Hello, 206 families and friends!

In reading, we are enjoying our class novel, “The Parker Inheritance”, and our connections chart is growing.   In addition, after each reading, student are creating 3 frames with drawings, dialogues and labels that depicts one of the scenes/actions that we just read.  This is a form of sketch notes, that not only helps students remember important events and characters, but helps with visualizing the story as we read.  They enjoy sharing their scenes with each other. 

In social studies and writing, students are starting to compose their research projects (on the civil rights movement, the underground railroad and slavery during colonial time).   We discussed multi-genre research papers where each piece of the paper utilizes a different genre to share information with the reader. The paper becomes a collage of writing and artistic expression. Students are finding different ways to share their research, through nonfiction poetry, letters and informational writing.  We are discovering that there are many creative ways to share our knowledge.  We also studied the amazing graffiti artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.  We read the illustrated book,  “Life Doesn’t Threaten Me”,  a poem by Maya Angelou, which includes the artwork of Basquiat.  We watched several short videos, including a TED Ed talk, about Basquiat’s life that included his childhood, influences and artwork.   In his short life of 27 years, he produced an amazing amount of artwork.  We discussed the power of words and images in his paintings and drawings, and how we can incorporate drawings and powerful words into our research products.

In mathematics, we are again entering the world of fractions focusing on decomposing and adding and subtracting fractions. A quick reminder, students have access to MobyMax and Khan Academy accounts, and we encourage them to spend at least 45 minutes per week on either or both platforms. 

In science, Mr. John did a fun science experiment using the scientific method.  Students created “lava lamps” using water, oil, food coloring and half a tablet of Alka Seltzer. Ask your student what happened!  

We also had a chance to visit Ms. Lisa’s class to see the students’ amazing and informative Native American presentations.

I didn’t take as many pictures this week- but I will next week! Enjoy the weekend,

Beth

Hello, 206 families and friends!

Hope everyone is enjoying the unusually warm February!

In mathematics, we completed our Everyday Math Journal 1 and started Journal 2.  Journal 1 ended with students solving multi-step word problems and finding the area and perimeter of rectilinear shapes.  Our first lesson in Journal 2 involved decomposing fractions in different ways and into unit fractions. 

We finished our math/art project – The Great Mini-Golf Endeavor! Students did a fantastic job on their single-hole miniature golf stations. Each group decorated their golf stations based on a theme, including: candy, football, basketball, nature and dragons. They constructed the golf balls out of tin foil and their golf club using pencils, foam and duct tape. Once students completed their stations, they tested them to see if obstacles were located in the correct place and if their par goal was on par:) Students came up with different ways to solve technical difficulties with their stations and shared their ideas. One group created a tunnel under the hole so the ball could come out at the end, and shared their idea with the other teams who created a modified system for their stations.   This collaboration among students contributed to the overall success of the project. Once all the stations were complete, the mini-golf holes were placed on student tables. Teams then had a chance to play each other’s stations, and Ms. Bia’s 8th grade students played each hole. Each mini golf station was unique and fun to play.  Next week we will invite additional classrooms to try it out. 

In reading, we are enjoying our class novel, “The Parker Inheritance”, as the mystery is starting to unfold. Since the book moves backward and forward in time, we are  creating a ‘character link tree’ to keep track of all the connections and characters.  

In social studies, students are finishing up their research on their chosen topics. We are now discussing ways of presenting the material to the class. Topics of research include: slavery during colonial times, Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad, MLK and The March on Washington, The Greensboro Sit-in, Rosa Parks, and Ruby Bridges. Our last class novel, “Chains”, dealt with slavery and our current novel, “The Parker Inheritance,” addresses racism in South Carolina in the 1950s. Both novels provide valuable context for our understanding and research. 

In SuperSTEM, “The Science of SWISH,” students learned how forces and energy help basketball players move the ball and their bodies in amazing ways. On our sport court, students had a chance to try out different basketball moves and record their observations. 

On Valentine’s Day, we tried creating continuous looped hearts using 2 connected Möbius loops. It was pretty tricky, ask your students if they can show you how to do it! 

We also collaborated with Ms. Lisa’s class on a colorful art project in celebration of Valentine’s Day. Students drew horizontal and vertical lines on paper and added a heart or 2 in the center.  They then chose 2 warm and 2 cool colors to create their masterpieces. 

Enjoy the pictures below and have a wonderful weekend.

Ms. Beth

Hello, 206 families and friends!

The groundhog failed to spot its shadow, suggesting a possible early arrival of spring. Let’s keep our fingers crossed!

We are excited to welcome a new addition to our classroom for the upcoming term—John Pak, an Elementary Education clinical student from Northeastern Illinois University, College of Education. We are so happy to have him join our classroom! He will attend 2 – 3 mornings a week for the next few months.    

In mathematics, we’re perfecting our skills in multi-digit multiplication and applying these computations to real-world problems. Additionally, we’ve been practicing the placement of decimals on the number line, specifically to the tenths and hundredths places (an activity from Mindset Math). Our latest math/art project is the Great Mini-Golf Endeavor, where student partnerships are crafting a single-hole miniature golf station. This project integrates measurement and geometry, with students calculating the area and perimeter of their rectangle stations. We’ve delved into coordinate grid plots for mapping starting points, obstacles, and the golf hole. Each team has crafted a scaled blueprint of their station to position the starting tee and ending hole on the base structure accurately. Teams are maintaining lists of materials, many of which are recyclable, needed for constructing their mini-golf stations. The project not only encompasses math skills but also allows for artistic creativity, with each team creating a unique theme to guide the decoration of their golf station. Students have identified a par goal for their station and will test it as they construct their station. I can’t wait to see all the finished products.  Students will have a chance to test their station before we set up the entire course for the class to play.  

In reading, we started our next class novel, “The Parker Inheritance” by Varian Johnson. This fast-paced mystery novel revolves around themes of identity and society. The young protagonist, Candice, teams up with her new friend Brandon to uncover the truth behind a mysterious letter that reveals the hidden history of Lambert, South Carolina. The Parker Inheritance is the recipient of a number of awards, including being named a 2019 Coretta Scott King Honor Book, a Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2018, and an NPR Best Book of 2018. Although we’ve just started the book, we already feel connected to the main character! Illustrated books we read this past week include “Henry’s Freedom Box,” “Trouper,” and “What is a Refugee?” Encourage your students to share what each book was about.

In social studies, we’re gearing up for our research project. Students have independently explored library books, articles, and short videos on slavery, the underground railroad, and the civil rights movement in our Google Classroom. They’re jotting down questions and thoughts, preparing to research their chosen topics next week. Our class novel, “The Parker Inheritance,” addresses racism in South Carolina in the 1950s, providing valuable context for our upcoming research. Additionally, students will be able to draw on the images and impressions from our last class novel, “Chains”, which focused on enslaved people during Colonial times. 

In science, students watched a short video about a scientist who studies dinosaurs and read an illustrated article about what life was like for a giant, meat-eating Tyrannosaurus rex. 

Hope you are enjoying your weekend,

Ms. Beth