Into December we go!

The days are getting shorter, the air is getting colder, and Christmas is on it's way.  This year is really flying by! 
We are beginning a new unit today in math.  In this unit, we will be learning about 3-D objects such as cubes, spheres, cylinders, prisms and pyramids.
The learning goals for this unit are to

• Describe, compare and sort 3-D solids according to their attributes, such as whether they roll or stack, or have curved or flat surfaces.
• Use 3-D solids in constructions
• Make skeletons to represent 3-D solids
• Use language such as pyramid, prism, face and edge to describe solids

You can help your child achieve thes goals by doing some of the following activities

• With your child, hunt for objects that are examples of cubes, rectangular prisms, triangular prisms, and pyramids.  Have your child choose two objects and tell how they are the same and how they are different.
• Gather boxes, paper-towel rolls and funnels.  With your child, take turns building different structures(for example, a tall tower or a structure using at least six objects).  Think aloud as your work so your child can listen to how you problem solve
• Have your child work with modelling clay to practise making various solids.  Ask your child how many faces, edges, and corners your child sees for each solid
• Invite your child to help put away groceries.  Talk about why you place particular packages or supplies together.

Modelling Clay Recipe
2 scoops flour (500 mL)
1 scoop salt (250 mL)
1 scoop water (250 mL)
*Combine flour and salt in a large bowl
*Add a little water at a time, mixing as you pour to form a ball.
*Knead for 7-10 minutes until dough has a smooth, firm consistency
*Add small amounts of water if necessary

Keep clay in a plastic bag to prevent drying.  When ready to use, flour hands and work space to keep the dough from sticking.  Form into desired shapes.  Join pieces together by moistening both surfaces with water and pressing together.  Let air dry for 48 hours or longer if pieces are thick.

We have been sharing our adventures with Flat Stanley. Thank you so much to all of our families for helping out with this. 
We are now beginning research projects in Social Studies.  Now that we know more about the holidays that we celebrate, it's time to learn about some other holidays around the world.  The students will be learning about Hanukkah, Diwali, Chinese New Year and Kwanzaa.  It should be a fun trip around the world without even leaving our classroom!

We're Back Up and Running

Technology is great, until it doesn't work!  After a two week hiatus due to unforseen technical difficulties, I finally have an update for you.

In math, we have been working away at our sorting and patterning unit.  you can practise these concepts at home with your child by doing the following activities...

• Ask your child to help you organize the kitchen utensils.  As your child sorts the utensils into groups, encourage discussion about the groupings.
• Ask your child to use red and green circles to make a pattern in two different ways.  Talk about how the patterns are the same and how they are different.
• Look for patterns at home with your child in things like sweaters, rugs, tiles and wallpaper.

During our literacy block, the students have become quite proficient at performing the tasks required of them in the Daily Five.  We have now been able to work through all five stations, and we are usually able to get to four of them in a day.  Be sure to ask your child what they are writing about...we have some really interesting stories coming in!  We have also been doing a unit on the reading strategy of Making Connections.  A connection is when a piece of text reminds you of something else.  The students have learned that there are three different types of connections...

• Text to Text - this is when something that we have read reminds us of something we have read before.
• Text to Self - in this type of connection, something we read reminds us of something we have done or felt before
• Text to World - although difficult for children of this age, we are working on relating what we have read to something that is going on in real life - a story we have heard from the news or from what is happening in our community.

You are going to be having a guest!

Flat Stanley has found his way to our classroom and will be coming home with each of the students to learn more about your heritage.  When Flat Stanley comes home with your child, there will be a letter in the package explaining what we are doing, and a disposable camera to capture a picture of the time that Stanley spent with your family.  He has been instructed to be on his best behaviour, remain quiet, and not eat too much!  Please make sure that Stanley makes it back to school each day, because he has quite a few houses to visit!  If for whatever reason, you don't have time the night Stanley comes home to interview you, simply get him back to school the next day, and he will come and visit a different night.