Update for the Week of April 23

This week was a a bit hectic. I am so sorry for the delay in posting.

News for All

The final book order of the school year will come home next week.  Please either enter the orders on line or send me a paper order by Friday, May 11 to ensure that the order is received prior to the end of the school year.

Due to the many events during May it is possible that GATE classes could be moved to a different day or time, shortened or canceled all together.  I do my best to give everyone their time, but at this time of year it becomes very difficult.

Most of the lessons during May will be the finishing of units in progress or one day lessons that don't have homework or carry over to the next week.  The last week of classes will be the week of May 21.  This is a thinking game week.  I have had students comment that game day is too much work.  Every game I put out requires creative thinking in order to complete.  Some will be team games others will be individual activities.

Fifth graders from all the elementary schools and sixth graders from Brittany Woods will be at Barbara C. Jordan on Tuesday, May 8 from 6 - 7:30 showcasing their work this week.  Please feel free to come and see all the wonderful activities happening around the district.

Thursday, May 10 is the district wide Celebration of Learning.  Our own second graders will be there demonstrating the Hands-On Equations they've been learning this semester.

Summaries for the Week of April 23

Kindergarten - Kindergartners finished their money book and a new booklet on Earth Day.  I like to do these mini-lessons in Kindergarten to get a feel for what the children know and are interested in.  This often guides the choices I make for units in future years.

First Grade - First Graders finished the first book of Primary Education Thinking Skills(PETS).  We'll do a word maze next week to review all the lessons we've learned.  When we come back in the fall they will begin book two which scaffolds on the earlier learning and provides higher level thinking activities.  This week we reviewed all of the geography concepts we've covered throughout the year through our Flat Stanley project.  It is amazing how many places the children have been exposed to through this project.  It's been wonderful for the children and for me too.  I will begin the weekly mini-lessons to finish out the school year.  next week we'll look at pentominoes and how the 12 shapes that make up the set are created.

Second Grade - Second Graders are on the last unit of PETS Book 2.  I am hoping we'll be able to finish before the year ends so we can begin Book 3 when we begin in the fall.  We are beginning to look at Jordan the Judge who teaches evaluative thinking.  We read a story about a school that received a donation of $1200 and the children will decide how the money is to be spent.  I've asked your children to think of how they might spend that money at Flynn Park.  We also continued with the Hands-On Equations program.  Remember, we need volunteers to demonstrate this program at the Celebration of Learning on Thursday, May 10.  Dr. Blumberg stopped by yesterday while the children were working and spoke to a few students who were excited to share their knowledge with her.  I hope they can come to the Celebration of Learning.

Third Grade - After having missed class last week, we were able to meet this week and learned games of alignment.  Here is a link to a site that allows you to play many versions of Three-Mam Morris on line and with or without an opponent.  http://alumnus.caltech.edu/~leif/games/Morris/index.html.  This is from Cal Tech, The California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California.  I hope you enjoy it.  Next week we learn the final game in the unit, Math Around the World.  Then we'll have a day of games when the children can choose to play their favorite of all the games.

Fourth Grade - The fourth graders enjoyed a beautiful day at the Lewis and Clark Historical Site in Hartford, IL.  We were a bit rushed and I encourage you to take the children back for another visit. There is so much to see that a few hours for a large group is just not enough time. You can find more information here: http://www.campdubois.com/.  I will begin mini-lessons next week as there just is not enough time for a full unit.

Fifth Grade - Fifth graders began the purchasing of materials to build their bridges after some time for design and discussion with their partners.  I have one group that has already built some of their structure. Everyone else is ready to begin building during our next class.  This unit will take us to the end of the school year.  Please let me know if you'll be able to attend the GATE Showcase at Barbara Jordan on May 8, I need to have tables set up and ready for the students.  Email me if you need more information.

 

 

First Grade Update - April 19

The entire day today was focused on the food chain and how that connects to creating a perfect habitat.  Your child should have brought home a page I used to introduce the food chain.  I did this to show the importance of lower level organisms to a habitat.  Then the children were given a page with approximately 10 different bugs on it.  They then had to decide which bugs would be a part of their habitat and why.  This ties the food chain and habitats to our evaluative thinking skill.  The children did not all finish their habitats and we'll continue to work on those on Tuesday when I see the children next.

