Where Are My Animal Friends?

Below are pictures of our acting troupes who performed the play Where Are My Animal Friends? from Reading Streets Unit 3. They did such a good job in our class that they took their show on the road, performing in Mrs. Mullin's, Mrs. McNamee's, and Ms. Garon's classes. Everyone participated, and they had so much fun we may have to do another play before the end of the year. Speaking of the end of the year, it sure felt like June last week, and while not the end of the year, it is the end of the second trimester. Report cards go home this Friday. This week we begin Unit 4 in Reading Streets. Our poetry unit is done, watch for your child's poetry collection which will go home this week. Everyone revised one poem, and these are hanging outside of our classroom. If you happen to be in the building, be sure to read them. We will continue our exploration of matter this week in science, discovering how matter can be changed. Last week the children explored how liquids behave, and compared water and marbles. Just in time for Easter, we are reading Peter Rabbit, Tom Kitten, Benjamin Bunny, and other Beatrix Potter critter stories. I may challenge the children to write their own story about one of these characters. Easter reminder: We have been asked to contribute to a Breakfast Basket for the Easter Bunny breakfast which will be held at school on 7th. We are collecting items this week and next, so if you can, send in a little something on the breakfast theme. Thanks for your help!

March Newsletter

In science, we are studying matter. In centers this week, the children will be collecting solid objects from the class, and describing the properties of these objects, including size, shape, color, texture, and smell. They will also be comparing the mass of these objects using a pan balance. We have discussed the three states of matter - solids, liquids and gases - and we will be learning more about these different states in upcoming weeks.

Learning about properties of matter goes very well with our math lessons: studying attribute blocks. The kids have had fun making attribute block "trains", adding blocks which change in one attribute, then two attributes. They really have to think about it. This week in math we move on to 3-dimensional shapes.

The children have written several poems - about their activities, and things in nature like the wind, clouds, and horses, to name a few. So far we have learned that poems have shorter lines than stories, and often include poetic language - comparing sheep to clouds for example.

We are reading Tomie de Paola's autobiography 26 Fairmont Avenue. Ask your kids about Tomie's reaction to his viewing of Snow White (in 1938 if you can believe it.) As you may know, Tomie lives in NH and is a wonderful children's author and illustrator.

Updates: We were sad to say good-bye to Jackie and Kaleigh who moved away before vacation. We are keeping in touch, however. This past week everyone wrote letters to the girls which I will send on to their new schools this week.

Thank you to Dylan and Paige for their contributions of new books to our class library from the book fair. Dylan's book is a fantasy about the tooth fairy, and Paige contributed a book with cool facts on amphibians.

A request: We have used up all our boxes of tissues, and are down to a roll of toilet paper. If you can help, tissue donations will be appreciated.