Math
This week we will continue to practice using the traditional algorithm for multiplication. One of our goals for this unit is to be able to use this traditional or standard algorithm for multiplication. Students have learned about the turtle method that helps students remember the steps in the process for multiplying with the standard or traditional algorithm. On Wednesday, we will learn the partial quotient method for division. There is a great online math link that can be found on our classroom website links page called Quotient Café that allows students to practice this method at home.
Reading
In reading, students are continuing to read while stopping and jotting about character, theories, and themes within their book clubs. These realistic fiction book clubs are a great way for students to practice discussion, reference a text for evidence, ask questions, and build understanding. Our realistic fiction book clubs will be wrapping up before Thanksgiving break. Our next reading unit will be “Tackling Nonfiction” which students have had some practice with already as it ties in nicely with our writing unit.
Writing
We are in the beginning stages of our next writing unit, nonfiction writing: the Lens of History. This writing unit will require students to write an informational piece about a time in history. In collaboration with our social studies unit on exploration, students will write about either the Maya Aztec or Inca civilization. Before students begin writing, we are working on reading nonfiction texts, working to find main ideas and supporting details. Students are also learning to take notes on nonfiction texts, highlight important information, and annotate paragraphs.
Science
In our weather investigations unit, students have been working with temperature, learning how to read Fahrenheit and Celsius, predicting and measuring actual temperature, and coming to conclusions. Students have been making conclusions such as “light and shadows can affect temperature”, “altitude can affect temperature”, and “warm air rises and cool air falls”.
As we continue through this weather investigations unit, we will be discussing cloud coverage, cloud types, wind, weather tools such as anemometers and weather vanes, and more. If your student is interested in some at-home practice of logging science observations, I have created an online Google form that allows students to log observations and even upload pictures of clouds. This Google form can be found on our classroom website under the assignments/science tab. We will look at this online form together in class later this week but is available for some at-home extension.
This week we will continue to practice using the traditional algorithm for multiplication. One of our goals for this unit is to be able to use this traditional or standard algorithm for multiplication. Students have learned about the turtle method that helps students remember the steps in the process for multiplying with the standard or traditional algorithm. On Wednesday, we will learn the partial quotient method for division. There is a great online math link that can be found on our classroom website links page called Quotient Café that allows students to practice this method at home.
Reading
In reading, students are continuing to read while stopping and jotting about character, theories, and themes within their book clubs. These realistic fiction book clubs are a great way for students to practice discussion, reference a text for evidence, ask questions, and build understanding. Our realistic fiction book clubs will be wrapping up before Thanksgiving break. Our next reading unit will be “Tackling Nonfiction” which students have had some practice with already as it ties in nicely with our writing unit.
Writing
We are in the beginning stages of our next writing unit, nonfiction writing: the Lens of History. This writing unit will require students to write an informational piece about a time in history. In collaboration with our social studies unit on exploration, students will write about either the Maya Aztec or Inca civilization. Before students begin writing, we are working on reading nonfiction texts, working to find main ideas and supporting details. Students are also learning to take notes on nonfiction texts, highlight important information, and annotate paragraphs.
Science
In our weather investigations unit, students have been working with temperature, learning how to read Fahrenheit and Celsius, predicting and measuring actual temperature, and coming to conclusions. Students have been making conclusions such as “light and shadows can affect temperature”, “altitude can affect temperature”, and “warm air rises and cool air falls”.
As we continue through this weather investigations unit, we will be discussing cloud coverage, cloud types, wind, weather tools such as anemometers and weather vanes, and more. If your student is interested in some at-home practice of logging science observations, I have created an online Google form that allows students to log observations and even upload pictures of clouds. This Google form can be found on our classroom website under the assignments/science tab. We will look at this online form together in class later this week but is available for some at-home extension.