OCTOBER OUTSET UPDATE

Families, the Travel Show as a huge success.  I created a page to the right with pics of geographer's creative presentations.

With the end of the Where in the World Unit and the dawn of October brings a transition for our integrated social studies learning.  Our next theme, Powwow, will be another integrated experience for our historians.  During this theme, students will explore Native American culture and choose an aspect of NA culture as the topic of a "museum exhibit" each student will create.  This integrated work will be the focus of reading, writing, social studies, art, technology and as much science and math as possible.  We will send a calendar and information packet home about Powwow this week.

Reading: We will choose NA book next week.  Each student will be reading a "just-right" historical fiction chapter book with a NA focused theme.   These book clubs will have weekly assignments.  We will also be reading volumes of nonfiction NA topic books/websites/maps/pamphlets during social studies.  Each book club book can also be a book share choice for our readers.  Ideally, each reader should have one book share completed already.

Writing: After a writing prompt assessment on Monday, our writers will begin an experience in crafting nonfiction research writing.  Students will begin by creating a short piece on an aspect of a NA region.  This piece will be published, with corresponding images and student art, to a class website on NA regions.  As the class discusses each region, students will be choosing the aspect of NA culture they wish to research for their museum exhibit.

Social Studies: Our focus will be on NA history and culture.  Students will work in groups to research  and create and present a website page on an aspect of a NA region.  We will spend our SS time focused on various fiction and nonfiction resources from different NA regions.  We will use everything from the textbook to short videos, images, maps, books etc... Students will also be working on a NA piece in art.

Science: This week we are meeting with a Dendrologist to discuss the results of our Stewart Park tree experiment.  He will also share with us the tools and science of his work in the field. Thanks to Matt Struckhoff for making time to come in.  Through October, we will have one and maybe two more field experiences: CCUA and maybe Grindstone Park.  Students will be spending this month sharing their observations from our field work so far.  Scientists will explore their notes and create a presentation Wordle of their inspirations in the field.  Also, we will begin another mini experiment this week.  So far we have collected data on tree leaves, wind speed and animals, and now we will make come observations on compost as we continue to work outside on our natural areas.  Thanks to Sarah Linsenmeyer for helping our scientists work in outdoor classroom areas.

Math:  Our focus on math will continue to be multiplication and solving multi step problems.  It appears we need a little more practice on 2 digit by 2 digit multiplication.  As we start to apply multiplication to solve problems, it is very helpful for students to fluently have their multiplication facts through 12.  Further down the road, mastering these facts fluency will also provide a strong support as we extend their division experience.  This would be a great time for practicing facts at home through flash cards, games, or apps.  I am posting multiplication digital resources in the Weekly Resources page.