History & Geography
This week we continued to learn about the Maya, Aztec, and Inca. Our objectives were:
- explain how the Inca engineers overcame challenges presented by the geography of the land
- describe how the Inca kept their empire together without a written language
- explain why the Spanish were rapidly able to conquer the Aztec and Inca Empires
Mathematics
This week we continued learning about multiplying and dividing. Our objectives were:
- use rounding and related multiplication facts to estimate quotients
- multiply a 2-, 3-, or 4- digit number by a 2-digit number
- practice these skills by completing a Math Escape Room!
Lectura
At the end of the week, students were assigned to read chapter 8 from our book, Con carino Amalia, and be prepared to discuss in class on Monday.
Understand and learn how to compare and contrast two objects or ideas, in oral and written form.
Participate actively during class discussions using evidence from the text to support claims.
Using our senses, generate descriptive language to use accurately in different contexts, for example, when describing an object.
Apply reading comprehension strategies such as making connections, clarifying, summarizing, visualizing.
Determine a central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; distinct from personal opinions or judgments.
Analyze in detail how a key individual, event, or idea is introduced, illustrated, and elaborated in a context (e.g., through examples or anecdotes).
Ciencias
Without a doubt, the highlight of this week was our OMSI field trip, but before that, these were the concepts discussed in class. Focus Question: How can you explain why we see some natural objects only in the night sky, some only in the day sky, and some at both times? How could you describe the size of and distance between Earth, the Moon, and the Sun?
This week we continued with our investigation 2, Planetary Systems. Students worked together to build a model of the Earth/Moon/Sun system. They applied many math and computing skills such as determine the distance and converting measuring units as well explain the concepts of diameter, angles. Students analyzed the Moon observations to discover the sequence of changes. They learn the names for the four specific phases and the intermediate phases. Students used a light source and sphere to simulate an Earth–Moon– Sun system and explore the cause of Moon phases. There are so many questions that came up during this investigation. Students wanted to expand their understanding of concepts by formulating a question and starting a mini-research project. This information will serve us so well as we continue to make meaning and construct explanations of the infinite mysteries of the cosmos.
Character Education
This month we will continue to add ribbons to our school Kindness Wreath but we will now focus on Teamwork and Cooperation. We will be doing many great activities to show the importance of how communication and cooperation make teamwork so much better! We encourage you to point out how everyday tasks at home are made easier with a little bit of teamwork.