Learning with Mrs. Lipe: Week in Review: January 25-29

We worked on several things in writing this week. First, we wrote our final copies of our letters to our state representative protesting the destruction of the Brushy Creek Trails. The students were so fired up about this issue, and their letters turned out great. I made copies before I mailed them off, and sent them home in Thursday folders, so please take time to read your child's letter if you have not already. We also did some STAAR practice questions over revising, and next week we will focus on editing. In 4th grade, students will have to take a writing STAAR test, so this is just some good early practice! Finally, we began brainstorming ideas and planning out a fairy tale, legend, or tall tale. Each student chose one of those genres and we be writing an imaginative story over the next couple of weeks. In reading, we read several myths and legends, and continued to talk about themes in these types of traditional tales.

We met with our kindergarten buddies on Friday during reading time. Third graders helped their buddies finish a writing assignment and then learn to navigate a new app on the iPads called Chatter Kids.

In math, we are continuing to work on equivalent fractions. As always, the best way for them to learn is hands on, so we have spent a lot of time working with fraction bars and/or circles, and even making our own set of "fraction bricks" so that we can learn about decomposing fractions. For example, students should know that 1/2 is the same as 1/4 + 1/4.

In social studies, we are studying the economy and free enterprise system. Students are learning about wants vs. needs, as well as supply and demand and how those things effect price changes.

In science, we are learning about organisms in their environments, and how environmental changes can effect a population's growth. Ask your child about the armadillo game we played on Wednesday! Also related to science, we built biodegradable pots out of newspaper on Friday. We will plant seeds in them once they have had time to dry out and the students will get to take them home.