Inquiry
Waste Management System: This week we return to our investigation of our waste management system. We will explore the question, “Why do we recycle?” while we examine the recycling habits at Alta Vista School. In teams we will analyze the materials thrown away in our cafeteria and in classrooms, developing strategies together to help improve our waste management system.
Math
Addition: We are adding numbers in our heads, using place value to help group tens and ones. We continue to build our list of “Addition Strategies,” learning a couple new games to increase automaticity.
Reading
Reading Tools and Schema (Prior Knowledge): This week we continue our study of what good readers do, practicing using reading tools and prior knowledge to improve comprehension.
Word Study
CVC Oddballs: Not every word that is spelled with a consonant, vowel, consonant fits the pattern of making a short vowel sound. For example, 'few' does not sound like, fehwh – NO, it makes a long “oo” sound. This week we look at how w’s and r’s impact the sound of CVC words.
Homework
Tuesday
Number String Game: In the spirit of building addition strategies, this week’s game focuses on using “10 Friends” (2+8, 3+7, 4+6…) and Doubles (6+6, 7+7) to help solve longer addition problems.
· Each player rolls a nine-sided die five times and records their numbers on the guide sheet.
· Add the numbers together (extra points for using 10 Friends or Doubles)
· Whoever has the highest sum gets a point
· The first player to reach 10 points wins the game.
Ready for a Challenge? Use the 20 sided die to add even larger numbers together.
Wednesday
Reading Party: Carve out a moment when everyone can grab a book and settle down for at least 20 minutes of reading. Brew some tea, play some soft music, turn off the phone, and just read. Read together or read on your own, talk about your books and laugh together.
Elephants: Our class mascot, Kagunda the three-horned chameleon, has gone on a trip to Africa and Asia to learn more about elephants. He learned that elephant populations are in danger and decided to investigate. We are helping Kagunda out by conducting our own web-based investigation.
· Use this website to learn more about elephants. Note: the link can also be found on our classroom website on the “Kagunda” page.
· Use the handout (or create your own) to make an informational poster that will inspire others to help save the elephants. Use the boxes to group similar information and draw pictures.
Current Events Schedule (in alphabetical order)
Check out our collection of kid-friendly news resources.
Tuesday - Gabriel
Wednesday - Joaquin
Thursday - Kaya
Friday - Kokwe
Waste Management System: This week we return to our investigation of our waste management system. We will explore the question, “Why do we recycle?” while we examine the recycling habits at Alta Vista School. In teams we will analyze the materials thrown away in our cafeteria and in classrooms, developing strategies together to help improve our waste management system.
Math
Addition: We are adding numbers in our heads, using place value to help group tens and ones. We continue to build our list of “Addition Strategies,” learning a couple new games to increase automaticity.
Reading
Reading Tools and Schema (Prior Knowledge): This week we continue our study of what good readers do, practicing using reading tools and prior knowledge to improve comprehension.
Word Study
CVC Oddballs: Not every word that is spelled with a consonant, vowel, consonant fits the pattern of making a short vowel sound. For example, 'few' does not sound like, fehwh – NO, it makes a long “oo” sound. This week we look at how w’s and r’s impact the sound of CVC words.
Homework
Tuesday
Number String Game: In the spirit of building addition strategies, this week’s game focuses on using “10 Friends” (2+8, 3+7, 4+6…) and Doubles (6+6, 7+7) to help solve longer addition problems.
· Each player rolls a nine-sided die five times and records their numbers on the guide sheet.
· Add the numbers together (extra points for using 10 Friends or Doubles)
· Whoever has the highest sum gets a point
· The first player to reach 10 points wins the game.
Ready for a Challenge? Use the 20 sided die to add even larger numbers together.
Wednesday
Reading Party: Carve out a moment when everyone can grab a book and settle down for at least 20 minutes of reading. Brew some tea, play some soft music, turn off the phone, and just read. Read together or read on your own, talk about your books and laugh together.
- Question of the Week: “How do you use your schema when reading a book?”
- NOTE: Schema is the collection of information, experiences and emotions we have in our brains. We use our schema (aka Prior Knowledge) to make decisions, connections and predictions.
Elephants: Our class mascot, Kagunda the three-horned chameleon, has gone on a trip to Africa and Asia to learn more about elephants. He learned that elephant populations are in danger and decided to investigate. We are helping Kagunda out by conducting our own web-based investigation.
· Use this website to learn more about elephants. Note: the link can also be found on our classroom website on the “Kagunda” page.
· Use the handout (or create your own) to make an informational poster that will inspire others to help save the elephants. Use the boxes to group similar information and draw pictures.
Current Events Schedule (in alphabetical order)
Check out our collection of kid-friendly news resources.
Tuesday - Gabriel
Wednesday - Joaquin
Thursday - Kaya
Friday - Kokwe