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The Week of March 31st 2nd and 3rd grades

It was so nice to have our third grade back on Monday again.  It's a nice way to begin the week.

The third graders continued to work on Hands-On-Equations while the second graders worked on math Venn Perplexors. The Venn Perplexers are quite challenging for our second graders. but many are showing improvement.  Try one yourself.

Both groups worked on Word Pictures and both groups completed a challenging matrix logic puzzle (Barnstormer's Dilemma) that required an atlas to solve.

In unit work, students complete a matching activity that required them to review some early fliers and introduced them to some new ones.  They completed a time line in conjunction with this activity.

Finally the students watched the video, Wings of Madness, the story of Alberto Santos Dumont, and early French aeronaut.

We wish everyone a safe and restful Spring Break and look forward to the final stretch of the year with our students.

Liz Goldstein, Valerie Verduci, Lee Lindsley, and Judy Bullard

Week of March 31, 2008

As you can see from this picture, we are deep into our study of shark anatomy!  We have reviewed the shark's external anatomy and have started to study its internal anatomy.

This week, we will warm up with a crossword puzzle about sharks.  Then, we will dive more fully into our study of the shark's insides with a review and some additional information and pictorial representations of its internal organs.  We will learn about the shark's different methods of reproduction and see how sharks develop before they are born.  We will also watch Eyewitness Sharks to learn some interesting facts about these amazing creatures.

On another note, we are well underway with our Moviemaker and Powerpoint projects.  Fifth graders should have completed their scripts and should be beginning to place those scripts into their storyboards in preparation for making their movies, while fourth graders should have made any changes to their scripts and finalized them,  Since bibliographies were due this week, fifth graders will learn how to insert credits at the end of their movies.  Fourth graders will begin placing text on their Powerpoint presentations and may possibly be ready to make color decisions and add pictures.  Because all students have different levels of readiness, each child will work on whatever section he/she needs to complete of his/her movie or Powerpoint.  However, some students may need to continue working on these projects at home.

HOME EXTENSION:  ALL STUDENTS SHOULD BE STUDYING THEIR SHARK ANATOMY EACH WEEK IN PREPARATION FOR THE UPCOMING DISSECTION TEST IN EARLY MAY!  WE WILL BE DISSECTING MID MAY AND STUDENTS MUST PASS THIS TEST IN ORDER TO DISSECT.

Week of March 24th 2nd and 3rd

Our second graders worked on math patterns while our third graders sharpened their algebraic skills with the next lesson in Hands-On-Equations.  Both groups worked on a Logic Matrix Puzzle, "Spring Bulbs" and used their vocabulary and thinking skills to complete a word chain.

Students reviewed the Wright Brothers before completing a writing assignment based on the work of the brothers.  Students listened to "The Glorious Flight" about the French aeronaut Bleriot and his historic flight across the English Channel.  Students stepped into the past and used their creative talents to design a poster such as Bleriot might have seen, announcing a challenge to be the first to fly across the English Channel.

Week of March 24, 2008

      We woke up our brains with some thinking activities as the matrix logic problem "Birthdays."  This week we met one of Dr. Seuss's favorite characters and a very popular character, due to his new Hollywood fame.....Horton the Elephant.  Today we read the Seuss classic, Horton Hatches an Egg.  Before reading the tale, students brainstormed the word "responsibility" and what it means to each of them.  We discussed Horton's admirable qualities of faithfulness and determination.  We compared Horton's qualities to Mazie's, and connected real life situations to Horton's problem.   Our vocabulary words for the day were:  faithful,  immense, glee.

         We went to the computer lab and used our research skills to investigate bird eggs.  Students completed 1-4 research activities on bird eggs.

         We completed our "egg day" exploring the historical significance of eggs as a sign of spring in many cultures through the centuries. We also learned about the history of the dazzling Faberge Eggs. We ended our day by creating our own sparkling jeweled Faberge Eggs.

           Thank you, once again, to our fabulous copy moms.

Week of March 24, 2008

Fourth and Fifth graders will begin with a logic puzzle to tickle our brains and then will dive straight into the inside workings of a shark.  Fourth graders will experiment with shark senses and get a broad overview of the internal systems of the shark.  Fifth graders will discuss life support systems of the shark and will also begin an intense study of shark anatomy.

We are well into the process of making movies with our fifth graders.  Fourth graders are finishing up scripts and typing and will be beginning their Powerpoint presentations as they complete their scripts.

HOME EXTENSION:  BIBLIIOGRAPHIES MUST BE COMPLETED AND TYPED. 

