Monday's March towards Spring Break

There is a certain excitement in the air as we head into our final week of school before Spring Break, but the learning continues!

In math we used subtraction to solve word problems asking to determine the amount of change due when buying an item. Several small groups were called. One group labeled fractions and mixed numbers on a number line. Another group drew models of fractions and mixed numbers. The third group identified fractions of a set. There is a "making change" worksheet for homework.

We began reading by identifying why the setting was important in the fantasy The Wump World. Then we discussed our new spelling words. Finally, we began planning our next writing piece. We will be writing fantasy stories. We have been identifying that characteristic that fantasy stories involve enough realism to help the reader forget that the "fantastic" aspect (the magic, unnatural part) couldn't happen. The students will be using a true personal experience and changing one aspect (either a character, the setting or an event) to make it unreal and thereby creating the basis for a fantasy.

While I met with reading groups the students worked on sorting their new spelling words and writing them in their planners. Then, using information from the story The Wump World, they visualized what the planet Pollutus must have looked like before the Pollutians invaded Wump World and drew a picture and wrote about it. Finally, the students completed a graphic organizer to help plan their fantasy story.

Hornets: We began reading chapter 4 and defined some of the vocabulary in the chapter. For homework they need to read the entire chapter and identify what Harold and Chester discover at the end of the chapter.

Hyenas:We began reading chapter 4 and identified the event at the beginning we also discussed the concept of echolocation. Tonight they need to read chapter 4 and identify two ways bats and cats are alike.

Snow Tigers: We began reading chapter 4. For homework they need to read chpater 4 and describe Murray.

Following lunch and outdoor recess the students will go to art. We will end the day discussing conflicts and compromise and drawing up a compromise for the soccer field conflict at recess.