Unit 4 Week 4 Preview

We are continuing our discussion of teamwork, in particular, how in working together, teams can accomplish big things. We have been interactively writing a narrative in response to literature we've read this year. We will work on story structure, organization, and word choice. Our comprehension focus strategy will be visualization; our focus skill will be problem and solution. Vocabulary words for the week are: approach, assist, determined, quarrel, and view.

Individually we are working on and completing our Social Studies/Language Arts projects which will be on display for Open House (TBA). Seven students have worked steadily enough this week to finish. More are very near completion.

Also in Social Studies we will discuss transportation of long ago. We will continue our work with maps adding the concept of relative direction in greater detail. We will use what we learn with relative direction to locate hidden treasures.

In science we continue our study of air with lessons on resistance, propulsion, and pressure.

Results of the last two topic math tests are forthcoming.

One Hundred Twenty-First Day

Will be getting back on track posting plans soon. Plans and evaluations consumed much energy and time.

We are working hard on on a Social Studies/Language Arts project. We combine our map making skills, our imagination, and our describing and persuasive writing skills for one big project.

We set a 2011-'12 record with Topic 14 math test. We had 7 students with 100%. A passing score was 14 points.

This week we have been learning about Cesar Chavez and working together to accomplish a goal.

In science we are exploring the properties of air and it's effect on weather. We will continue to record weather measurements and observations as standard requirements.

Home Projects

The 1st grade will be hosting the Citizen of the Month Assembly at the end of March. One child will be chosen to read an essay on the subject of sportsmanship. All students wishing to read a speech to the student body need to submit their essay by the 16th of March. One essay will be chosen from those submitted. This is good public speaking experience and an excellent opportunity for video memories.

For social studies we have been working on neighborhood maps. At this point in the year I like to suggest that parents direct students to a mapping program on the Internet and locate your home's satellite photograph. Magnify the view to approximately 100ft/inch. Size to show their block and a portion of surrounding blocks. Have your child make a simple map with legend (key) under your direction but in their hand. On your child's map, buildings could be shown as simple rectangles. Print a view of the satellite picture (preferably w/o address and real estate information, which can be blacked out if necessary) and attach to the hand-drawn map and send with your child to class.