Week of October 22-26

Thank you for letting your child participate in the fun activities of red ribbon week, where we all got to dress a little wacky but comfortably!  I think any day we can wear pajamas to school is welcome!

This week, on Thursday, we celebrated our 50th Day of School by participating in a special rotation.  Students had 50 pattern blocks that they made symmetrical patterns, they created 50 shapes on their geoboards, and went on a 50 object hunt where they had to identify the shapes of the objects!  It was a great way to review our Geometry and Symmetry unit!  We will begin place value this week, working on numbers from 1-999!  We'll also work with ordinal numbers, related facts (fact families), and more story problems!

We also had a bit of fall fun creating adjective pumpkins to add to our Fall grammar tree (we already had noun acorns and verb leaves!).  I will try to add a picture of that next week!  We also read a parody of "Goodnight Moon" called "Goodnight Goon"!  We created goons and used adjectives to describe him/her.  We also found adjectives that described us and used it in a self-portrait.  Also pictured is the trioramas we created for the three types of communities:  urban, suburban, and rural!

Next week, we'll celebrate Halloween with a special snack that Wednesday.  I know kids will be excited that day, so we'll have some themed math centers that week and activities during the day, as appropriate.

We're also testing for math fact fluency and reading - be ready to see some scores coming home soon!  The class is doing a great job with their reading!  A letter will come home this week on the math fact fluency program our school is starting.

Happy Fall!  I hope you stay dry and not so wind blown as we see what this latest storm will bring us!

Limeades, Cubes, Citizenship, and a Meteorologist....a Busy Week!

To help students understand the attributes of our 3D figures for our Geometry unit, we actually "built" cubes and rectangular prisms with marshmallows and toothpicks!  I am sure you have seen these already, but I thought I'd share a few pictures of the "work in progress." 

We also got to check on our garden this week as well!  Look how much our Broccoli, Lettuce, Cabbage, and Swiss Chard have grown!

Later in the week, we had a special visitor who reviewed with us about being a good citizen!

The next day, we got to meet Channel 29's weekend meteorologist:  Clayton Stiver!  He showed us how they predict the weather, report it, and how it really is a science!  He also let the kids know that this winter...we might be seeing some more of that "white stuff"!

So, it has been quite a busy week!  Thank you to all of our parents who have been voting on the Sonic "Limeades for Learning."  We haven't gotten very many votes, so please keep voting and encourage friends and family to do so as well!  You can click on the link to the side and type in the keyword "Moss Nukols" (that's how its spelled on the site) and please vote!  It only takes your email address!  Plus, if you vote enough times, you can earn a free limeade from Sonic!

Thanks and have a great weekend! :)

Fire Safety Week and Native Americans

Have your kids come home singing "Native Americans, Three regions in all..."  If so, that's great!  We often use songs in writing, history, and science (and sometimes even math!) to help us learn!  The kids find the familiar tunes very catchy and I sometimes even catch them singing during recess! :)  Our Native American test will be this coming Wednesday.  Students have been hard at work learning about the different tribes.  I hope you found the picture sort that was sent home with the study guide helpful.  There will be a similar sort on their test as well.  Students are very excited about their Native American project and I get updates each day - although some tell me it's a "surprise" which tribe they chose!

This Wednesday, we had the pleasure of seeing firetrucks and firefighters up close and personal! They also brought us gifts in the form of booklets, crayons, and of course, fire hats!  Please go over the fire safety rules with your child, especially about the "meeting place."  I know I'm not always good about talking to my own children about what to do in case of a fire...but its best to be prepared!

Here are some great pictures taken that day - please enjoy!  Also, thanks to the parents who signed up for parent conferences.  If you missed the sheet in your child's folder, and would like a conference, please let me know.  I am also more than willing to do phone conferences to help fit in your busy schedule! 

The Natives Are Restless!

Well, aren't they always? :)  We had a GREAT time on Tuesday when our Jamestown visitor came and talked to us about Native Americans.  Students really were into what he was saying...especially when they got to act out the part and feel real skins and hold authentic tools!

Then, on Thursday, it was "Read for the Record."  All week, we were preparing by reading books about "Ladybug Girl."  They can be found online at a fabulous website called "We Give Books" (wegivebooks.org).  We read Ladybug Girl (the original), Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy, and Ladybug Girl Goes to the Beach.  We discussed being afraid and getting along...two major themes in the books.  On Thursday, students heard Ladybug Girl and the Bug Squad during resource.  We had a special assembly (there were so many "buggy" costumes!) and then after lunch....we had some special visitors come help us design ladybug cupcakes!  The Louisa Lions football players from the high school dropped by to help.  Needless to say, the kids had a great time!  There were many sticky fingers and happy faces!  Thanks to all the parents who helped out by sending in items!

Enjoy our pics from the week! :)

 

"Read for the Record"