Week 34

The sun is shining and we are hydrating!

Christian Studies:
This week in Christian Studies we’re learning about the early church.  We read about the Jerusalem council and how the believers solved their differences in their understandings of how people are saved.  Then we discussed ways in which we can show God’s love for others.  Then we’ll read about Barnabas and Paul in Antioch and how that was the first time followers of Jesus were called “Christians.”  We’ll also discuss names that WE have and how our ultimate identity is in Christ.

Math:
This week in math we’ll finish up our module on 2- and 3-dimensional shapes.  We’ll identify and describe shapes with mathematical vocabulary, such as faces, edges, vertices, sides, and angles.  Then we’ll start our module on fractions by partitioning rectangles into equal parts. 

Language Arts:
This week’s phonics concept is spelling the /oo/ sound (like in “shook” and “put”) with oo and u.  We’ll practice the concept, as well as our new red word: together.

We’ll also do a close read of our text about migration, using text evidence to support our answers.

Science:
We’ll also continue on with our unit on solids and liquids by observing solids and liquids and how they behave.  We’ll use that information to make a claim about sand—whether we think it’s a solid or a liquid.  Then we’ll discover the answer and broaden our minds a little bit about how solids and liquids behave.  We’ll also test three different materials for a “boo-boo pack” and determine which one is better suited for that purpose.

Week 33

It looks like we have some nice weather ahead of us!  I’m looking forward to some sunshine!

Christian Studies:
This week in Christian Studies we’ll start to learn about the early Church.  We’ll talk about Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was sent.  We’ll also discuss Tabitha and her service, as well as the restoration that she received.

Math:
This week in math we’ll start a new module on two- and three-dimensional shapes.  We’ll discuss their traits and identify shapes based on those shapes.  Some key vocabulary will be sides, vertices, edges, and angles.

Language Arts:
Our spelling concept this week is /oo/ spelled with the vowel teams “oo” and “ew.”  We’ll practice spelling words with that concept, and we’ll practice our new red words for the week: heard, thought.

We’ll start another text this week, as well.  We’ll focus on another informational text, Amazing Migrations: Butterflies, Bats, and Birds.  We’ll spend the week focusing on text features and how they can give us more information about a text.

Science:
Now that we’ve done some deep dives on solids and their traits, we’ll continue looking at ways in which solids can be used to create sculptures.  We’ll do this through building “trash sculptures” and trading them with partners.  We’ll also test out some materials to see if they behave like liquids.  We’ll use that information to analyze how sand behaves and whether sand is a solid or a liquid.

Week 32

We have another full week ahead of us, and hopefully we can knock out those germs that are going around!

Christian Studies:
This week in Christian Studies we’ll be looking at some of the things that happened after Jesus rose from the dead.  We’ll discuss Jesus appearing to Mary, then His disciples.  We’ll talk about being Jesus’ sheep, with Him as our shepherd, and we’ll end the week talking about Jesus’ ascension and the Great Commission.

Math:
This week in math we’ll finish up our module on measuring in inches, feet, and yards.  We’ll also look at finding an appropriate tool with which to measure, depending on the thing we’re measuring.

Language Arts:
This week we’ll be reviewing the following concepts in phonics:
~Contractions
~Silent e
~Y as a vowel
~/f/ spelled “ph”
~”ch” saying /k/ and /sh/

We’ll also be starting our next selection in our reading book.  We’ll be looking at the fiction genre and identifying ways in which we can identify fiction writing.  We’ll also be focusing on the characters in a text.

Science:
This week we’ll start our new science unit on solids and liquids and how they change.  We’ll be sorting some solids using different categories.  We’ll also test the hardness of some objects by using a scratch test.  We’ll then discuss the difference between carving and building up materials to create sculptures.

Week 30

We’re back at school after more than a week off, and we’re all (hopefully) refreshed and reenergized!

Christian Studies:
This week we’ll talk about Jesus’ final week.  We’ll talk about His farewell words to His disciples and we’ll apply them to our lives.  Then we’ll discuss Peter denying Jesus.  We’ll talk about the word “confess” and how it can mean to confess our sins or it can mean that we confess our faith. 

Math:
This week in math we’ll finish our module on three-digit subtraction.  We’ll focus on subtracting when the top number is zero, and we’ll put it all together by adding and subtracting three-digit numbers.

Language Arts:
This week’s phonics concept is using “ph” to make the /f/ sound.  Our red words also have “-gh” endings to make the /f/ sound.

We’ll also start a new reading text selection.  We’ll focus on realistic fiction as we read The Seasons of Arnold’s Apple Tree.  We’ll focus on new vocabulary and we’ll discuss the setting and the plot of the story.

Week 29

This is the last week before spring break, and we have some exciting things going on!

Read In!
We have a special day on Friday!  We’re doing a read in!  The whole day will consist of reading activities.  This year we’ll be focusing on the Easter story.  The kids can wear pajamas and can bring a blanket, pillow, and stuffed animal.  They can also bring a snack to eat at our afternoon recess, if they choose to!  More information is on the bright orange note coming home on Monday!

Spring Break/Easter Monday:
We have no school next week (March 30-April 3) for spring break, and we also have no school Monday, April 6 (Easter Monday).

