Angles Everywhere!

   In math, we are focused on lines and angles.  Today we used the alphabet to explore angles within letters.  We also used post it notes as a resource to measuring right angles around our classroom.  

Our Salad Bowl Comes to Life!

   During our culture unit, we created a classroom "salad bowl" with paper pieces.  We each wrote something unique, traditional, or special to our families that represents our culture.  Students wrote about their favorite holiday, favorite foods, and favorite games.  Some students wrote about Passover.
   Today, we welcomed Mrs. Siwak in as a special guest to share and explain Passover.  Her presentation connected to all aspects of our learning from culture.  She read the story of Passover, and the class quickly connected to this story as a legend, because it has been passed down from generation to generation.  She also explained the ceremonies and importance of these.  Then she explained the importance of food.  Mrs. Siwak helped students understand that food can serve as a symbol to groups of people and represent strong cultural beliefs.  The class was invited to try some Matzah and grape juice.
   What a fun way to connect to our learning about culture and see the salad bowl come to life!

Calculating Elapsed Time

   One helpful strategy for organizing elapsed time is to use a number line.  We begin the number line with the 'start time' and then complete the number line with 'finish time'.  We use landmark times to calculate the total elapsed time.  We are getting so good, we can teach each other!  Check out this student work!

Telling Time

   Our current math unit has been focused on telling time, reading time, and calculating elapsed time.  Our class is motivated by a simple time game called "I have...Who has..."  I begin by placing a card with an analog clock stating the digital time.  Each student has a card with a clock face showing  a time.  They wait for this time to appear on the card under the projector and then they place their card as the next time.  We have been timing ourselves and so far our best time was 1 minute 17 seconds!

Pen Pals

   Our class was delighted by a surprise package from Reed Elementary School, in the Ladue School District!  Mrs. Rich's 3rd grade class wrote to our 3rd grade class and we have decided to be pen pals!    We are sending our return letters today and can't wait to keep writing back and forth!

Playing "Catch Up"

I apologize for the inconsistency in my blogs this month!  April and May are incredibly busy and state testing has begun, so our schedule has been thrown off!  However, there are many exciting experiences to share!
   Thank you to our 5th grade friends from Mrs. Scotino's class!  They helped answer our questions regarding the state test.  5S did a great job offering advice and encouragement!

Paper Bag Trading Game

   To introduce the idea of trade, I gave each student a paper bag.  I asked them to consider themselves an ambassador for their country and the resources inside the bag would be their country's tradeable resources.  Some countries had a variety of resources to trade, some may have few.  

   Countries began trading and we discussed how they felt at certain stages of trading.  By the end of trading I asked students to explain why countries trade.  Their answers were right on- to get basic needs and wants and to gain happiness within their country.  

Economics

   We began our last unit of Social Studies today-economics! I read aloud a book with the basic ideas of economics and learned that this class already has many ideas about this topic! 

CLAYMO today!

   Today's topic for CLAYMO was bullying! We discussed the definition of bullying, how to recognize bullying, and how to stop bullying.

Review Time

  We reviewed for our Social Studies Culture test in a fun way today!  I asked students to group up and create a game board.  When their board was complete, we used trivia questions from our unit to guide the games!

Bullseye!

   Our PE teachers have planned a well organized and thoughtful archery unit!  My class has been raving about it, so I thought I would join them for a portion of their PE class!  It was fun learning some archery skills from them!

Fun in Spanish!

   Debora Kennerly taught the class a fun way to practice foods on Spanish! Each student thought of their favorite food, then sat in a circle with others.  As each student declared their favorite food, they had to list their friends favorites also!