How We Celebrate the Holdiays

Before vacation students took some time to reflect on how they celebrate the holidays.  Students used the app AudioBoo to record how they celebrate the holidays (below).  Our buddies from Mrs. Merced's class in Chicago also participated in this activity.  Students are encouraged to visit their buddies blog over vacation to find out how their buddy celebrate holidays!

listen to ‘ho do you celebrate the holidays.spencer’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘Dana’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘roma’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘meili’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘hunter’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘Caitlin’ on Audioboo

Iris - listen to ‘the way we celibrait christmas’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘luke’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘nathan’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘ilona’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘Madison’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘gavin’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘Peyton’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘Nadja’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘Xander’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘josh’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘Mari’ on Audioboo

Our Week in Review

Nutrition

Our nutrition culminating activity is off to a great start. Yesterday we planned out what food items would be on our balance healthy plate. Today we made our food items with Play-Doh. After the food items were made we used the camera on the iPad to take photographs of our plates and each food item. Tomorrow we are going to use the photographs we took today to construct our iMovies.

Informational Text Features - Captions and Types of Print

The caption helps readers better understand a picture of a photograph. Below are examples from our “My Text Feature Book” which demonstrates our learning of captions. Today we learned about different types of print. We learned that different types of print help the reader by signaling, “Look at me! I am important!” Below are some examples from our “My Text Feature Book” which demonstrates our learning of the different types of print.

Wonder of the Week 12. 16 - What is the Best Thing to do on a Snow Day?

We all LOVE snow days! This week students are continuing to work on expressing their opinions through writing by responding to this wonder: What's the Best thing to do on a Snow Day? We have been learning about backing up our opinions with examples or other supporting statements. Make sure to check out your student’s blog this week see what they think the best thing to do on a snow day is!

Example:  The best thing to do on a snow day is going sledding.  I think sledding is the best thing to do on a snow day because I love going down the hills fast.  Another reason that sledding is the best thing to do on a snow day is that all my family members go sledding together, it is great to spend time with them! Finally, going sledding is the best thing to do on a snow day because after sledding you get to drink delicious hot chocolate. This is why sledding is the best thing to do on a snow day. 

I learned: 

I learned if when their is too many snow days you will not get a long summer vacation. (Roma) 

I learned their is no really answer to what is the best thing to do on a snow day! (Dana)

I learned in Florida they don't usually get snow or have snow day. (Caitlin) 

I learned on a snow say it doesn't mean it's a snow day in every other state. (Spencer) 

Nutrition Culminating Activity

Throughout our Nutrition Unit we have learned about My Plate, healthy and unhealthy choices, beneficial nutrients and nutrition labels. Over the next week, students will put all of their learning and discoveries together to create a balanced plate. Tomorrow, students will be presented with the “Healthy Plate” challenge. Students’ healthy plates will include a food item from each of the five food groups. Students will create their food items using Play-Doh and will create an iMovie explaining their healthy plate including, which nutrients can be found in their food items, how these nutrients help their bodies and why their plate is a balance healthy meal. On Friday, students will be presenting their iMovies to their classmates (in both Ms. LaRose's and Ms. Warren’s class). It is going to be a very exciting week!  Stay tuned for the iMovies students will be creating as they will be posted to our classroom blog.

Our Week in Review 12.9 - 12.13

Informational Text: Diagram and Labels

Informational Text

Today we began looking at Informational Text Features. The Text Features that we focused on today were diagrams and labels. We learned that a diagram is a drawing that gives the reader information. We also learned that a label helps the reader identify a picture or a photography and its parts.

After learning about diagrams and labels we completed the first section of our Informational Text Notebook. Below are some examples of our notebooks today.

Comparing Genres

Today in Reading Workshop we compared genres (Informational Text and Non-fiction). We read the books The Rainbow Fish and All About Salmon. We discussed the different features of both books and how they are the same and how they are different. Below is our Venn Diagram from our mini-lesson.

 

 

Wonder of the Week 12.9 - How Do People Celebrate the Winter Holidays - Wonder 78

PHow do people celebrate the winter holidays in different ways?

