Snapshot of the Week of Nov. 1 - 5

Math:   Perimeter and beginning lessons on the concept of multiplication

Reading:  Continuing lessons on different types of comprehension questions. We have learned about “Right There" and “Think and Search” questions. This week we include “Author and Me” and “Own My Own” questions.  

Writing:  Continuing lessons that focus on learning about adding details to writing.

Social Studies:  Beginning a unit on government. The first lessons focus on how communities meet their needs.

Science:  Gravity, friction and magnetism

Snapshot of the Week of Oct. 25- 29

Math :  Customary and metric linear measurement

Reading:  We will be learning about different types of comprehension questions.  Next week we will begin with the first two types: Right There and Think and Search. Learning about types of questions will help students be able to analyze the questions they are being asked and have strategies for locating the information in the text to correctly respond.  In addition, learning about different types of questions will be a helpful tool as we begin to work on book discussions. Students write questions and discuss the answers with their peers.

Writing: We will be celebrating the completion of our first published piece. Mini lessons will focus on learning about adding details to their writing in order to elaborate ideas.

Spelling:  Test on Friday

Science:   Exploring mechanical energy

Snapshot of the Week of Oct. 18 - 22

Here is a snapshot of what we are working on this week:

Math:   Telling time, double bar graphs, and understanding the importance of a key on pictographs.

Reading: Continue the integration of social studies in the reading and lessons on monitoring comprehension and making connections.

Writing:   Finish publishing our writing.  Work on small moments to be used later in the teaching of revision.

Science:  A lesson on mixing matter and lessons on energy. 

Snapshot of the Week Oct. 12- 15

Here is a snapshot of what we are working on this week:

Math:  Identifying and describing patterns in a table, reading a thermometer, solving word problems involving temperature, and reading a clock.

Reading:   Mini lessons will focus on checking for understanding and making connections as you read.  We will be using reading material that integrates social studies concepts.  Students will be responsible for responding to questions about the readings.

Writing:   Continuing to take a personal narrative paper through the writing process.

Social Studies:   Finishing  a unit on people in history and learning about various organizations that help people in the community (Ex. Red Cross).

Science:  Lessons on magnets and mixing matter.

Snapshot of the Week October 4- 8

Here is a snapshot of what we are working on this week:

Math:  3-digit subtraction with regrouping and addition and subtraction word problems.

Reading:  Finishing reading assessments that will be shared at parent conferences. Lessons on thinking as you are reading and how to track your thoughts as you read.

Writing:  Continuing to take a paper through the writing process. 

Social Studies:  Finishing research on important historical figures (such as Harriet Tubman, Jane Addams,..)

Science:  Experiments on matter

Science: States of Matter

Solids
The wood block is solid. A solid has a certain size and shape. The wood block does not change size or shape. Other examples of solids are the computer, the desk, and the floor.
You can change the shape of solids. You change the shape of sheets of lumber by sawing it in half or burning it.

Liquids
Milk is a liquid. Milk is liquid matter. It has a size or volume. Volume means it takes up space. But milk doesn't have a definite shape. It takes the shape of its container.
Liquids can flow, be poured, and spilled. Did you ever spill juice? Did you notice how the liquid goes everywhere and you have to hurry and wipe it up? The liquid is taking the shape of the floor and the floor is expansive limitless boundary (until it hits the wall). You can't spill a wooden block. You can drop it and it still has the same shape.
What about jello and peanut butter?
You can spread peanut butter on bread, but peanut butter does not flow. It is not a liquid at room temperature. You have to heat peanut butter up to make it a liquid. When you or your mom makes jello, it is first a liquid. You have to put it in the refrigerator so that it becomes a solid. These are yummy forms of matter with properties of a liquid and a solid.

Gases
Run in place very fast for a minute. Do you notice how hard you are breathing? What you are breathing is oxygen? You need oxygen to live. That's why you can only hold your breath for a certain amount of time.
You can't see oxygen. It's invisible. It is a gas. A gas is matter that has no shape or size of its own. Gases have no color.
Gases are all around you. You can feel gas when the wind blows. The wind is moving air. Air is many gases mixed together.

Narrowing Topic

In writing, we are focusing on writing a small moment. We used an inverted triangle to narrow our topic.