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The children had a wonderful week! Read all about it below.

Literacy

This week, we read books about snow. The children started the week with a Picture Aloud. I showed the children a photograph that was covered up. Slowly, I removed the covers one at a time. The children turned and talked to a partner. They discussed the information they could gather from each part of the photograph. At the end, they realized it was a photograph of a snowstorm. Then, the children worked together to create a caption to describe the photograph. Later in the week, we read the story, The Snowy Day. After, the children completed a Setting Guru page. They chose one illustration from the text. They drew the illustration and explained how the illustration helped them learn more about the setting of the story.

After our second read, the children retold the story in their own words by writing a retelling of The Snowy Day. They also illustrated their book using careful, colorful, detailed pictures.

On Friday, the children listened to the story, Stellaluna. After, they discussed what happened at the beginning, middle, and end of the story. Then, they wrote their own sequencing cards. One for the beginning, middle, and end of the story. They glued their cards to their very own Stellaluna bat. They look great hanging from our ceiling!

Writing

This week, the children continued to work on their narrative writing pieces. They reread their story and worked on adding detail. The children have worked very hard to be “brave spellers” and stretch out the words that they don’t know how to spell. Tomorrow, they will have a chance to meet with a writing partner. Each partner will have the opportunity to share their story, after they will discuss what they liked about each others stories and shared ideas for zooming in even further. Then, the children will begin publishing their small moment stories.

  

Math 

On Monday, the children reviewed all the concepts from Unit 2 using Mimio vote. They enjoyed reviewing different strategies to help them solve the different math problems. On Tuesday, they took their Unit 2 math test. I am proud of how hard the children worked, they did an excellent job on the test!

Science

This week, the scientists worked with understanding how water changes from a liquid to vapor and back again. They explored the idea that water can be part of the air, an invisible gas called water vapor. They did three experiments where they watched liquid water disappear into the air as it evaporated. The scientists used the terms; evaporate, humidity, and water vapor to explain what they noticed about the disappearing water. 

Later in the week, they continued to explore the idea that water can be part of the air. They watched as water condensed out of the air and formed droplets on a cold surface. 

The scientists learned all about the water cycle. We watched a short Brainpop video about the water cycle. Then, the scientists took turns coming up to label the three parts and explain them in detail. To help them remember the parts of the water cycle, they learned a water cycle song. Ask your scientist to sing it to you!

Water travels in a cycle, yes it does!

Water travels in a cycle, yes it does!

It goes up as evaporation

Forms clouds of condensation

Then comes down as precipitation, yes it does!

On Friday, the scientists learned about wind. They also created their own wind tool, a windsock. Next week, the scientists will use their windsock to determine the strength and speed of the wind. 

Pumpkin Math and Pumpkin Carving

On Tuesday morning, the children enjoyed a trip to the Dryden Pumpkin Patch to select their very own pumpkin. They had so much fun!

Then, on Thursday we had a fun filled pumpkin day! The children started off the day by becoming a pumpkin investigator as they used their pumpkin to complete a pumpkin math packet. The investigators began by estimating the height, weight, measurement, and number of lines on their pumpkin. Then using their investigative tools they found out the correct height, weight, measurement, and number of lines on their pumpkin. They also drew a picture of what they wanted their carved pumpkin to look like.  

In the afternoon, the children loved having a family member or volunteer come in to help them carve their pumpkin. What a sight it was to see the children and volunteers hard at work carving so many pumpkins. Thank you to everyone for coming and making this an enjoyable event for the children. The pumpkins looked great! Enjoy a slide show below of the day’s activities.

                                 
                                     

Star Student
Tyler was our star student this week. Thanks Tyler for sharing all about you!

Royal Reader

Thank you to Tyler’s Mom, she joined us this week as our Royal Reader. The children loved listening to two great books, Dogzilla and How To Babysit A Grandpa.

Birthday Wishes

A very big thank you to the children for sending me a birthday video on Friday. I loved hearing everyone sing me happy birthday. What a very special surprise! Thank you also for the flowers and birthday wishes. I can not wait to see them tomorrow morning! 

Notes:

-Friday, October 31st: The Halloween Parade will start at about 1:15. We will parade out the front doors and head north on  Dryden to Fairview, west on Fairview to Bristol, south on Bristol to Rockwell, east on Rockwell to Lincoln, returning to the school  playground area. Following the parade, the students will have a brief recess period, then return to our classroom for some fun  activities. For more information on Halloween lunch procedures and costume questions read this weeks Dolphin Splash.

Happy Sunday!