As you look at the paper that came home, you will see vocabulary that is way above the children's level. I had them circle producer and consumer as those were words I feel they can understand.  Feel free to review the form with them knowing that they do not "know it all", yet.

Our next class will be Tuesday, April 21.

Fifth Grade Update - April 17

Today, I gave all the guidelines for the bridge building project.  There is one page with the details that I expect the students read carefully.  I am not answering any question that can be found on the paper.  I expect that they can read and follow directions.  They were also given the budget and cost of materials.  Their budget is $1,550,000.  Not much for a bridge, but hey it is a toothpick bridge.

Due to the change in schedule this week I've allowed students to bring their bridge research assignment tomorrow, Thursday, April 19.  I will be waiting down by the fifth grade classrooms when they are coming in to collect homework.  Students can also bring in their information slip on the GATE Showcase on May 8.

HOMEWORK:  Finish planning your bridge.  Be prepared to buy materials next week.  We are back to the regular schedule of classes on Thursdays.

Third and Fifth Grade - CHANGES

Fifth Grade will be meeting Wednesday, April 18 due to a MAP celebration and Biz Town.

Third Grade will NOT meet this week.  I will see them next on TUESDAY, April 24.

Fourth Grade Update - April 17

Today was the last day of Lewis and Clark in the classroom.  We had a post-test which I reviewed with the children.  Then, they were divided up to do a trivia game, a card game or puzzle all based on Lewis and Clark.  Nearly everyone had a hand in the puzzle. The trivia game was left to the four students with the top scores on the post - test and they found it very challenging.

Next week is our field trip on Wednesday, April 25.  There will be NO class on Tuesday, April 24 as I am switching with the third grade class, my normal Wednesday afternoon class.   A few students still need to bring in their permission slip and most need to bring their $1.00 for the museum.  The $1.00 is a donation to help support the museum which is a free museum for the general public.

Kindergarten Update - April 16

Monday we began our PETS unit on Inventive Thinking.  The children were introduced to Isabel the Inventor, a squirrel, that tries to come up with many ideas to help her solve a problem. With Isabel there can be many right answers.  These will be fun and engaging while the children are learning to see that there can be many right answers.  This is sometimes a struggle as children seemed conditioned to ONE right answer. 

We also did our making words activity which the children should have brought home to share with you.

The last thing we did was work with coins.  Monday was simply identifying the coins and their values.  As I am sure the children all know their coins and values we'll move to adding them together.  This is a skill normally taught throughout Kindergarten, first and second grade, so it's ok if the children struggle.  Please work with your child at home with REAL coins as our pretend coins are not such good replicas, especially with the special quarters and new nickles.

Fifth Grade HOMEWORK - April 12 - Due April 19

Read all handouts about bridges.

Complete the research on a bridge of your choice.  Details below.

Bridge Research

Use one of the sites below to choose a bridge.  Think outside the box.  Look at many of them and choose one that you think looks interesting and is in an interesting location.  

www.famousbridge.com  Choose one of the bridges listed in red.

http://www.touropia.com/most-famous-bridges-in-the-world/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bridges

Next, find out the following information.  Remember the site above may not have all the information you need.  Find it elsewhere if necessary.

Name of the bridge and its location.

When was it built?

Who designed it?  Have they done other “famous” landmarks?

What type of bridge is it?

How long is it?

How high over the land/water is it?

Find a few other interesting facts that aren’t part of the other questions.

Finally, DRAW a picture of your bridge.  DO NOT copy and paste from an internet picture.

Your final product should be a short paragraph about the bridge and a picture.  This should be two pieces of paper.  You may turn in a handwritten report, but it should be your BEST writing.  I will be looking for correct grammar, punctuation and paragraph writing.

All Grades Update Week of April 9 - 13

First Grade - Friday afternoon we were able to get in a slightly shortened class.  Flat Claudia returned from her world travels.  She went to California, Mexico, Beijing, China, and New York City.  It was really fun to watch the slide show presentation sent back by her Aunt Kate and Uncle David.  We are still waiting for the return of a few flat people, so if you could, please help us return everyone safely to Flynn Park.  Our next class will be Thursday, April 19.

