We worked on comprehension skills these weeks, focusing on two big skills: asking questions and visualizing. We read a number of magazines, asking and answering questions as we went. To practice visualizing, Mr. MacLellan read a book out loud, having students draw the picture in their head for every few pages. After we were done, we looked at the pictures the illustrator chose, and compared what was the same and what was different.
We talked about defining words, and groups of students wrote a definition for a number of words relating to bees.
We also continued to study spelling words!
Writer's Workshop
We are fully into a research writing unit, reading books about bees, taking notes, and drawing to help support our research. Next week, we will be writing paragraphs with the information we have learned.
Math
We are subtracting! We are working on three-digit subtraction with regrouping in all places. This has been difficult for many students, so we are taking our time and moving slowly through this unit so we have lots of time to practice.
At home, please practice math facts, especially subtraction! Students should know the answer to any one-digit subtraction facts. If you see that your student doesn't, then practice, practice, practice!
Science
Can you make a heavy thing float? We tried to make clay and rocks float, by choosing materials or shapes that were buoyant enough to support a heavy object.
Since we are learning about bees in writer's workshop, we are thinking about pollination in science, too. We went into the school garden and picked marigold flowers for a dissection. Back in the classroom, we drew them, then picked them apart to see what they look like up close on the inside. We found seeds, lots and lots of seeds! We also looked at garlic chive flowers, and drew those in our science notebook as well.
Social Studies
We learned about the world, thinking about countries, continents, and oceans. Understanding the difference between a city, a state, a country, and a continent is difficult!
News and Other Information
The week of November 16th - 20th is conference week. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of that week are half days, with dismissal at 12:15.
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