Science Fair and Invention Convention

The Science Fair and Invention Convention is coming up on April 6th! We recently had one of our UCONN interns, Ms. Finn come in and show us an example of a science experiment. We learned that scientists and inventors ask questions or solve problems, make predictions, and test their ideas. I encourage all students to try out the science fair if they are interested, and I offer no homework for the week of the science fair to help with extra prep time. Mrs. Irvine and I will also be available during some recesses to help with ideas and projects. Please let me know if you have any questions, or if there's any way I can help support a science project!

Here is a link to more information: 

http://www.mansfieldct.gov/content/11167/11187/11211/12749/12797/16035.aspx

March Reading Madness

This month we are continuing our reading minutes challenge with March Reading Madness! Each week on Monday we add up the previous week's minutes and and move our basketballs toward the goal. This month, we have a mini basketball hoop set up in our room. Each week when we move our basketballs we get to shoot a real basketball from that number of centimeters. For example, many students met the goal of 40 minutes for the first week. They got to measure and shoot from 40cm away. 

Thank you for your support at home as we work to build reading enthusiasm and stamina!

100th Day

This week we celebrated the 100th day of school! Thank you for your help in making some wonderful and creative 100th day projects. We shared our work on Wednesday. Happy 100th day! 

Geometry

We are currently studying geometry in math. We've spent the last couple weeks investigating 2D and 3D shapes. Our focus has been on defining shape attributes, and distinguishing between attributes that are important to identifying a shape (number of sides, faces, vertices, etc.) and attributes that describe but don't help us identify shapes (color, size). We've also been exploring shapes in our classroom, our homes, and around our school. 

January Number Corner

This month in number corner we are working on a variety of skills. One thing that we are practicing daily is solving addition and subtraction equations and story problems with missing addends and subtrahends. We will also be working on counting and adding together dimes and pennies by collecting coins each day. 

Number Line Math

In math we are studying how to use a number line as a model for addition and subtraction. Students can jump up and down the number line to perform computation. We began by looking at a number line counting by ones from 0-10, then 0-20, and now we are looking at number lines that go from 0-100 counting by 10's. Today we learned a new workplace called Super Frogs. Students spin to create an addition or subtraction equation. They solve the problem using the number line and whoever has the higher number wins! 

Non-fiction Chapter Books

Our current writing unit is all about non-fiction books. We started by exploring and creating short non-fiction books with a few pages about one topic. This week we began the next step in our work with non-fiction writing. We will be creating non-fiction chapter books. Each student has chosen a topic that they are experts on. We started our project by creating tables of contents to help us outline what our book will be like. Starting next week we will begin the work of writing our chapters with a focus on methods non-fiction authors use to teach their readers (labels, vocabulary, facts and details, etc.) As we prepared to do this very grown up work we set goals for ourselves as non-fiction authors. Students used a checklist to evaluate their work, chose a goal, and conferenced with me on their choice. Throughout the remainder of the unit I will meet with students to check in on their goals and help them reevaluate their own writing as they continue to grow.