I’ll Huff and I’ll Puff

After constructing model houses using bricks, sticks, straw, and clay, we evaluated the sturdiness of each house (the fan is on high!).

Warm Clothes
To help us focus on our schoolwork we go outside for recess each and everyday to take breaks.  The only days we will stay in will be when the temperature is below zero degrees Fahrenheit, which does not happen often.  Make sure your kids come to school with, gloves, hats, boots, and all the clothes they need to stay warm.  Lunch recess in particular is over 20 minutes long.  If you have extra gloves and hats that can be donated to the class as spares, feel free to bring them in.

School Wide Spirit Week Starts on Monday, December 19th
The final week before winter break is a school-wide spirit week planned by the student council.  Here is the rundown:

Monday, December 19th - Hat Day or Crazy Hair Day, your choice!

Tuesday, December 20th - Students Dress Like Teachers/Teachers Dress Like Students Day!

Wednesday December 21st - Pajama Day - Again!  Your students were really well-behaved with their stuffed animals last Friday, so I am happy to do this again.

Thursday December 22nd - Sweater Day.  The student council didn't want to call it holiday sweater, or ugly sweater, just sweater.  That one's easy.

Curriculum Overview
Science - We have been studying the design, structure, and function, of different paintbrushes.  Students will design their own paintbrush this week.  Last week we also learned about how snow and snowflakes form from water vapor that freezes.  In January we will begin a unit on weather officially but the lesson on snow seemed apt to cover now.

Reading -  We have been reading fairy tales as part of our Project Lead the Way unit on structure and function.  As we continue to read fairy tales we will also look at the literary aspects of a fairy tale: animals take the roles of people, there are often three characters who work together in some way, there is usually a villain causing problems, and there is often a strong author's message or something to be learned.  Ask your students about The Three Little Pigs, and the The Three Billy Goats Gruff.

Writing - Students are writing about the different experiences they have with our Project Lead The Way unit on structure and function.  This week they will sketch out and write a proposal for the paintbrush they would like to design.  When we are not writing about science we will list out kind words (please, thank you, excuse me) and compose pieces recording some of the acts of kindness in our classroom.

Math - This week we will develop a foundation for fractions by looking at the different shapes that be made when you break up a hexagon.  For instance, a hexagon can be divided into 6 equilateral triangles.

Word Study - This week we are studying the -ing word family (ring, sing, swing).  We will also examine how -ing can be used as a suffix.