Social Studies and Naper Settlement
We discussed many concepts related to American history over the past several weeks. Thank you to Vanessa Druckman, Sophie's mom, for chaperoning our trip to Naper Settlement. The children learned a great deal about life in Illinois from its founding in 1818. They enjoyed seeing a working blacksmith's shop, post office, print shop, log cabin, one-room school house, and more! Ask your child to tell you about their discoveries. The students wrapped up the unit by taking the history test. We will begin our first science unit soon.
Here's what the children said about their experience at Naper Settlement:
Lily I liked how the mansion had a phone with no numbers on it.
Nick I was surprised the mansion had lightbulbs with different color lights.
Paul I liked how the blacksmith made us a horseshoe.
Charlie I was surprised the post office man said it only took two days to get mail to Chicago.
Brayden I liked how the print shop could make things big and small.
Elizabeth The schoolhouse was cool, because it had very different desks.
Sophie I was surprised that kids slept on the floor of the cabin.
Kathlyn I liked the play fort.
Declan G. I didn't know the white flame was the hottest at the blacksmith's.
Lucas I liked the play fort because the slide was slow.
Mason I noticed there were green lamps in the mansion and the print shop.
Daniel I noticed there weren't any lights in the schoolhouse.
Declan K. The pledge was different in the schoolhouse than the one we use now.
Lauren I liked the schoolhouse.
Brigid I was surprised two people could sit on a bench at the desks of the schoolhouse.
Anthony I didn't know the printer made cards not only newspapers.
Quinn I was surprised the students only learned two things at school before going home.
Aria I thought the blacksmith was interesting because he could break metal by heating it.
We discussed many concepts related to American history over the past several weeks. Thank you to Vanessa Druckman, Sophie's mom, for chaperoning our trip to Naper Settlement. The children learned a great deal about life in Illinois from its founding in 1818. They enjoyed seeing a working blacksmith's shop, post office, print shop, log cabin, one-room school house, and more! Ask your child to tell you about their discoveries. The students wrapped up the unit by taking the history test. We will begin our first science unit soon.
Here's what the children said about their experience at Naper Settlement:
Lily I liked how the mansion had a phone with no numbers on it.
Nick I was surprised the mansion had lightbulbs with different color lights.
Paul I liked how the blacksmith made us a horseshoe.
Charlie I was surprised the post office man said it only took two days to get mail to Chicago.
Brayden I liked how the print shop could make things big and small.
Elizabeth The schoolhouse was cool, because it had very different desks.
Sophie I was surprised that kids slept on the floor of the cabin.
Kathlyn I liked the play fort.
Declan G. I didn't know the white flame was the hottest at the blacksmith's.
Lucas I liked the play fort because the slide was slow.
Mason I noticed there were green lamps in the mansion and the print shop.
Daniel I noticed there weren't any lights in the schoolhouse.
Declan K. The pledge was different in the schoolhouse than the one we use now.
Lauren I liked the schoolhouse.
Brigid I was surprised two people could sit on a bench at the desks of the schoolhouse.
Anthony I didn't know the printer made cards not only newspapers.
Quinn I was surprised the students only learned two things at school before going home.
Aria I thought the blacksmith was interesting because he could break metal by heating it.
Living History Fair made wonderful memories!
The children were thrilled at the success of their Living History Fair. We spent lots of time practicing for the event. The students truly enjoyed this great activity that tied together our Culture and History themes. So many parents, teachers, and other students commented on how poised the children were and how well they told their stories. THANKS for your support with this great project.
Here's what the children said about their experience with the Living History Fair:
Lily I liked how people said I did a good job.
Nick I got a big break at the end!
Paul People liked my clear pictures.
Charlie Lots of people asked if I'd been to the Olympic Stadium, and I said no.
Brayden People asked if my mom, aunt and grandma were in the same sorority.
Elizabeth People said, "Great job!"
Sophie I liked how so many people came by to hear my story.
Kathlyn People asked what my favorite part of the project was and I said seeing the handkerchiefs.
Declan G. People clapped and said I did a great job.
Lucas
Mason People asked questions.
Daniel I learned Aria's great grandpa was on the same ship as my great grandpa.
Declan K. Lots of people came! Sometimes I told three at a time!
Lauren People said they could hear my presentation.
Brigid People asked if I had been to Ireland, and I said no.
Anthony People said, "So sweet!" or "Really cool!"
Quinn People asked if I was in the picture.
Aria I learned my great grandpa was on the same ship as Daniel's great grandpa.
Reading Workshop
Starting this week, we have been reading Knights in Shining Armor, by Gail Gibbons and other non-fiction texts during reading workshop. The children have chosen good-fit non-fiction books for their book boxes and are learning that non-fiction reading has many things in common with fiction, but there are differences, too! They know they still have to roll up their sleeves to read tricky words the same as they do reading fiction. But when readers read non-fiction, their purpose for reading is slightly different. They read non fiction to grow KNOWLEDGE! We discussed several things readers must do when reading non-fiction books, such as pay attention to details, put the parts together in your mind, ask questions, and think "what is this book/part teaching me?" The children are also recording their thinking by stopping to jot their ideas on sticky notes. They jot new information, what they wonder, etc.
