Happy Sunday, all!
This week my kiddos and I finished our vision boards for 2018. Although, it took several days to search and cut out pictures from magazines, my students really enjoyed it. After they completed the picture round-up, students glued them on templates of 2, 0 ,1 , and 8 shaped construction paper. Once they were completed, we mounted each number on black construction paper. Students pressed each by stacking textbooks on them. This ensured the glue stuck and the numbers were flat. Finally, we glued the numbers together to create – 2018.
As a writing assignment, I had students then go to the computer and type several paragraphs about their vision board and what they put on it. Once they completed that step, we printed them and glued them to the back of the 2018. I am going to hang them in my classroom windows for a few weeks and then send them home so students can put them in their rooms.
Along with vision boards, we started two novels this week. Fourth grade is reading Island of the Blue Dolphins and fifth grade is reading Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims. For many years, I have used Island of the Blue Dolphins for fourth grade and loved it. So this year, I wanted to find a fiction novel to teach U.S. History for fifth grade. Well, I got around to reading Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims by Rush Limbaugh. I really like the book! And I knew some parents would possibly complain about it, but I felt it was too good to not use and I was willing to defend it. So, of course, I had a parent complain. I explained why I choose to use it – good story that was well written and accurate details of History. I also included in my response that the children have no idea who Rush Limbaugh is and I would not be discussing his political issues and controversy, which is also not reflected in the book. I finally, sent home a copy of the book for the parent to read. It has been four days and I haven’t heard from her. So hopefully, no news is good news.
Finally, this week I started two new units with science. Science is by far the hardest subject to teach with a combo. The experiments can be tricky. Usually, I do experiments with one grade while the other grade works independently. Well, since we just got back, I needed to start with both grades doing experiments. So here are a few pictures of my classroom in action with two experiments. Fourth grade was doing rotations of causes of energy while fifth grade were working with mixtures and separating them.
The whole class and two experiments going on at one time.
Fifth grade separating mixtures.
Fourth grade making sound energy,
Thanks for stopping by! Until next week!
Karen
