Some highlights from the last few weeks:
In ELA we have been talking about how characters change throughout a story, various narrative styles, and are delving deeper into identifying the author’s purpose. We have also begun a unit on non-fiction texts, and are learning how to read them most effectively. Students continued to work on writing fully developed paragraphs, stretching sentences, and delved into the study of homonyms, and metaphors. In writing, students have been focusing on the drafting and revising processes, as well as refining their how to pieces.
In Social Studies, we had a lively debate about the Boston Tea Party, and learned about the continental congresses, salutary neglect, and taxation without representation.
In Science, students applied the scientific method to the famous ‘bottle flipping’ game. They worked on isolating variables for data collection and calculating statistics, and then learned about the physics of the flip. We also finished our unit on forces with a recap of electric circuits by diagraming current flow. We looked deeper at the amplitude of sound waves. We began our unit on weather with a hands on experiment to study air pressure and examination of the water cycle.
The end of 2016 in Math was intensely focused on multiplying multiples of 10, finding and using area and parameter, and solving multi step word problems. Students have been asked to teach certain math questions to the class, thus allowing them to verbalize their thought processes for one another. Math games focused on multiplication tables, and geometric shapes.
Our computer use is increasing as students have been improving their touch typing skills, and have begun to study some coding.
The holiday season was eventful both academically and otherwise! Students contributed to the toys for tots drive, and carolled for many happy residents at Marion Manor. We studied holidays around the world, reflected in writing on our own holiday traditions, and set up a Winter Wonderland for the enjoyment of 65 guests who came through our room the day before break! Students worked very hard, and showed tremendous teamwork and generosity as they provided activities for, and hosted nearly every class in the school.
Thank you for the thoughtful holiday gifts and for providing pizza for the students before break! I hope everyone enjoys the vacation time, and I look forward to continued growth and learning in 2017!
In ELA we have been talking about how characters change throughout a story, various narrative styles, and are delving deeper into identifying the author’s purpose. We have also begun a unit on non-fiction texts, and are learning how to read them most effectively. Students continued to work on writing fully developed paragraphs, stretching sentences, and delved into the study of homonyms, and metaphors. In writing, students have been focusing on the drafting and revising processes, as well as refining their how to pieces.
In Social Studies, we had a lively debate about the Boston Tea Party, and learned about the continental congresses, salutary neglect, and taxation without representation.
In Science, students applied the scientific method to the famous ‘bottle flipping’ game. They worked on isolating variables for data collection and calculating statistics, and then learned about the physics of the flip. We also finished our unit on forces with a recap of electric circuits by diagraming current flow. We looked deeper at the amplitude of sound waves. We began our unit on weather with a hands on experiment to study air pressure and examination of the water cycle.
The end of 2016 in Math was intensely focused on multiplying multiples of 10, finding and using area and parameter, and solving multi step word problems. Students have been asked to teach certain math questions to the class, thus allowing them to verbalize their thought processes for one another. Math games focused on multiplication tables, and geometric shapes.
Our computer use is increasing as students have been improving their touch typing skills, and have begun to study some coding.
The holiday season was eventful both academically and otherwise! Students contributed to the toys for tots drive, and carolled for many happy residents at Marion Manor. We studied holidays around the world, reflected in writing on our own holiday traditions, and set up a Winter Wonderland for the enjoyment of 65 guests who came through our room the day before break! Students worked very hard, and showed tremendous teamwork and generosity as they provided activities for, and hosted nearly every class in the school.
Thank you for the thoughtful holiday gifts and for providing pizza for the students before break! I hope everyone enjoys the vacation time, and I look forward to continued growth and learning in 2017!