Khwahish, Volume 37: May 25, 2015

Khwahish writing her story.

What a week! It has been a celebration of many things. First off, 4R won a Popcorn Party because we met the challenge to read more, rather than have "screen-time"! Very exciting! Our party will be Friday, May 29. Thanks to Ms. Sayyora for challenging kids to dive into books, rather than a screen!

In celebration of writing and all our growth this year, we are writing a response essay to the prompt "What makes a good friend?" The Learner Attitudes and Learner Profile that we try to embody through our learning and character in our community are shining through. Students' ideas include being trustworthy, honest, loyal, caring, empathetic, cooperative, funny (obviously!), integrity, risk-taking, and someone who would stand up for you, and you would stand up for them. It is clear that students' are writing from their hearts!

Our money unit continues to dive deeper into what money is? The history of it? And the different forms of money? Students have performed a script that is set in Colonial America. We discussed challenges with using cows, goats, and different currencies to purchase something. One student noted, "You can't split a goat in half. What would you do with the other half? Keep it?"

We also played a game called Barter Island, where we found that "coincidence of wants" only goes so far to help us get what we need. Reagan did a great job relating this to something that happened at home. Sometimes trading, or bartering is inconvenient because it takes too longer to get what you actually need.

Ms. Shaknoza came in and spoke with us about the Silk Road and the current day Uzbek Soum. Along with some book exploration and looking at different real currencies from around the world, students came up with six characteristics of money: Portable, Stable in Value, Acceptable, Relatively Scarce, Divisible, and Durable. Pretty impressive!

We are working on finishing our choice literacy activities. Some are reading The Whipping Boy as a book club, others are creating original stories in a comic/graphic novel-like format, and others are reading and/or writing independently. The Westing Game book club with me is continuing on. Have you had a chance to read it, or look at it?

In math, we have looked at geometric shapes from both 2D and 3D perspectives. We've examined silhouettes and listed a number of key vocabulary words, phrases, and different ways to write instructions to create a building. With that practice done, students are now creating an original 3D cube design of their own, along with instructions to create it. We are like "Lego-engineers" and designers here! So much fun!

The Elementary Camp out was a huge success again! Thanks to all those that participated! The s'mores were delicious, the fire was bright, the games were fun, and the laughing was hysterical. Have a fabulous week!

Owler: Khwahish

Homework:
Monday: Regular Plural Nouns activity
Tuesday:
Wednesday: Typing Ace
Thursday:
Friday: Read, rest, rejuvenate.