Families Around the World

This week our essential question for literacy was "How are families around the world the same and different?" We read stories about families that moved from one country to another and did not always understand the traditions and customes.  One story took place in Brazil in which the main character did not want to practice her dance for a big parade because she wanted to play with a friend.  We each could make a connection to this.  In another story we compaired the foods that a family from Argentina served to what our families might serve for dinner.  We found differences with all these families but we also found out that we have a lot in common.  The skill we focused most on was visualizing, how the words help us to get a picture in our minds.  We also identified the characters, settings and main events.

In writing we worked on establishing writing workshop and students did some sample writing for me.  This will give me an idea of their abilities and what we might need to work on in the future.  We also did a fun writing project about "If I were a scarecrow...."  Here is a picture of our finished scarecrows and writing.

In math we continue to work on addition and subtraction strategies!  Today, I gave students another timed fact practice, and I was amazed at the progress they are already showing just a few short weeks into the school year!  The class had so much fun today, I introduced them to a math game called prodigy.  This is an interactive adventure game.  They are already asking me when they can play it again.  I'll send home ussernames and passwords as soon as I can get them all together.

In Social Studies we worked on a community project.  Students worked in groups to plan and design their own community.  Each person in the group had a job.  Next week we will present these communities to the class.  Here are a few pictures of them working on the communities.

Have a wonderful weekend!!  

Reminder!!!  NO SCHOOL ON MONDAY!!!!  Teacher inservice day!