For the Week of January 28-February 1, 2013

 

Spelling/Grammar/Literature: In spelling, we will be focusing on instant letter recognition, unblending sounds in words, and changing sounds to make new words. Our spelling pattern for this week will use the letter o to spell the /o/ sound, as in lost. As we practice the spelling of our words for the week, we will also be discussing and learning proper handwriting. We will continue to discuss “closed syllables,” a syllable that ends in at least one consonant. The vowel in a closed syllable is short.

In literature, we will be discussing informative-narrative literature. We will discuss that this type of literature contains many facts (content). We will also be reading in unison and individually. Keep your eye out for the new decodable reader in the Green Folder on Mondays. Please help your child to read the decodable reader at least two times, and return the book on Thursday.

Unit Study: This week we will be traveling to Italy. We will learn that the capital city of Italy is Rome and the official language is Italian. We will study the map and flag of Italy. Our landmarks for Italy will be the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Coliseum.

Math: In math, we will be working on Chapter 12: Counting On and Counting Back. In chapter 12, we will count on to 10 and count back from 10. The children will build an understanding of, and familiarity with, number pairs that make 10.

Nature Study: This week, we will be learning about the Earthworm. We will learn that the Earthworm belongs to the phylum Annelida. We will study live earthworms and determine whether they are vertebrates or invertebrates. We will be reading about earthworms and observing live specimens in the classroom.

Bible: This week, we will be reading the story of “Samson and the Lion” and “Samson and Delilah.” Please feel free to read and discuss these stories at home.

Show and Tell: This week, we will be having Secret Show and Tell. Each child should bring an example of an animal from one of the classes of the Animal Kingdom that we have studied (fish, bird, mammal, reptile, or amphibian). The object should be sent to school either in a back pack or a brown paper bag. The students will give their classmates three hints about their object, and then allow others to guess what they have brought.

For the Week of January 21-25, 2013

 

Spelling/Grammar/Literature: In spelling, we will be focusing on instant letter recognition, unblending sounds in words, and changing sounds to make new words. Our spelling pattern for this week will use the letter g to spell the /g/ sound. As we practice the spelling of our words for the week, we will also be discussing and learning proper handwriting. We will continue to discuss“closed syllables,” a syllable that ends in at least one consonant. The vowel in a closed syllable is short.

In literature, we will be discussing narrative writing and identifying the author’s purpose and the elements of narratives (characters, setting, plot). When reading, we will discuss insight (authors help us understand that people feel bad when they are mistreated and that bad behavior results in consequences). We will also be reading in unison and individually.

 

Unit Study: This week we will be traveling to the continent of Europe. We will be learning about the country of France. Our focus will be on the city of Paris. We will learn that the official language of France is French. We will look at a map of France and the French flag. Our landmark for France is the Eiffel Tower. We will also be learning about the Louvre and discussing the masterpieces that the Louvre houses.

 

Math: In math, we will begin Chapter 11: Calendar Patterns, where we will review days of the week and months of the year, discussing what comes before, after, and between. We will also make and interpret pictographs. We will be using manipulatives and hands on activities to reinforce these concepts.

 

Nature Study: This week, we will be learning about the Human body. We will learn that humans belong to the Animal Kingdom, as part of the class of mammals. We will review the characteristics that identify mammals (1-vertebrate, 2-warm blooded, 3-have fur or hair, 4-give birth to live young, 5-give milk to their young, 6-live on land or in water). This week we will be focusing on the skeletal system and its three functions (to support the body and give it shape, to work with muscles and move the body, and to protect the soft organs and body parts).

 

Bible: This week, we will be reading the story of “The Call of Gideon” and “Jephthah’s Daughter.” Please feel free to read and discuss at home with your child.

 

Show and Tell: This week our show and tell will focus on the winter season. Please have your child bring an object (from nature, drawing, or photograph) that illustrates the season of winter.

For the Week of January 14-18, 2013

 

Spelling/Grammar/Literature: In spelling, we will be focusing on instant letter recognition, unblending sounds in words, and changing sounds to make new words. Our spelling pattern for this week will use the letter h to spell the /h/ sound. As we practice the spelling of our words for the week, we will also be discussing and learning proper handwriting. We will continue to discuss“closed syllables,” a syllable that ends in at least one consonant. The vowel in a closed syllable is short. We will also be introducing “vowel pair syllables,” syllables that have vowel pairs or teams that work together to make one sound (ex. how).

In literature, we will be discussing narrative writing and identifying the author’s purpose and the elements of narratives (characters, setting, plot). When reading, we will discuss universality (why children all over the world enjoy the story) and we will introduce insight (authors help us understand that people feel bad when they are mistreated). We will also be reading in unison and individually.

 

Unit Study: This week we will be traveling to the continent

of Europe. Our first stop on the European continent is the United Kingdom, with our focus being on the city of London, England. The United Kingdom consists of four countries on two islands: England, Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland. We will discuss that England is on an island. We will identify the English Channel, the body of water separating England from the European mainland. We will learn about the flag of England and Big Ben, the largest bell in the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament. We will also be learning about Beatrix Potter, the author of Peter Rabbit, who lived and worked in England.

 

Math: In math, we will complete Chapter 10: Ordinal

Numbers. In this chapter, we will learn to order small sets using first, second, third, and last. This week we will focus on physical position and showing our preferences. We will be making picture graphs based on our preferences. We will use manipulatives to further our understanding of these concepts.

 

Nature Study: This week, we will be learning about the Human body. We will learn that humans belong to the Animal Kingdom, as part of the class of mammals. We will review the characteristics that identify mammals (1-vertebrate, 2-warm blooded, 3-have fur or hair, 4-give birth to live young, 5-give milk to their young, 6-live on land or in water). We will discuss that humans are made of many systems that work together, including the respiratory, circulatory, muscular, and skeletal systems.

 

Bible: This week, we will be reading the story of “Rahab

and the Spies” and “The Battle of Jericho.” Please feel free to read and discuss these stories at home.

 

Show and Tell: This week our show and tell will focus on the human body. Each child should bring an item that demonstrates something they can do with their body (i.e. a soccer ball for playing soccer, a drawing of them climbing a tree, etc.).