This week the students have been working on subtraction strategies and practicing subtraction with the standard algorithm. Additionally, we have worked with figuring out the perimeter of some polygons, and adding decimeters to our charts. Finally today, the students have put all their math skills to work, when they had so solve some math puzzles for a fun escape room. During reading, the students have been working on a couple of books, asking and answering questions, summarizing and practicing new vocabulary. During writing, the students have been working on creating their own funny poems, backward poems and tongue twisters. And in science, the students have been learning all about what is sound, and making a fun experiment with the old fashion method of attaching a string to two paper cups. And for a little quiet reading time, we are now in the library enjoying some interesting books, and relaxing in the comfortable chairs. Take a look!

For the past two weeks we have been working on understanding and practicing different strategies for addition and subtraction, especially the traditional algorithms. The students have become very proficient and love to solve complicated equations. You can almost see the numbers floating around their heads! During reading, we have continued reading books on Epic connected to the science standards, asking and answering questions, looking for evidence in the stories, describing photographs, and learning new and interesting vocabulary. Ask your child what "laderas", "cañones" or "agua dulce" mean. For writing, we had continued our adventure through poetry, learning about similes and metaphors and trying our hand at our own poems. The students have created poems using metaphors, comparing a color to a thing, an event, an action and a feeling. We have also started using Kenn Nesbitt's website "Poetry for Kids"  that has a rhyming dictionary, along with interesting lessons to learn to write funny poems. Stay tuned for future publications. During Science, we have continued learning more about the birth of rocks, with the lesson titled "Erosion, Natural Hazards and Engineering", where students had to come up with ideas about how to protect their house from a landslide. After learning about the reasons and consequences of landslides, the students brainstormed ideas on how to protect their house situated at the base of a mountain. All ideas were accepted, and after all the brainstorming, the students chose one of those to design their solution. In the pictures below you can see the students presenting their engineering design to the class. Finally, during Social Studies, we have continued learning about the work of archaeologists, and the importance of learning about the history of our ancestors through the artifacts they left behind.
On a side note, some students have been going to first grade classes to read with a couple of students during our growth mindset time.
Take a look at this week's slideshow!