A Week of Amazing Work and Fun

 It was another fantastic week in 4Z.  It is getting very busy around here and the children are showing great effort on their part.  We had a Summer Celebration for the children who completed their summer work, we had Pink Out Day, we started Reading Buddies and topped it off with Trunk or Treat on Friday night.  I am one exhausted teacher but wouldn't have it any other way.  Take a look at our week.

Wonders:

We started Unit 2 and it is all about how animals survive in the environment they live in.  This prompted great conversations among the students.  They worked in their Reading/Writing Companion books to brainstorm, work on vocabulary words and read Animal Adaptations.  

We also read the Story about Spiders in their Anthology book and learned about so many different spiders and how they survive in their habitat.  This led to research about specific spiders which each student is working on and going to present their posters all about the particular spider they researched.

They have spent the last few days finding facts about the spiders, such as where they live, their physical appearance and how they find their food and ward off their predators.

Amplify Science:

The children built their very first system this week using a solar panel, propellar, wires and motor.  Once they put it together they put the system in the windows and once the sun hit the solar panels the fans were whirling and twirling away.

Their expressions on their faces were priceless.  To see the fans spinning amazed them.  We learned that solar energy also provides us with power to operate things.  Discoveries and learning go hand in hand when it comes to hands on activities.  Once again the conversations were happening and the collaboration was evident in their work.

In Math the children are finishing up with addition and subtraction algorithms.  It is great to see them help one another and show/explain how they are solving the equations.  Mrs. Sanchez comes in and does some great lessons with them.  They love to see her coming in and teaching them.  

With Social Studies we are continuing our learning with the history of RI and learning about who discovered RI and why Roger Williams came to discover our great state.  They also had a test on the states symbols.

Events:

The Summer Celebration took place on Wednesday.  The children who completed their reading and math work over the summer were treated to a treat of doughnuts and juice.  There were so many happy faces.  They  made spiders with their doughnut and munchkin.  So cute!

We began Reading Buddies on Friday with our friends from Mrs. Ricci's Kindergarten class.  This will become a weekly event.  The children met their reading buddies and got to know them a little then read to them.  It is great to see them come together and help one another out.

First Reward of the Year:

The children filled the Star Jar and were able to participate in a fun reward, so on Friday they had a "camp day" event.  The children brought in blankets, created forts.  They  brought in a book and flashlights and enjoyed some free time with their camping crew.  It was fun to watch and see their smiling faces.  Let's keep up the great behavior so we can earn more rewards as the year progresses.

Pink Out Day:

On Friday, we celebrated Pink Out Day to benefit the Gloria Gemma Foudation.  It was amazing to see all the children and adults wear their pink.  

Trunk or Treat:

Finally, the week wrapped up with our 2nd annual Trunk or Treat event.  The children and adults had a blast.  It is great to see the community come together and have some fun.  

It was a fantastic week and I am sure that the upcoming weeks will be just as wonderful.  The children are thriving and showing great effort in all that they are doing in the classroom.