News for October 27

News for October 27

This week the class learned about linear measurement, procedural writing and everyone finished their handmade pillows!

The students finished their pillows by hand sewing the hole in the pillow closed, so that the stuffing doesn't fall out. Using a needle and thread, each child managed to sew the pillow closed (and then walked back to their desks with the pillows on their heads…it’s a Room 204 tradition…)

The children learned the key words, first, next, then and finally to help them create a framework for writing an instruction book on how to make a pillow. After the class planned the writing together, remembering all the steps they did to finish their pillows, the children wrote sentences to explain the process from beginning to end. Then the students created non-fiction books for this writing, complete with a popsicle stick binding and a photo of the author holding his/her pillow! These books are now on display in the hall outside of our classroom.

In math, the children learned about calendar-based time measurement (days/months/years) and linear measurement (centimetres/metres/kilometres). We have been talking about calendar time all year and how really only humans care about calendars, because we have a need to measure and track time. In linear measurement, the students, at first, practised measuring things using non-standard units like crayons, straws and wooden cubes. However, these units are not reliable as they are not always the same size. For example, crayons can be long or short. To solve this problem humans decided to create standard units like the centimetre (cm). The class learned the correct way to accurate measure things using rulers and measuring tapes.

The class practiced their reading comprehension strategies and how to properly answer comprehension questions in writing using sentences. They read a story about hippos. Did you know that hippos have oily skin and the oil acts like sunscreen to protect them?

In social studies, the children continued their research projects and most have completed their graphic organizers with lots of facts about their research country. The students are now taking the key word from the facts and creating complete sentences. For example, “What language is spoken in Japan?” The sentence answer could be “In Japan, people speak Japanese.” These sentences will be put on their research posters next week.

In guided reading, the class continued to look at the features of non-fiction books and how these features help the reader find and understand information more easily. 

In art, the class made lanterns for decorating our class for Halloween! Each student took a piece of thick paper and folded it in quarters so that it would stand up. Then to let the light shine through more, each child cut out little “windows”  and some children added coloured tissue paper to the open areas. After decorating their lanterns, they put small, battery-operated lights inside and we turned off the lights to see the charming effect. 

Books read aloud this week:

My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett (chapter book - finished)

The Secret Pizza Party by Adam Rubin