It was an exciting week here at Brummitt. On Monday, First and Second Grade got the opportunity to see the Nutcracker in Munster. All the students I talked to just loved it. They all thought it was so entertaining. The Secret Holiday Shoppe opened and the students got to start their holiday shopping. I saw so many more holiday decorations up and lots of great projects being completed all around the school.
Don’t forget the PTO Barnes and Noble event is tomorrow for Brummitt. So support our school and get some Holiday shopping done all at the same time.
This week was Saint Nicholas Day and some of the students told me they put out a boot for him to fill with goodies. Here is more information on Saint Nicholas Day (Christian) December 6th- The true story of Santa Claus begins with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in the village of Patara. He was a protector of children, the poor, and the needy. He gave all his wealth to those in need. To learn more about his life and the legend: St Nicholas
Its that time of year again to start tracking the Big Guy himself. Here is the website I found that let the kids play games and track him on his journey and get a new activity each day: Google Santa Tracker Link: Santatracker
Christmas for Kids
There is a Christmas tree out in the entrance of the school with lots of great gifts you can donate to the Christmas for Kids this year. Just pick an ornament that has a gift you can find and bring it in to donate. This is a great way to help kids in the community get the things they need to have a special Christmas and keep warm through the winter.
Important Dates:
December
Fridays - Student Council “Spirit Day”- wear spirit-wear or Brummitt colors (maroon & gold)
7 to14 Holiday Secret Shopping
10 PTO Fundraiser Night at Barnes & Noble
19 Holiday Parties
20 Elf Yourself Day- Come dressed as an Elf.
21 thru Jan 3 No School Winter Break
This week we continued the Life Skill of kindness. Mr. Cammarata continued to share stories of kindness and ways we can be there for others. He gives students the confidence to show others kindness each day by sharing theses stories and examples. Mrs. Moskalick also created a tree at the front of the school to let students know ways they can show kindness to others. It is The Random Acts of Kindness Christmas Tree. There are three goals that the students can show classmates to let them know they care. If an adult sees them, they will post an ornament on the tree to let others know. This is just one way students are showing kindness this month. I have seen so many students helping each other and talking to each other to make their days brighter. I know that all the students at Brummitt really do show each other kindness each and every day.
Idiom of the Week
An Idiom is an expression whose meaning is not predictable from the usual meanings of its constituent elements. This week’s was ….They’re in hot water. The students were all laughing at the picture for this one because the kids are in a hot tea cup. I asked them if they have ever heard this and they all agreed they had because at some point they were in trouble for something. I had no takers on drawing anything or designing anything, but I am hopeful for next week. I will keep my fingers crossed to get students next week. Here is a hint to help you out: it involves ears. I posted the picture for the next week on Thursday so students can stop by and see it before the weekend. I also have the picture posted on the side panel of the blog to view.
Language Arts
First Grade:
This week we didn’t get to meet on Monday because they were seeing the Nutcracker. On Tuesday we reviewed the concept of Lipograms. The lipogram is a piece of writing in which a particular letter (or letters) of the alphabet are deliberately left out. “Lipo” means “lacking” and “gramma” means “letter.” Writers throughout history have written poems, short stories, and, even, long novels as lipograms.
It was a way for writers who love language to play with words and see what they could make them do. It was fun to think of words for things without using the letter E.
We also finally got to read the book E-Mergency, but first we watched the little video about it: Video
The students really really loved it. They were all laughing and giggling at me trying to read parts with O replacing E for all the words. They were all trying to figure out what the real words were. Make sure to ask them about the book and what happened.
Next week we will work on letter challenges and try to solve them. The students will also write about the story and then make lipograms of their writing.
Second Grade:
On Monday we didn’t get the opportunity to meet because the students got to see the Nutcracker, but on Tuesday we continued our journey with The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo. I want the students to finish reading the book before the winter break because I don’t want them to not know what happens to Edward. We followed along with the audio book and came to the pivotal part of the book when Edward loses someone he really loves: Sara Ruth.
I prepared the students and we talked about loss. They were all sad but understood that she was very sick. We talked about Bryce and Edward and how they felt the pain of loss when she passed away. We then discussed how hard this was for us as readers because we too have grown attached to her. We also read about Edward and his dream and what he hoped for. Next week we will take time to finish the book and to write and talk about everything that had happened.
