Happy Birthday Mr. Hassey!
Reading
Dramatizing Characters and Deepening our Comprehension
This week our class learned that directors help actors read fluently by reminding them to show a character's feelings with their voice. We reviewed that characters' feelings can change throughout the story, so we need to remember to change our voice to match how a character feels.
To continue deepening our understanding of characters, we learned that readers understand how characters interact by thinking about how their words and actions affect each other.
Character A said/did _______, so Character B said/did __________.
We also started book clubs this week! Students practiced meeting with their book clubs by listening, asking questions, and responding to each other.
Writing
Descriptive Writing
Students continued following the writing process this week to revise, edit, and publish their descriptive writing pieces. As they prepare to publish, students are practicing copying all the correct sentences from their draft onto their published writing paper. They are reading their own writing, reflecting on their writing, and checking that it makes sense. Next week students will write one more descriptive writing piece without teacher support to show what they can do independently as writers.
Math
Addition Facts to 20
*Ways to Add
This week we started a new chapter in Math: Addition and Subtraction facts to 20. Our focus for the week was addition. I introduced two strategies students can use when solving addition problems.
Ways to Add
I can add by making a ten.
I can add by grouping into a 10 and ones.
Examples:
Science
Dramatizing Characters and Deepening our Comprehension
Our Science question this week was, "How can water be used to show that air takes up space?" Our focus was learning that air takes up space and the pressure from compressed air can move things, including water.
During the first investigation, we used a vial, a napkin, and a foam ball. We put the napkin in the vial and pushed it under the water. The students observed that the napkin was still dry afterwards. I also put the foam ball on top of the water, then put the vial over it and pushed it under the water. I let some of the air out and we observed the foam ball and saw the water level in the vial change.
Our next investigation included using a bottle, a rubber stopper, two pipes (one short, one long), two tubes, and two syringes. We used these materials to create a bottle system to learn more about air. Students explored the bottle system with a partner, then we discussed our observations and what happened to the air.
Science Vocabulary
compress
pressure
submerge
bubbles
Have a wonderful weekend!
- Ms. Allison