Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse

A little integration of science, reading and writing this week!

We read Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse as an introduction to living and non-living things!

After reading the story someone said, "hey, let's make a map to show how Alexander and Willy are alike and different!" (I love when they say what I want to hear! ;) We checked the maps on the wall and decided the double bubble was the best way to COMPARE/CONTRAST the two characters.

                                                                                                           

Well...after we compared and contrasted them...I figured I might as well find out which MOUSE the kids would rather be.  I guess we could have had a show of hands but I thought a writing assignment might be more interesting! I'm not sure the kids would agree! But WOW am I impressed with the writing we are producing! We came up with an introduction together...made our own tree maps, did a "sloppy" copy, edited and then published...Check a few of them out!

"We read a great book called Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse.  I would be Alexander becus he doesnt need a key to walk.  Alexander has a new friend named Willy.  He is fast and jealous of  Willy."
Vocabulary: envious...I LOVE that Randi used jealous...

"I would choose to be Willy from Alexander and the Wind- Up Mouse.  He is a toy that is non-living. he gets loved bey Any.  He has 2 wheels and a key on his back.  He gets wound up so that he can run around in cilcerls.  He dose'not need food or water."
I love that Connor chose to use a different introduction sentence!



"We read a great book called Alexander and the wind up mouse.  I would be Willy He gets loved and snuggled by Annie.  Willy has a key on his back for Annie to twist and wheels to roll around.  He is non-living and a toy mouse."
Aniya is making GREAT sentences!!

We even got to MAKE a Willy or Alexander...(see double map)!

Which character do we most want to be?



Valentine's Day

Monday, February 14, 2011

2:00-3:00

We will enjoy valentine activities (throughout the day), a traditional valentine exchange and yummy treats! Your child may bring in a bag of his or her favorite candy or a box of cookies to share at the party.

We will provide cupcakes and drinks!

Our class will be making valentine envelopes (to collect all of our valentines) so there is no need to send something in!

If your child wants to exchange valentine cards please remember one must be brought for each child in the class!

 

Hope to see you all there! YUM YUM YUMMMY!

Congratulations Hayden!

Hayden was recognized as our dependable, hardworking Star Student this month!

We all agree he is deserving!

Way to go!

Friday was a sad day! We had to say good-bye to one of our dear friends!  On Monday, Mathias will be attending another FISD school.

We all have a fond memories of our friend!

Mathias doing what he LOVES! Singing and dancing!

Sitting at Round Up with some of his BEST buds!

"Bye-bye Miss Miller"

"I'll miss you too"

I wonder if this week's weather report will be any different!

Shapes

Since our shape hunt on Tuesday we have been noticing shapes EVERYWHERE!

Yesterday we made shapes with Twizzlers! What fun!

Diego made a GREAT circle!

Connor is working hard on his!

Hayden's square is lookin' good!

Look at the difference between the square and the
rectangle!

Rectangles come in all sizes!



We even made triangles!



Then it was time to put our shape knowledge to the test!

Not only did we make shapes but we also talked about parallel lines and angles!

In science we are talking about natural sources of water!

Oceans, Lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, waterfalls, tide pools and geysers!

We played a matching game with the words and the pictures!  Look how we did!





Looks like we've got it!

Testing Notification

January 11-13

Your child will be taking the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) in class.  This test measures both general and specific cognitive abilities, but don't worry, there's nothing to study for!

The CogAT measures developed cognitive abilities, those abilities that start at birth and continue through adulthood.  This test will reflect the overall efficiency of cognitive processes and strategies that enable students to learn new tasks or solve problems, especially in the absence of direct instruction.  This test measures general thinking and problem solving skills that students have learned through in-school and out of school experiences. 

These tests are read a loud to all students, and are paced so that a child does not feel rushed to answer.

If you have any questions regarding the test please feel free to contact:

Karen Kidd, Campus Instructional Support Facilitator at

kiddk@friscoisd.org

469-633-3680 ext. 53680



Welcome Back!

WOW! What an awesome bunch of little dragons...

Two days back and we are right into our routine! Don't forget tomorrow is LIBRARY DAY!

Yesterday we discussed past, present and future. We had several pictures of different objects that we were sorting into the above categories. At one point I told the kids that if they have NEVER seen anything like it before it probably belongs in the future! OOOPS...Their past consists of only about 6  years ago! LOL

In keeping with this topic we read Mr. George Baker today by Amy Hest.

"That's Mr. George Baker,

and he's a hundred years old,

no kidding."

Fantastic book...tomorrow we will be talking about the "past" and discussing WHY Mr. George Baker, who is 100 years old, no kidding,  didn't learn to read and is going back to school now!

At lunch time we got to use our FIRST coupon! Eat lunch in the classroom! Almost everyone "cashed" it in!

The big question was...

Are we going to have silent lunch in here too?

We went on a shape hunt during math time! We were able to find LOTS of squares, rectangles, and circles...The rhombus, and triangle...not so many!

Emily was SUPER detective...she did find a true rhombus!  We found some squares "standing" on their corner that we "thought" were rhombuses!

Let's collect some data

Here are a few that we found...

A square or a rhombus? You be the judge!