Carrots, Cursive, and Capital

During spelling today, we realized that the Homework Hideout password, using one spelling word per week, really helped everyone study!  We brainstormed how to use this study trick with some of the other harder words on our list.  I'm not sure if it will work, but I am going to try to have a series of randomly selected password questions each week.  It's worth a shot!

Handwriting- In handwriting today, we had a lesson that virtually everyone needed to work on.  When connecting lowercase m's and n's, sometimes students get lost.  I explained that each of these begins with a "ramp", which doesn't count towards the "humps".  At the end of each letter, there has to be a tail... and the next letter must "ramp up".  We worked through some problems with connecting m's and n's.  It's something they really have to think about! 

Grammar- In grammar today, the students learned about adverbs that tell "to what extent".  Up until now, we have discussed adverbs that describe verbs.  Today, we discussed adverbs that describe adjectives and other adverbs.  Some common "to what extent" adverbs are:  too, very, really, quite, so, extremely, rather, and slightly.  They also learned how to diagram these adverbs.

Science- Today, Ms. Gail taught the students about different types of mixtures and what makes something mix or not. They discussed homogeneous and heterogeneous mixtures; that if two things are "like" each other, they will mix more readily with each other. The class also combined six different substances. They also completed a soap lab to see that soap can break down oil.

Literature- In literature today, Ms. Gail discussed the comprehension questions for chapters 9-12.  Then, the class began chapter 13.  It was a very funny chapter, and the kids were laughing out loud!

Social Studies- Today, Mr. Dennis lead the class in a coloring activity, "The Civil War: A Nation Divided".  They learned the vocabulary term capital.  The kids had to label the states and territories on a map.  They had to color the free Union states, slave succession states, border states, western territories which supported the Union, and western territories which supported the Confederacy, in different colors. 

Agriculture-  At home, the students have been learning how to grow carrots.  Today, we began class by reading the book "Tops and Bottoms".  In the book, a bear and a hare make a deal.  The hare tricks the bear into agreeing to let him use the bear's land to farm.  The bear doesn't have to do any work at all, and gets to share in the harvest.  The hare cunningly asks the bear which he wants, "tops or bottoms".  At first, the bear chooses "tops".  So, hare plants carrots, beets, and so on.  When harvest rolls around, you can imagine bear's response.  This continues with bear choosing "bottoms" and hare planting celery, lettuce, and broccoli.  As a class, we discussed the different types of vegetables.  With carrots, we eat the roots.  We are attempting to grow carrots in containers this year.  We planted them first in trays.  When they sprout, we will thin them and transplant them into deeper containers.  I explained to the class that this is an experiment for me!  I hope it works!