they came to show it to me. Once it had been checked they went and got their materials to start building their unifix creation. We also did this the next day but this time students had to use pattern blocks. They could use 15-35 pattern blocks and had to use at least 3 different shapes. Yesterday we finished our intro to building by building creations using both unifix cubes and pattern blocks and this time they had to work with a partner. We discussed that next week students will be working in a group and what it means to work together. We said that working together is when everyone is involved and sharing their ideas. We need to compromise and work with our partner, which may mean we don't always get our way but that's okay. The class did really well working together with their partner and adding their ideas together to make beautiful creations.
Next week we will be continuing our building unit.


Reminders: 

Wednesday April 10th is Fun Lunch

Monday April 15th is Spring and Class Picture Day

Wednesday April 17th and Thursday April 18th is Student-Led Conferences. Wednesday from 4:00-7:00, Thursday from 8:00-12:00

Thursday April 18th is a PD. Day, No school

Friday April 19th is Good Friday, No School

Monday April 22nd is a PD. Day, No School