Week in Review: April 24-28

This week in science, we wrapped up our unit on adaptations and inherited traits. We discussed the differences between traits and behaviors, and whether or not they are inherited (like blue eyes) or learned (like playing a guitar). Students took the district science assessment for this unit on Friday.

Sorting inherited and learned traits/behaviors

Taking a trait survey

Matching parents and offspring based on physical traits

In social studies, we are continuing our study of change in communities over time by learning about immigrants coming to America.

My class always enjoys our daily read aloud, and we recently started a new novel. We are reading The People of Sparks, which is the sequel to our last read-aloud, The City of Ember. For writing this week, I asked them to imagine they were one of the main characters and write a creative poem filled with sensory language about the new world they have come to in the story.

Reading and math have been, and will continue to be next week, a review for STAAR. I'm trying to keep it fun with a variety of activities. Students have become test writers themselves after reading a story online, and then creating their own STAAR-like quiz. We have a played a few rounds of Jeopardy in math, done some station rotations, and spent time online with IXL where I am able to personalize what lessons each student does based on his/her performance on prior assessments.

Math review stations

Math Jeopardy!

On Friday during E-SLOT time, we partnered with Mrs. Swyers class for a design challenge. Groups of 3 students were given 15 pipe cleaners and a plastic egg. Their task was to build the tallest structure they could that could fully support the egg. They had to design a plan, then build it, and then improve on it to see what they could come up with. The tallest structure was nearly 11 inches!

One of the top 3 tallest towers! 10 inches tall!

I want to give a special thanks to Mrs. Deegan, our room mom! On Monday while having lunch with her daughter, Carlee, she took photos of the kids and had them write on hearts why they appreciate me. Then she came in on Thursday and put together this awesome door display. I really enjoyed reading what they had written, and it puts a smile on my face every time I walk through the door! What a great way to kick off next week's teacher appreciation week. Thanks, Mrs. Deegan!!

I hope everyone has a great weekend! Only FIVE weeks of school left!!