Reading – We enjoyed our Laura Ingalls Wilder unit and then learning more about Helen Keller.As we read Helen Keller biographies, we were fascinated with the life she led.The students charted information they learned about her life and tried creating words in Braille.
Math – Our focus this week was on understanding place value of numbers up to 1,000. After building numbers with hundreds, tens, and ones blocks and working as a team to identify and record each digit’s value, we were able to have fun playing Place Value Bingo.
If you haven’t noticed, we have started our subtraction mastering math facts as well.Each morning our warm-up will include an addition and subtraction timing to encourage the students to memorize all their basic facts.We have one student who has completed all the addition fact challenges and several others who are getting close.Any student who completed all the subtraction levels, as well, will be introduced to multiplication.The third grade teachers continue with these levels next year.Mastering these facts will help the students when solving problems that require higher level thinking.
Writing – Using Laura Ingalls Wilder biographies, the students learned how to take notes and organize important information in time order of her life.Next, they took their information and wrote an informational paragraph about her adulthood.They drew photographs that would hang in her house from information they had learned about her.I then met with each student so we could edit their writing and score it together.The students could see what areas they were doing well in and which areas they need to focus in within the focus/content, organization or conventions areas.Students also continued working on their pet books.
Spelling – Our next five spelling words are why, help, put, different and away.The next vocabulary words are occupation, consent, famished and hustle.
Technology – Partners teamed up to try the Pioneer challenge.The challenge was to pack a conestoga wagon for a family of four to survive for 5 months.From their research, they knew the wagon could not hold more than 2,000 lbs.Using Microsoft Excel to calculate the total pounds, they worked together to chose what items to include on their trip.They had 15 minutes to make their decisions and then print out their spreadsheet.Teams won the challenge if I felt they had enough supplies to survive and were under 2,000 pounds.Unfortunately, I noticed our mailers made a small mistake.I had written notes on the printouts and put them in the bin to be mailed.At the end of the day I noticed they had mailed all the first pages with the names on them and left many of the second pages.We’ll try to figure out whose is whose so they can see their results, but I can’t promise.Sorry!
Misc – Just a reminder there is an Act 80 day this week.Hope you had a great weekend!
