Fabulous Frolics with Homophones Friday

It was a busy day here in 201!   Today's main project centered around homophones.  Students may sometimes groan when asked to do a writing project. That didn't happen today.  The stories they created show how much they've grown!  We spent more than an hour on our tales and they are fabulously creative.  Stories feature knights in the night,  cool winds that blew through a light blue sky, aunts who have ant problems, princes wearing prints who reign in the rain,  a girl who sails to a shoe sale, pairs of pears who are pared, and a barefoot bear. I could go on an on, but it is Friday, so I won't.  Ask your child about his or her story!


Reminders:
Next week is a busy one!

• Field Trip money and forms are due on Tuesday morning.   
• On Wednesday, we will take the CPS Reach Assessment.   We have been preparing all year!
• On Thursday, we will travel to the Planetarium.   Bring a bag lunch.  Please let me know if you would like to volunteer.
• On Friday, we will have our Marble Maze Showcase.  We will be in the CAC from about 11:00 until 12:45.  Parents, Please join us.
• Field Day is June 12.  A letter is going home today.  

Thanks to Alanna's father for helping us with our June bulletin boards.  201's work is again featured strongly this month.  Come and check out The Grand Canyon: A Trail Through Time and our Amusement Park blueprints.

Thinking Thursday

Good afternoon! This evening at home...

• Complete the math sheet. Students made "metric staircases" today that will help them complete the conversions.
• Finish the IL history questions.
• Finish the vocabulary interview.  Remember, this exclusive interview should help the audience get to know your word on a new level.
• Bring in the permission slip and money.  The money and form must be in my hands by Tuesday morning.
• Think about your marble maze.  The showcase is next Friday!

Whoah! It's an Amusement Park Wednesday

Tonight at home.... Continue to work on the SS Q and A. The next three questions are due tomorrow. Remember that your vocabulary interview is due on Friday. Work on your Marble Maze! Math sheet: no need to measure, just pick the best unit

Tons- of- Synonyms- for- Big- in- Today's- Tall Tale-Tuesday

Thank you, Elizabeth, for providing the inspiration for today's title!

Today we.....

• discussed the concepts of Manifest Destiny and the beginnings of Westward Expansion
• Read the Tall Tale, The Bunyans .  We talked about synonyms, figurative language, and U.S. Landmarks
• Caught up on a bit of Winn Dixie.
• Spent time with Mr. Fahernbach in Music Technology
• Got ready for tomorrow's math test.  We are converting machines!

Tonight at home.....

• Post the study guide.  We will have a spelling and reading test this Friday.
• Begin working on the IL territory packet which is due on Friday.  The first two questions are due tomorrow.
• Begin working on the Vocabulary Interview.  It is due on Friday.
• Create a study guide for tomorrow's test.  You may use the guide on the test.  On page H72 in the math text you will find a great conversion chart.  This should definitely be on your study guide!

Thinking about the Grand Canyon Thursday

We are creating a large mural in the classroom.  It will showcase all that we are learning about the life and geology of the Grand Canyon.

Tonight at home:

• Read for 30 minutes.  Get a signature that shows that you read.  Write One amazing, powerful sentence that describes what you read.
• Math sheet

Walking through Wetlands Wednesday

Hi Team 201,

Today we explored the habitats and animals at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.  We had a fantastic time.  Thank you to all of the amazing parents and wonderfully- behaved and enthusiastic students who made our day a success.  Our next trip, to the Alder Planetarium, will be June 6.

This evening at home.....
-Finish your field trip packet.  On the lined paper, write a reflection about your day at the museum.  Students were given 35 minutes to work on this at the end of the day.  I am happy to report that most students are "homework free" this evening!


Tomorrow we will....

• Work on our giant Grand Canyon class fact finder and mural. This will help us cement our understanding of main idea and supporting detail in informational text.
• Wrap up our discussion of the Revolutionary War.
• Go to Library.  Several students received "overdue" notices today.
• Create scale- model blue prints: we are designing our own amusement parks.
• Go over Tuesday's math homework.  We will spend more time converting standard units of measurement.  Next week, we will revisit the metric system.

Trying our Best on the Map Test Tuesday

This evening at home...

• Complete the math sheet
• Read the Grand Canyons Ecosystems handout.  Create a fact finder that focuses on one section.  Remember, the topic is the main ideas and the 8-10 facts are the supporting details.
• Our field trip is tomorrow.  Bring a bag lunch!

Measuring Monday

Today we....

•  measured to the nearest whole, 1/2, 1/4 and 1/8 inch.  We measured forearms.  We measured arm spans.  We measured legs.
• We read The Grand Canyon...A Trail Through Time.  We compared narrative non-fiction to expository fiction.  We will be travelling through the Canyon all week.  I have linked some material on Edmodo for students to explore at home.
• We finished up another Educreations presentation.  Some of the questions we explored are...What do liberty and freedom have to do with the Declaration of Independence?  What are inalienable rights?  Why do we use the expression: "sign your John Hancock?"
• We also read a few more chapters in Winn Dixie.  If your library books are due, you may return them.  I will continue to read aloud the chapters that we haven't had a chance to discuss.