Second Grade - We were able to review our crazy lesson from two weeks ago and move on to lesson 11.  Then it was time for Spring "fun"pictures.  But every one was able to complete their Hands-on Equations, so we'll move on to Lesson 12 next week and move along on the PETS activities too.  Our next class will be Friday, April 20.


Third Grade - Wednesday we had a tournament using our Native American Sticks game.  Emma Miller was the overall winner with Zoe Yudovich a close second.  Everyone did a great job.  I hope they've brought home their sticks and taught you how to play.  Next week we'll learn games of alignment.

Fourth Grade - On Tuesday we reviewed the eight dilemmas and watched a video produced by National Geographic on the Expedition.  The video included many of the dilemmas faced by the children in their activity.  I Also passed out the information on the field trip we'll take on April 25.  The children should have the permission slip (on blue paper) in their backpacks. They can return them any time, but no later than the 17th.  The site we're going to is free, but they ask for donations if possible.  We've asked for just $1.00 per child.  Also, each child needs their own lunch and drink for the day.  We will be joined by students from Jackson Park and Pershing for this trip.  We are the first school to be picked up so it is vital that your child be on time that day.  If they are late, we might be gone.

Next week will be our in class wrap up of the Lewis and Clark Unit.  We'll play a trivia game, do a puzzle and other activities tied to Lewis and Clark.  The students will also take their post test to see just how much they've learned.

Fifth Grade - Thursday was all about bridges.  The first challenge was to build a bridge that spanned just 12 inches but could hold the weight of a one-liter soda bottle.  We first tried an empty bottle, but then moved to a full bottle which proved to be too much for ALL the bridges.  Next, I passed out their assignment (see other post for this in detail).  Due to testing we had specials int he middle of GATE, but after specials we headed to the computer lab to do the research for the homework assignment.  We saw some fabulous bridges from around the world.  I also passed out some reading material about bridges that needs to be read by the next class.

First and Second Grade - Change of Class Time

Friday, April 13

9:00 am. -  Second Grade
Noon -  First Grade

Book orders are due this Friday. 

Kindergarten Update - Monday, April 9

It was a very busy day of learning today.  We did two activities, but embedded in each activity we managed to learn about animals and other topics.

The first activity was our final Dudley the Detective thinking activity.  We did two Venn Diagram problems.  One used animals as the subject matter.  We spent quite a bit of time discussing the animals we used to complete the Venn. Then we did a Venn about numbers.  For that activity we reviewed odd and even numbers.

The second activities was our weekly Making Words problem.  Today's big word was spends.  After we solved the big word we looked for other words we knew with the same endings as the words we found within SPENDS. 

Please take a moment to look over your child's packet of papers.  You will see all the Dudley activities we've done, including today's.  They also have this week's Making Words page.  Last, they are bringing home a picture of a crayfish. This was one of the animals from the Venn activity.  It was the only activity that none of the children knew about.

If you have any questions about these activities, please drop me an email at llecours@ucityschools.org.

Fourth Grade - Lewis and Clark Homework

Daily Dilemma Assignment - Due Tuesday April 10

Discuss the Daily Dilemma - This was done in class.

On your own, read the dilemma and take notes on the main points.  What is the question you and your partner must answer?

                Discuss with your partner what you would do to get out of the situation given.

                Record your thoughts and the ideas of your partner.

                Decide what your team would do.

Record the Corps Solution - Rough draft written in class.

Using creative and descriptive writing, explain you and your partner’s solution to the problem.  If you and your partner just cannot agree, write your solution and then explain your reasons for disagreeing with your partner.  Be sure to include facts you already know about the Expedition.

Research the Dilemma - Done in class, but may want to do more.

Since these Daily Dilemmas are real scenarios Lewis and Clark faced, there is ONE right answer!  Research the ONE right answer using the resources in the classroom.
Record the decision Lewis and Clark made and any information about the effects of that decision.  Be sure to keep track of where you find your information, book, author and page.

Final Product - Do at home.

                Use your best writing skills to record the four parts of your response:

-          Corps Solution (Before reading about L&C decision)

-          Lewis and Clark’s REAL decision and the results of that decision

-          Compare your response with the decision L&C made.

-          Then tell me how you did working with your partner.  Give a positive and a negative if you have one.

Your final project will be evaluated for content, effort and creativity.  Expect to spend time writing your final results, which will be due next class.  You must use complete sentences, with correct grammar, punctuation and spelling.