Week of 9/19/11 - 9/23/11

Highlights for the Week of 9/19/11 - 9/23/11 in Mrs. Bell's Classroom!

Spelling - Lesson 4 - Review
This week's spelling lesson will include words from the two commonly misspelled words lists & the long and short "a" & "e" list. All students will be completing activities from the contract list. The final test for the lesson will be on Friday, 9/23.


Reading - Identify Elements of Story Structure
We will continue to focus on story structure this week. The children will also explore characters and setting in depth. When your child is reading at home, you can practice and review story structure by asking them to identify characters, setting and plot (which includes the problem, sequenced events and the solution). Students will be taking a vocabulary QUIZ on the words from the story Akiak on Thursday, 9/22. The Akiak diary project (which will be assigned on 9/19) will be collected on 9/23.

English - What is a Sentence?
Simple predicates and how to correct a run on sentences will be our focus this week. Students will be completing a graded review of subjects and predicates on Wednesday. This will complete the unit on sentences, so look for the chapter 1 test to be scheduled the week of 9/26.

Social Studies - The Beautiful Northeast
We will begin our study of the Northeast by taking a look at the land and water of the region. Students will be honing their map skills by creating a map of the region that includes the names of the states and important waterways. We will also look at the mountain ranges and coastline. Students will be taking a map QUIZ on Thursday, 9/22.

Science - The Scientific Method
We have had a ball learning about our worms! Our study of the Scientific Method will be completed with Worm Races on Tuesday, 9/20. Students should bring their tracks, and the pink project sheet that day. I am also recommending that they bring a "fresh" worm in a habitat to school for the races. If your child cannot find a new worm, I will provide one for him/her. There will be a QUIZ on the steps of the Scientific Method on Monday, 9/19. Students should be able to describe each step of the process, as outlined in the overview sheet that I gave them. At the end of the week we will begin a new unit..."How are Animals Classified?"

Mrs. Bell's Math Class - Add & Subtract Whole Numbers
Students will be taking a QUIZ on Monday, 9/19. The quiz will cover lessons 1-3 in chapter 2 which include the topics of inverse operations, fact families & rounding to the millions. We will then move on to addition and subtraction of 3 & 4 digit numbers, choosing a method for problem solving. The TEST on chapter 2 is tentatively scheduled for Friday, 9/23.

FYI...
Turn in days for the magazine drive are 9/20, 9/27 & 9/29. Check out the District Website for details on this important district fundraiser.

The following pictures are from our model building & worm observation activities:

Students are building models from straws, paper clips and tape to use for an activity to learn about the Scientific Method. We then applied what we learned to making observations about worms. Students will build tracks for the worm races based upon what they observed during the activities.

Happy Weekend!
Mrs. Karen Bell