Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Class Update: Feb 3-10

We have been busy trying to catch up from the last round of weather and wrap up Term 4.  Here's what we have been up to:

In ELA, we have been working on our fictional narratives (myths).  We are remembering to organize our writing with paragraphs and also use dialogue (I wish I had taken a picture of our anchor chart for dialogue!).  Many students have completed them and we have started sharing them.  Fun!  Students were asked to take their ELA notebooks home yesterday to work on their final copy if they weren't done yet. :)  In other ELA news, we have been working on Drama, Poetry and Prose.  We have looked at examples of each and discussed what their characteristics are that make them unique.  We talked about the vocabulary for each and took some notes on the elements.  We also enjoyed a performance from one of our Reader's Theater groups of their drama (Pandora and Prometheus).  They did a great job!

Vocabulary included: characters, setting, plot, point-of-view, mood, theme

Vocabulary included: Cast of Characters, setting, description, dialogue, stage directions, theme

Vocabulary included: verse, rhyme, meter, theme

In Math, we have been working hard with fractions and decimals (standards NF. 5, 6, 7).  We have practiced representing models as a fraction and decimal, showing decimals in expanded form, adding fractions with denominators of 10 and 100, and ordering decimals on a number line.  Please see the Homework tab for quick codes for Learn Zillion videos if you want/need to see examples. 



In Social Studies, we have gone through the debates discussed at the Constitutional Convention as well as started lessons on the Bill of Rights. 



In Science, we have worked through investigations about the states of matter, how water changes states, how clouds are formed and the water cycle.  Students have also worked on iMovies or Explain Everything presentations on the water cycle.

Well, I think that wraps it up for our update!  Wait- I forgot to mention we enjoyed a Cultural Arts Performance (storytelling!) last Monday morning and Explorations last Friday!  We are looking forward to Valentine's Day this Friday (I will email you a list of students - cards optional). 

As more winter weather approaches Atlanta this week, stay safe and warm!!!