email: thompson_d@cneschools.org

Monday, March 16, 2009

Happy St. Patricks Day!

Hope everyone is enjoying the nice weather this week while it lasts!

Mrs. Putnam and I will be presenting at a national conference this week. We will be out of the building Wed. - Friday. We will have a great sub, Mrs. Radtke all 3 days. She has been here before and is very familiar with our class.

In science, we will work on contracts for 2 days and then review some weather concepts. We might even sneak in a game of Weather Bingo.

In reading, my reading group will finish Watson's and move onto the regular weekly story, Encyclopedia Brown.

Since I will be out this week, I am moving the literature project due date to Monday March 23rd. Students who finished this week will receive extra credit.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Updates

Attention: Washington D.C. trippers-Trip money in the amount of $375 should be turned in by March 20. Do NOT send the money to school. It should be taken/sent to Croswell's.

Mrs. Thompson's reading group is still reading Watson's. Mrs. Wood and Mrs. Humble's reading selection this week is Seeker of Knowledge.



Seeker of Knowledge powerpoint

We are moving right along in science having started another contract, this time on clouds and precipitation.
Cool weather sites!
Online books:
Do You Know That Clouds Have Names?
Take a Cloud Walk
Songs:
The Weather Dude
Head in the Clouds
Why Is It Raining Raindrops?
Other:
Free Weather coloring book
Powerpoint-how clouds and precipitation form

Precipitation
Flashcards
Study Table
Matching
Bug Match

The next literature project will be due on March 17, 2009. The genre is historical fiction.

For more information:
The Best Kids Book Site
Historical Fiction in the Elementary Classroom
Guiding Questions
Project Ideas
More Ideas

Project Idea: Artifact Box
Purpose:
To create a box filled with (7 - 10) artifacts that help retell the story. Each artifact must represent an event in the story.
Directions:
1. Select a book for your report that fits the genre-historical fiction.
2. As you read the book, keep a list of (7 - 10) important events that the main character deals with in this story.
3. After you finish reading, look at your list and start looking for things around your house that you could use to as artifacts for the different events.
4. Once you have found your artifacts number each artifact in order that it happened in the book.
5. Next write a letter to the "Finder of the Box" explaining what each artifact is and what event it represents. Remember you are writing this letter as the main character from the book. Here is an example;
Dear Finder of the Box,
My name is Joey and I had an exciting adventure in my story titled, Little House on the Prairie. If you look at the artifacts, you'll see reminders of all the important events from my story. Artifact #1 is................
Continue writing your letter until every artifact is explained and the story is revealed. Remember to sign your letter with the character's name.
6. Place artifacts and letter in a box of your choice. The box should be decorated and reflect your story's theme. On the cover of the box include the title of your book, its author, and your name.