Third Grade:
This week we continued our lesson on Fairy Tales. On Monday we started to read together the obscure fairy tale called The Tinder Box. I really like this fairy tale because it has so many of the important elements of a great fairy tale. It has good vs. evil, magic, a princess, and threes. The Tinder Box is written by Hans Christian Andersen. He was a great writer who wrote many famous fairy tales throughout his life. Here is a link with information on his life: Hans-Christian-Andersen
As we read we talked about the tale and we discussed the elements we found. On Tuesday we finished The Tinder Box and we talked about what we thought about it. The students then got to start watching the video on the tale. I wanted them to pay close attention to the video to find all the differences between the two. We will complete a comparison Venn Diagram it. They were writing differences down and talking about each one they saw. Next week we will finish the video and will discuss everything they found. We will also decide what fairy tale we want to dissect next.
Fourth Grade:
This week I have some students who have already completed their timelines so I wanted to give them a chance to work on two different things next. They wanted to learn more about Prezi. I showed them the basics and I will also show it again to the next group once they are done with their timelines.
I also reminded them that they really need to think about how they want to present their person before they write their monologue since that will be their speech. If they are going to be another person related to their subject they need to think before they start writing it all down. I hope that makes sense. Some students might want to be a wife or friend of their change maker to make it easier for them to discuss. I also reminded them to really make sure they know as much as they can about their person since they will be answering questions about them.
The more details they know the more comfortable they will feel talking about them. Please take the time to see where your child is at on their project. I want to make sure they do their best so they are prepared when they get in front to the class to talk.
I did email all the parents a link to view the google document with the assignments and deadlines. If you have any questions please feel free to email or call me and I can answer them. This project really teaches the students how to work independently and how to manage their time. The students really need to use time management to figure out how to complete each part of this assignment. If your child is out sick and misses anything they will still have the same deadlines since they have known about everything for a some time.
If they don’t use their time wisely they will need to complete things at home. Some students might want to work on things at home and ask an adult to guide them and I think that is a great idea. You can help them as much you think is right for them. I think sometimes they just need you to tell them they are on the right track and I do my best to show them that in class, but it also helps when their parents do too. Next week the students will continue to use their Chromebooks to research their person and link it back to change.
• Steps One & Two Everyone is complete
• Step Three: Read the biography and:
-Collect information about the person On going
-Complete the Biography Summary and submit: Due Nov. 17th I still have one student not complete and one needs updates
-Create a works cited page to acknowledge sources you are using; use a consistent format: Due Nov. 22nd I still have one student not complete and one needs updates
• Step Four: Synthesize information to list at least ten major events in the person’s life: Due Dec 2nd. I still have 5 students who need to show me they have this completed.
• Step Five: Create a timeline of the famous person’s life: Due Dec. 13th Three students have already finished this part. Way to go!
Timeline includes entire life of person with dates measured at appropriate intervals.
Timeline includes ten or more important events of the person’s life.
Timeline includes two or more pictures of the person.
Timeline is neat and legible.
At least four sources are properly cited.
• Step Six: Consider change in the person’s life and how he/she made a difference. Write a monologue that includes events, changes, and differences made in regard to his/her life: Due Dec. 20th
• Step Seven: Create a Prezi that includes the person’s name, a photo, years lived, and major contribution(s): Due Jan. 10th log-in information is on spreadsheet
• Step Eight: Memorize your monologue. You may dress as your character. You are now ready for the People Who Made a Difference presentation: Due Jan. 17th
Monologue describes beliefs and values in the person’s life with detail and clarity.
Monologue includes insight to changes in the person’s life.
Monologue explores how the person made a difference.
Speaker confidently presents monologue using good eye contact, posture, and voice.
Speaker engages audience with appropriate words, facial expressions, and gestures.
The presentation is supported with appropriate costume and props
Math
First Grade:
This week we continued our lesson on area. The students were really excited to start the next project for Imi and Zani. They needed our help designing targets for the pom pom game they will be playing at their measurement fair. So we got to work on some designs and completed a worksheet to help us better understand area.
