The News according to Greta! 1/10/14

Reading and Writing

    In reading this week (of 2014!!!!) we started to begin reading non- fiction books online about continents. This reading will also tie in with our geography study. Mrs. Crowther gave us questions to answer about the continent we were reading,  and then the next day, we had to write a L.E.A.F paragraph answering an overall question about the continent. So let me back up and explain what a L.E.A.F paragraph is. L.E.A.F stands for:

L lead

E evidence

A analysis

F finisher

It’s an easy way to organize and think about paragraphs! Also, we have started practicing Reader’s Theatre’s skits! Except this year, we’re mingling with Vasanthi’s class!

    In writing this week we wrote about 2014 Endeavor. Basically it was a reflection of our goals from earlier in the year. First, we read our goals from the beginning of the year, and then we wrote about our progress and some new goals for the rest of the year! Also, as another fun way to share our new goals was a choice to either write in cursive, or draw a comic strip of ourselves! Ask your child what their new goals are!

Math, Science and Number Corner

    In math this week we have started Unit 3. This unit involves geometry and measurement. Geoboards have been a great tool for us to show congruence, area of shapes and a lot of other things! We have also been using shapes we know to find the area of other shapes! Ask your child about upcoming online tests!

    In science this week we have continued our World Geography study. Connected with our non-fiction reading unit, we have been reading Truflix books about continents. After we read the books, we had to answer questions in L.E.A.F paragraph form about the physical features. Also, for our monthly share in January, the theme is World Geography FAMOUS SITES. This digital presentation will be mostly homework, but we will get time to do it at school. Ask your child more for the details.

In number corner this week we have been observing our new calendar pattern, and measuring temperatures of locations on the world. On the January calendar, not all the days are filled in. It involves cubes and is sort of like a puzzle every 4 days. To figure out the puzzle, we observe different views of one shape made of cubes. Also, we have been tracking the temperature here in VT every day, and our chosen “sister city” Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (of course we can’t actually measure the temp. there ourselves, so we use a website online) . We find it fun to see the weather difference!!!! We record the temps. of these locations three times a day, and then we average them!