Some people celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah and some people cel relate Kwanazaa. (Dana)

People celebrate different holidays because everyone is different. (Ilona)

How are Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Advent different?

Theses holidays are different because Hanukkah you only get one present everyday. (Connor M.)

These holidays are different because on  Christmas you get a lot of presents and on Hanukkah you only get one present each day. (Hunter)

What common element does Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Advent share?

Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Advent are the same because you get presents on each holiday! (Spencer) 

What we Learned...

We learned that Middle candle on the menorah is used the light the other cancels. (Ilona) 

We learned that Hanukkah can also be called "The Festival of Lights". (Iris)

We learned that the middle candel is called the Shamash.  (Dana)

We learned that Kwanzaa means "first fruit" in Swahali. (Caitlin) 

Learned Kwanzaa is a seven day celebration! (Connor) 

We learned that Kwanzaa is based on the ancient African celebration. (Madison)  

Ms.Kelley taught us that Kwanzaa is between Christmas and New Years.  (Peyton)

We learned that Christians celebrate Advent.  (Luke) 

We learned that 4 sometimes 5 cancels are on an advent wreath.  (Talan)

We learned the red cancel on the wreath is lit on Christmas.  (Gavin) 

Scientist Case Study

This week in nutrition we have been helping some very sick scientists.  The first scientist we helped was Dr. Penny Klieg.  Below is Dr. Klieg’s Case Study.  Students read the Case Study and then answered the following questions:



What health problem does Dr. Klieg have? (Weak bones)
What nutrient is Dr. Klieg missing? (Calcium)
What food group is Dr. Klieg not eating enough of? (Dairy)
What are three foods that you could send to Dr. Klieg to eat?

The second Case Study was focused on was  Dr. Nicholas DiCarlo.  Students again read a Case Study and answered the following questions:



What health problem does Dr.DiCarlo have? (Weak muscles)
What nutrient is Dr.DiCarlo missing? (Protein)
What food group is Dr.DiCarlo not eating enough of? (Protein)
What are three foods that you could send to Dr.DiCarlo to eat?

The last Case Study this week was on Dr. Gerald McCarthy.  Students again answered the questions to help Dr. Gerald feel better.



What health problem does Dr.McCarthy have?( bruises last and don’t heal)
What nutrient is Dr. McCarthy missing? (Vitamin C)
What food group is Dr. McCarthy not eating enough of? (Fruits and Vegetables)
What are three foods that you could send to Dr. Klieg to eat?

Our Week in Review Videos!

Ms. LaRose's Class "Our Week in Review"


Ms. LaRose and Ms. Warren's Classes "Our Week in Review"

Comprehension - "Somebody Wanted But So Then"

This week in our literacy Comprehension mini-lessons we have been working on summarizing.  On Monday students were introduced to a text.  Students were then introduced to a new summarizing graphic organizer “Somebody Wanted But So Then”.  We talked about each section of the graphic organizer (below).  On Tuesday, students went through and highlighted “somebody” from their graphic organizer and then with the same color highlighter they highlighted where in the text the “somebody” or “somebodies” are being references.  Students then switched their highlighter color and went on to highlight the “wanted” on their graphic organizer and then highlighted where in the text the “wanted” was identified.  Students went through this process for all five components of the graphic organizer.  On Wednesday all students used the highlighted information for an oral summary.  Students practiced with their “turn and talk” partner and some students then explained their summary in front of the entire class.

Mystery Skypes All Around

Mystery Skypes

On Monday we had a Number Mystery Skype with Mrs. King’s 2nd grade class in Indiana. 

We used the following questions to figure out their Mystery Number (82):

• Is your number a multiple of 5?

• Is your number even?

• Is your number two digits?

• Is your number in the teens?

• Does your number have a _____ in the tens place?

• Does your number have a ____in the ones place?

Today we had a Mystery Skype with Mr. Luis’ 3rd grade class.  Tomorrow we are going to follow-up with Mr. Luis’ class to see if our thinking is correct (below is our thinking):

• We think you are in California because the Raisin Capital is in California.

