Kicking off 3rd Quarter!

Our little engineers got to put their designs to the test as they conducted a trial run of their seed dispersers this week.  It was quite an experience for them to explore and evaluate how they thought their models were going to work and actually seeing them in action.

In language arts...

• The standard covered this week was 2.RI.3 Describe the connection between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text.  Using a text called What's in Your Backpack: Exploring Our Forest, students learned how paper and pencils are made and how it all starts in our forests.  Students had to identify and describe the steps as well as sequence them in correct order.   ​

​In math...

• Students first learned how to use the count back strategy on a number line to subtract.  They practiced decomposing numbers to stop at "friendly" numbers.  
• Then, students learned how they can "think addition" on a number line to subtract.  If a subtraction problem is 85 - 64 = ? Students were taught to start at 64 and make a "jump of 10" to 74, then another "jump of 10" to 84 and finally a "jump of 1" to 85.  The answer is how many "jumps" were made. 
• Students applied these strategies when solving word problems. 
• The children sorted shapes into categories and by doing so they learned that polygons are closed shapes, have only straight sides, and are 2 dimensional.   

​In social studies...

• Students learned that natural resources are materials that come from nature that people use, such as rock, soil, minerals, air, water, plants, and animals.  Students also learned that some natural resources are renewable, such as plants and animals and others are nonrenewable, such as fossil fuels like coal and oil.  Once fossil fuels are burned they cannot be replaced.  Conservation efforts, such as Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Refuse are ways students are learning that can help with problems concerning limited natural resources.  

​Reminders & Announcements

• No school 1/28 due to Teacher's Professional Development Day
• Student Showcase starts on 2/4 and end on 2/8.  During this time, come and check out student featured writing and art in the Cafeteria.  
• Our clothing drive is running until 2/1.  If you have anything you would like to donate, drop off is on the stage cafe.  Thank you for your donations!