Math, Science, & Writing

Math- Recently, we have finished two lessons on factors & multiples and number & shape patterns.  The students used a manipulative to help them identify factors of numbers.  We also used a manipulative to help us create shape patterns and identify other patterns within the pattern.  Each student got the chance to create their own shape pattern and then test their elbow neighbor.

Science- On Halloween, we created "Witches Brew!"  There were mystery ingredients that they had to mix together in hopes of creating a chemical reaction.  We are also wrapping up our human body unit with the brain.  Students created a K-W-L chart.  They wrote down what they know about the brain, what they want to know about the brain, and what they have learned about the brain.  Below you will see them reading human body books and recording things that we learned about the brain on their chart.

Writing- We are beginning a writing project on Informational Writing.  We took some time to read some examples of different types of informational writing (newspapers, magazines, textbooks).  We discussed how informational writing answers the following questions about a topic or idea: who? what? where? when? why? how?  Students had to choose an article, identify the topic, and what questions it answered.

Red Ribbon Week

Red Ribbon Week is a week dedicated to drug and alcohol prevention.  Below, you will see a lot of photos of our week and how we pledged to be drug free!  We signed a pledge, released balloons, watched videos, dressed up, and more!

Picture Book of the Month- October

The picture book of the month for October was Black Cat written by Christopher Myers.  When your child reads the picture book of the month, they are invited to a special lunch to find out the reason why it was selected as the book of the month.

Fun in Math!

Here are some photos of the kiddos working on some math activities.  The students created 4 digit numbers to add and/or subtract.  Currently, we are working on multiplication and division.

Sunny Brook October

For the month of October, we decided to play BINGO with the residents!  We had so, so, so much fun!!! Some of the students who got a BINGO were able to be the callers.  Sunny Brook even gave us some candy to enjoy.

Science- the Human Body continued

We recently finished another two week unit focusing on the human body.  Previously, we studied the joints, muscles, tendons, and bones.  This unit was all about the eye!  Students learned about the parts of the eye, which included the iris, the pupil, the cornea lens, the retina, and the white space.  We also discussed why some people have good vision and others have blurry vision.  We ended our unit with a discussion and an activity to find out why nocturnal animals can see so well in the dark.  Some of the things we did were: build a model of the eye with a cornea lens and retina, add in a smaller pupil to see what happens to an image reflected on the cornea, a reading about our vision, and an eyeball dissection!  Yes, you read that correctly.  I was able to get some cow and pig eyes for us to take a look at.  Unfortunately, we weren't able to cut them in half but we did try extremely hard to do so!  Take a look at some of the pictures below.

Picture Book of the Month- Aug/Sept

Every month, there is a new picture book featured.  We call it the "Picture Book of the Month."  It is a great way to encourage reading!  Students have exactly one month to read the chosen book and then sign up to attend the special lunch in the classroom.  It is only then that I will reveal why the book has been selected!  I was very impressed- just about ever single student read the book and attended the lunch!  If your child attended, you'll have to ask them why it was selected.  The picture book of the month for Aug/Sept was A Chair for my Mother, written by Vera B. Williams.