Teddy Bear Writing

The students are learning to use Thinking Maps to help organize our thoughts into writing. In this lesson the students wrote words to describe a teddy bear on a Circle Map. They then transferred those words onto a Tree Map. The Tree Map helps the students understand that every sentence must include a noun and a verb. The Tree Map was used to help the students write their sentences. Every week I work with the students to edit their work one-on-one during guided writing. As we read their sentences together, I ask questions such as "What should go at the beginning of the sentence?" and "What should go at the end?" We correct the work together and the they write a final draft of their writing.

Soil Observations

In science this week we are learning about the different types of soils, their properties, and how they are used. To compare and contrast the different types of soils, the students examined samples with three of their senses: by looking, touching, and smelling. They then recorded their observations on a grid that included what color the soil is, what it smells like, how if feels, what can be found in it, and what you could use it for.