• We think you are in California because Richard Nixon was born in California.

• We think you are in California General Sherman, the biggest tree in the world is in your state.

• We think you are in California because we looked up the population of California and it has 38,04,430 people which is almost 40 million people.

We will be sure to let you know if our thinking is correct!

4-Winds Leaf Cutters

Yesterday, Mr. MacAuley came in and taught us another engaged and exciting 4-Winds lesson. The lesson focused on Leaf Cutters.  In this lesson we learned that under the deep forest canopy, the forest floor is a cool, damp, protected environment. Here the leaf litter provides a habitat for millions of small organisms interconnected in a complex food web. Many of these are decomposers, organisms that break down plant and animal debris. These busy creatures recycle nutrients, returning them to the soil so other living things can grow and thrive.  We had a wonderful time digging through the forest floor and looking for new insects and many other creatures.  A big THANK YOU to Mr. MacAuley for another outstanding 4-Winds lesson.

Hot-Shot ALL-STARS!

Today we had our Hot Shot All-Star lunch.  Students who earn a Hot Shot All-Star lunch eat with Ms. LaRose and a special healthy treat is provided. A BIG thank you to Ms. Warren who made our healthy treat for our lunch today!  To earn a Hot Shot All-Star lunch you need to be a Hot-Shot 4 weeks in a row.  Students become a Hot-Shot when they, hand in their homework 4 weeks in a row (on time) and go without taking a break OR if they take a break they lived their plan.  These students worked very hard for the past month!

Wonder of the Week (12.2 - 12.6) Can It Snow When It's Not Cold?

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow! That’s what you may be singing when Old Man Winter rolls through. But as you already know, Mother Nature doesn’t always cooperate.  

Can it snow when it is not cold? (2 sentences) I think.... because.... 

I think it can not snow when it is not cold because in order for snow to happen their has to be cold in the colds which makes snow happen, that is why I think it can not snow when it is not cold. (Dana)

I think it can not snow when it is not cold because I always ask my parents if it will snow or rain, they usually say rain when it's not cold enough for rain. (Spencer) 

I think it depends on how cold it is for snow because if it was 70 it would be weird for snow to come. (Luke) 

I think it can not snow when it is not cold because the snow will melt.  I think it can not snow when it's not cold because if it snowed all the snow would melt from the hot sun.  (Peyton and Madison)

I think it can not snow when it's warm because the warm weather is not cold. (Hunter) 

Additional comment about what you like to do in the snow! 

When it snows I like to play with my neighbor and make snowmans.  (Talan) 

When it snows I like to go sledding.  (Ilona) 

When it snows I like to go sledding on Marble Island with Liam! (Xander) 

Now I know:

Now I know that when rain falls to the ground and the ground is cold it turns into snow. (Madison)

Now I know it can be warm in the clouds when it is cold on the ground. (iris)

Now I know that it can snow if there is moisture in the sky. (Luke)

Now I know if it's warm in the atmosphere it can be cold in the clouds and it can still snow. (Connor) 

Now I know that if it warm in the clouds it rains instead of snows.  (Spencer)
 I learned that it can be warm or cold in the clouds. (Caitlin) 

I learned that if the temperature is freezing it will snow. (Peyton) 

My thinking was correct, I said it can't snow when it's warm and that is true! Now I know that it can be warm or cold in the clouds.  (Xander) 

Classroom Wish List

As the holiday season approaches many people are appreciative of all around them. Sometimes this includes teachers or classrooms. I am always grateful that others are thoughtful. I am delighted when I can give these thoughtful gifts back to the classroom. This is what gives me the most joy as a teacher. This benefits all students and active learning opportunities. I understand that this is a Wish List and there are no expectations for families to buy for our classroom.  

Materials that we need for our classroom:

• Glue sticks
• Gallon and sandwich size Ziplock Bags
• Clorox Disinfecting Wipes
• Antibacterial Hand Soap
• iPad Pens
• Bean Bags
• iPad Mini Covers (2 needed)
• Card Stock (colors and white)
• Paper Mate Markers