Engineers put their models to the test...

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.  They will fine-tune them with revisions to improve features and test again next week.  Pictures coming soon!  

Here is a summary of what happened in our classroom:

​In Langauge Arts...

• This week's essential question was how does weather effect us?  Using different text about weather, students practiced to describe the main idea and find supporting details.  
• Students practiced many close-reading strategies using a text called Tornados!  Prior to reading students activated their prior knowledge about the subject.  Students learned this is an important reading strategy because it allows students to connect new information they learn about a subject to information they already know helping us to understand complex topics or ideas.   
• Using another text called Wild Weather by Seymour Simon, students learned about extreme weather conditions and how it can effect people.  Students learned about the differences between thunderstorms, lightning, tornados, hurricanes and blizzards.  They even learned about some of the most devastating hurricanes in history, including Hurricane Katrina that hit New Orleans  2005. 
• Grammar and vocabulary lessons this week included synonyms and antonyms.  Students learned about the following contractions: ​

In math...

• Students practiced more subtraction on the number line and are working on identifying when to use what strategy.  When is it most efficient to use the counting back strategy?  Students are learning it is most efficient to use this strategy if the minuend is a rather smaller number, such as 156 - 24 = ?  24 is rather small and would be manageable to count back.  When is it most efficient to use the "think addition" strategy?  Students are learning it is most efficient to use this strategy when the Subtrahend and the minuend are close numbers, such as 156 - 125 = ?  

• Students learned that a polygon is a 2D shape, must be a closed shape and has only straight sides.  Students learned to identify different polygons and learned the names for some, such as triangle, quadrilateral, pentagon, and hexagon.  Students also learned that a quadrilateral can be a square, rectangle, rhombus or a diamond too!

In science...

• Students built their models this week.  Using the Scientific process, students designed a model and got to evaluate and redesign to make improvements based on their findings. 

REMINDERS AND ANNOUCEMENTS​

• If you have not done so yet, please turn in your child's signed report card envelop.
• If you are still reviewing progress portfolios and evidence binders, please bring them back when you're done.  Thank you.  
• Thank you to those who participated in the blog survey.  It's great for me to see what things are working and how it can be improved.  Thanks for the feedback!