Literacy

Theme: Wheels go Around

Alphafriend: Zelda Zebra

Sight Words: not, they, from, had

Chunk: -op

Comprehension skill: Monitor/Clarify

Comprehension strategy: Cause and Effect

Books:

The Little Engine That Could: This classic take tells of a little engine who believed in herself and succeeded in doing a big job.

Key Concept: Trains, types of engines, trying hard

Vroom, Chugga, Vroom-Vroom: Fast paced, rhyming text describes the adventures of animal characters who compete in a great auto race.

Key Concept: races and concepts, parts of a car

Cool Wheels!: This science link talks about what makes different kinds of wheels move (feet, engine, hands…)

Math

Describing and Making 2-D Shapes

We will be concentrating on the rectangle, square, circle, triangle, oval, and diamond (rhombus).

Games and Activities:

Shape Pictures: Students begin to think about 2-D shapes as they look for and talk about shapes in their environment.  They select a shape to create a picture with.  Each student designs a picture that becomes a page in a class Book of Shapes.

Circles and Rectangles: Students are introduced to and freely explore pattern blocks, Geoboards, and playdough.  Class discussion focuses on the attributes of circles and rectangle.

Triangles and Squares: In Math Workshop students explore materials and make shape pictures.  Class discussion focuses on the attributes of triangles and squares.

Clay Shapes: Students use ropes of clay to make outlines of familiar 2-D shapes.  Class discussion focuses on the various shapes students make.

Shapes on the Geoboard: Students use rubber bands to make shapes on Geoboard. During Math Workshop, students make shapes and use them to make pictures. 

Content

We will be learning about matter this week.  To introduce the topic, we will be watching a video that explains and describes solids, liquids, and gases.  Students will also sort pictures and conduct experiments to help them better distinguish the states of matter.   One activity will be making Oobleck which is both a liquid and a solid! You can also make it at home.

Oobleck Recipe

Materials Needed

1 1/2 C. Corn Starch

1 C. Water

Food Color (optional)

Mix the ingredients and allow children to play with the mixture. When “pushed" together, the mixture will appear dry and solid; as children let go of the mixture, it flows like a smooth liquid.