November 10, 2009
Dear Parents,
We had a great field trip to the Tenley firehouse last Thursday and an
excellent Mini-walk for the Homeless. Photos from both have been posted to
the class website.
This week in math we will begin Unit 4 as we solve addition number stories
using change-to-more diagrams and parts-and-totals diagrams. We will explore
equivalent temperatures using Fahrenheit and Celcius and explore attributes of
shapes.
Our folktales unit in reading is off to a good start. We have identified
many elements of folktales in the stories we are reading and we’ll begin to
focus on character traits of main and supporting characters in folktales.
We’ll begin to plan our own folktales in writing as we develop our own main
and supporting characters by drawing detailed pictures of them and writing
descriptions of them and what they can do.
Science and Social Studies are on temporary hiatus for the week as we prepare
for our field trip to the Apple Store in Bethesda. Students will work
together in small groups to choose the pictures that will be used in the photo
books and in the slide show. After our trip students will use what they
learned during the field trip to create a “Thank you” slide show for our
friends at Apple.
A few reminders/announcements:
- There is no school on Wednesday due to Veteran’s Day.
- We will leave Janney at 9:30 on Thursday so we can be at the Apple Store at
10:00. So far, two people have contacted me to be chaperons. I could use 1 or
2 more. Please let me know if you can join us. We will take the metro to
Bethesda and then walk the few blocks to the store. Students should dress
appropriately for the weather!
- As I mentioned in an email last week, you can purchase a copy of one or both
photo books that will be created on Thursday. They will be small (3.5in x 2.6
in) , softcover books. One will have photos from Halloween, and the other
will have photos of daily life in Z-ville. If you would like one or both, I
must have your order and payment by Thursday morning at the latest. Once the
books are ordered, the quantities cannot be changed, nor can the books be
re-created. Please send in $4.50 for each book you would like and indicate
whether you want the Halloween edition, Daily life edition, or both. The
books will arrive in approximately 2 weeks.
- It looks like Apple is not giving each child a DVD with the slideshow and
music, but they will provide me with a copy. I’ll try to post it to my web
gallery so you can download it from the Internet.
- Minnow is looking for a place to call home for the weekend. Please let me
know if you would like to host him.
Have a nice week!
Sincerely,
Shana