Math: This week we worked on many story problems and learned how to solve problems with unknown starts, missing information, too much information, and not enough information. Wow! These were very tricky! We also included more algebraic thinking by adding a variable for the unknown. As mathematicians, we also used drawings such as Comparison Bars to help solve problems. Lastly, we spent two days working on developing situation equations and solution equations to help solve problems with missing information. As mathematicians, we asked ourselves: What is this story problem really asking me to do?
Science: We are moving through our unit on Light and Heat and studied light refraction by looking at prisms and optical illusions. We marveled at how the penny in the bottom of the cup "disappeared" when a science partner added water to the cup. How did that happen? Using inquiry we made many discoveries this week about how light bends when it passes through a material like water. We also explored transparent, translucent, and opaque materials. In addition , we watched two videos on the Earth, moon, and sun and their relationship in terms of size and distance as well as the path the Earth and moon take around each other and the sun. We also responded to a blog post on a Solar Eclipse to celebrate spring!
Reading: Our big focus this week as we continue our study of Non-Fiction text is on graphic organizers as a means to comprehend these types of text. We used a Venn diagram and Cause and Effect organizers to organize information about skeletal systems (dog vs. child) and amphibians.
Writing: We are working so hard on our Non-Fiction stories. Our chapters/section headings are looking great! We have been adding examples, descriptive language, necessary/topic specific vocabulary, and topic sentences as well as conclusions. The children are having fun creating powerful leads to their pieces to pull in the reader. We are learning so much about each other in the process and find that we want to explore all of these great topics!! As writers and illustrators, we are carefully adding pictures and captions to help guide the reader.
Spelling: Week 25 explores more suffixes. Keep up the great work on the Tic-Tac-Toes!!
Science: We are moving through our unit on Light and Heat and studied light refraction by looking at prisms and optical illusions. We marveled at how the penny in the bottom of the cup "disappeared" when a science partner added water to the cup. How did that happen? Using inquiry we made many discoveries this week about how light bends when it passes through a material like water. We also explored transparent, translucent, and opaque materials. In addition , we watched two videos on the Earth, moon, and sun and their relationship in terms of size and distance as well as the path the Earth and moon take around each other and the sun. We also responded to a blog post on a Solar Eclipse to celebrate spring!
Reading: Our big focus this week as we continue our study of Non-Fiction text is on graphic organizers as a means to comprehend these types of text. We used a Venn diagram and Cause and Effect organizers to organize information about skeletal systems (dog vs. child) and amphibians.
Writing: We are working so hard on our Non-Fiction stories. Our chapters/section headings are looking great! We have been adding examples, descriptive language, necessary/topic specific vocabulary, and topic sentences as well as conclusions. The children are having fun creating powerful leads to their pieces to pull in the reader. We are learning so much about each other in the process and find that we want to explore all of these great topics!! As writers and illustrators, we are carefully adding pictures and captions to help guide the reader.
Spelling: Week 25 explores more suffixes. Keep up the great work on the Tic-Tac-Toes!!