Animal Visitors We are really enjoying observing our animal friends, especially the turtle which we named Turbo. Most days we have taken Turbo outside at recess so he can get exercise and we can observe him moving around. Also, we have been lucky to watch Turbo eat crickets-very cool. Our lizard friend also snatched a cricket and ate it right in front of us. During science, we observed the lizard, turtle, tarantula, and a dwarf frog from another class. As we observed, my scientists recorded observations as well as the structures and functions of each animal. Asking Questions We read news articles about deforestation and/or the Amazon Rainforest. These were challenging articles, so we had to read with questions in mind to help with comprehension. The kiddos were SO engaged and had tons of questions. They were able to answer some of their questions as they read. The next day, we looked for details and used text features to determine the big ideas in the articles. Students shared the big ideas with the class. So much deep thinking happening! Fractions on a Number LIne During math, we discovered there are many numbers between zero and one as we explored number lines. We used rods to partition number lines into equal parts and then labeled the fractions. Area Models of Fractions To gain a better understanding of area models, students looked at a variety of images representing area models. They wrote what they noticed and tried to determine the fractional part each color represented. Observing Cactus Scientists in our class really enjoyed observing different cactus during science after reading a book about giant cacti. We discussed and recorded the structure and function of each part in our notebooks along with a scientific drawing. Adaptations Research After lots of work, we finally finished our text features posters highlighting science concepts we learned while researching animal adaptations and challenges to survival. The final products are amazing! Enrichment Time For E-SLOT, students chose from a variety of math activities or coding with Ozobots.
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We had a very busy week with lots of engaging learning experiences and a special library visit for the Bluebonnet Book Kickoff. On Friday, some special animal visitors arrived which we will have for two weeks as we learn about animal structures & functions and life cycles, (our next science unit). Find out more about our week below. Counting Collections in Math These mathematicians enjoyed their first counting collections of the year by counting large quantities of various items such as paper clips, dots on dominoes, holes in buttons, and number of sides in a collection of shapes. This routine is a great way to develop and practice multiple math concepts including multiplication, addition, and place value. Animal Sort As an introduction to our science unit on structures and functions of animals and plants, students read cards with information about animals and sorted them into groups based on the ecosystem they would need to live in to survive. Solving Problems Involving Multiplication and Division Science Inquiry We visited the library to research how animals adapt to live in and survive in their environment and challenges to their survival. Each student chose one animal to read about and find answers to our inquiry questions. Next week, we'll create posters with information using various text features to share our learning. Answering Questions During Reading We read the book The Stranger by Chris Van Allsburg and recorded many questions before, during, and after reading. One lingering question was...Who is the stranger? Readers worked in small groups to find evidence in the text to formulate a theory about the stranger. Each group had to present their evidence after looking for trends and patterns within the text. Math Playground Mathematicians around the world explore math in different ways to discover ideas and make connections. So, we had a math exploration time where students had time to use different math tools as inspiration for mathematical thinking. Dot Day Creations Did you know September 15th is International Dot Day? This day is dedicated to making your mark just like the character in the Peter Reynold's book The Dot. It was fun being creative with a dot theme. I had different stations available for creations including, dot painting, making coffee filter art dots, emoji dot drawings, and dot art using Google drawings. Boat Challenge During science as part of our unit on matter, we used the design process to build boats out of 6 inch square pieces of foil. The boat needed to hold at least 40 pennies without sinking. As students tested their boats, they used knowledge gained from the previous boat to improve their designs. By the end of the first round (3 boats) we discovered that the shape and size of the bottom of the boat made an impact on the number of pennies it could hold. We lined up all the boats in order of the number of pennies the boat could hold without sinking, and noticed many of the boats had a flatter, square shaped bottom. The next day, these young scientists improved their designs even more as they built more boats. One boat held more than 90 pennies. Using Bar Models & Strip Diagrams and Working on Division During math, I challenged my mathematicians to represent a division problem and a multiplication problem using rods. There were some creative representations. We made connections between some of the models and strip diagrams. Then, we practiced using bar models, (like strip diagrams) using a website called Thinking Blocks. This week, we also solved division problems using math tools, visual representations such as arrays, and equations. Exploring Magnetism After enjoying our Root beer/Coke floats, (I forgot to get pictures of the floats), and reviewing the states of matter, the kiddos explored the magnetism. I set out a variety of materials as well as different types of magnets and let encouraged the class to conduct their own investigation and discover concepts about magnetism. This was partially for science, but also part of ESLOT. There was lots of excitement throughout the room as new discoveries were made. I loved seeing the joy of learning in action! |
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November 2019
Mrs. Swyers3rd Grade Teacher |