Highlights from our two four-day weeks in January include fraction work with baking and eating banana bread, touring Strawberry Park to learn more about the local plants and how they were used by the Ohlone people, starting our math unit on money, learning about and writing with idioms, and revisiting our photosynthesis experiment!
In math we wrapped up fractions in a hands-on way by baking banana bread (paying attention to fractions with measuring cups and spoons) and then sharing and eating the loaves using our fraction know-how. We also used pattern blocks to really drive home the concept of equivalencies of wholes and groups. This activity also paved the way for our upcoming geometry unit by identifying shapes and how they are related to one another: triangles, trapezoids, rhombuses, and hexagons.
In science we revisited out photosynthesis experiment and observed that air was collecting at the top of the funnel and test tube positioned above the water plant. We also noticed condensation had collected on the inside of the lid and that the plant had grown and spread . . . we documented what we saw in our science journals and made conclusions about why the changes observed. Then Jeff, the 7th and 8th grade science teacher, came into Temescal and demonstrated a way to test to see what kind of gas was collecting. Using what we know about photosynthesis, we predicted that it was oxygen. By removing the tube and putting in it that was lit and just blown out so still glowing, we tested to see if the ember would relight (oxygen), or go out (carbon dioxide). Our findings were inclusive, but we did notice the flame grew a little brighter before going out. This led to a discussion about how plants are also go through the process of respiration, just like we do, in addition to photosynthesis. So the gas could have been a combination of both oxygen and carbon dioxide!
In writing we have been continuing our Rocket Writes to build on our writing stamina, and writing thank you letters to people we appreciate in the TBS community. We have also been learning about idioms, common sayings like “chip on your shoulder” and “show the ropes.” It has been fun to learn about these expressions and their origins. Temescal writers started weaving them into their stories during a free writing time. During our most recent weekly reflection we came up with a checklist to review when students think they are done to make sure it represents “good work.” We are really getting into a groove with cursive and learned how to write lowercase m and n. Our Words Their Way work continues to help us become better spellers by learning and applying the rules through sorts and games like Hangman. Our world traveling Temescalian visited the classroom in a cyber way and shared some of his writing, research, and observations. We look forward to learning about a local animal that he is studying as he travels by boat in Antarctica!
Birthdays are a special time in Temescal . . .
Other happenings . . .
Homework Tip: Encourage your Temescalian to use post-its while reading independently each night for 20 minutes so they can jot down when they use a reading skill and stick it right on the page where it happened. This will keep them in the flow of reading and make filling in the reading log easier. We have been using the post-it strategy all year in Reading Workshop so they are all experts at this approach.
