Students are working on researching a state. They are gathering notes on the physical features, famous landmarks and tourist attractions. They will then make a brochure to persuade people to come to their state.
Yesterday, Kelly Dempsey (runner up in Project Runway season 14 and the designer of Ms. Jette's beloved fanny packs) visited Thompson. She showed students sketches from her portfolio as well as samples of her fanny packs and clothing. Kelly spoke to the kids about staying true to yourself, facing challenges, and working hard. Students asked thoughtful questions about reality TV (it takes about 3 days of filming to produce one episode), when she started designing clothes (at age 9 -- she took apart her clothes to make new clothes), and running a business.
Before April break, we began a math unit on decimals. Students labeled a race track with tenths and hundredths. They "pushed their penny" and read and wrote the values they landed on. They will continue to compare and order decimals.
We began learning about the Southwest region of the United States. Students are learning about the climate, physical features and Native people that live in this area.. They will watch a video on the Grand Canyon and learn about the Trail of Tears.
We have learned about the three types of rocks, sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic, by watching videos, studying samples and reading about them. Students are learning how each type of rock is formed and some ways to identify them.
Nadine Solomon visited our classes this morning to discuss how multiplying a number by 10 or dividing by 10 changes a number. Students acted this out with numeral cards and then practiced with a place value sheet.
Students are moving through measurement centers in math. They are finding objects that weigh a kilogram and objects that weigh a pound in the Mass Center. They are filling up pints, quarts, gallons and liters in the Liquid Capacity Center. In the Time Measurement Center, they are discovering what they can complete in a minute from jumping jacks to writing compliments to classmates. Lastly, in the Linear Measurement Center, they are measuring their height, the length and width of their independent reading book as well as comparing their wingspan to wingspan of Lebron James!
In our Rocks and Soil unit, we have been learning about the different types of soils and their characteristics. We also have read about and watched a video on worms and their benefits to soil. Mr. Watt came in to share some compost and worms! He left us with a worm farm and thousands of "class pets". We will be observing what is happening to our compost and the worms over the next couple of months.
We have been learning about segregation through videos, picture books and discussions. Students have read about Rosa Parks, the Montgomery Bus boycott and Martin Luther King. We are currently working on a Literary Essay that explores a "big idea" that students feel is important to them from a picture book.
Marika McCoola visited Thompson School. She discussed her writing process and shared her graphic novel, Baba Yaga's Assistant.
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AuthorMs. Brogna Archives
May 2016
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