We are finishing off our Number Sense unit with division. Students are realizing how memorizing multiplication tables really helps! We have discovered many different strategies to divide. Today, we began working with larger numbers. As an introduction to the concept of long division, students were dividing numbers using Base Ten Blocks.
Students are asked to write about their observations and conclusions in Science. They are encouraged to use a lot of detail, colour, and labels in their diagram drawings. They should include detailed observations and conclusions with scientific language. They should describe the experiment in a way that another scientist could do the same experiment to see if they can get the same results. Here is an example of experiment writing by a student about our light and prism experiment today.
Students were working on an experiment with light and a glass prism today. Ask your child to explain to you what his/her observations and conclusions were of today's experiment. Ask your child what makes up white light!
Students are learning that everything that we see either gives off its own light or reflects (bounces) light from a light source. Ask you child to tell you some light sources that produce its own light and some light sources that reflect light. Here, students are working with mirrors to reflect light to shine on a specific target. What adjustments did they have to make to get this experiment to work? Ask your child to tell you his/her observations (what he/she did and what happened) and conclusions (what he/she learned) of this experiment. Encourage your child to use a lot of detail and scientific language in his/her explanations.
We read chapter 2 of "Charlotte's Web" today in small groups. It is wonderful to hear students reading together and helping each other! After reading the chapter, students were asked to discuss, as a group, what makes a good summary. Ask your child to tell you the important components of a summary of a narrative! They began writing a summary of chapter 2 as a group. Ask your child to summarize this chapter for you! A good summary should include:
the main events in order
a description of the main characters
a description of the main setting(s)
the problem and solution (sometimes this may not be included in just one chapter)
We have begun our novel study of "Charlotte's Web"! We will be reading through the book in a variety of ways: independently, together as a class, with partners, and in small groups. We will be focusing on the many aspects of reading that "real readers" do as they read. We will be predicting, asking questions, visualizing, clarifying, summarizing, reflecting, connecting, and making personal responses. We will be covering some of the types of questions that are included on the CASI reading assessment such as summarizing, discussing the main ideas, characteristics of narratives, characteristics of a character, and answering questions using evidence from the story.
Students are working on the Science unit "Light and Sound". So far we have discussed natural vs artificial light, radiant energy, infrared light, how light travels, and shadows! Ask your child to tell you about the experiments we have been doing and to define these science terms!
Shadows!!
Students are playing with shadows. We have learned that shadows can be long or short, depending on the placement of the light source. Shadows always move in the opposite direction of the light source. Ask your child to tell you why a shadow forms!
We are reading together "The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler". In this book, two children are investigating a mystery revolving around the artist Michelangelo. Today we looked at pictures of some of Michelangelo's sculptures and paintings, particularly the painting of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. Students completed an art activity today that gave them a bit of appreciation for Michelangelo's work on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. We only worked for 40 minutes, Michelangelo worked for over 4 years!
Hi, my name is Mrs. Merlo and I have been teaching for a number of years. It is a privilege to spend each and every day with such a wonderful group of children and colleagues.