September 18 - 22
ELA- We will be completing Vocabulary Lessons 3 & 4. See ELA Vocabulary Unit for word lists by grade levels. We will also continue in our reading and discussion of the book Wonder. Emphasis on "non-verbal communication" and how we use body language and facial expression to let others know how we feel.
MATH- This week, continuing with our Place Value Unit, we will be covering "rounding" to tens, hundreds and thousands.
SCIENCE- Question of the Week: "Why do some plants have fruit?" Plant anatomy and reproduction, pollination, seeds and fruits. Focus on the natural "symbiotic" (mutually beneficial) relationship between plants and animals.
SOCIAL STUDIES- Continuing our Geography Theme Unit, we will be exploring the political and physical geography of the continents of North America, South America and Europe. Our Critical Thinking Theme focus this week is: Cause & Effect.
ELA- We will be completing Vocabulary Lessons 3 & 4. See ELA Vocabulary Unit for word lists by grade levels. We will also continue in our reading and discussion of the book Wonder. Emphasis on "non-verbal communication" and how we use body language and facial expression to let others know how we feel.
MATH- This week, continuing with our Place Value Unit, we will be covering "rounding" to tens, hundreds and thousands.
SCIENCE- Question of the Week: "Why do some plants have fruit?" Plant anatomy and reproduction, pollination, seeds and fruits. Focus on the natural "symbiotic" (mutually beneficial) relationship between plants and animals.
SOCIAL STUDIES- Continuing our Geography Theme Unit, we will be exploring the political and physical geography of the continents of North America, South America and Europe. Our Critical Thinking Theme focus this week is: Cause & Effect.
September 25 - 29
*Students will be organizing all their work into binders and receiving updated notices on what items are missing or incomplete. Organizational skills are encouraged and taught in every subject area to assist students in gaining independence and responsibility for their own progress.
ELA- We will be completing Vocabulary Lessons 5 & 6. See ELA Vocabulary Unit for word lists by grade levels. We will also continue in our reading and discussion of the book Wonder. Emphasis on "what it means to be a good friend" and how the way we treat others affects how they treat us.
MATH- This week, we will be reviewing addition and subtraction skills using Fact Families. The goal is to strengthen students in their speed and accuracy in single digit addition and subtraction, without the need to rely on counting to arrive at a sum or difference.
SCIENCE- Question of the Week: "Do all bees make honey?" The role of bees in pollination, their life cycle and various contributions to the environment that bees make and how bees survive and adapt will be included.
SOCIAL STUDIES- Continuing our Geography Theme Unit, we will begin focusing on the 50 United States. Students will learn the names and locations of each state using their map skills.
October 2 - 6
ELA- We will be completing Vocabulary Lessons 7 & 8. See ELA Vocabulary Unit for word lists by grade levels. We will also continue in our reading and discussion of the book Wonder. Emphasis on "how words can hurt" and how we need to be careful when speaking to or about those around us.
MATH- Using the skills we gained with Fact Families, we will work on addition and subtraction of larger numbers, with a review on Place Value to build toward understanding regrouping.
SCIENCE- Question of the Week: "Where do animals get food in the winter?" We will learn the many ways animals survive during winter months, including migration, hibernation and hoarding. We will discuss adaptation in their bodies to prepare for temperature changes in their environment, such as thickening or color changing of fur, along with how animals know where to navigate for migration.
SOCIAL STUDIES- Continuing with our United States Geography Unit, we will be completing the maps of the individual 50 United States, with a quiz on Friday. In addition, students will begin working on a poster project about a United States Landmark.
ELA- We will be completing Vocabulary Lessons 7 & 8. See ELA Vocabulary Unit for word lists by grade levels. We will also continue in our reading and discussion of the book Wonder. Emphasis on "how words can hurt" and how we need to be careful when speaking to or about those around us.
MATH- Using the skills we gained with Fact Families, we will work on addition and subtraction of larger numbers, with a review on Place Value to build toward understanding regrouping.
