Monday PE | Tuesday James and Giant Peach Show | Wednesday ART | Thursday ELC | Friday ART |
3/10 Rough draft of the fantasy due
Project Work
Last week our project work consisted of our Fernhill preparation and data collection, our ASM presentation, and getting caught up on Mystery Classroom. I loved our day at Fernhill seeing kids as scientists and doing such important work. Clean Water Services were hard at work getting rest of the treatment components built. It will be so exciting to see the entire project finished later this spring.
The Merlins did a nice job presenting complicated material for the All School Meeting. The class was adamant about showing important ways to be kind at school. We use the phrase "time, place and manner" to consider if our actions are okay for school. Scenes included: inside jokes, finding line partners, saying hurtful jokes, and using memes. I look forward to seeing how they implement their skit with their own actions at school. After the ASM we have our first "Mix-it-up lunch" with level 1. It was awesome! I loved seeing the Merlins run around the break yard with level 1 students and finding engaging/safe ways to interact with them. Then, we had a peaceful lunch together where the classroom was filled with fun conversations.
I am hoping this week we can accomplish a lot more with our space study. Mystery classroom is a great way to get to our next concepts. Students can see if their "classroom" has a photoperiod that is increasing or decreasing. I am hoping this week they can confidently use that information to determine the classroom is the northern or southern hemisphere.
Ask, what do you hope comes of the ASM skit you all presented? What actions do you plan to take?
Listen to you student describe our great morning at Fernhill.
Extend the learning by finding clues of the changing seasons.
Literacy
We're past the half way point for our lit circle books and approaching the last week to writing our first draft of our fantasy stories. A highlight from last week was talking with author KL Going who wrote a class favorite "The Liberation of Gabriel King." Talking with her validated for the kids all the hard work they've put into their fantasies. The Merlins asked her great questions and our conversation easily filled 50 minutes!
Ask what will you need to do to be finished with your rough draft by Friday?
Listen to you child discuss connections they are making between the fantasy they are reading and writing.
Extend the learning by talking about pieces of literature. What makes 'em so great!
6th Grade Math
The sixth graders seem to have a lot of confidence with our ratios unit based on their foundation of fractions. The trickiest part seems to be convincing them to go slow enough and show their work so silly mistakes aren't made. A common mistake is when finding the area of a figure in one type of unit and then converting it to another type of unit. Consider finding the area of something in feet and then converting it to inches. The kids forget they have to multiply by the conversion twice, so in this case the answer would have to be multiplied by 12 squared, think 12 x 12 or 144. We'll be taking the test by Tuesday or Wednesday, based on how the review goes.
Ask what's a ratio?
Listen to your child explain how to convert measurements in the metric system.
Extend the learning by showing examples of ratios in your life.
5th Grade Math
Last week, we spent time reviewing fraction and decimal concepts from the unit. I was pleased to see more students willing to ask questions share their thinking during the review. Some 5th grade mathematicians began the unit test during a 30 minute math on Friday. Early this week, all 5th graders will work to complete the unit test, wapping up our focus on fractions and decimals for the year. However, we will be sure to see fractions and decimals again in our work to come with geometry, measurement and algebraic thinking. Mid-week, 5th grade will move into a short geometry unit beginning with the coordinate plane (think Battleship).
Homework this week will begin with minute math (review and fluency) and then become a mix of minute math, test corrections and reflection and completing class work. Check the level 3 website and your child's agenda for updates on work at home each night.
ASK you 5th grader to share his or her test reflection with you.
LISTEN TO YOUR 5th grader go over test corrections and/or explain the day's work in class.
EXTEND the learning by researching the history and use of the Cartesian Coordinate Plane.