Designing Houses That Can Withstand Wind

Students work collaboratively to build a structure that can withstand wind.

Spirit Week
This week is a school-wide Spirit Week.  Here is the theme for each day:

Monday: Pajama Day (students in my class can also bring in a small stuffed animal, one that can fit into a paper grocery bag)

Tuesday: Crazy Hair or Hat Day

Wednesday:  Fashion Disaster/Mismatch Day

Thursday: Twins or Decades Day

Friday: Funky Sweater Day

Message from Mr. Willard
As we head into boot season it is critical to help your child remember to bring gym shoes to school, especially on gym days.   We have spare shoes but students often spend valuable activity time looking for the right size, match and then learning to tie. Thanks, Jason

Curriculum Overview

Science - We are working on a Project Lead The Way (PLTW) module on structure and function.  Structure refers to the way something is built, including shape, size, and the way the different parts work together (for example, a chair has four legs, a seat, and a back).  Function is what something does or is intended to do (the function of a chair is to give people a place to sit).  This week we will study different kinds of paintbrushes (fine tip for artists, wide brushes for house painters, rollers for painting walls) and the students will design their own paintbrush.

Reading - We are reading books and stories, both fiction and non-fiction, to support our Project Lead The Way unit on structure and function.  This week students will finish reading The Three Little Pigs and build and test a structure big enough for a pig, that can resist wind.

Writing - We are writing and reflecting about our experience at Expo, what parts of our work we were happy about, and what aspects need more attention next time.

Math - We are comparing numbers and playing more than and less than games, including more than and less than poker.

Word Study - We are learning how to read and write simple words.  This week we will look at the -ing word family. 

Thanks for sending in both the snow clothes and the indoor shoes last week.