We compared two shapes to see which had the most area, but we were all surprised they both covered 4 squares. The students made their educated guesses then we used the one inch squares to see which was right and found they both used 4 squares. This meant even though the shapes looked completely different they both had an area of 4 squares.
This really was exciting for the students because they all wanted to see what shapes they could design with the same number of squares yet make them look very different. I let them take time to make designs and then trace them so we could use them as some of the targets.
They all had too much fun laying out the tiles and figuring out the best layout for them. They did such a great job making sure they all touched and didn’t overlap. Then they traced them and shared their ideas and designs with each other. They all took time and really worked hard to do their best and were so creative with their ideas.
I am so proud of them because they really want to learn all they can about area. Next week we will finish another design and then they will get the opportunity to try out all the targets and play the pom pom game before we write back to Imi and Zani with all their findings.
Second Grade:
This week the students continued to work on their designs for the perfect car seat for the egg. They are using this to help with the design for Dru and Teller. They need our help finding the best safety seat for their new car.
The students got to work in pairs to create their designs. They only get to use 50 centimeters of supplies to create the seat belt. I have them figuring it all out with their plastic eggs before we move to the real deal.
The supplies they have to use are: straws, yarn, and no more than 10 centimeters of masking tape (the tape can not be touching the actual egg. They are also given clay, foam, and an egg crate to help with the design.
They also have to draw out their designs and they will all have them approved by quality control (that’s me) before we actually complete the crash tests. I know they are all really excited to complete the crash tests. I will try to film each group and post them if I can.
On Thursday they kept working out their designs and measuring out everything a few times before they actually started cutting and creating. They all want to make sure they only use 50 centimeters. Next week everyone should be ready to test out their designs and we will have some crash tests.
Third and Fourth Grade: Math Vocabulary Comic Relief
So far this year the students are really enjoying figuring out the question on the Math Vocabulary Comic Relief board. Each week when the students come in on Wednesday they will go to look at the board and grab their problem. They will have five minutes to read and solve it. Once they have their answer they can turn over their paper and raise their hand and I will check it. This week was all about associative property. Associative Property- The associative property states that you can add or multiply regardless of how the numbers are grouped. By 'grouped' we mean 'how you use parenthesis'. In other words, if you are adding or multiplying it does not matter where you put the parenthesis.
This week the students did a great job. They all knew this one and did their best. They all answered it quickly and got it right. However not very many of them made their baskets when they made their shots. Well they might know math,but no guarantees they are great at paper basketball.
Third Grade:
This week we continued to work on area. Since we finally got our grid paper ready we could find out the area of our student. We had a discussion first to figure out the best way to lay on the paper to make finding out the area easier. After much deliberation we decided to lay like a mummy with arms by her side would be the best way. Once we had the tracing we were ready to work on finding the area. We took sections that we could put into giant blocks to find the area of those using multiplication. This helped prevent us from having to count all the 1x1 inch blocks. This still wasn’t an easy task. We had to really make sure we thought out the grid pattern and make sure to make it as big as possible. We used all the math skills we knew to find the area for this project. Next week we will check our work and see if we got it all right. We will also complete the Think Deeply questions and see what other quests we need to complete.
Fourth Grade:
On Wednesday, the students met with their groups to finish their final few questions about 3-D shapes. Once complete, they all discussed the differences between a prism and a pyramid. We reviewed the shapes and they came up with their own definitions for each.
The students got to keep working in groups to complete a worksheet to find the number of faces, edges, and vertices for each object in the table. They could look for objects in the room and also could use the ones I had in the front. On Thursday, They completed the table and then worked independently to answer a question on patterns found in the table they just completed.
After everyone was done, we had some fun with our new math vocabulary. The students got to match the vocabulary word with the definition. I would say a word and they would match it up to the correct one.
They had so much fun searching through their glossaries looking to make sure they knew the information before they went up to the board to answer.
We had a few that had a little trouble, but everyone got one or two right and they all had so much fun trying to be first to get it right. Next week we will continue to work on 3-D shapes and go into more detail about cross sections.
Have a great weekend!
Mrs. Lutterman
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