Wonderful Wednesday - Mad Science In-House Field Trip

This morning, after reading quietly, exchanging books in the media center, or practicing keyboarding, the students participated in the wonderful Mad Science, in-house field trip.  The students participated in numerous experiments about heat.  The grand finale was using heat to change the properties of matter turning sugar into a liquid and then back to a solid, thus creating cotton candy.  Check out Twitter for some pictures (@runnerdana)!!

After the field trip, we returned to the classroom and began our math rotations.  During the small group, teacher-led instruction, the students used fraction strips to identify and generate equivalent fractions.  During math with a partner, the students continued identifying equivalent fractions as they played the game Contraction Fractions.  Of course, math discourse was expected!!  Finally, during the technology rotation, the students finished watching Learn Zillions lessons about equivalent fractions from Monday and then watched a Learn Zillion lesson about identifying equivalent fractions using fraction strips.

For HOMEWORK there is an assignment on Google Classroom, homework page.

Following lunch and indoor recess we reviewed the student's independent work task for today's literacy block.  Students will begin with an independent guided reading group assignment and then complete a word work activity.  After that, they will finish planning the plot of their realistic fiction picture book, complete their map of North America and work on the fake "Facebook" page representing their famous African American.

As they worked, I met with guided reading groups.

Tigers:  We reviewed last night's header sort and then continued reading chapter 1.  Independently they completed a speed sort using their word work words.  For HOMEWORK the children need to  reread chapter 1 and complete rainbow words using their word work words.

Leopards:  Independently the students reread chapter XX and, in their RRJ, listed challenges the children have faced since their dad left for Virginia.  They also completed a meaning check using 10 of their word work words.  In group we reviewed and shared their lists of challenges and then reviewed theme as being the big idea or lesson that the author wants readers to infer from the book.  I explained that the way a main character deals with their challenges will often help us identify the theme.  Then, as a group, we decided the theme of the book is to never give up or persevere.  Finally, we shared examples from the book that support this theme.  For HOMEWORK the students need to read chapter XXI and complete rainbow words using their new word work words.

Lions:  Independently the students reread chapter 20 and, in their RRJ, described the challenge in the chapter.  They also completed a meaning check using 10 of their word work words.  In group we began by discussing the challenges in this chapter.  Then I explained that the way a main character deals with the problems in the book often relates to the theme.  So, we discussed the main character, Peter, the problem, getting the gold out of the country, and how Peter met this very dangerous task.  From this discussion we arrived at a few themes for this book.  For HOMEWORK the students need to use their word work words to complete rainbow words and they need to read chapter 21.

Panthers:  Independently the students read chapter 5 and listed unknown words on a sticky note.  They also did a speed sort with their word work words.  In group we reviewed their lists of unknown words.  Then we worked, as a group, to write a written response to a comprehension question.  This group is struggling to write well worded, coherent answers.  So, we are going to focus on that in group.  For HOMEWORK the children need to reread chapter 5 and do rainbow words using their word work words.

The children ended their day in PE with Mr. Benco.