The Cloud Connection
March 31, 2014
Math: No math homework this week due to SBA testing T-TH. We'll review some basic skills Monday. Friday we'll play some math games.
Reading: Students will continue practicing their story for our storytelling unit this week. I asked students to work on facial expressions over the weekend and we'll work on gestures Monday. We'll continue to practice in school when we have a bit of time, but it's very important that students are practicing at home so they get comfortable with their story. In a couple of weeks we'll have a storytelling festival once I think we've mastered the art of telling a story.
Language: We'll review some basic skills Monday.
Social Studies: This week we'll be studying the Arctic Region of Alaska when we finish our testing. So far we haven't had time to get to this region.
Science: We'll begin our pre-camp learning whenever we have time throughout the week.
Other items: Many thanks to our chaperones for walking with us to the Pratt Museum to learn about local geology on Friday. Geoff Coble did an excellent job sharing his knowledge and the exhibit with our class. The weather was perfect and everyone had a great time!
Students should be reading for their weekly reading logs. Our next book report is due April 28th. Students need to select an Alaskan survival story (either fictional or informational) to read. Eventually they'll be creating a diorama of their book. I've included the diorama information in this newsletter.
SBA testing begins tomorrow. Please help your child do their best by sending them to school on time, ready to work, rested and fed during testing days. Protein breakfasts really do make a difference! Make-up tests will take place on days immediately following the testing days. Many thanks to the parents who have volunteered to provide healthy snacks during our testing! The class will feel loved and supported by your treats, I'm sure!
I am sending home a blanket permission slip for our field trips between now and the end of the year. The camp permission slip also needs to be signed. As you can tell we'll be very busy between now and the end of the year! If you can volunteer for any of our excursions please check the boxes and let me know so I can plan accordingly. Without your support we won't be able to do all of these great trips. Please try to pay for camp by the middle of April. If you need assistance give me a call so we can work something out.
Please talk with your child and help them select a piece of art for the Art Fair May 2. They can use something they've created at home or school this year as long as it's been created entirely by themselves.
This is the last week for student council's Dollar for Dogs/Coins for Cats fundraiser. If you have spare change you'd like to donate or dog treats/canned cat food please send that in as well. Thank you!
A flier went home about spring pictures today. These will take place April 16th. I've included a lot of upcoming events in April. Please check the events below so you can plan accordingly. May is looking equally busy!
Diorama Directions
Select a book of your choice that is around 100 pgs. at your reading level. Read the book and as you are reading be thinking of a scene or setting that is important to your story.
When you’ve finished the book you’ll need to recreate an important scene from the book inside of a box or make a paper box like we did for our snow scenes. The scene needs to be completed in a 3-D effect with objects in the foreground as well as the background. The walls and back of the box need to be decorated as part of the scene. Create objects, use found objects, or similar objects to depict the scene from the book.
You also need to include a written portion for your report. You will read this with wonderful expression when you share your report with the class. In your written portion please include the title of the book, the author of the book, your name and the importance of the scene you chose to share. Give us just enough of a summary of this part of the book to make us want to read the rest of the story.
You will be graded on all three parts of this presentation.
Oral
Volume 5 _____
Expression 5 _____
Poise 3 _____
Project
Creativity 10 _____
Quality 10 _____
Good effort 10 _____
Originality 7 _____
Foreground/
Background 10 _____
Written
Title 5 _____
Author 5 _____
Your name 5 _____
Conventions 10 _____
Interesting,
descriptive
summary 15 _____
total 100 _____