Our students are busy reading about their great Americans. We have cited our sources on Noodle Tools, read an article from FactCite, and we have begun reading our biographies. The students should finish reading their biographies by Monday, May 6. The students will be taking dot jot notes on three characteristic traits that best describe their great American. they will also be reading for interesting facts and material such as famous quotes that they can put on their trifolds. The students went on a gallery walk of past year's trifolds. They looked to see how students set up their boards, saw examples of color themes they used, as well as they saw ways open spaces on the boards were filled, and they were able to get a few ideas for background, etc. They will do most all of the work in class, but they will be creating their boards at home.
In read aloud we are reading Rules, by Cynthia Lord. The theme of this book is friendship and honesty. Friendship because Catherine makes two new friends in the story, Kristi and Jason. Twelve-year-old Catherine just wants a normal life. Which is near impossible when you have a brother with autism and a family that revolves around his disability. She's spent years trying to teach David the rules-from "a peach is not a funny-looking apple" to "keep your pants on in public"-in order to stop his embarrassing behaviors. But the summer Catherine meets Jason, a paraplegic boy, and Kristi, the next-door friend she's always wished for. The students are enjoying the discussions. There is a lot to think about.
Mrs. Conley is reading Because of the Rabbit, Cynthia Lords' newest book, and it is fabulous. It's a fun, fast-paced book. Home-schooled by her mother, young Emma is very close to her parents and brother. She has beautiful memories of visiting her grandparents (now deceased) across the border in Quebec, where she learned about French-Canadian farming culture. Mémère taught her to bake, while Pépère told her stories about Monsieur Lapin, the rabbit, and all his woodland friends. But now Emma’s life is changing. Her older brother, Owen, was her constant companion until he started high school and built a social life all his own. Lonely and hoping to make a friend, Emma decides to quit home schooling and enter the fifth grade at Lakeview Elementary. The night before she embarks on her first class, she accompanies her game-warden father on a call, and they find a pet bunny stuck in a fence. Mrs. Conley gave a book talk about it today.
Our maps were gorgeous! The students did a terrific job demonstrating that they understood the main parts of a map. They were colorful, creative, and carefully done!
We continue go learn about the religious persecution of the Puritans and Pilgrims and why they wanted to leave England for the New World. Kids find it interesting to learn that in England, at this time, the King was also in charge of the Church of England and that all subjects of the king had to follow his religion. As Americans this is a difficult concept for us - there was no separation of church and state. Discovery groups have had their first assignment and will be learning what kind of colony they are next week. They might be a colony of the king, sent to defend his claim of land. They could be a religious colony seeking religious freedom, or they might be a merchant colony determined to make money for themselves and their investors. A roll of the die will cast their fate. Colonies will also determine a name, develop a flag to represent their mission, and set some group norms similar to the Mayflower Compact. Soon they will be packing their ships and embarking on their journey to the New World.
The unit 4 assessment will be towards the end of next week as we finish the unit by learning how to add and subtract decimals using the standard algorithm. We have spent a bit of time modeling these operations with hundredths grids so students can have a picture in their mind's eye of what is actually happening when we add/subtract decimals. Although our number system always works the same way - decimals seem to confuse the kids. They often are confused with the alignment of the place values. We'll keep working.
With thanks to the Yarmouth Educational Foundation, we were fortunate to have Greg Tang Jr. come to our school this week. We were able to play some new games and we had a wonderful evening with Greg and his team as well. The excitement was wonderful.
Conversation starters:
my great American's traits
an interesting fact about my great American
Rules
Greg Tang Jr. visit - expresso, Kakooma
Puritans/Pilgrims
Jamestown/Pocohontas
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