Sulima's Scoop - Week of March 31

Reminders:
*Classes resume on Monday, March 31.
*Lesson 25 spelling pretest on Monday.
*Amazing Animals Assembly on Wednesday.
*Prairieview School Spirit Day on Friday.
*Lesson 25 spelling test on Friday.

Classroom Happenings:

English: We will continue working on our candy bar persuasive. The children have already filled out a graphic organizer and have written their introductory paragraph. We will work on our body paragraphs this week.

Reading: This week we will begin our "Battle of the Wits" unit. This unit focuses on problem solving. To extend this unit the children will be thinking of an everyday problem and creating an invention to solve the problem. The children will receive an invention convention letter, calendar, contract, and grading rubric on Monday. Their contract is due Wednesday. They should not begin constructing their invention until it has been approved on Wednesday.

Science: We have now finished our unit on simple machines. The children will begin a new unit on Earth Science - Rock & Minerals. There is a great deal of information in this unit. We will be reading a story called "Crystal and the Geologist" during this unit. To help your child review the many concepts in this unit, I am asking that they reread the chapter that we read in class for homework.

Social studies: This week the children will write their final rough draft paragraph for their famous Illinoisan "Just Look" book. By Wednesday, they will need all 5 paragraphs edited by an adult or older sibling at home. We will be visiting the computer lab during the second half of the week to type these paragraphs.

Math: (For Mrs. Sulima's & Mrs. Swaekauski's Math Class Only) The children finished the measurement unit before spring break. This week we will begin a unit on fractions. The students will need to review the information from this chapter each night. We will go over parts of a fraction, parts of a set, equivalent fractions, and fractions in simplest form.

Website of the Week:
Check out some of the great inventors and inventions at...
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/inventors/indexa.shtml

Brain Games

Here are some wonderful online brain games.

http://www.gamequarium.com/brainteaser.htm

Sulima's Scoop - Week of March 17th

Weekly Reminders:

*Wear green on Monday - St. Patrick's Day!

*Lesson 24 spelling pretest on Monday.

*Project Challenge on Tuesday.

*Simple Machines test on Wednesday.

*Thursday we will follow a Friday schedule. No music. We will have library check-out instead.

*Lesson 24 spelling test on Thursday.

*End of ISAT Celebration & Midwest Reading Party on Thursday.

*Spring Break - March 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30. See you all on March 31.

Classroom Happenings:

English: We are going to work on a persuasive essay this week. To go along with the Presidential Election, we are going to do our own classroom election. Our election is going to be a "Candy Bar" election. The children will be choosing a favorite candy bar, researching its nutritional information, comparing it to other candy bars, and writing a persuasive essay on why their candy bar should win the election. I know that nutrition has been stressed this school year, but this is a project that I have done for the past few year and have always had huge success with it. The children are motivated by the topic and actually excited to write a persuasive essay. Many candy bar companies are coming out with healthier choices: lower fat, less calories, dark chocolate, granola based candy bars, etc. If you would like your child to steer in this direction please discuss this with them. The children will be making their candy bar choices on Monday.

Reading: The children will continue working on their poetry books this week. They will be given at least 30 minutes each day in class. The poetry books are due on Monday, March 31. When the poetry book is turned in it must include the self-reflection and at least 4 critiques from other people. I have told the children that only one critique can be written by a student in our class. The others can be done by parents, brother & sisters, grandparents, aunts & uncles, neighbors, or friends.

Science: We will finish our unit on simple machines on Monday by discussing movable and fixed pulleys. On Tuesday, we will review for the test. Our test will be on Wednesday. Your child should have been looking over science information all last week for homework (during ISAT week). This was basically the only homework I gave them during that week. When we return from spring break, we will begin our unit on Rocks and Minerals.

Items that you should review for the test:

*All key words

*identify and give examples of each simple machine

* parts of a lever

*pgs. 27-29 in simple machines packet

*where the fulcrum should be placed to use less force
*how a rough surface effects the force needed on an inclined plane and a flat surface
*how a smooth surface effects the force needed on an inclined plane and a flat surface
*coasting contest on pg. 23

*fixed and movable pulleys

Social Studies: The children will work on their Illinois Wax Museum project. Our focus for the week will be to work on our "Just Look" books. We will continue this project when we return from break.

Math: We will continue our measurement unit this week. Our focus will be on measuring weight/mass, measuring capacity, and measuring temperature. We will learn about customary and metric units of measurement with each of these. On Thursday, we will have an open book/notes quiz to complete this chapter. When we return from break, we will begin a unit on fractions.

Website of the Week:

Staying home for Spring Break? Here are some fun ideas...

http://stayathomeparents.suite101.com/article.cfm/spring_break_ideas_for_kids

http://holidays.kaboose.com/spring/

Sulima's Scoop - Week of March 10

Weekly Reminders:
*Parent Teacher Conferences on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
*No spelling this week.
*Report Cards go home on Tuesday.
*No school on Friday, March 14.


ISAT SCHEDULE REVISED...
*ISAT testing on Monday, March 10-Thursday, March 13.
-Monday, March 10 - Reading Part I & Science Part I
-Tuesday, March 11 - Reading Part II & Science Part II
-Wednesday, March 12 - Reading Part III & Math Part I
-Thursday, March 13 - Math Part II & Math Part III


Classroom Happenings:

ISAT Testing: Please make sure your child gets plenty of rest and a healthy breakfast each morning. I have told the children that they can bring more than one snack/drink to help keep their energy level up. These tests can be very draining.

Third Trimester Goals: You will receive a copy of your child's third trimester goals in their report card envelope on Tuesday. I will sit down with each student and discuss these goals during this week. They will also get a copy for their binders. If you have any questions about these goals, please contact me by e-mail or phone. I am also including the results of their second trimester goals in their report card envelope. Please take time to discuss both with your child. Thank you in advance for your continued support!

English: We will work on a persuasive writing unit during the next couple weeks.

Reading: The children will continue working on their poetry projects this week. If the children are using their time wisely, most of the project can be done in school. They may need to do some typing or writing of final drafts at home. The children will need to develop their cover and figure out how to bind their poetry book at home.

Science: We will continue our simple machines unit this week. We will explore wheels and axles, gears, and pulleys. This unit is coming to an end. Our simple machines test will probably be on Wednesday, March 19. When we return after spring break, we will begin our Earth Science unit.

Social Studies: The children will choose a famous Illinoisan to research in class on Monday. I do not want many repeats. So, I am asking that each child have a couple people in mind if they do not get their first choice. Starting Tuesday, the children will be researching this person's childhood, education, family life, accomplishments, and more. We will be making a special book to display this research. To conclude this project, the children will be putting on a wax museum of famous Illinoisans. More information will be coming soon.

Math: Our next math class will be on Monday, March 17. We will take ISAT math tests in our homerooms on Wednesday and Thursday. The children need to have a calculator for testing. Please make sure your child has one by Wednesday.


Website of the Week:
Check out the hilarious poems at...
http://www.gigglepoetry.com/