Minnesota Program & the Rest of Last Week

This past Friday was our big Minnesota Program!  It was great to see so many of you there!  Below you find the link to check out all of our Minnesota animal research projects.

Minnesota Animal Research Projects

This past week in math students used pattern blocks to see how many different ways they could fill a hexagon using smaller shapes.  Everyone worked hard to be problem solvers for this activity.

On Thursday we finished up our health unit on staying healthy.  We talked about the importance of washing our hands and covering our mouths when we cough and sneeze to keep from spreading germs.  Each student made one of the fun projects below.

Last week we also learned about the parts of a letter.  We read the story The Jolly Postman and made letter ladies to help up remember all the different parts including: heading, greeting, body, closing, and signature.  This upcoming week we will use what we learned to write letters to someone special!

Plant Hunt

On Monday we began a new unit all about plants.  We went outside in the afternoon to go on a plant hunt.

Students found trees, flowers, vines, grass, and bushes out in the playground area.  The only plant students couldn't find was a cactus!

On Tuesday students learned all about the parts of a plant.  We watched a video on BrainPop Jr. and sang a special song.  Then students created and labeled their own plants.

Water Biome & Beautiful Weather

All week long we have been learning about the biomes of Minnesota as we gear up for our big program at the end of the month.  Our class is becoming experts on the freshwater habitats of Minnesota.  On Tuesday, students worked with partners to sort animals they might find living in a pond from animals that they wouldn't find living in a pond.

A sample project...

So far we have learned about frogs, turtles, cattails, and water lilies.  Here are the awesome turtles students created on Thursday.

We have really been enjoying this week's BEAUTIFUL weather!  We have enjoyed getting to spend a little extra time outside at the end of the day this week!

I Am Poems

This past week students worked very hard writing I Am poems based on the book "I Am America" by Charles R. Smith Jr.

First, we read the book together in class.  The message of the book taught us that even though we are all very different we're all a part of our country, the United States.

Next, students brainstormed ideas of words that described them as well as things they hear, see, taste, wear, and wish for on the chart below.

Then, students wrote rough drafts of their poems on the sentence frame you see below.

Finally, students wrote their final drafts and followed step-by-step directions to draw self portraits.

The final products turned out great!  All students did awesome work coming up with ideas and doing their best spelling to write their poems.