Tonight at home:

• Work on the math sheet: Changing Linear Units
• I have deleted the Canyons assignment due to Maps testing tomorrow.
• Marble Maze: June 7th
• Field Trip: Wednesday 5/22. Please bring a bag lunch.
• Bring a water bottle tomorrow.
• Dress in layers.  The temperature in the pod is varying drastically  between jungle and arctic- like conditions.

Math Maps testing is tomorrow!  Get that homework done early and get a good night's sleep.

Coming Soon....

• Field Trip to the Planetarium: June 6
• Science and Design Fair: June 7
• Field Day: June 12

Taking the Egg Drop Challenge Thursday

This morning, Jonathan's mom came to our rescue.  I left the sacrificial eggs on my kitchen counter this morning.  Jonathan's mom delivered a dozen to us, so that the experiment could go on!  Thank you! Maybe next week I will accidentally leave brownies at home!

We have several "egg survivors" today.  Four groups were able to protect their egg so that it could withstand a drop of over 15 feet!


We did some other stuff today too, but the Egg Drop was the highlight.

Tonight at home...

• Finish the Dinos and Dragon Main idea and details page.  You must include 4 main ideas, and three supporting details for each.  Don't forget about the vocabulary.  Include each word, and select two different ways to represent it: definition, icon/symbol, sentence or synonym.
• Complete the math sheet: First, add or subtract.  Next, round each addend to check for accuracy.
• Take your lab sheet home.  Write a final conclusion.Talk to someone at home about today's lab.  Get a parent signature.
• Show a parent the Marble Maze Science and Design Sheet.  We will have a Q and A session tomorrow.

Walt-tastic Wednesday

Thank you Fatima, for today's creative title!

Today we....

• worked on our Revolutionary War research
• sharpened our problem solving skills 
• watched Bill Nye's Egg Drop experiment to prepare for tomorrow's design day in the Science Lab
• earned high scores on our chapter 21 math test
• read about Mr. Waddles and Dr. Hoot
• wrote "I Am" poems
• went to Music, lunch and recess

Tonight at home....

• complete the next two columns in the Winn Dixie brochure
• complete page 427 in your math book
• don't forget that you have a reading test on Friday! 

Test Time Tuesday

Today we took the Maps assessment, which accounts for our title.

This evening at home....

• create a study guide for tomorrow's test on decimals ( ch. 21)
• read or reread chapters 18-19 in BCOWD and complete the corresponding brochure pages.
• complete Science Fusion pages 537-547

Many students have misplaced their copies of Winn Dixie.  We will do a thorough search at school tomorrow. Please look at home.  You might have someone else's book!

Field trip money and forms are due tomorrow.  If you don't have the form, please write a note that includes emergency contact information and send in the $4.00.

Dinosaurs, Dragons and Decimals Day- After- Mother's- Day

Thanks, Elizabeth for helping us find a creative way to work in all of today's "d" topics.

Today we.....

• performed our Readers Theater
• worked on our Idioms of the Week: Off the Hook and Pulling Strings
• read Dragons and Dinosaurs. Students had so many comments and questions about dinosaurs and early life on our planet.  
• asked Jiji to help us compare and order decimals.
• worked with partners to compare and order decimals
• used our "two heads are better than one" strategy to solve logical reasoning problems (Mrs. Ginn's favorite).
• talked about tomorrow's reading MAPS test and discussed strategies for success

Tonight at home:

• Please complete the Logical Reasoning sheet
• Get ready: we will take the chapter 21 math test on Wednesday.
• Read, or reread, chapters 15,16, and 17 in B.C.O.W.D.   Write a response that answers this question: What is the "backstory"  with Litmus Lozenges?  Paraphrase the story to explain it in your own words.
• finish this morning's "idiom" work.  Most finished in class.                            
• Bring a bottle of water to school tomorrow and eat a good breakfast.  We will take the Map test at 9:00 a.m..
• Don't forget, trip money is due this Wednesday!
• Progress reports will go home this Wednesday.

Thursday Thoughts

Ginelle had a great title for today's entry, but I can't remember it.  Sorry Ginelle!  We will save it for next week.  Parents, I apologize for this late post.  We were having some technical difficulties at school today.  Thank goodness for good, old- fashioned pencils and paper!



This evening at home....

• Complete the Reading Response packet and the vocabulary pages.
• Please finish the math sheet.

Don't forget about....

• Field Trip money is due next Wednesday.  Please send in  $4.00.  If you don't have the permission slip, please simply write a note that indicates that your child has permission to go the the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum on May 22.  Please sign and include an emergency contact number.
• 201 will take the spring MAPS assessment on Tuesday.  See the tabs on this website, or go to Study Island to get into gear!

