Monday PE | Tuesday Cooking In and About with Erin | Wednesday ART Celebrations of Learning | Thursday Level 1 Friendship Buddy | Friday ART |
2/13 - 2/17 -- Kindness Week at FGCS
2/20--No School, President's Day
2/28 -- Map check
One topic related to kindness we've been addressing as we've had as a classroom community is this idea of mix-up lunch. Our concept is to have students select numbers which indicates where they are to sit for lunch and meet our classroom community members they might not know as well. Getting to know one another helps build community and build the life skill of learning how to socialize and communicate with others. Of course not all kids like the idea of sitting by students they don't know that well. But, we had a lengthy conversation about its benefits and why we feel it is an important practice. Some ideas were it may open up a new friendship, provide insight and understanding about another student, build acceptance towards others, learn socializing skills, to name a few.
Seed packets for the school fundraiser are going home on Monday!
Project
I am not sure where the week went--oh yeah, late start, OMSI, Mix-it-up lunch discussion and ASM. Anyway, the Merlins were stellar scholars, citizens and stewards at OMSI last week and I was glad to have such great parent/volunteer turnout and hear great feedback from them. If you're able to come to Celebrations of Learning on Wednesday you'll see some of our cooking chemistry come to life. And, I look forward to getting more in depth with our space unit. This week we briefly looked at a concept called photoperiod, for a global game of hide-and-seek we are playing called Mystery Classroom. More on that another week.
Ask what is a photoperiod?
Listen to your student explain how to calculate a photoperiod.
Extend the learning by researching FG's photoperiod and seeing if it is increasing or decreasing.
Literacy
The Merlins are making good progress on their fantasies. Such interesting, captivating stories are emerging. This week we will look back to our outlines to see if they are holding true and then start writing our rising action scenes. And, the Merlins started reading the 2nd book in our literature circle fantasy.
Ask how did you end your story?
Listen to your student read a scene from their fantasy.
Extend the learning by examining favorite fantasy stories as a family.
6th Grade Math
Sixth graders seem to be getting a handle on all the different forms of measurement we've examined the last 2 weeks, area, perimeter, surface area and now we just have volume yet to tackle. This block has been a great review of everything we've learned so far this year: multiplying and dividing decimals, adding, subtracting and multiplying fractions too. We'll review and start testing by mid week.
Ask how do you find the surface area of a rectangular prism.
Listen to your child explain why area is square units?
Extend the learning by looking at how these measurements are used in everyday life.
5th Grade Math-
Last week, 5th grade mathematicians investigated the reasoning of the division interpretation of a fraction and began looking at dividing a whole number by a fraction. One of the most important objectives in 5th grade math is for students to be able to support and explain their thinking and how they got an answer using the algorithm, not just to get an answer.
This week, we dig deep into mathematical reasoning and the interpretation of the OF in a fraction of a fraction. These steps which are the reasoning, will lead learners to the formula for the product of two fractions.
ASK your 5th grade mathematician to share the reasoning steps with you on one of the Problem of the Week problems.
LISTEN to your mathematician explain the connect the steps show between the answer and the problem.
EXTEND the learning by using these steps in some problems inspired by your kitchen.