Week of August 24-28

Program of Inquiry

Central Idea: Who We Are

Family  heritage and heredity influence who we are as individuals.  

Lines of Inquiry:

• How traits are inherited
• Investigating genealogy
• How heritage affects our lives

Teacher Questions:

• What can genealogy teach us about ourselves?
• How does family heritage influence our lifestyle?
• What can the heritage of others teach us?

	Daily 5/CAFE
Reading: Daily 5/ CAFE	Daily 5/CAFE: Students will continue to rebuild their reading stamina.  This week students will focus on Reading to Self.  We will review 3 ways to read a book, create essential agreements when reading to self, as well as focus on reading strategies of back up and re-read, and tune into interesting words.  We will also introduce classroom essential agreements for the Word Work center. How can you support these CAFE strategies at home?  Click each link below: https://www.thedailycafe.com/legacy/public/file/Parent_Pipeline_~_Back_up_and_Reread%5B1%5D%5B1%5D.pdf  (Back up and Reread) https://www.thedailycafe.com/legacy/public/file/Parent+Pipeline+~+Check+for+Understanding.pdf  (Check for Understanding) http://www.esmschools.org/webpages/deubank/files/parent%20pipeline%207.pdf  (Good Fit IPICK Books) https://www.thedailycafe.com/legacy/public/file/Parent+Pipeline+~+Tune+In+to+Interesting+Words.pdf  (Tune Into Intersesting Words) Over the next few weeks, we will begin individual reading and writing conferences with students. Vocabulary: Students that are new to Chavura will be introduced to Quizlet this week. This is an online study aid to help make vocabulary a bit more fun! 4th graders:  Students will begin Lesson 12 in Book 3. 3rd grade: Students will begin Lesson 1 in Book 3.
Writing: VOICES	VOICES: Students will begin a review of the 6+1 Traits of Writing. This is referred to as VOICES: voice, organization, ideas, conventions, expanded vocabulary, and sentence fluency. We will begin with the Ideas trait. Students will learn how to make ideas strong in their writing by focusing on the meaning and development of their story. Students will also learn to give their readers details, and understand how to include them. Grammar: Students have been given a pre-assessment to assess their noun and pronoun knowledge. This week we will begin introducing/reviewing different types of nouns. We will be focusing on singular/plural nouns. Handwriting: Third grade will review upper and lower case D’Nealian manuscript to help them prepare for cursive. Fourth grade will review the formation of lower case letters in cursive. Fourth grade students are expected to write in cursive on all assignments unless otherwise indicated. Words Their Way Spelling: We will begin our spelling words this week.  Based on a pre-assessment inventory, students are placed in leveled groups based on their spelling needs.  Students will be given 24 words to practice/study for two weeks.  A spelling test will be given every other Friday.  Students are responsible for completing 3 weekly spelling jobs for homework that will be due each Friday.

	3rd Grade Math Looking for extra practice at home?  Use these links below! http://www.abcya.com/clear_it_addition.htm http://www.fun4thebrain.com/subtraction.html www.multiplication.com http://www.abcya.com/100_number_grid.htm http://www.abcya.com/money_counting.htm http://www.funbrain.com/cgi-bin/tens.cgi?A1=s&A2=1
Monday	Students will review the idea that there are many names for a number.
Tuesday	Students will be introduced the vocabulary of chance.
Wednesday	Students will identify number-grid patterns and use them to find differences between pairs of numbers.
Thursday	Students will review calculator skills with adding, subtracting, and skip counting.  Students will also practice place-value skills.
Friday	Students will review money amounts with coins.  Students will write dollars-and-cents notation and compare money amounts.

	4th Grade Math Looking for extra practice at home?  Use these links below! www.multiplication.com http://www.turtlediary.com/math-games/classifying-quadrilaterals.html http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/mathgames/geometry/shapeshoot/line_shoot.htm http://www.internet4classrooms.com/common_core/draw_points_lines_line_segments_rays_geometry_fourth_4th_grade_math_mathematics.htm
Monday	Students will identify properties of polygons, distinguish between convex and concave, as well as explore and classify geometric figures.
Tuesday	Students will practice drawing circles with a compass.
Wednesday	Students will  explore designing with circles.
Thursday	Students will construct hexagons and triangles using a compass and straightedge.
Friday	Students will be assessed on Unit 1 objectives.

	Science/Social Studies
Monday	Who We Are:  Unit provocation.  Students will be introduced to our first Unit of Inquiry, Who We Are.  Throughout this unit, students will inquire how family  heritage and heredity influence who we are as individuals.  Today, our students will complete a pre-assessment for the unit.  We will read two books aloud to peak their interest about the central idea, as well as complete a vocabulary matching game.
Tuesday	Who We Are:  Students will create a chart comparing physical and nonphysical traits. http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-physical-characteristics.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=is8Png98-jU
Wednesday	Who We Are:  Students will inquire about DNA and genetics.  Students will explore the similarities and differences between DNA and genetics.  Students will complete (at home) an inherited traits interview.  We will review the class results in class. http://www.chem4kids.com/files/bio_dna.html http://www.ducksters.com/science/biology/dna.php https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwibgNGe4aY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmoCJh69hck
Thursday	Who We Are:  Students will create a class inventory of dominant and recessive traits using the inventory collected with the at-home survey. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XtbSmhq7JQ http://pbskids.org/dragonflytv/games/game_dogbreeding.html
Friday	Who We Are:  Students will complete a “Frankenfish” activity.  Students will create a visual representation of dominant and recessive traits.

Extra! Extra! Chavura News

Remember to bring a water bottle to school daily! No school on Monday, September 7th Please return all paperwork that was given out on orientation night ASAP!