MyPlate, Inferences, Reading Groups, and Fall Fun

This week we learned all about eating healthy using MyPlate.  We began the week by learning about the needs of living things.  Then on Tuesday we talked about the importance of eating healthy foods.  Students used grocery store adds to sort healthy (anytime) from not so healthy (sometimes) foods.

On Wednesday we began learning about MyPlate and the five main food groups including: dairy, fruit, vegetables, protein, and grains.  Students sorted foods with their table groups.

On Thursday students worked very hard to create their very own MyPlate projects.  We ended the week by learning about the digestive system and how our body uses the healthy foods we eat.

In literacy this week we learned all about making inferences.  Students learned that inferencing is taking what they know and using the clues they see when reading to come up with an idea.

As a class we read the book The Monster Pet and practiced making inferences.  Then students had the chance to read the book again on their own with partner.

The most exciting part of week was getting to do our reading group rotations and centers for the first time.  Starting next week we will have weekly guided reading groups.  Each day students will work with me in the front on reading skills.

Do seat work at their tables.

And go to one of eight centers including: phonics, reading, writing, math, unit, art, listening, and iPad.

We took advantage of this week's nice fall weather and enjoyed a little bit of extra recess at the end of each day!

Sense of Smell, Computer Lab, & 6th Grade Buddies

This past week we wrapped up our unit on the five senses.  Students did a great job using their sense of smell to figure out what was instead twelve different smell jars.  The jars included: coffee, onion, orange peel, lemon, chocolate syrup, cinnamon, garlic, syrup, pencil shavings, pine needles, BBQ sauce, and pepper.

Friday morning we had a chance to go to the computer lab for the first time this school year.  Students enjoyed exploring the Starfall website.

Friday afternoon students met their 6th grade buddies from Mrs. Wendlandt/Ms. McCormick's class. Buddies spent time outside together doing a fall scavenger hunt.

Labeling & Five Senses

This week we learned all about labeling.  We learned that labels are words added to pictures to give information.  On Tuesday students had a chance to label me!

Students ended the week writing their own labels.  Everyone began by drawing a picture of anything they wanted to.  After that they worked hard to add labels to their pictures.

Here are a few examples of some of the work students did:

When finished students had a chance to share their drawings and labels with their classmates.

This week we began learning all about the five senses.  Students had a chance to go on a hearing walk, graph eye color, and used their sense of touch to guess what was inside special feely bags.

This week was the first time in a long time that our whole class was here!

Catching up

We have been busy the last few weeks!  During our study of colors students did a color search in the classroom.  They went looking for items in the classroom that were red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, black, pink, and gray.

When learning about school helpers we started the week off with a tour of our school.  We got to see everything inside and outside of the building.

Throughout the week we had a chance to visit several different school helpers.  We began by visiting the school nurse, Mrs. Ward and then Dr. Bussman, our principal.  A highlight of the week was visiting our building engineer Mr. Weber.  He took us down to the basement of the school where we were able to see the boiler and the underground tunnel system.  Students thought this was very interesting!!

Students worked hard in small groups to create school safety posters.  Each group focused on a different area including: the classroom, cafeteria, bus, gym, hallway, and playground.  After creating their posters which included safety tips for their area groups had a chance to present their posters to the rest of the class.

Partner reading during literacy time.

This past week in science we learned about seasons and fall.  We started the week off by observing a big tree out on the playground and discussing the parts of a tree.

Later in the week students sorted things that had to do with fall/autumn from things that did not.  We ended the week by learning about why leaves change colors.

In literacy this week we learned all about syllables.  Students did an excellent job counting out syllables using our special clapper tools.