Math - We recently wrapped up Unit 6 and are just beginning Unit 8. Yes, we are going a little bit out of order, but it's for a good reason! Unit 7 is all about positive and negative integers which is NOT a standard that is tested on ISTEP+. We will be doing Unit 7 at the very end of the year which will best prepare students for their math classes in middle school. Unit 8 will continue to focus on fractions and fraction concepts.
Reading - Currently, we are in our third unit of the basal reading series. This unit's theme focus is on what people gain from inventors and artists. All of the stories that we will be reading will be non-fiction, so students will be learning about some famous artists, inventors, and even about how scenes are filmed in Hollywood! Our focus skills for this unit are identifying fact and opinion, sequencing, and identifying the main idea of a text.
Social Studies - Students are in the midst of a study of colonization in North America. We are currently learning about the 13 original colonies, how they were formed, and what life was like during that time in history. We will be culminating this unit with a test and small project that will be due December 19th. We'll be jumping into the events that led to the American Revolution after winter break.
Science - Classes are focusing on the various body systems during this unit in science/health. Students will learn how systems are formed, what is necessary for them to function well, and what diseases may be harmful to those systems.
Writing - There has been so much going on in writing that it's hard to nail it down to just one thing! We have covered persuasive writing, compare/contrast writing, and are currently working on attacking writing prompts to begin our preparations for ISTEP+ testing in February. The test will be taking on a new format this year, so we are working on showing students the best strategies to use when faced with the new writing prompts.
Next week, we will be having Spirit Days to end the quarter and have some fun before leaving on our two-week break! The Spirit Days will be as follows:
Monday: Don’t let Santa see you with that bedazzled BED HEAD! Crazy Holiday Hair Day!
Tuesday: Wow-sa! Now that’s ONE WONDERFUL WINTER HAT Day
Wednesday: Perfect Holiday for a pair of Jammies Day—Sport your WINTER’s BEST PJ’s (AND for $1.00 donation—bring along your blankie or a small stuffed friend)
Thursday: Add a little glam and glitter –let’s FROLIC in our FESTIVE BEST (let’s look FANCY) Day
Friday: Wear-out your Winter Sweaters—Can you out “winter sweater” your teacher? Day
Don’t get Frozen. Warm up with a great book! The Winter Reading Challenge is just a few weeks away. All Cardinal students are encouraged to read 15 minutes per day for at least 10 days over winter break. Students who complete the challenge will attend a FROZEN party the first week back after winter break. Join us for hot chocolate, snow ball fights, and other fun, frozen activities.
P.S. - this reading can overlap the Book It! reading that students are doing to earn a free pizza! That's a double-win!
One more quick note: please be certain that your student is leaving the house each morning dressed appropriately for the weather! We go outside for recess as often as possible. Students need to be wearing coats, hats, gloves, etc.
Have a great week, everyone!