Writing Workshop
The students learned about verbs and sentences this week. They learned that subjects are the naming part of the sentence. This part tells who or what the sentence is about and contains the noun. The predicate is the telling part and describes the action. This part tells what's happening and contains the verb. Next week, students will begin writing nonfiction.
Math
For the past two weeks our math work has focused on geometry. Last week the children compared 3D shapes and noticed their faces were made of 2D shapes. They took the assessment for the first investigation in geometry. This week, we looked at quadrilaterals, and more specifically rectangles. The children learned that rectangles are quadrilateral polygons that have four right angles and four straight sides. They used square tiles and geo boards to make rectangular arrays and practiced using terms such as rows and columns to describe arrays. The language of geometry is very challenging for many children at this age! Please ask your child to tell you about the activities we've been doing in math.
Cursive Handwriting
The children are excited to be learning to write in cursive! We have learned the lower case letters c, i, e, l, m, n, a, d, and r. Many students are working hard to use a proper pencil grip and form the letters properly! I ask students NOT to write their names in cursive until I have taught them the correct letter formation. Practice makes permanent . . . and I don't want to have to undo incorrect cursive letter formation as I've had to correct problems with improper print letter formation! Thank you for your support!
Halloween was great fun!
Check out the photos in the gallery! Thanks to our wonderful room parents and volunteers for making the day special for all of us!
Library Lowdown
If your child is working on the Monarch Challenge, they have listened to Crown, Little Red Fort, and Malala’s Pencil during their library time. They can check these off their list!
The children were thrilled at the success of their Living History Fair. We spent lots of time practicing for the event. The students truly enjoyed this great activity that tied together our Culture and History themes. So many parents, teachers, and other students commented on how poised the children were and how well they told their stories. THANKS for your support with this great project.
Here's what the children said about their experience with the Living History Fair:
Lily I liked how people said I did a good job.
Nick I got a big break at the end!
Paul People liked my clear pictures.
Charlie Lots of people asked if I'd been to the Olympic Stadium, and I said no.
Brayden People asked if my mom, aunt and grandma were in the same sorority.
Elizabeth People said, "Great job!"
Sophie I liked how so many people came by to hear my story.
Kathlyn People asked what my favorite part of the project was and I said seeing the handkerchiefs.
Declan G. People clapped and said I did a great job.
Lucas
Mason People asked questions.
Daniel I learned Aria's great grandpa was on the same ship as my great grandpa.
Declan K. Lots of people came! Sometimes I told three at a time!
Lauren People said they could hear my presentation.
Brigid People asked if I had been to Ireland, and I said no.
Anthony People said, "So sweet!" or "Really cool!"
Quinn People asked if I was in the picture.
Aria I learned my great grandpa was on the same ship as Daniel's great grandpa.
Reading Workshop
Starting this week, we have been reading Knights in Shining Armor, by Gail Gibbons and other non-fiction texts during reading workshop. The children have chosen good-fit non-fiction books for their book boxes and are learning that non-fiction reading has many things in common with fiction, but there are differences, too! They know they still have to roll up their sleeves to read tricky words the same as they do reading fiction. But when readers read non-fiction, their purpose for reading is slightly different. They read non fiction to grow KNOWLEDGE! We discussed several things readers must do when reading non-fiction books, such as pay attention to details, put the parts together in your mind, ask questions, and think "what is this book/part teaching me?" The children are also recording their thinking by stopping to jot their ideas on sticky notes. They jot new information, what they wonder, etc.
Writing Workshop
The students learned about verbs and sentences this week. They learned that subjects are the naming part of the sentence. This part tells who or what the sentence is about and contains the noun. The predicate is the telling part and describes the action. This part tells what's happening and contains the verb. Next week, students will begin writing nonfiction.
Math
For the past two weeks our math work has focused on geometry. Last week the children compared 3D shapes and noticed their faces were made of 2D shapes. They took the assessment for the first investigation in geometry. This week, we looked at quadrilaterals, and more specifically rectangles. The children learned that rectangles are quadrilateral polygons that have four right angles and four straight sides. They used square tiles and geo boards to make rectangular arrays and practiced using terms such as rows and columns to describe arrays. The language of geometry is very challenging for many children at this age! Please ask your child to tell you about the activities we've been doing in math.
Cursive Handwriting
The children are excited to be learning to write in cursive! We have learned the lower case letters c, i, e, l, m, n, a, d, and r. Many students are working hard to use a proper pencil grip and form the letters properly! I ask students NOT to write their names in cursive until I have taught them the correct letter formation. Practice makes permanent . . . and I don't want to have to undo incorrect cursive letter formation as I've had to correct problems with improper print letter formation! Thank you for your support!
Halloween was great fun!
Check out the photos in the gallery! Thanks to our wonderful room parents and volunteers for making the day special for all of us!
Library Lowdown
If your child is working on the Monarch Challenge, they have listened to Crown, Little Red Fort, and Malala’s Pencil during their library time. They can check these off their list!