Christian Studies:
This week in Christian Studies we’ll be talking about a couple of things that set off Holy Week—Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead and Palm Sunday.  We’ll be talking about calling on God in all of our problems, and we’ll be identifying ways in which we praise God. 

Math:
This week in math we’ll be starting our module on three-digit subtraction.  We’ll be representing subtraction with three digits, we’ll specifically look at regrouping and what that looks like with three digits, and we’ll regroup with zeros.  We’ll review these concepts before we finish up the module after spring break.

Language Arts:
We are almost all the way done with our book.  Those who are still finishing up their pages will finish this week, then I’ll ship it off and the books should arrive sometime after spring break!

This week’s phonics concept is using “y” as a vowel.  We’ll be practicing lots of words with that concept, as well as our new red word: hall.  This week our test will be on Thursday, since our read in is on Friday!

Science:
This week we should be finishing up our science unit about how we can find the best place for a plant to grow.  We’ll look at range maps, showing the habitats of plants and animals.  We’ll use those maps to identify plants and animals that work together.  We’ll also use what we’ve learned to help find the best place for a plant to grow in a schoolyard.

Week 27

We’re Publishing a Book!

Every second grader will contribute a page of writing and a picture that goes with it to our class book!  You’ll have the opportunity to order a copy, if you want to!  Look for more information soon.

 

Early Dismissals

We have two half days this Thursday and Friday, with dismissal at 11:15 both days.  The students will still be doing lots of learning and work, so they’ll still need their backpacks, water bottles, and they can still bring a snack for morning recess.  If your child is going to Eagles’ Nest on those days, please also send them with a lunch.

 

Christian Studies

This week in Christian Studies we’ll discuss a couple of parables Jesus told, as well as their meanings.  First, we’ll look at the parable of the rich fool.  We’ll discuss greed and we’ll examine our own hearts.  Then we’ll look at the parable of the sower.  We’ll analyze the parable and will identify what each type of soil stands for.  We’ll then apply it to our own faiths.

 

Math
This week we’ll finish off our module, using bar models and boxes to determine the unknown number in an equation.  We’ll have a practice test as homework on Thursday, and we’ll take our test on Friday.

 

Science

We’ve been discussing pollination and the features of a bee that makes it good at pollinating.  The students worked in pairs to design a pollinator using certain materials.  They then built their pollinators.  We’ll test them out and evaluate how effective they were next!

 

Language Arts

This week we’ll be learning about several reasons a word might have a silent “e” at the end of it (other than it just being a magic “e”).  We’ll not only spell the words, but we’ll also discuss why it has a silent “e” at the end.  The reasons we’ll be discussing are below:

-English words don’t end in “j” or “v” (i.e., love, hinge, judge)

-to distinguish the word from a plural noun (i.e., mouse, house)

-to change an unvoiced “th” to a voiced “th” sound (i.e., “breath” becomes “breathe’)

-to change the “s” at the end of a word to make a “z” sound (i.e., impose, compose)

-to soften the “c” at the end of the word to make an “s” sound (i.e., absence)

Week 26

Book Fair!

This week is the book fair! We will preview the fair on Monday, so students have an idea of what is available for purchase. Students will be able to shop the book fair Tuesday-Thursday, 8:00 am-8:15 am, with a parent. Or after school on Thursday from 3-4 pm with a parent. Friday, the Book fair will be open for students and their Grand friends from 8 am-12 pm. Students will also have the opportunity to shop during recess on Tuesday through Thursday. If you are ok with having your student shop alone, you can send them with cash in a marked envelope, and I will send them during their recess.

Grand-Friends Day!

Grand-Friends Day is this Friday, March 6! 
A few things to note:

·       It’s a half day.  Dismissal is at 11:15 AM.

·       Click the link to register your child—this gives us updated numbers so we can better plan:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfvg8_43h3lPu-hAgeeVI7loBOXPeOMg2KSr1_KaDaS3jdJcQ/viewform

·       Parking Info:

o   Grand-Friends can walk out with their students from the closing in the gym.

§  Students who don’t walk out with a Grand-Friend will be brought out the pick-up line or sent to Eagle’s Nest.

§  The normal 3-5 line will be closed.  Please use the pick-up line closest to the playground to pick up all students.

§  Please let whoever is picking up your student know that as usual, the lane closest to the road traffic travels east to west, and the other 2 lanes west to east.

Aside from all of the craziness happening this week, we will also be doing some great learning!

Christian Studies: 
This week we’ll learn about a couple of healing miracles Jesus did: healing ten with leprosy and healing a blind man.  We’ll connect this healing with our lives and we’ll discuss gratitude and how we can praise God in all circumstances.

Language Arts:
Our phonics concept is contractions, specifically those using “have,” “will,” and “would.”  We’ll practice shortening the words and will discuss where to put the apostrophe.

We’ll also be diving into our informational text, A Home on the Prairie, and we’ll focus on using text features and graphics to better understand the text.

Science:
This week the kids get to design and build a pollinator!  We’ve already done some analysis of what makes a good pollinator; we’ll use that information to choose materials and design a pollinator.  We’ll get to test them out, too!