Families:
We have been very busy with end-of-the-year events and projects. Our non-fiction, African Mammal, research projects are complete and ready to exhibit. This project involved learning to navigate a non-fiction text, including an index and table of contents. They had to understand the difference between fact and opinion. They learned characteristics and attributes of all mammals. There were lots of vocabulary words: invertebrate, vertebrate, habitat, endothermic, mammary glands, and “born alive”. Each student created a miniature habitat of their mammal and wrote a six page report. The Mammal Museum is the culminating event to celebrate all that they have learned.
From now until the end of the year each student will write a fiction story using their mammal as a main character. It is a Home-Adventure-Home story that is fiction but will incorporate some of the facts they know about their mammal and other mammals that they learned about from their peers. It is great fun for them to be able to give the mammal a name and personality. It is personification at its best!
In math we started our final unit on Measurement. We began with weight. They learned how to use a balance scale. We talked about standard and non-standard
measures. We compared kilograms to pounds. We pretended that we had to open a candy store. Partners measured various pieces of candy in grams. Then they ordered them by weight and decided that the heaviest candy would cost the most. Then they had to price the candy. It was a very motivating activity, as you can imagine. Next week we will learn length, width, height, and circumference.
There are nine days left of school. After Memorial Weekend we will have Move Up Lunch. The kindergartners will join us and Mrs. Allentuck and I will talk about next year, give them a tour and share our vision for the space next year. Then we will have lunch together. I expect it to be a reassuring experience for everyone. Wednesday is Field Day, which means they need to be prepared to play outside most of the day. Friday is the Lower School Spring Concert. I hope to see you there.
These children have come a long way since the first day of school in September. I am so very proud of them and you should be too!
Happy Birthday Henry!
Remember those who have given their lives for our country.
Fondly,
Ms. Milani