Pre-K
Wow! I can't believe it! December is here and the growth our pre-k students have already made so far is amazing! This month we will introduce our last few letters of the alphabet and their sounds and then when we return from break we will begin working on letter formation. In math, we will continue to work on counting, identifying numbers and building sets of numbers. All of our learning will be intertwined with fun activities built around the holidays. Remember, you can support your child's learning at home by having them practice identifying their letter names and sounds using the fun game cards provided during conferences, and by having your child practice counting objects, identifying numbers and counting orally to 30. Everyone is doing a great job working on writing their first names! Keep up the good work!
Kindergarten
December is such a fun time in Kindergarten. In reading, we will be reading stories about communities, maps and holiday stories. We will spend some time comparing different gingerbread stories. In math, we will be learning different ways to make 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 to finish unit 2. We will then start unit 3 which will be to name, compare, and build shapes. In science, we will be focused on Engineering/Technology as well as Forces of Nature. Keep an eye out for fun days like Polar Express day and Winter Social from your child’s teacher.
1st Grade
First Grade students are looking forward to a "Trip Around the World" in December. We will read non-fiction texts about various holidays celebrated in December, create artifacts as we learn about different cultures, and learn map skills as we find the many countries discussed. We will finish up Unit 1 in Math with balancing equations and begin talking about teen numbers in Unit 2. The Character Counts Pillar of the Month is "Caring", and first graders will have many opportunities this month to be caring to their classmates and families, by sharing a story or making a gift.
2nd Grade
Second grade is ready for all the magic December brings. We will be celebrating the 12 days of Christmas during our reading block. Each day will have a surprise theme with stories and activities centered around the second grade reading standards. In math, we will continue working through unit two. Students will review adding and subtracting two-digit numbers using a variety of strategies. They will also be introduced to time and money so please send in your child's coin bag. On Friday, December 16th we will have Polar Express Day. This might just be the best memory we make in second grade. Students will be invited to wear their pajamas to school and we will do our best to make sure they feel as though they come as close as possible to being on the train themselves. We will have hot chocolate and treats as we read the book, watch the movie and engage in some fun activities for the special day. We will also be having our winter holiday social on Wednesday, December 21st at 2:00 pm. Mrs. Pease's class will be hosting which means they will be supplying all of the food and drinks. Parents are welcome to join us for the celebration. We wish everyone a happy holiday season!
3rd Grade
We are so excited to be moving into the next trimester. The 3rd-grade team is really impressed with all the progress our students have already made. In December the students will continue to build their fluency in single-digit multiplication. We will be focusing on the commutative and associative properties and using place value knowledge to multiply numbers by multiples of ten. During our reading block, we will be learning a variety of skills with holiday lessons that look at celebrations around the world. In social studies, we are continuing our economics unit. Students will be challenged to create their own mock business plans. Finally, in science, we will be exploring forces through magnets. This is always something that students really love and always spurs a lot of creativity and great questions.
4th Grade
This month, 4th grade students will begin working on a writing portfolio project! They will be completing an opinion piece about which animals have superior adaptations for survival. Their writing will be based on research they completed in their reading class. In math, students will begin learning how to multiply and divide multi-digit numbers. In Science, the students will begin to learn all about energy. We will study different types of energy and how it can be transferred. In social studies, students will finish up their learning about the 3 different regions of Maryland. They will then move onto learning about the Paleo and Archaic peoples who were the first to live in the Maryland area and compare their lifestyle/climate/etc. as time went on. This will then lead us to study the woodland Native Americans of this area as well.
5th Grade
The fifth graders at MES will be managing their holiday energy by keeping busy and engaging in fun, hands-on activities! In reading and writing, students will become ‘actors’ as we read and analyze plays together. In Math, students will use their understanding of place value to add and subtract decimals and fractions. In Science, they will continue to switch classes each afternoon and learn about Life, Space, Earth or Physical Science from a teacher who specializes in that content area. In History, students will continue to learn about English colonization of the Americas as we begin to learn about the exciting events that led up to the American Revolution. Throughout December our FLEX classes will continue to hone in on specific content areas, exercising essential skills in engaging ways. Don’t miss the 5th grade band performance for our Winter Concert on December 14th at 6:30 p.m.
