Our study of geometry continued as we dove into the wonderful world of quadrilaterals! We have established that polygons are closed figures that have 3 or more straight sides. Quadrilaterals are polygons that have exactly 4 sides. Ask your Temescalian if a square, rectangle, or rhombus is a type of parallelogram. Ask them about the similarities and differences between a rhombus and a square.
Geoboards are a fantastic tool to create shapes and experiment. We challenged Temescalians to create different quadrilaterals according to specific features. Over the course of the week, we created and recorded our own quadrilaterals. Then we categorized them according to different rules that we came up with. Finally, given clues, we tried to narrow down the quadrilaterals to figure out which one was the chosen one. Some of the Temescalians compared the game to “Clue” or “Guess Who?” They will continue building up their geometry vocabulary and understanding of quadrilaterals and polygons this week.
Grit is the newer cousin of perseverance and the Temescalians defined it as “You keep going even if it’s hard.” “It’s like determination.” “If you never fall down, you never learn how to stand up!” Some examples of grit: “You do something and you thought it was right and then the teacher says that you have to do it again and then you do it over again and you say, ‘Wow! It’s better now!'” “Something that might be challenging for you but you know you need to do it and you just do it and keep doing it without giving up. Once you’re finished, you say, ‘Oh my gosh! I actually did it!'” In Temescal Creek, we highlight this attribute by encouraging a growth mindset and positive inner coach. We also created a “Grit Gallery” where kid quotes and student work that exemplifies grit and perseverance. Please come in and look in our maker nook!
We also spent some time writing our tales of grit! Temescalians recounted tales of grit from in and out of school and we heard many instances of working hard and being patient in difficult circumstances.
We continued note taking as we researched our local animal. We will be heading to the library on Thursday this week. Please send your Temescalian in with his/her library card so we can check out books!
We got to enjoy a performance by the Kenyan Boys Choir, sponsored by WE Day. This organization has been around since 2004 and a previous iteration even performed at the White House for President Obama’s inauguration! Their resonant tones were so beautiful, and it is a reminder that you may not speak the same language but still connect through music!
Kenyan Boys Choir from The Berkeley School on Vimeo.
We tried a breathing exercise in Mindfulness and noticed our breathing while focusing on a fixed point in the classroom. Some Temescalians noticed that the exercise was calming and refreshing.
We wrapped up our Touch Typing Intensive with Susan and she shared some websites where your Temescalian can get more practice. Typing.com/games
We will be assigning lessons as part of homework. While we can track their progress in terms of lessons/accuracy, we can’t see the most important part of touch typing: correct finger placement! Please make sure that you watch your Temescalian as s/he types at home. Fingers on the home keys are very important, especially at this foundational stage! Even the simple practice of going through the alphabet 5 times for each letter helps finger placement become more automatic. (This practice would look like tapping the “b” with your left index finger, bring all the fingers back to home keys, b, home keys, b… Tapping the “c” with your left middle finger, the rest fingers on the home keys, “c”… )
Julianne joined us on Friday and building on our geometry unit, led us in an exercise of creating our own tessellations! They are as simple or complicated as you want them to be. It was so interesting what cutting two pieces out of a square can do to create something new!
A few other captures from this week!
Upcoming dates:
4/3 – Last day to donate books for the Book Swap. Drop them off in the office!
4/4 – Author visit: Stan Yogi and Laura Atkins will visit and talk about Fred Koramatsu Speaks Up and Book Swap!
4/5 – West Branch Berkeley Public Library visit. (Bring Berkeley Public Library card!)
4/6 – Readathon (Bring in books, labeled sleeping bag/pillow/stuffies). We are also having Family Reading! Please come in from 8:30 – 9:00am. You are also welcome at other times during the day. Let us know if you would like to share a special read aloud with us too!
4/6 – Scholastic Book Orders are due! You can order online (our class code is FMQ8F) or send in your order with a check payable to Scholastic Book Clubs.
