Scientific Method

Students were thrilled to begin learning about the scientific method and conduct science experiments. Below are screen shots of the posters we use in class to explain the scientific method. Please feel free to use the same language at home when explaining them. We are also attaching photos of the students conducting the experiments. This week we inquired into the differences between fresh water and ocean water.

Story Elements

Hello and welcome back! We hope you all had a wonderful holiday! In ELA this term we will move from phonics to story elements, reading strategies, and writing. This week and next students will be learning about characters, setting, and plot. We have watched Brain Pop jr. about each of these story elements and have completed or will complete a variety of activities for these elements. Below are the anchor charts we use in class to explain the elements.

Tricky Words

Tricky words are frequently used words that are difficult to sound out or spell phonetically (using the sounds). We describe them as words that do not follow the rules. As these words are used often, it is important for students to be able to read and write these words automatically. Tricky words are also called sight words depending on the curriculum that is followed. As we use Jolly Phonics, we will refer to them as tricky words. Currently we are working on the following words:

She, do, are, he, the, was, all, we, me, to, and be. Please practice reading and writing these words at home.

These links have wonderful online games that students can play to practice a variety of tricky words (the words included in the games go beyond what we are currently practicing in class):

http://www.familylearning.org.uk/sight_word_games.html

http://www.iboard.co.uk/activity/Phase-2-Tricky-Words-Bus-747

Conflict Resolution

When students have conflicts with others during the day, we highly encourage them to try and solve the problem on their own. During our friendship unit we will spend a great deal of time teaching students different strategies for solving their problems. We use Kelso’s Choices to show students these strategies. We will introduce a few of these strategies such as counting to ten or walking away during our first unit so that they are already able to solve problems. Please help to reinforce the strategies at home as well. For more information please visit

http://standupagainstbullyingguy.wordpress.com/2012/02/13/kelsos-choice-conflict-management-skills-program-for-your-school/kelso wheel

kelso 2

The Scientific Method

Our Unit of Inquiry on Shadows and Light this term focuses heavily on scientific experiments where the students get to explore and inquire into our central idea that “Living things depend on light as an essential resource”. To help guide the students’ understanding of the process of conducting experiments, we are going to use the Scientific Method. Here are the steps so you can go over them with your child at home, as well. There will be a Science Fair towards the end of the term that will showcase what the students have learned as well as their skills as a scientist.

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