Week of April 26, 2010

Our 2 main themes this week: Pioneers (reading & social studies), and Dinosaurs (research, writing, science art).

Pioneers: We will read Wagon Wheels, based on a true story of an African American pioneer family, and “New Hope” historical fiction by a Dane, about a Danish pioneer family (& probably based on some of his own family history). “New Hope” is part of our final reading unit: “Our Country and Its People”. Learn to use these vocabulary words: ferried, recycling, brisk, invitation, citizens, bustling. Our field trip on Thursday to Naper Settlement will enable us to walk through history, noting the sequence of pioneer life, from the covered wagon, to a log cabin, to a community with a one-room schoolhouse, blacksmith shop & post office, to an elegant mansion. Each year, the students’ favorite site is the schoolhouse, and they want to have a pioneer school day. So that’s what we’ll do (as much as possible) on Friday. (See Homework section below.)

Math: We will explore the use of numbers and measurements in more real-life situations—arm spans, long jumps, weighing things. We will also collect & organize our data to find the median (middle value). We’ll finish up and review this unit early next week, then move on to Fractions.

Homework
Daily: read for 20 minutes (Have you chosen the book you’ll do your final book report on?); study those basic math facts for our Mon/Wed/Fri Mental Math quizzes, carefully practice cursive.
For tomorrow: rescheduled vocabulary test on courage words
Due Wed: Spelling workbook, pages 126-9.
Thursday: Naper Settlement Field trip – mostly outdoors – dress for walking & the weather!! Bring your lunch & drink (ecological lunchboxes are welcome!)
Friday: spelling test; no reading or vocabulary test. Optional Pioneer Day! pack lunch that pioneers would have eaten; see if you can bring it to school in pioneer packaging (ie, no plastic!); girls wear skirts or dresses & bring “hand-work” to school to do at recess time.
Saturday, 10 – 3:30: Ethnic Fest at Whittier School, starting with the Parade; come and go as you your schedule permits.
Due next Monday: final Story Map (4 total due since spring vacation).
Thursday, May 6, 6:30 – 7:30 PM: Come to Math Night at Longfellow; see digital backpack for more info. The class with largest % turnout wins a prize

Wonderful causes, worthy of your donations:
* Oak Park Education Foundation (funds our ArtStart program)
* Help third grade meet their goal of $2010. Tax-ded. checks can be written to CROP/CWS.
* Longfellow’s technology fund-raiser: candy sale.