Magnificent Monday

This morning the students completed a language review activity.  Then, after the announcements, we reviewed the correct answers and began our science lesson.

First, we reviewed the 3 states of matter.  Then we read about, and discussed, the concepts of evaporation and condensation.  Next, we conducted an experiment to see what how water vapor changes to liquid condensation.  We filled 4 metal cans with ice water, but put red food coloring in 2 of the cans.  Over the next 15 minutes we watched as condensation formed on all 4 cans.  We knew it was water changing from a gas to a liquid because the condensation was clear.  Had the water come from inside the can, the ones with red food coloring would have had red condensation.

Next, we switched for math and took a Go Noodle brain break.  After that, the students completed a "Would you rather..." warm up and then we began our rotations.

During the small group rotation we worked with rulers partitioned in eights.  We spent time labeling various points on the ruler as indicated on the worksheet.  During math with a partner most students worked with Mrs. Byrne to continue identifying various fractions and mixed numbers on a ruler partitioned into eighths.  Some students continued adding and subtracting fractions as they played Clip and Cover.  Finally, during the technology rotation, the students watched a lesson about measuring to the nearest eighth of an inch.  Then they played an online game practicing that skill.

HOMEWORK is the last ruler on the bottom of the paper we worked on in class...NOT the back...just the ruler on the bottom of the front.

After math, the students enjoyed lunch and outdoor recess.

When they returned to class we began our literacy block.  First, we discussed how author's use literary devices, as tools, to help "build" their writing.  Then we reviewed similes and metaphors as being comparisons between two seemingly unrelated things, with similes using the words "like" or "as".  After that, we read chapter 15 of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and identified similes from the text.  We added them to a chart and included our interpretation.

After that, the students read a story called "Jeremy's Swimming Championship" and, in writing, explained how they inferred what affected Jeremy the most when he was swimming to win.

Pink and Blue:  We met and read the text together.  Then the children reread the story and identified which type of inferencing clue they used to determine what affected Jeremy the most as he swam his race.

After reading we took a Go Noodle brain break and then began our writing lesson.

Today we revisited the model writing piece, Insects are Amazing" and noticed that the concluding paragraph repeated the author's opinion.  Then, the students practiced repeating their opinion with their writing partner.  After that, the students worked on their writing for 20 uninterrupted minutes.  Some students transferred their writing to a Google Doc.  Others worked on developing the reasons that support their opinion.  Some students began drafting a concluding paragraph.

Finally, students had a chance to share what they added to their writing today.

Homework is posted on GC-Holman's Homework.

Tomorrow is HAT DAY in honor of Read Across America.