Monday, August 14th

Happy Monday!

I hope you had a restful weekend!  We kicked off our week by exploring the idea that we can learn anything.  Students inquired into their thoughts about ability and hard work.  They reflected on things that they were not capable of five years ago, last year, and something that they are learning this year.  They shared with classmates.

We began inquiring into the structure of a community by exploring the dwellings of our six Native American tribes.  Students worked to understand the reasons each tribe built their houses in such a manner by completing research on their iPads.

We also explored the structure of an ecosystem as a community.  Students were asked to categorize the items from the list below as part of an ecosystem or not.  We discovered that all of the items are part of an ecosystems.  We then learned some new vocabulary words (biotic and abiotic) and worked to classify these items as such in our journals.  Ask your child the meaning of those words!!

Communication folders were sent home this afternoon.  You will find a field trip permission form for our trip to the Atlanta Zoo on September 7th.  Please sign and return the permission forms with payment as soon as possible.  Also, I am in need of six chaperones for the field trip.  Chaperones must also pay to attend.  Two chaperones will ride the bus with us, and the rest will meet us at the entrance to the zoo.  We typically leave in the morning, and return in the afternoon.  Please email at csanders@csdecatur.net if you are interested in chaperoning.

You will also find Scholastic Book Club order forms in your red folders.  I will place an order on Monday.  You may send in the order form and check or you may order online.  Enter the class code MDNZB.  Please have orders entered online or sent to me by Friday afternoon. 

Have a great evening!!