Happy Monday! I am amazed that we are already into the second week of January! We had a great week back and are ready for a busy second half of the school year!
HERES'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK:
MATH:
In math last week we began our Hands-On Equations algebra program. Students were super excited about learning “legal” moves each day. So far we have been introduced to our blue pawn (x) and number cubes. Students learned how to keep our scale balanced, and remove equal amounts of pawns from both sides of an equation.
READING:
We began our next Schoolwide unit, Fiction, last week. Students examined the many types of fiction that share similar characteristics, and analyzed characters in our current read aloud, Journey. We also learned that fiction is often structured chronologically. Students explored "scenes" of a story to better understand how the plot unfolded over a period of time.
Our whole class novel study/response to literature unit on The Liberation of Gabriel King also began last week. Students are extremely enthusiastic about the story of Gabriel King and his best friend Frita Wilson. Already we’ve had many mature and higher-level discussions as we’ve explored the ideas of liberation, integration, and justification. Students examined point of view, idioms, and character perspectives. We even researched the Bicentennial to provide background knowledge on the setting of the story.
PERSONALIZED LEARNING:
Busy...busy...busy....we were last week as we finalized our notes, documented progress, reflected, gave peer feedback, and worked on completing our final projects!
SCIENCE:
Our Energy unit is off to a great start, and we are all enjoying it so far! Last week students participated in a variety of activities to develop their awareness of the various forms of energy. We discussed what energy is, where it can be found, what it does, and how it can be used. Students created "Energy is All Around Us" Pic Collages (iPad app) depicting "energy in action" and "stored energy." We also played a card/sorting game to categorize forms of energy. In addition, students explored energy transfers and how energy makes things work. We worked in small groups, rotating through energy stations as we operated a variety of toys and tried to determine the type of energy transfers that occurred in each toy.
THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS:
MATH:
We will continue moving along in our Hands-On Equations algebra unit. Students will learn several new "legal moves" this week.
READING:
Our Fiction unit, along with "Gabriel King," will continue this week. We will focus on elements of a story, character analysis, literary elements, and point of view.
PERSONALIZED LEARNING:
Our final week of project work is upon us! Students will make final preparations for their presentations, reflect on their experience, and meet with peers for critical feedback.
SCIENCE:
Energy explorations will take place this week in science. Students will begin researching energy types and answer questions that drive their learning. After their research is complete, students will prepare teaching presentations to inform classmates about their energy topic.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Tuesday, 1/12..............................................Robert Crown (am)
Monday, 1/18..............................................No School (MLK, Jr)
Tuesday, 1/19..............................................No School (Institute Day)
HERES'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK:
MATH:
In math last week we began our Hands-On Equations algebra program. Students were super excited about learning “legal” moves each day. So far we have been introduced to our blue pawn (x) and number cubes. Students learned how to keep our scale balanced, and remove equal amounts of pawns from both sides of an equation.
READING:
We began our next Schoolwide unit, Fiction, last week. Students examined the many types of fiction that share similar characteristics, and analyzed characters in our current read aloud, Journey. We also learned that fiction is often structured chronologically. Students explored "scenes" of a story to better understand how the plot unfolded over a period of time.
Our whole class novel study/response to literature unit on The Liberation of Gabriel King also began last week. Students are extremely enthusiastic about the story of Gabriel King and his best friend Frita Wilson. Already we’ve had many mature and higher-level discussions as we’ve explored the ideas of liberation, integration, and justification. Students examined point of view, idioms, and character perspectives. We even researched the Bicentennial to provide background knowledge on the setting of the story.
PERSONALIZED LEARNING:
Busy...busy...busy....we were last week as we finalized our notes, documented progress, reflected, gave peer feedback, and worked on completing our final projects!
SCIENCE:
Our Energy unit is off to a great start, and we are all enjoying it so far! Last week students participated in a variety of activities to develop their awareness of the various forms of energy. We discussed what energy is, where it can be found, what it does, and how it can be used. Students created "Energy is All Around Us" Pic Collages (iPad app) depicting "energy in action" and "stored energy." We also played a card/sorting game to categorize forms of energy. In addition, students explored energy transfers and how energy makes things work. We worked in small groups, rotating through energy stations as we operated a variety of toys and tried to determine the type of energy transfers that occurred in each toy.
THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS:
MATH:
We will continue moving along in our Hands-On Equations algebra unit. Students will learn several new "legal moves" this week.
READING:
Our Fiction unit, along with "Gabriel King," will continue this week. We will focus on elements of a story, character analysis, literary elements, and point of view.
PERSONALIZED LEARNING:
Our final week of project work is upon us! Students will make final preparations for their presentations, reflect on their experience, and meet with peers for critical feedback.
SCIENCE:
Energy explorations will take place this week in science. Students will begin researching energy types and answer questions that drive their learning. After their research is complete, students will prepare teaching presentations to inform classmates about their energy topic.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Tuesday, 1/12..............................................Robert Crown (am)
Monday, 1/18..............................................No School (MLK, Jr)
Tuesday, 1/19..............................................No School (Institute Day)
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