Week of December 16th

In our last week before break we still have lots of exciting learning going on!  We are continuing to work on our interpretive signs for birds of prey during our Writing Workshop time.  The kids of done lots of research about their chosen bird and are now learning how to write about these birds in an interesting and engaging way.  We saw lots of great examples of how to organize our information on the museum signs at the Hands on Museum this week.

Please be on time for school.
Please help your child arrive at school on time each day!  The first bell rings at 8:45 and students are expected to be in the classroom by 8:48.  When students are on time each day it helps us get to our specials on time which start everyday at 8:55.

Please dress for the weather.
In our classroom we go outside everyday!  With the beautiful snowfall this weekend your child will need to dress warmly with appropriate footwear.  Boots, snowpants, hat, coat, and gloves make for warm, happy children who are dry and ready to learn in the classroom.

Leslie Science and Nature Center
LSNC will be visiting our classroom on Wednesday 12/18 to help us learn more about our environment and how humans impact the world around us.  This is a grant funded program offered free to our students from LSNC.  Thank You!

This week, December 9th

This Thursday, December 12, we will travel to the Ann Arbor Hands-on Museum to learn more about math and science.  The bus will leave school around 10:00 a.m. and return just after 2:00 p.m.  Children may either bring a lunch from home or get a sack lunch from school through our lunch program.  If your child needs a lunch from school please check their take-home folder tomorrow and return the lunch from promptly, on Tuesday, so that lunches can be ordered.  

A Note from Mrs. Reader

Exciting News! The Used Book Giveaway is coming to Mitchell School the week of December 16-20! Students will have the opportunity to choose 2 free books to take home and add to their personal libraries during their regular library time. We have many exciting titles to choose from and hope that students find books that become fast favorites!

Traditional Literature

We have been studying traditional literature during our reading workshop time.  These are the kinds of stories that have been passed down from person to person and generation to generation in an oral storytelling tradition.  In particular, we have been studying pourquoi tales.  These stories were told from person to person to teach a lesson as well as explain how something in nature came to be.  Do you have any stories in your family that have been told and retold in this way? 

Birds of Prey

Friends,
     As you begin your research on your specific bird or prey, here are three resources to help you.  You might choose to share these resources with your family when you get home tonight.

Leslie Science and Nature Center

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

BioKids Critter Catalog

Week of December 2nd

Although the time between now and winter break seems short--we have lots of new learning taking place!

Science--We will begin studying the pattern of the moon as well as a mini-unit on magnetism.
Social Studies--Our new unit is called Thinking Like a Historian.  We will be learning about how historians use primary and secondary sources to learn about the past.
Math--We are going to begin a new unit on place value.  We'll also travel to the Ann Arbor Hands on Museum (see more info below).
Reading--We are going to study different types of traditional literature including pourquoi tales and folktales.
Writing--The kids have been so excited about Birds of Prey we are going to study a variety of interpretive signs (as a type of feature article) and then write some of our own using what we know about these magnificent birds.

Upcoming Events:
Movie Night, this Friday December 6, doors open at 6 p.m.

Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
On Thursday, December 12th we will travel to the Hands On Museum for a program about math. 

The event description is below:
Make math fun and reinforce important skills. Practice place value, using simple coordinate systems and solving open equations while being a number in our math games.

The museum has requested that our group bring 7 adults.  Please consider joining us on this trip.  Check your child's take home folder for the permission slip.

We LOVE to Read!

 Some of us read during quiet time...

 we all read during Reading Workshop...

we read, not just to become better readers, but because books teach us, take us on adventures, and help imagine new things!