Dear Families,
We settled back into routines in this second week of the new year. To augment our handwriting practice, we introduced “backboard writing” where the teacher chooses a word that features the letter of study. Temescalians are paired off and one will write on the other’s back. This gives each part of the pair a chance to imagine letter formation while the other gets more opportunity to practice their cursive.
Our current writing piece is New Year Resolutions. In addition to using the essay structure, we are incorporating linking words and either a reason or steps to accomplish each resolution. Temescalians then edit their own work, and then peer edit with a partner. We hope to finish this writing piece soon so that you can see what your Temescalian hopes to achieve and accomplish this year!
In Math, we have been looking at different strategies to do 3-digit addition and subtraction. Often, a tip to solving these problems more efficiently is see how to get one of the numbers to a friendly number. For example, 299 + 36 can be done using a number line, however, if you take one from the 36, you end up thinking about the problem as 300 + 35. We introduce different strategies for computing numbers in hopes that the Temescalians can discern when to use each strategy to solve the problem more quickly and efficiently.
Our study of water is the precursor to learning about weather. This week, we talked about how to measure mL of water, how to measure the temperature of water using a thermometer, and the importance of making predictions. Ask your Temescalian if s/he has any tips for you to make sure that measuring water is more accurate!
Last week, we talked about surface tension. To further examine this, we flipped over a jar with a card covering its mouth. The air pressure kept the card in place. But once the card was removed, all the water splashed out. Now, we put water in a jar that had a screen over the mouth of the jar. When we flipped the jar over with a car covering its mouth, the card stayed in place. However, when we went to remove the card this time, all of the water stayed in place! We narrowed down that the only difference between this experiment and the one prior was the screen. We make the connection that the tiny squares of the screen formed basically a wall of surface tension that prevented any water from spilling out of the water! Science is like magic, except there’s a reason for everything!
This week, we looked at hot and cold water. We first had cold water (blue) and placed it over hot water (red). When the cold water was on top, and we removed the card, the two types of water mixed and we ended up with purple water. When we placed hot water over cold water, nothing happened! Talking about our ideas, there were thoughts connecting to what we know about ice and it being cold, and water pressure holding the cold water in place. We finally came to the thought that cold water was “heavier” and it kept the hot water from “falling down and mixing with it.” Try this same experiment at home!
Buddies was a relaxed time of coming up with a special handshake and then using a Venn diagram to find similarities and differences within the partnership. We then went around and the pairs had a chance to share their handshakes or a similarity/difference.
It has been a great week of learning! We have homework starting this week. There is a letter attached to the first homework packet, but if ever there is an inordinate amount of frustration or there are any questions, stop the Temescalian, write us a note either on the work or send us an email, and we’ll circle up and find ways to best support your Temescalian! The main reason for homework is to develop independence and responsibility, as well as reinforce concepts.
Please let us know if you can join us to celebrate the Lunar New Year on 1/24 (10:00 – 11:00am) or join us on the field trip on 1/29 to the Exploratorium. We also updated the upcoming events tab so click on that button and take a look at what’s coming up!

Warmly,
Lisa and Jackie

Trying out “backboard writing” in cursive and editing our morning message and New Year’s Resolutions writing piece.

Measuring out water and measuring the water’s temperature on a thermometer.

Seeing what happens when we have cold water above hot water, and then hot water above cold water.

Click here to watch the video of when we put cold water above hot water: (password: TemescalCreek! )

Ask your Temescalian what happened when we tried to put hot water above cold water!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86ChgK38EIA

Buddies with the 7th graders! We invited the 7th graders into the classroom. We made up special handshakes and used Venn diagrams to find similarities and differences amongst ourselves.

Mindfulness, choice time, and a fun discovery!