Heat and Cookies

We've been exploring heat in science. We read a book about heat and its sources and then created a circle map.

We discussed with our partners what happened in our popcorn experiment. Then we passed around sugar cookie dough to explore. We illustrated what our cookie dough looked like in our science journals and watched a short video clip about heat causing change on Discovery Streaming while our cookies baked.

 When they came out of the oven we looked at our cookies and discussed what changes we observed. Through interactive writing (where the students and I share the marker) we created a tree map to record our observations before and after heat. Then students illustrated what our cookies looked like after being heated in the oven.

Pumpkin Time!!!

We started by talking about what schema is and then discussing with our partners our pumpkin schema. We corrected misconceptions and added new learning throughout our study. We also reviewed the characteristics of nonfiction/informational text. We reviewed identifying the topic and details of informational text.

We learned about the parts of a pumpkin and each part's purpose. Students worked in small groups to paint a part of the pumpkin for our pumpkin brace map. After the paint dried, students work together to build our brace map and label the parts. Students then shared a part of the the pumpkin and it's purpose with their partner.

We used pumpkin candy to create positional patterns. Students identified and extended patterns I modeled for them. Then they worked with their partner to create a positional pattern. Then we shared and extended patterns partners made. Of course what's the fun of working with candy if you can't enjoy a little bit of it! Then we created and recorded patterns using our thumbprint as the pumpkin shell and our pinkie print as the stem. We labeled our patterns and identified the core (the part of the pattern that repeats).

We also sequenced the pumpkin life cycle. We illustrated and labeled the life cycle on a flow map.

We created a circle map using descriptive words for pumpkins as a class. Then we created our own pumpkins/jack-o-lanterns and used words from our circle map to write a pumpkin poem.

Light, Color, and Sight

We went to the science lab and explored with our sense of sight, color and light. We used prisms and peeps and recorded our observations in our science journals. Then we watched a short video about light.

Go Away Little Pattern Monsters!!!

We read Go Away Big Green Monster and practiced making AB patterns using pattern blocks. Then we made them with our partners. Then we created these pattern monsters independently and wrote about them!

Firefighters

We started our firefighter unit by making a KWL chart about firefighters. We started by sharing what we know and wanted to know. We read I'm a Firefighter.

As we learned throughout the week, we added the information we learned to the learned section of our chart. We also read A Day in the Life of a Firefighter and Clifford and the Firehouse.

We also created a class bubble map about firefighters, and illustrated fire safety rules.

We've been working on identifying the topic and details from informational texts, so we read Russ and the Firehouse. We illustrated the topic and wrote/illustrated 3 details from the story.

Christopher Columbus

We started by reading Deanna Jump's If I Were a Pirate and taking about explorers. We made a bubble map as a class about explorers. Then we wrote about what we would explore.

We started a schema chart on Christopher Columbus to see what we knew before we started our study. Then we went back and moved stickies to the misconceptions sections or added stickies to new learning the rest of the week.

We read A Picture Book of Christopher Columbus and created a tree map about Christopher Columbus.

We read Christopher Columbus and created a circle map about Columbus as well.

Literacy and Laughter Giveaway!!!

Attention Teacher Friends! Literacy and Laughter is hosting a giveaway! It includes an autographed copy of Square Cat  by Elizabeth Schoonmaker and a $15 gift card to Lettering Delights. Here on over to Literacy and Laughter to enter!