I will write more about our Science Lab escapades tomorrow and will share some pictures.  

Way too Short Winn Dixie Wednesday

Parents! 17 students were missing homework today!  This is a 201 first, as the majority of students are usually very diligent about homework.  This was not the case today.  Please ask your child if he or she was in the "missing or incomplete group."  You may send me an email or give me a call if you want to confirm.

Tonight at home......

• Complete the double sided decimal page.
• Continue to work on the Reading Response packet. One more more section is due by tomorrow.  It is implied that students are actually reading before they respond. There should be five sections done by tomorrow.  You are free to finish this evening.
• The vocabulary will be collected on Friday

Don't forget about Field Trip money!

Tenth and Thousandths Tuesday

Tonight at home....

• continue to work on your reading response.  There should be four sections done by tomorrow.
• please work on your Vocabulary rectangles.  They are due on Friday.
• complete the math sheet.

Reminders:

• Tomorrow is a .5 day.   Of course, all 201 students know that .5 reads as five tenths, and that it is equivalent to 1/2.  Dismissal is at 11:30.
• Field Trip money!!!!
• Many students are running out of basic school supplies such as pencils and notebooks.  Please ensure that your child is restocked so that s/he can make it through June 24th!  Thank you!

Mysterious Monday

The Mystery Bags are here!  Your students' Mystery Bag reports are fantastic!   About half of the students were able to present today.  We did do a "Gallery Walk" so that we could admire one another's work.  Great job 201!


Tonight at home.....

• Get ready for the Theme 5 test.  We will test on Thursday and Friday.  The vocabulary graphic organizers are due on Friday.  Select the 8 words that you need to work on the most.
• Math: in your math text book, complete page 405 
• Read and Respond.  Complete two sections this evening.  The entire Reading Log page is due on Friday.  Pace yourself.  Note that one half of the activities are about Non Fiction text.  You might want to borrow one of our mini Science books, or another book from the classroom library to complete these responses.
• Don't forget to bring in your trip money!
• Show someone the Pod 200 Map Testing Schedule.  201 will test on 5/14 and 5/21.

T.G.I.F.

Thanks, Asia, for today's title inspiration!

Today we...

•  finished our pen pal letters. We can't wait to hear from our new friends in Bethany, Il.
• worked on our Because of Winn Dixie brochures.
• worked off some of our energy in Gym with Mr. Meade.  Thanks, Mr. Meade!
• took our reading and spelling tests.
• finished our weekly math challenge
• some of us retook last week's math test.  Phew!  Scores were raised considerably!  
• went to Science Art with Mr. Vacanti.
• read students' writing about the adventures of Mr. Waddles and Dr. Hoot. 
• drew names for the prize bucket.
• sent home field trip forms.  We are going to the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.  I love this place!  Please send in those forms as soon as possible.

This weekend at home, work on your Mystery Bag report.  It is due on Monday. Remember, you will have to speak about 3/5 of your artifacts. Why did you select this item?  How is it related to the story?  Keep your words concise, clear and to- the- point!  Each students will have about 2 minutes to talk.  I will be using the COLD guidelines: Content, Organization, Language, Demeanor.  Practice your in front of a live audience or the mirror.  I can't wait to share these projects.

*Please note that our MAPS testing has been delayed.  201 will take the reading test on 5/14 and the math on 5/21.  I will send home a letter on Monday.

See below for some photos from our last engineering lab.  These bridges were amazing . We will be back in the lab next week to modify our designs and build new models.

Feel the tension!

Truss Testing Thursday

Today we tested our engineering skills in the Science Lab.  Students were provided with tape, 20 straws, scissors, and some background information about bridges and design.  Their task was to design and build a weight bearing structure that spans 25 cm.  The results were fantastic!  Each team produced a different design, and each was successful.   One bridge held a cup containing 32 large washers!

Students took careful notes today.  We will use our observations to help us rebuild next week.  Students are excited about modifying their designs.  Maybe next week we can make it to 50 washers?  Accept the challenge Team201!


Tonight at home...

• Prepare for tomorrow's math retake.  The test will cover prime factorization, composite numbers, multiples and number patterns.
• If you are taking the retake, complete the even problems on page 310 in your math text.
• Everyone should complete problems 20-25 on page 402
• Make sure that you have completed sections 1-4 on this week's BCOWD foldable.

Wonderful Wednesday

Hello 201 Families,

Today we....

• worked on cursive
• completed some math review
• spent a tremendous amount of time learning about the French and Indian War.
• went to Music
• made amazing progress in ST MATH
• compared fractions with unlike denominators
• ate lunch and enjoyed recess
• wrote letters to our pen pals
• read about the adventures of Dr. Hoot and Mr. Waddles

Tonight at home

• complete the Make a Model math sheet
• complete the vocabulary and reading practice sheet
• make sure that you are "on track" to hand in your Mystery Bag Report on Monday
• sign and return the math test.  On Friday, we will offer a retake.