Literature Study, Research, and Categories
It seems that our investigations in science as well as math have led us to sorting and grouping into categories. In math we have been studying place value and taking a closer look at the value of tens versus ones. We have played several games involving blocks and money to understand the concept that ten ones or pennies can be traded in or replaced by a dime or one stick of ten blocks. This past week we learned a new game where the kids have to use strategic thinking to create the larger number by rolling dice and choosing where to place each number in a 2-digit answer. The challenge in this game is that each player takes turns with three rolls deciding where each number will go along the way and they must discard one of the rolls. By the end, the kids were asking to play again with hundreds next time. This is definitely in our future.
We concluded our literature study of Stone Fox this past week. Through our study, we were able to look at John Reynold's craft as a writer and how he helped us fall in love with the characters. The kids cheered on the protagonist, Little Willy, in the race of his life and tears were shed at the death of our favorite sled dog, Searchlight. Watching the kids' emotions as some of them held each other during that passage made it difficult for me to read. Don't you wish you were there? I'm so grateful that you share these amazing little folks with me.
We worked diligently on our collaborative animal projects this week. Each table was assigned one of the vertebrate groups: amphibians, birds, fish, mammals, or reptiles. They worked to collect facts using chromebooks and then organized them to create a teaching poster. We spent time learning the best search terms to use and looking at which sites would be the best for our research. Each group had 3 requirements for the poster: 1-What are the defining characteristics of this group? (ex: What makes a mammal a mammal?) 2-What are some examples of this group?(at least 8) 3-Fun Facts- Interesting things you learned about this group. We will begin presenting these posters Monday.
This Coming Week
This is an exciting week. We will begin working on our independent animal projects. Thanks in advance for emailing me your child's top three choices for their animal project. As stated in the email, I would love to have those by Tuesday. We are trying to steer clear of domestic animals as we want to learn about habitats, adaptations, ...etc. Friday is our first Second Grade Gathering. Please join us at 2:20. We are excited to share our learning with you.
Via's Visitation Schedule
October 12 Jadon
October 19 Sally
October 19 Sally
Important Dates
October 12 Our 1st Second Grade Gathering
October 13 Walk for Life at Spirit Communications Park
October 18 Weather Make-Up Day
October 19 Weather Make-Up Day
October 26 11:30 Dismissal/ Parent Teacher Conferences
October 31 Fall Festival @ 1:00
Via enjoying a home visit.
Collaborating on our animal projects.
Strategizing in our math games.
We have amazing grandparents! The class now has a visiting amphibian model to explore and study during our animal investigations.
Stretching our during carpool!
