We love the USA!

In language arts this week we've been busy researching our famous Americans.  We are learning things like when they were born and died, information about their childhood, and facts about why they are famous.  It is fun watching them get excited about researching and they are doing an excellent job reading, and recording the facts.

Oscar created at home the Lego kit, "Fallingwater" as a tribute to his famous American, Frank Lloyd Wright.

We also introduced proper nouns this week focusing on the fact that certain people, places and things have special names and those names need to be capitalized.

Teaching with our new smart board is so AWESOME!!

Elizabeth is showing us she knows the difference between the 2 different nouns.

Eli is writing in his Jumbo journal about how our great country was formed.

Naomi is practicing her spelling words by writing them in the snowflake and then writing sentences using each word.  Beautiful coloring!!

Carter is using the "Bossy E Wheel" to show what happens to a word when an "e" is added to the end.  It changes the meaning!

Sophia is learning about the state she lives in- Missouri.

In math are focus was on the value of coins and reviewing place value to the hundreds place.  We worked on exchanging coins to build up to a dollar.

Naomi is trying to go from pennies to a quarter each time she rolls the die she gets to trade in her coins for a larger amount.

Sophie is trying to go from pennies to a dollar.

Sofia is identifying the name of each coin.

Charlotte is moving the correct coin to the amount shown next to the toy for sale.

Emma and Sophia were sorting coins for our math activity.

Lamar is trading up pennies and nickles to add up to dimes which gets added to the piggie bank.

Showing how to write money as a number and identify the coins.  Money experts!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELIZABETH!!!

This week in social studies we focused on our flag including the first flag of the USA, who may or may not have made it, and how it has changed over the years.  We all agreed fifty stars on the flag looks the best and we hope it never changes! 
 We also learned about our country's national bird, the bald eagle.  We discussed why the eagle was chosen and some interesting facts about the eagle.  Ms. Lorfing even spotted a real bald eagle at the lake where she lives and was able to show a video clip of one she saw interacting with a black hawk this week!
Another important part of social studies this week was learning about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  We learned about his importance to America when it came to changing laws regarding segregation. Our class just couldn't even imagine living in a time like that and everyone agreed we are so blessed to be living in a time where we can all live together as one no matter what the color of our skin.   

 In hands-on-science we learned more about the history of human flight.  We were able to make our own helicopters and try out things that would make them fly higher or for longer periods of time.

Everyone had the chance to launch their helicopter from the second story to see if they could land it on a target on the ground.

Spelling Words- Week #12  January 21-24, 2014

Phonics Skills: long vowel o and u with silent e

1.       phone

2.       grove

3.       mope

4.       robe

5.       stone

6.       cute

7.       tube

8.       rule

9.       flute

10.    huge

Challenge Words

11. statue

12. speech

13. nation

14. history

“Surprise the Teacher Word”

15. your famous American!!

***Start practicing your speech with volume & expression!!!

START GATHERING YOUR COSTUME OR BE THINKING ABOUT IT FOR OUR PROGRAM ON FEB.6TH THE STUDENTS DRESS UP AS THEIR FAMOUS AMERICAN ON THIS DAY

Monday, January 21st-- NO SCHOOL MLK DAY!

Wednesday, January 22nd-- PAPER DOLLS ARE DUE! (you can bring them in earlier if you want)

Have a nice LONG weekend!!  

Be sure to ask your child all about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. They are all a wealth of knowledge about this amazing man.

Sara and Carey