Farms!

This week we finished up our geometry unit in Math.  Today we had Math Studio and pushed our math thinking to explore equality and relational thinking.  Your children worked very hard and were truly engaged as mathematicians!  They provided a wealth of learning for our K-2 faculty!  Next week we will begin our Farm Unit.  This is another integrated unit that combines learning about money, place value and mapping with learning about farming.
In social studies, we have been continuing our cultural geography unit.  Last week, the classes read about celebrations in other cultures around the world and used a Venn diagram to compare the traditions of those cultures to their own.  This week, the students used Hyperstudio in the computer labs to create a slide of a tradition that is followed in the culture of their families. 
We continue to work on strategies to figure out tricky words in Reader's Workshop and are writing persuasive pieces in our Opinion Writing unit for Writer's Workshop.  We will continue with these unit next week.
Our friend Ted, who was with us in the beginning of the year, visited us this week to read a book and teach us about social skills.  He brought along his puppet friend and read fun books to us.  It was great to see Ted again.
We also had a chance to do a winter taste test this week with project FEED.  We cut pears, grated and tasted some spices on Monday.  These were used to create pear compote which we had the opportunity to try today.
We look forward to the 1/2 Music Concert this week!