3 E’s Inquiry Wonderland is Tuesday, January 14.  Dress rehearsal from 2:15 – 2:45 and then in the evening from 5:30 to 6:15

Our week has been full of reading, writing, researching and math.  Thank you for supporting our Secret Friend Project.  The pieces of writing were magical and the gifts were truly thoughtful creations.  It was so much fun to see the children, both give and receive their gifts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exploring Fractions

This month our calendar pattern is designed to help us discover more about fractions and equivalence.  Through the pattern so far we have learned about halves, thirds, fourths, sixths and eighths.  We’ve discovered how halves, fourths, and eights AND thirds and sixths help us understand equivalence.  We’ve been reminded of what was learned last year, so we can build on that understanding.

The class has been learning a lot of about fractions in music with Mrs. Oliver too.  They’ve been creating rhythms by combining whole, half, quarter and eighth notes.  It’s not easy to do and takes a lot of concentration.

Global Geography

This week we’ve begun to learn about Earth’s diversity by exploring the continents.  We’ve watched National Geographic’s Destination World videos of the continents and read a couple short books about each one.  We’ve explored five of the continents so far. Part of this challenge has been listening and viewing carefully to remember the facts that are shared.  Some of the children have developed interesting strategies for remembering.  Others find this task to be a real challenge.  It is a skill we are working to develop.  Please encourage them if they need that boost.

Bits and Pieces –

We’ve completed most of the Humphrey book clubs.  It fun to have those characters such a part of our class.  Just before our Secret Friend exchange we read Humphrey’s gift giving tips from Winter According to Humphrey.  He is indeed a wise hamster.

We’re about two thirds of the way through Mystery at Pine Lake. We are trying to figure out who put the board in the dam at Pine Lake.  Cooper and Packrat have successfully created a nesting platform for the loons after the rising water flooded their fist nest.  But will it be left alone?  Who is responsible?  We’ll find out after the break and begin a new round of mystery book clubs.

We’ve been exploring perimeters in math.  It seems as though the children have a sound understanding of that concept.  Soon we’ll be adding area.

We’ve also continued to work with rounding to the nearest 10 and nearest 100.  It seems as though more of the children are clarifying their understanding.  Sometimes rounding to the nearest 100 is still confusing.