SCIENCE- Question of the Week: "Where do animals get food in the winter?" We will learn the many ways animals survive during winter months, including migration, hibernation and hoarding. We will discuss adaptation in their bodies to prepare for temperature changes in their environment, such as thickening or color changing of fur, along with how animals know where to navigate for migration.
SOCIAL STUDIES- Continuing with our United States Geography Unit, we will be completing the maps of the individual 50 United States, with a quiz on Friday. In addition, students will begin working on a poster project about a United States Landmark.
October 9 - 13
NO SCHOOL MONDAY- Columbus Day!
ELA- We will be completing Vocabulary Lessons 9 & 10. See ELA Vocabulary Unit for word lists by grade levels. We will also continue in our reading and discussion of the book Wonder. Emphasis on Author point of view and voice, as we are now going to hear the story from Via, August's sister.
MATH- A culmination of skills learned in the Place Value Unit and the Fact Families Unit, we will begin adding and subtracting larger numbers using regrouping.
SCIENCE- Question of the Week: "Why Does Garbage Smell?" We will learn about decomposers such as bacteria and fungi, and what role they play in the cycle of returning nutrients to soil for producers.
SOCIAL STUDIES- Students have class time this week to work on their United States Landmarks Project. We will take two practice quizzes on the geographic locations of the 50 states, with a final test for the unit on Friday.
NO SCHOOL MONDAY- Columbus Day!
ELA- We will be completing Vocabulary Lessons 9 & 10. See ELA Vocabulary Unit for word lists by grade levels. We will also continue in our reading and discussion of the book Wonder. Emphasis on Author point of view and voice, as we are now going to hear the story from Via, August's sister.
MATH- A culmination of skills learned in the Place Value Unit and the Fact Families Unit, we will begin adding and subtracting larger numbers using regrouping.
SCIENCE- Question of the Week: "Why Does Garbage Smell?" We will learn about decomposers such as bacteria and fungi, and what role they play in the cycle of returning nutrients to soil for producers.
SOCIAL STUDIES- Students have class time this week to work on their United States Landmarks Project. We will take two practice quizzes on the geographic locations of the 50 states, with a final test for the unit on Friday.
October 16 - 20
ELA- We will be completing Vocabulary Lesson 11. See ELA Vocabulary Unit for word lists by grade levels. We will also be discussing Homophones, focusing on "there, their and they're" this week. We will continue in our reading of the book Wonder. Emphasis on "similies" and how the author uses them to describe feelings of a character.
MATH- We will have a quick review of addition and subtraction of multiple digits with regrouping. Then, we will move on to numerical concept of multiplication as repeated addition, as a visual alignment of groups of items and discuss commutative property of multiplication. Beginning facts will focus on identity properties of 0 and 1.
SCIENCE- Question of the Week: "How Do Bacteria Create Cavities?" We will extend our knowledge of bacteria and decomposers from last week into a health unit about oral care. Anatomy of the tooth and the role of fluoride will be covered as part of the unit.
SOCIAL STUDIES- We will be wrapping up our United States Unit, continuing and finishing our United States Landmarks Project, and have a final test on the states on Friday.
TUESDAY IS OUR FIELD TRIP: CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT CUBS PITCH, HIT AND RUN DAY!!!!
ELA- We will be completing Vocabulary Lesson 11. See ELA Vocabulary Unit for word lists by grade levels. We will also be discussing Homophones, focusing on "there, their and they're" this week. We will continue in our reading of the book Wonder. Emphasis on "similies" and how the author uses them to describe feelings of a character.
MATH- We will have a quick review of addition and subtraction of multiple digits with regrouping. Then, we will move on to numerical concept of multiplication as repeated addition, as a visual alignment of groups of items and discuss commutative property of multiplication. Beginning facts will focus on identity properties of 0 and 1.
SCIENCE- Question of the Week: "How Do Bacteria Create Cavities?" We will extend our knowledge of bacteria and decomposers from last week into a health unit about oral care. Anatomy of the tooth and the role of fluoride will be covered as part of the unit.
