11/6/17

Today began with a super fun science lesson!  The class has been talking about states of matter.  At home, they found an example of a solid, a liquid, and a gas.  The students brought them in and shared their findings with the class.  Afterward, the group did an activity with ice cream and soda!  They talked about the solid, liquid, and gas that were used in the activity, jotting their observations down in their notebooks. 

The class worked on a handwriting exercise today.  We read different sentences, pointing out the verbs and nouns in each one.  Then, the group wrote the sentences in their very best handwriting.  We worked on technique… making sure we began our letter b’s at the very top and “bouncing”, and making sure the letter d’s started off like a c.  At home, they will be working on the next few pages.  Try to be sure to focus on technique, not just on getting it marked off the list!

During grammar time, the kids reviewed the parts of speech that they have been studying with their grammar cards.  They did an amazing job with that state of being verb list!  We talked about the difference between action verbs and state of being verbs, and then they learned about linking verbs.  I explained that the words on the state of being verb list can also be used as linking verbs, just like we can be students, sons or daughters, brothers or sisters, grandchildren, etc. but we we are still just us!  Although linking verbs can link nouns to adjectives OR to other nouns (predicate nominatives), we are not going to be diving that deep.  I taught them that linking verbs connect nouns or pronouns to adjectives, such as in sentences like, “I am hungry,” or “The dog is silly.”  The class worked on an activity where they chose nouns and adjectives and wrote them on certain colored construction paper.  They made noun and adjective “links”, and then they used yellow construction paper to connect the two words with a linking verb.  Hopefully, this hands-on activity will help them remember the role that linking verbs play in sentences.

These kids are really doing an amazing job with their creative writing!  I love how excited everyone is to hear each other's stories.  This positive motivation is exactly what I aim for!

In art class, the kids learned about George Seurat and pointillism.  They learned that sometimes, to see the big picture, you have to stand back and not stay so close!  The class worked on their own pointillism project using Q-tips.  They worked hard, and they turned out great!

 

Some of the students were able to record their Native American poem today.  Everyone else will work on memorizing it this week, and we will record theirs next Monday!

Ms. Gina finished reading our Magic Treehouse read-aloud today.  This book correlates with what the class has been learning in history, and we will continue to use our reading time to further explore Colonial America!  Our history lesson today began our journey with the Pilgrims across the Atlantic.  The class learned about the Pilgrim’s first attempt to live in Holland, which did not go well.  Then, they learned how difficult the decision was for the Pilgrims to leave on the voyage.  We talked about the preparations for the trip, the different voyagers that were aboard the Mayflower and the Speedwell, and the horrible conditions they endured.  We will be compiling all of our Colonial America assignments to create a big booklet in class for each child.  Please be sure to send in completed assignments and send back the printed reading materials!  We will need them in class!