Volunteer Breakfast This Friday

Ms. Thomas shows students how to use different strategies to solve difficult words when reading.

Volunteer Breakfast This Friday
A2STEAM is hosting a breakfast this Friday morning for any and all volunteers.  If you have helped out in class, on a field trip, or with Motor Moms and Dads you are invited!  More information can be found here.

Field Trip this Thursday
We have our field trip this Thursday to study pushes and pulls at Maple Wood Lanes.  More information here.  Make sure kids are wearing clothes they can bowl and eat pizza in.

Mr. Luxon Out This Friday
This Friday I will be out of the classroom most of the day meeting with students who will start kindergarten next fall.  Fortunately, Ms. Thomas will still be here teaching in Room K-3!

Teacher Appreciation Week
We had quite a week last week.  The teachers at A2STEAM feel very appreciated.  Thank you!

Curriculum Overview
Science -  We are beginning a study of weather.  We will be observing the weather, watching the temperature and learning about the different types of clouds.  We are trying to find patterns in the weather we've seen this year.  Ask your students about cumulus clouds (large puffy white clouds) and stratus clouds (like a gray blanket).

Reading -  Last week we compared and contrasted different fairy tales.  Ask your students about The  Three Little Javelinas.  This week we will be reading non-fiction books about weather.

Writing - Students will write their own simple version of the Three Little Pigs.

Math - Students are working at understanding graphs and pictographs.

Word Study - We are finishing up our study of simple contractions. (I'm / I am,  we'll / we will,  that's / that i) 

We've been teaching students these strategies to use when they are trying to figure out unknown words in their reading.  In the book at the bottom of the picture many students were initially thrown off by the word 'baby'.

Volunteers Needed For Field Trip

Students are working on recording videos of themselves explaining the machines they designed to push or pull rocks.

Volunteers Needed for May 16th Field Trip
If you are interested in joining us for our pushes and pulls field tip to Maple Wood Lanes please send me an email.  We would need your help at Maple Wood Lanes on Thursday, May 16th from 10 AM to 12:30 PM.  More information here.

May 8th - Bike/Walk to School
May 8th is an official Walk & Bike to School Day. More information can be found here.  They need volunteers too.

Curriculum Overview
Science -  We are beginning a study of weather.  We will be observing the weather, watching the temperature and learning about the different types of clouds.  We are trying to find patterns in the weather we've seen this year.

Reading -  This week we will be comparing and contrasting different fairy tales.  Fairy tales usually have: animals acting like people, a group of 3, a villain, and a message for readers.

Writing - Students will write their own simple version of the Three Little Pigs.

Math - Students are learning about fractions especially halves, quarters, and thirds. 

Word Study - We are studying simple contractions. (I'm / I am,  we'll / we will,  that's / that i)

Mcity This Upcoming Weekend!

Last Friday we studied friction!

Thanks for coming out to that Informance/Performance.  The students were excited to sing and play for you!

Homework/Home Reading Book Bag
Bring in your home reading book bags so I can put in fresh books for you to read with you child.  I am hoping you will read with you child for about 15 minutes, about 4 nights a week. 





A2STEAM Mcity Visit Saturday, May 4, 9AM - 12PM
Mcity is a 32-acre mock city and proving ground build for the testing of wirelessly connected and driver-less cars.  It is located on the U of M North Campus.  The A2STEAM community has been given exclusive access to this site for our first-ever Safe Routes to School Bike and Pedestrian Training Program.  This flyer has more information.

May 8th - Bike/Walk to School
May 8th is an official Walk & Bike to School Day.  More info coming from the school soon.

No School May 27th
There is no school on Monday, May 27th in honor of memorial day.

Volunteer Breakfast May 17th
A2STEAM is hosting a breakfast to honor all of our school volunteers.  If you have helped out in any way this year, please come for food and music on May 17th from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM.  More information forthcoming.

Field Trip
We have another field trip planned!  We are going to be studying pushes and pulls at a bowling alley!  We will feel the friction(or lack of friction) on the bowling lanes!  We will go behind the scenes to see how the machine pulls the pins back to be reset!  If you would like to volunteer, please let me know.  More information here.

Curriculum Overview
Science -  We are finishing up our Project Lead The Way 'Pushes and Pulls' unit covering simple physics.  Students are designing a machine that can push and pull rocks to clear space for a playground.  Look for some pictures to come over Seesaw.

Reading -  This week we will be comparing and contrasting different fairy tales.  Fairy tales usually have: animals acting like people, a group of 3, a villain, and a message for readers.

Writing - Ask you students about some of the poems they have written!  We have also been working on drawing and labeling 'blueprints' for a machine that can move rocks.

Math - If you find yourself with some change ask your kids about the names of values of the U.S. coins.  This week we will be practicing counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s, and we will be working with number patterns.  Ask your child about the 'Function Machine'.

Word Study - Students are studying the sounds made by the letter blends tr, pr, and dr.  We are also studying simple contractions.

Informance Performance this Wednesday!

Students washing the lettuce for our salads.  See a few more photos here.

Musical Performance Informance
Come experience a music lesson and music performance.  Mr. Campbell our music teacher is hosting parents in his room this Wednesday from 1:50 PM to 2:20 PM.  Room K-3 students will be singing and playing instruments.  Check in at the office before you head down to Mr. Campbell's room.

Gallon Milk Jugs
I need some plastic full-gallon milk jugs for a playground project.  If you have one please rinse it out and send it in.

Snacks
Send in some snacks.  For non-perishable snacks I suggest: Wheat Thin Originals, Annie's Cheddar Bunnies, Ak Mak Crackers from Trader Joes, or Goldfish crackers.

Curriculum Overview
Science -  We are in the middle of our Project Lead The Way 'Pushes and Pulls' unit covering simple physics.  Students will design and then build a machine that can push and pull rocks to clear space for a playground.

Reading -  For our Pushes and Pulls unit we will some read non-fiction books about forces, gravity, and friction.   We are also reading some books about the earth in recognition of Earth Day.

Writing - We will be completing some writing around forces, pushes and pulls, and gravity. We will also begin exploring poetry.

Math - We are learning the names and values of U.S. Coins.

Word Study - Students are studying the sounds made by the letter blends tr, pr, and dr.