SOCIAL STUDIES- We will be wrapping up our United States Unit, continuing and finishing our United States Landmarks Project, and have a final test on the states on Friday.
TUESDAY IS OUR FIELD TRIP: CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT CUBS PITCH, HIT AND RUN DAY!!!!
October 23 - 27
ELA- We will be completing Vocabulary Lessons 12 & 13. See ELA Vocabulary Unit for word lists by grade levels. We will continue in our reading of the book Wonder as told from Via, August's sister's, point of view.
MATH- We will begin our unit on basic Multiplication Facts as presented in Multiplication Facts in Seven Days. We will cover facts for 0, 1, doubles (2 x 2, 3 x 3, 4 x 4, etc.), 2 and 5. Emphasis on counting by 2s and 5s.
SCIENCE- Question of the Week: "Are All Germs Bad?" We will learn about various bacteria, viruses and fungi present in the human body, and discuss how some of them actually help, rather than hurt us!
SOCIAL STUDIES- As students complete their United States Landmark poster projects, we will be working with presentations. We will also conclude our United States Geography unit. Discussions about how our nation started, with the early settlers of the colonies to their separation from England, focusing on a timeline of events.
ELA- We will be completing Vocabulary Lessons 12 & 13. See ELA Vocabulary Unit for word lists by grade levels. We will continue in our reading of the book Wonder as told from Via, August's sister's, point of view.
MATH- We will begin our unit on basic Multiplication Facts as presented in Multiplication Facts in Seven Days. We will cover facts for 0, 1, doubles (2 x 2, 3 x 3, 4 x 4, etc.), 2 and 5. Emphasis on counting by 2s and 5s.
SCIENCE- Question of the Week: "Are All Germs Bad?" We will learn about various bacteria, viruses and fungi present in the human body, and discuss how some of them actually help, rather than hurt us!
SOCIAL STUDIES- As students complete their United States Landmark poster projects, we will be working with presentations. We will also conclude our United States Geography unit. Discussions about how our nation started, with the early settlers of the colonies to their separation from England, focusing on a timeline of events.
October 30 - November 3 *NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3*
ELA- We will be completing Vocabulary Lesson 14. See ELA Vocabulary Unit for word lists by grade levels. We will continue in our reading of the book Wonder. Emphasis will be on "idioms" and how figurative language adds to the reader's experience!
MATH- Continuing on our multiplication facts unit, this week we will be covering 3s and 4s, with a special multiplication Halloween challenge on Tuesday!
SCIENCE- We will be working on end of the unit reviews, looking at the Big Idea 1 & 2 issues we have covered this far: Biology as it relates to plants, animals and the environment, including things as adaptation, growth and how living things relate to each other and the environment for survival.
SOCIAL STUDIES- We will be presenting our finalized Landmark Projects and displaying them in the hall. Wrapping up our geography of the United States unit, we will be completing the final tests on all 50 states.
This week marks the end of Quarter 1! Report cards will be distributed the following week, along with teacher conferences on Wednesday, November 15th. Please come in and see all the great work the students have done!
ELA- We will be completing Vocabulary Lesson 14. See ELA Vocabulary Unit for word lists by grade levels. We will continue in our reading of the book Wonder. Emphasis will be on "idioms" and how figurative language adds to the reader's experience!
MATH- Continuing on our multiplication facts unit, this week we will be covering 3s and 4s, with a special multiplication Halloween challenge on Tuesday!
SCIENCE- We will be working on end of the unit reviews, looking at the Big Idea 1 & 2 issues we have covered this far: Biology as it relates to plants, animals and the environment, including things as adaptation, growth and how living things relate to each other and the environment for survival.
SOCIAL STUDIES- We will be presenting our finalized Landmark Projects and displaying them in the hall. Wrapping up our geography of the United States unit, we will be completing the final tests on all 50 states.
This week marks the end of Quarter 1! Report cards will be distributed the following week, along with teacher conferences on Wednesday, November 15th. Please come in and see all the great work the students have done!