Happy Valentines Day!
Happy Presidents Day
Happy Chinese New Year!
Whew! There's a whole lot of happy going around...
Reading
This week we read our third story about Dinosaurs. This story dealt specifically with Dinosaur Fossils and Paleontologists. We continue to work on the reading comprehension strategy of Main Idea and Detail.
Writing
We began our research on our dinosaurs this week. We practiced taking notes for our research paper. We used the online source, Enchanted Learning. This source is linked to the left. We are also enjoying looking through many books from the library. Next week we will learn how to take notes using a book as a source. (Hint: This is another chance to practice main idea and detail!)
Math
Unit 6 is heavily focused on computation strategies and algorithms. As always, if your child needs help with math and you are unfamiliar with what s/he is learning in school, it is OK to help! You won't do any long term damage! Just be sure to EXPLAIN what you are doing! The strength of this program is that it introduces many ways to solve one problem. If you teach your child another way it is most likely a valuable introduction to a future lesson. Keep practicing those facts!
Science
We finished our Science Unit on Sink and Float. The students did a great job making boats and understanding the concepts of buoyancy. (Take a look at the successful boats pictured!) While the dinosaur unit isn't technically a Science unit, we are revisiting Rocks and Fossils concepts and learning about how scientists share their research through writing.
Social Studies
We are reading the book Year of the Dog and will finish it next week in time to celebrate Chinese New Year. If you would like to join us for this, stop by next Friday, February 19th from 12-1. It should be a simple celebration of the Chinese culture and a wonderful way to bring closure to a book the students have really enjoyed reading.
Art Start
Thanks to all the families who have helped with this quilt! You will be so impressed when you come to the opening at Village Hall! There are new pictures-and they are AMAZING! (Only an artist can look at a bag of buttons that has spilled on a table and turn it into a beautiful photograph!) The link is posted above. There are many new pictures and the ones from last week are included. This time there is an option to purchase the pictures as requested by some of the parents.