It's Oobleck!

We began our day with a spelling and vocabulary review.  We went around the room, trying to spell the words on the list without looking.  Of course, they could always look if they needed to.  So many of the kids have these words down pat!  We discussed the definitions of each word, especially the more difficult ones.  I hope they are incorporating each new list of words into their typical speech and writing!

In handwriting today, both classes learned (or perfected) the cursive D.  As we learn and focus on the proper formation of each letter, we are trying to work on understanding how to create the letter before we pick up the pencil.  Sometimes, we write the letter, slowly and in unison, with our fingers in the sky.  This is so, when we do write them down, we have a better chance of writing it correctly... preventing bad handwriting habits.  For those who already know cursive letters, this is a great way to take some time to be sure the letters they write are the best they can be.

Grammar-  After reviewing our work from yesterday's video lesson, the class had a big day of new concepts!  They learned about verb conjugation and infinitives.  In order to conjugate verbs, they also had to learn about first, second, and third person.  This was the first lesson of purely new material... and it was new for each and every one of them!  They all know that, when we speak, we naturally change the verb as we change from speaking in first person to third person, but they had never really thought about it before!  I taught them that, although typically you add an "s" to a noun to make it plural, third person singular verbs often are given an "s".  For instance, you would say "They run.", which is third person plural.  However, you would say "Sally runs".  This is third person singular, and the present tense verb "run" is given an "s".  We will be working with this much more in future lessons!

Science-  Ms. Gail taught an exciting lesson today!  The class learned about chemical and physical reactions.  To demonstrate chemical reactions, the children were each given a film canister with vinegar inside.  They all marched outside and stood in a line.  When Ms. Gail gave the word, each of them placed an Alka-Seltzer tab into their canister and closed it tight.  They pointed them forward.  In just a little while, canister tops were popping off!  Now that the class was good and excited, Ms. Gail brought them in, reviewed chemical and physical reactions, and discussed physical properties of different objects.

Ms. Gail read a story to the class, "Bartholomew and the Oobleck".  In this book, there was a king who was bored with the things that came from the sky.  He was bored with rain, bored with the sun.  He was bored with fog, bored with snow.  He wanted something new.  He called for his royal magicians and they created a spell for something new... oobleck.  Although the king thought that messing with the sky would be a great idea, the gooey mess that fell from the sky made him change his tune.  Ms. Gail took her lesson on properties and changes, and the story of "Bartholomew and the Oobleck", and lead the class to their next activity-- Making oobleck, of course!  The class made a substance that would change from a semi-liquid to a solid form.. and then back again!  It was fun, crazy, and a little bit messy, but it was a great demonstration of property changes!  After they discussed the properties of the substance... and how it reacted to pressure, to moisture, to evaporation, etc, Ms. Gail asked the kids to imagine an entire planet made of "oobleck".  The kids had to each design a rocket ship that could land and take off from the oobleck planet!  The students got to work, designing the boosters, the landing gear, and all of the many details that would be needed to land on a planet with such properties.  At the end of class, they each explained their design.  What an awesome science class!

Literature-  After reviewing the comprehension questions for chapters 9 and 10, Ms. Gail taught the class about idioms, hyperboles, similes, metaphors, and personification.  They went through the book, pointing out examples of each.  We will be working on incorporating these into our beach papers in writing class!  Finally, the class finished reading the book.  This was a very emotional book.  In the book, one of the characters says that it's not right for kids of a certain age to cry.  Ms. Gail took time to explain that this isn't true at all.  They discussed that it is perfectly natural to cry when very sad things happen, whether you are a girl, a boy, a child, or an adult! 

Mr. Dennis directed the class through map and graph activities on the North and the South.  They used maps and keys to answer questions, which is exactly the type of information processing that will be expected of them on standardized testing that they will be taking in the spring.  Throughout the entire year in social studies class, Mr. Dennis will be working on such activities, as well as reading comprehension exercises.  All of these skills are skills that will be required of them throughout their education! 

The drama class worked so hard today!  They made it through at least five scenes of The Polar Express.  I am absolutely amazed at how well they have each been studying their lines!  It is only September.  I cannot wait to see what they do in the upcoming months!