This week in ILA we will be focusing on consonant blends in words. We will look for words that have these blends while reading, in our vocabulary studies, and as a group we will brainstorm a list. We will talk about how we can stretch words when saying them to find the blend when spelling words. We will continue to focus on biographies. This week we will be reading about Johnny Appleseed, George Washington Carver, and Lewis and Clark. During our writing lessons we will write about our weekends, focusing on one event and using descriptive writing to tell about that event. We will also write “how to” books. While some of these books will have free choice topics, one will recount our cooking experience with guest chef, Mr. Jablonski.
This week in math we are focusing on increasing our graphing skills. We will take pictures and sort objects according to characteristics, and then graph the sorts. Once finished creating the graph, students will be asked to answer questions such as; how many are there all together, how many more, and how many less. This week we will also spend some extra time reviewing clock skills, making numbers using base ten blocks, and increasing addition skills.
In social studies this week we will continue our map studies. This week we will learn about road maps and how to give directions using a compass rose. The boys and girls will experience these skills using a story that defines different types of maps, creating a road map based on a story, and mapping out the playground.
In science this week we are starting a new chapter entitled, “Matter”. In the first few days we will acclimate ourselves with the chapter song and vocabulary. The focus for the vocabulary will be to understand the terms, look for consonant blends, and sort according to syllable count. We will then start to describe objects, paying attention to attributes according to the five senses. If time allows, small groups will each be given one of the five senses and asked to illustrate items that would be best described using that sense. Some examples might include different foods in the taste and smell categories, flowers in the smell category, objects that are colorful in the sight category, and soft or hard objects in the feeling category.
This week we look forward to having two guest readers, a meeting with our “amigos de leer”, and decorating the classroom for Valentine’s Day.