Hike to Find Shelter

In order to answer our question:
"How can we help the living things at Spencer School survive?", we needed to see what the grounds already provided.
Scientists hiked to the Evergreen Forest and used their science eyes to make discoveries.

Ask your learners about these pictures!

What do living things need to survive "Chalk Talk"

Scientists used a thinking routine called "CHALK TALK" to record what we've learned so far about living things. This is a process in which thinkers answer a question without talking to each other about their thinking. After a few minutes, the groups shared out their thinking to the whole group.

I love watching them work this way!!

Scientists Begin Studying Living Things

We have a new "driving question" in the Fawn Room!

"How can we help the living things at Spencer School survive?"

In order to answer this question, we first had to think about what it means to be a living thing.

I sent scientists to record what they already knew:

We looked closely at the poster you see on the bottom of our chart.
I couldn't believe what they came up with! We took all their thoughts and put them together to come up with the ideas that animals need food, water, shelter, and air to survive. Some friends also agreed we must add that animals need to have a heart as well :-)

We then did some research:

We sorted some pictures:

We discovered that all living things move, breath, eat, grow and drink

Thinking and Learning Time Week of January 7

These learners are working to write words with three sounds (CVC - consonant/vowel/consonant). Ask your child to read you their words when they come home. If they have not finished, you can work at home to see what they can do!

These writers are working on unscrambling and writing a sentence. This is great work as it encourages our thinkers to look for the first word by noticing the uppercase letter and to fine the last word that has the punctuation.  We are also working hard on handwriting and forming the letters correctly.

These thinkers learn more about what animals need to survive using the "Pebble Go" ap on the ipad.

Readers also worked to match the pictures to the color words in this little book. After coloring, our thinkers went on to read the book using all of their reading SUPERPOWERS.

When our learners complete their work they can always look at books!

Ask your Fawn Friend about their week so far!

Celebrating with our 2nd Grade Buddies

Today we wrapped up our unit by working with second grade buddies. The second graders in Mrs. Hukkalah's room have been studying snowflakes and putting them into categories based on their attributes. After your writers shared their best pieces with their second grade buddy, their buddies taught them everything they have learned about snowflakes. They worked together to write pattern books all about snowflakes! I couldn't believe how well they worked together and the amazing effort your writers put in.

Our second grade buddies took the books with them. We will get together in the new year to finish them.

Amazing!

Fawn Friends Write Pattern Books

Your authors have been working on writing pattern books for the past couple of months. This week we worked together to create a "Writing Rubric" to make sure our writing was easy to read.
Here is what we came up with:

Take a look as your learners check their writing against the rubric and give their best effort to make their writing easy to read:

I just can't believe how much your writers have grown this year!
Be looking for all these pieces to come home in the new year.

BUCKLEY!!!!

Today we had our first visit with Buckley during our learning time!! He came in at the perfect time! We are learning to use these blue magnetic folders to strengthen letter/sound knowledge and word building skills. Buckley laid in the center of the rug (helping to keep everyone calm, quiet and focused) and watched as we worked. I'm so excited to have him as a weekly visitor from now on! Children also spent some private time (3 students at a time) singing their ABC's to him :-)

Nothing like a dog to bring some peace and calm!