Math
These past two weeks we have focused on measuring length, height, weight, and capacity. Students have a new math center with weighing scales, rulers, and measuring cups. They have had a great time exploring ways of measuring and comparing items. We discussed new vocabulary words & students had to use the words when comparing objects (longer/shorter, heavier/lighter, taller/shorter, etc.).
Writing
This week, we focused on the science target regarding seasons. We watched a few educational films on pebblego.com and brainpop on seasons and then wrote about one season every day. On Friday, we made a four seasons poster for the bulletin board (I will post a picture next week!).
Reading
We read Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey. This is a wonderful Caldecott Medal winner written in 1941 about a family of ducks. A few of the new vocabulary words that were introduced included courteous, horrid, and molt.
We also read Big Al, a story about a very nice fish that is big and scary looking that doesn't have any friends. The students loved hearing ways he disguised (a new vocabulary word) himself and how in the end he earned friendships by just being himself.
Pathways
We are learning about digraphs (two letters put together that make a new sound) with the -h brothers: sh (shhhh don't wake the snake!), ch (the sound you make when you sneeze aaachhhoooo), and th (that ornery brother that sticks out his tongue). In small groups, we are building ccvc/cvcc words like dish, chip, and with and reading short decodable books.