We have begun our unit about Endangered Animals.  Look what we have done in only 2 days.

Yesterday we read, defined, and discussed Extinct Animals (like dinosaurs and the Dodo Bird) and Endangered Animals. We talked about why animals become extinct. 

Today we began with making a R.A.N. chart (Reading and Analyzing Nonfiction) about PANDAS.

We wrote down our thoughts about “What We Think We Know About Pandas.”

Then we read some information and filled in our RAN chart with

“Confirmation” (of what we know)

or

“Misconception”

or

“New Information.”

Next, we wrote 3 sentences about PANDAS, using the information that we now had about PANDAS.  (Their sentence composition was terrific!)

Finally, we created a chart to collect information, according to different classifications. (Appearance, Food, Habitat, Continent, and What Can We Do to Help?)

We focused on PANDAS this morning.  This afternoon we added KOALAS.  Check it out!!

Journal Writing about Pandas and Koalas.

I will post a picture of our chart too.

We’re really putting all of the curriculum areas together.  We’re learning AND having fun!

Mrs. Smith

    Noor Amine turns 6 years old!

Another week has flown by!   These next two weeks will look a little different.

READING   WRITING  MATH   SCIENCE   SOCIAL STUDIES-Endangered Animals

I will combine all of the content areas as we explore ENDANGERED ANIMALS.   These areas of study will result in a research project.  We will discuss what we know about Endangered Animals, read about them, formulate questions about Endangered Animals, use the Internet to gather new information, find and make pictures to go with our project, and put it all together to share with each other!  I am excited about this opportunity for new discoveries.  We will be working in one whole group and in small groups ( so we’ll have to use our good communication skills  )

LETTER- F  f  

WORDS-play  has  because    Both “play” and “has” the students have been writing for several months so they words are not new to them.  “Because” is new and I am adding it because they will need to use it next week for their District Writing Assessment.  They will need to write their opinion about a topic or question.

MATH-We will be exploring and measuring with a “foot” (cut out).  We will measure with the “foot” cutout  as well as a ruler.  (Standard and Non-Standard Measuring)

SCIENCE and SOCIAL STUDIES-Lots and lots of study going on here.  We will be:

 -generating a list of some Endangered Animals

-appearance-Does it have feathers? wings? skin? fur? scales? a beak? fins? gills? legs?

-classifying           Is it a bird?  Animal?  Reptile?  How do you know?

-habitats  Where does it live?  in water, a nest, a forest, a cave?

-carnivore (meat eater) or herbivore (plant eater)?  What does it eat?

-On what continent does it live?

-What can we do to help the animals on the Endangered Animals List?

I am looking forward to exploring and creating this project with my students.  I know they will enjoy the process as well as the product.

Please remember the BOOK BAGS.  As a reminder:

Monday-Sarah  Eman  Mahdi  Noor  Lana

Tuesday-Adriana  Jonah  Ameer  Alina  Mia

Wednesday-Juliette  Kareem  Jordan  Derek  Emily

Thursday-Khalil  Keelan  Joelle  Lily  Nabil

Friday-Zahra  Avalina  Jacob  Hussein  Zachary  Hassan

**WEDNESDAYS ARE LIBRARY DAYS**

Looking Ahead-

Monday, Jan 18 NO SCHOOL   Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Wednesday, Jan.20 is LATE START

Have a great weekend!  Read and study those words!!

Mrs. Smith

Following our district Reading Curriculum, this week’s word is “is.”  Since my students have been writing “is” since September, I am adding the word “animal” for these next 3 weeks (to go with our unit on ANIMALS.)

Next week I will add the word “because.”  In 2 weeks my students will be taking the district WRITING PROMPT ASSESSMENT and their assignment will be an opinion writing.  I want to get them ready for this writing assessment and they will need to use the word because in their writing.  I introduced some thinking and conversation yesterday to get them used to the idea of opinions.

 For example, “What is one of the best foods you can eat?  WHY? ”  Here are some of their responses…

“I think corn are one of the best foods you can eat because they are crunchy.” (Adriana)

“I think beets are one of the best foods you can eat because they are juicy.” (Emily)

“I think peas are one of the best foods you can eat because they are green and green is my favorite color.”  (Jonah)

I invite you to have some conversations with your child asking their opinion  about things.  Non-judgemental, and remember that just the response “because” is not an answer.

Mrs. Smith

January Home Reading Log looks like this. Coming home today.  Please list books read on the back of the log.

Adriana turns 6 years old today!

Welcome 2016!  The students were VERY excited to be back in school!  WOW!  Lots of news…losing teeth (the Tooth Fairy was busy during our break), trips to Traverse City and Florida, fun days with Grandmas and Grandpas, spending gift cards at Toys R Us, playing with X-Boxes and toys and not every one has had a chance yet to share!  It’s good to be back.  I missed them.

December Book List-I will accept through Friday.  January Book List coming home today.

Mrs. Smith