Literacy
This week students were introduced to a new anchor text called "The Winners' Choice" which is a literary text about a soccer team that is awarded prize money after winning a soccer game and they have to decide how to spend the money as a team. We have been working on story elements and have looked closely how to use a graphic organizer to tell key details from the story and in sequence. Here is an example of how we worked on this comprehension skill as a class this week:
This week students were introduced to a new anchor text called "The Winners' Choice" which is a literary text about a soccer team that is awarded prize money after winning a soccer game and they have to decide how to spend the money as a team. We have been working on story elements and have looked closely how to use a graphic organizer to tell key details from the story and in sequence. Here is an example of how we worked on this comprehension skill as a class this week:
Students also engaged in close reading with this text and tuned into interesting vocabulary words. Here is a link to the vocabulary words we focused on this week: The Winners' Choice Vocabulary. Students are welcome to continue to draw pictures of these words at home to help them master these words and hopefully transfer them to both speaking and writing.
Math
This week students focused on a new addition strategy to help increase fact fluency when adding a subtracting. We have been focusing on doubles and how they stand out because they look different and we should just memorize those facts. Now that students are becoming more confident in their doubles facts we have introduced the "Near Doubles" strategy. For example, if I know that 5+5 is 10 I don't need to count on and add to do 5+6 because it is just one greater than the double... 11! Students learned a few new games to practice this strategy during their workplaces and will continue to work on this in the next couple of weeks.
This week students focused on a new addition strategy to help increase fact fluency when adding a subtracting. We have been focusing on doubles and how they stand out because they look different and we should just memorize those facts. Now that students are becoming more confident in their doubles facts we have introduced the "Near Doubles" strategy. For example, if I know that 5+5 is 10 I don't need to count on and add to do 5+6 because it is just one greater than the double... 11! Students learned a few new games to practice this strategy during their workplaces and will continue to work on this in the next couple of weeks.
Science
This week students continued to learn about air by using it to slow down a falling object. Students were given a problem: When people first started flying in airplanes they needed a solution for if something went wrong with the airplane. Students learned how to design and engineer a parachute. Then they tested their design to see how the air actually helped slow down a object that would fall from the earth.
This week students continued to learn about air by using it to slow down a falling object. Students were given a problem: When people first started flying in airplanes they needed a solution for if something went wrong with the airplane. Students learned how to design and engineer a parachute. Then they tested their design to see how the air actually helped slow down a object that would fall from the earth.
Additionally, students were able to go to the greenhouse to explore the seasonal changes happening right before our eyes! We went on Friday, which was a bit snowy, and were able to plant some snow peas in the greenhouse! Then we went outside to the learning garden to look for things that were still alive but in dormancy (or sleeping), seeds, and things that were still living. We were also able to taste some food that was ready to be harvested this time of the year like swiss chard, radishes, and basil.
Buddies
This week first graders were able to meet their fifth grade buddies for the first time this year! We enjoyed getting to know each other a little bit and then working together by designing a feather using fall watercolors to decorate our classroom turkey in the hallway. We look forward to meeting up with our buddies during the school year for more.
This week first graders were able to meet their fifth grade buddies for the first time this year! We enjoyed getting to know each other a little bit and then working together by designing a feather using fall watercolors to decorate our classroom turkey in the hallway. We look forward to meeting up with our buddies during the school year for more.
Upcoming Events
Thursday, November 15th: Conference sign up deadline. Use this link:
www.ptcfast.com/schools/Indian_Trail_Elementary. And follow these directions: Conference sign up directions.
Monday, November 19th & Tuesday, November 20th: Conferences will be held from 12:00pm-7:30pm
Wednesday, November 21 - Friday, November 23: Thanksgiving Break, no school.
Thursday, November 15th: Conference sign up deadline. Use this link:
www.ptcfast.com/schools/Indian_Trail_Elementary. And follow these directions: Conference sign up directions.
Monday, November 19th & Tuesday, November 20th: Conferences will be held from 12:00pm-7:30pm
Wednesday, November 21 - Friday, November 23: Thanksgiving Break, no school.