ONE two-three: Weather Report

Writing

Inspired by the book Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs we began planning a three part piece of writing that describes an entire day of raining food using great adjectives.

We began learning about adjectives and highlighting them on a student model piece of writing.


Next, we used a graphic organizer to brainstorm adjectives and our favorite foods for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Now we will write a three part description and an introduction for our own versions of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.

Science/Updrafts

Our weather study this week included learning about the air around us and how it moves. We created air spirals (that look like snakes) and have tried holding them over a warm light bulb and a heating vent to see the effect of hot air rising. We haven't been overwhelmed with our results so we plan to continue to change variables until we achieve our desired results.

You Read to Me, I'll Read to You

The children never tire of partner reading the "I'll Read to You, You Read to Me" series of poetry books. This series uses traditional reading teaching techniques (alliteration, rhyme, repetition, short sentences) to invite young children to read along with an adult.
Why use partner reading?

It is a cooperative learning strategy in which two students are encouraged to work together to read an assigned text.
It allows students to take turns reading and provide each other with feedback as a way to monitor comprehension.
It provides a model of fluent reading and helps students learn decoding skills by offering positive feedback.

These books make great gifts for birthdays or holidays and are a fun way to practice reading with your child.

http://www.amazon.com/You-Read-Me-Ill-Together/dp/0316013161

American History

Teaching history to kids has many important benefits. It provides identity and improves decision making and judgment. History shows us models of good and responsible citizenship and teaches how to learn from the mistakes of others. History helps us understand change and societal development providing a context from which to understand ourselves and others.

JFK

I took the class outside today to observe the flag pole in front of the school. When we returned to the room we discussed the significance of flying the American flag at half staff. I told them how 50 years ago today, I was exactly their age and sitting in the back row of my second grade classroom. I described how my school principal came over the loud speaker to announce that the President had died at 2:00 and that school was dismissed---and the immediate and profound effect it had on every single person in the country.

We watched a brief Brain Pop video about President Kennedy and afterwards the children had many meaningful questions. Madeline said, "We should do something at 2:00 to remember JFK" and the class decided that we would stop whatever we were doing at 2:00 and say the pledge of allegiance.