Week of March 17th 2nd and 3rd Grade

Third grade students worked on the next lesson in Hands-On-Equations, while the second graders used their math vocabulary skills to solve a math vocabulary puzzle entitled "I've Got Your Number". All students worked on a new picture puzzle, and completed "Dyeing to Lay Eggs", a logic puzzle.

Students continued to learn about the Wright Brothers and the gallant fliers that came before them. They used their knowledge to complete a Cloze activity.

We introduced the concept of "thrust".  Students completed two experiments on thrust and predicted the final resting place of our "rocket balloon".

HOMEWORK: Some third graders will finish  "I've Got Your Number" for homework.

Thank you to the many who volunteered to run copies for the second and third grade.  We had so many volunteers that you may only be asked to run copies once. Our masters are ready by Thursday and copies usually run Thursday or Friday. You'll receive a call when your turn is up. 

Thank you,

Valerie Verduci, Liz Goldstein, Lee Lindsley, and Judy Bullard.

Week of March 17

This week, fourth graders will take their mid-unit test.  Fifth graders will challenge themselves with a shark logic puzzle.

We will continue to explore our study of shark anatomy.  We will explore the magnificent sensory ability of sharks and will  do an experiment in order to see just how sensitive these senses are.

We will also continue with our writing of scripts for our PowerPoints and movies.  Fifth graders who have compelted and revised their scripts will begin the movie making process.

HOME EXTENSION:  NEATLY DRAW AND COLOR AN ILLUSTRATION ON WHITE COMPUTER PAPER FOR YOUR SHARK POWERPOINT/MOVIE PROJECT.

FYI:  Fifth Grade Thursday students:  Don't forget that you will come on MONDAY next week!

Tally for the Week of 3-17-08

Problem Solving

We warmed up our brains with several logic matrix problems and then worked on some interesting analogies.

Unit Work

Students brainstormed a list of things that cause people to fight; they then selected four items from this list and placed them in order of importance.

To introduce this week's book, teachers asked for volunteers to butter a piece of bread. The teacher buttered her piece of bread butter side down. The class was asked to note the differences and similiarities in the volunteers' buttering techniques.

We then read The Butter Batter Book by Dr. Seuss.  We discussed ways to avoid conflicts and then students role played several different conflict scenarios, while the class made suggestions to resolve these issues diplomatically.

Our vocabulary words this week were conflict, resolution, escalate, despondent, and compromise.

Students worked in pairs to create a "peace-maker" from odds and ends found in our classroom craft-box. The children then shared their "peace-makers" with the class and explained how this invention will resolve conflicts or encourage peace.

We ended our day by viewing The Buttler Battle Book video.

Week of March 10, 2008

While reading the beautiful Native American tale, Brother Eagle and Sister Sky, we enjoyed our recycling picnic and shared the "Green Deeds" we did during the week. We decided that many little deeds to help the environment will make a big difference in the future.

We continued our readings of Dr. Seuss's "thinking books".  Stories where Dr. Seuss is asking us to think about our world and how we can make it better. This week we read The Sneeeches, and something was very strange when students entered the classroom. On several students' desks there were new pencils, yet on others there were no treats.  Students were perplexed for awhile, as we brainstormed together, "What makes one person feel he or she is better than or more important than another." After reading the unique story about the Sneetches, we continued our discussion on how one feels when they are not treated fairly.  We connected the Sneeches' world to many real world happenings when groups of people are not treated equally and fairly.  The vocabulary word "prejudice" was introduced.  Other vocabulary words from today's story were:  precisely, peculiar, guaranteed, and snooty.  Students worked in pairs on a web of attributes that they find appealing in other people.  Students concluded the day by designing their new symbol of "equality" and sharing its significance with the class. Through another clever Dr. Seuss story, students reflected how they can make a difference for a better world.

Week of March 10 2nd and 3rd Grade

Third graders continued to build  on their math skills as they completed the next lesson in Hands-On-Equations.  Second graders worked on math Venn Perplexors. Both grades worked on a logic matrix puzzle called "Favorite Bicycles" and a word picture puzzle.

Students read about the Montgolfier brothers and the birth of the Hot Air Balloon.  They watched an activity demonstrating how hot air causes things to rise. 

Students learned about some of the early pioneers in flight like Otto Lilienthal and  Clement Ader.  They studied glider flight movement and directional vocabulary and practiced "flying" out side. Students were introduced to the Wright Brothers and watched a short video on the flight at Kitty Hawk.

Thank you,

Mrs. Verduci, Mrs. Bullard, Mrs. Lindsley, and Mrs. Goldstein

If you would like to try the balloon activity at home, check out instructions on the following site: http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/sci/hotairballoon.html#result.