Well, we did it! Students came in each morning and diligently worked on the PARCC exams. We completed 3 days of ELA and 4 days of Math testing. I was very proud of this group of kids!
Now, we are back to the business at hand! Less testing, more learning! We have some exciting things going on in Room 102.
MATH:
In math we are continuing to look at fractions, particularly equivalent fractions and comparing fractions. We did lessons on comparing fractions with the same denominator and fractions with the same numerator. We used fraction tiles to help us compare fractions and made our own number lines as well.
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| Corey is using mountains, hills, and rocks! |
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| We used a number line strategy called mountains, hills, and rocks to solve elapsed time story problems.
ELA
We read a story called Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney. Alice Rumphius wanted to do three things in her life: travel to faraway places, live by the sea, and do something to make the world more beautiful. She accomplished all her goals. Her most difficult one to accomplish was making the world more beautiful. She finally decided she could plant flowers all around her town. So, this week we took Miss Rumphius' idea and we planted lupine seeds as a start to our unit on Plants and Seeds.
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The lupine seeds are planted!
Also, in alignment with the story we are reading, students are "traveling". We drew partners and countries at random and we started creating our own "passports".
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| "passport" |
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| Where are you headed? |
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| Maddie and Claire are going to Venezuela! |
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| Amelia and Anna are headed to Italy! |
We also went out to the Victory Garden this week to get the garden ready for spring planting. We spread mulch and helped to edge the beds. Thanks to the volunteers who joined us to help out!
Writing
Social Studies
We are following a timeline through history. We started with the Pilgrims in 1620. The Puritans came in 1630. We have now been learning about the events leading up to the American Revolution.
We discussed the problem with taxes in the early colonies. Taxes, taxes, and more taxes. Taxes on paper products, glass, playing cards, and even tea! The king has no right to do this! The colonists declared, "No taxation without representation!"
We are also learning about King George's reactions as we read Can't You Make Them Behave, King George? by Jean Fritz. There are two sides to EVERY story. King George saw himself as a father to all his subjects. And if children don't behave, they NEED to be punished! He closed the port of Boston! He'd show them.
We are looking at documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. All of these important historical documents are written in CURSIVE!
By now, your child knows who his/her VIP is for our final project. Students should work at home to get DETAILED notes about their person. We will use these notes to write a report in school. Then we will introduce Steps 3 & 4.
Step 3: Create an artifact!
Step 4: the COSTUME!
So exciting!
Writing
We are finishing up our persuasive letter writing!
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| Paragraph organization! |
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| Staying up later... Can I? |
We are following a timeline through history. We started with the Pilgrims in 1620. The Puritans came in 1630. We have now been learning about the events leading up to the American Revolution.
We discussed the problem with taxes in the early colonies. Taxes, taxes, and more taxes. Taxes on paper products, glass, playing cards, and even tea! The king has no right to do this! The colonists declared, "No taxation without representation!"
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| The Boston Tea Party was not a party at all! |
We are also learning about King George's reactions as we read Can't You Make Them Behave, King George? by Jean Fritz. There are two sides to EVERY story. King George saw himself as a father to all his subjects. And if children don't behave, they NEED to be punished! He closed the port of Boston! He'd show them.
We are looking at documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. All of these important historical documents are written in CURSIVE!
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| We discussed the first three words of this document and why they are important. |
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| Paul Revere rode out to warn the colonists, "The Bristish are coming!" |
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| Ask your child about the meaning of the stars and stripes on the flag! Ask them to tell you a few "flag rules"! |
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| Paul Revere made this picture of the "Boston Massacre". But, was it accurate? Why or why not? |
Massachusetts V.I.P.
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| Get started on that research! |
By now, your child knows who his/her VIP is for our final project. Students should work at home to get DETAILED notes about their person. We will use these notes to write a report in school. Then we will introduce Steps 3 & 4.
Step 3: Create an artifact!
Step 4: the COSTUME!
So exciting!
Don't Forget to Mark Your Calendar!
May 30th –
Memorial Day (no school)
June 6th –
Medfield Tour
June 8th - Third
Grade Parent Night at Dale Street
School
June 9th – The
Noisy Paint Box
(Fine Arts Night) 6-8 p.m.
June 14th – Field
Day (Rain date 6/16)
June 17th – June
17th Massachusetts V.I.P. Museum 11 – 12pm
June 22nd –
Transition Day
June 22nd - End of
Year Party 2:00 – 3:00
June 23rd – last day (½ day) of school
June 23rd – last day (½ day) of school
