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Hi there! Another fun but educational day in E4. Now, after watching the video above, you may say what is the educational value in that? Well, let me tell ya. If you look close, we did a lot of measurement with a ruler to the nearest inch. For example, I would give the kids the dimensions of the stripes on their legs and they would have to create them (2 inch by 1 inch). They also were graded on if they listened to directions and glued things in the right place or location. Our next step, is the part you don't see. Now, the kids will listen to a story read aloud about snowmen coming to life at night. They will then create their own version of THEIR snowman coming to life. We will go through all the steps of writing including a rough and final draft. (New to us).
In CC meeting today, we added staying calm and taking practice drills serious to our School Safety poster. We talked in length today about how if something were to happen to Ms. Erickson, they would still know what to do. That is why we practice so it becomes a routine. That being said, we also talked about staying calm. Panic is crisis's worst enemy. I told the kids that if they see a child in panic mode to have them make eye contact with the other student and say "Charlie! Calm Down! Look at my eyes. Take a Deep Breath." This usually helps kids to snap out of panic and back into calm crisis mode. We will be role playing this tomorrow. We again ended the discussion and meeting today by saying that this is probably never going to happen, BUT we have to have to be ready just in case. Great discussion!
In Social Studies, we continued our journey through the Midwest region. Are your kiddos studying their states and capitals at home? If so write MIDWEST in the planner for $20 tomorrow. I gave them all maps of the region yesterday to bring home to help them study the locations of each state as well. Today, we came across Detroit, Michigan. It is also know as MoTown. The Model T was invented and created there. I gave each kiddo a shell of a car and they had to add on the parts as if it was coming down an assembly line. After they got all the must have parts on, they could add their own touches of creativity. Some finished in class, others had to bring it home to finish. Either way, we will share them with the class tomorrow. I can't wait to see how they made their Model T's unique!
In math we did a lesson on Symmetry. Kids have homework on this tonight.
In reading today, we did a lesson that I was honestly not real comfortable teaching. It was on different beliefs/stories about why/where things are the way they are in the sky. Personally, I believe that God created all things. These stories told other views and legends. (Mythology, Native Legends, African tales, and other) The entertainment value is good, but the book that I am REQUIRED to teach kind of did a poor job of presenting it. It is a chapter placed in the middle of a nonfiction piece. Thus, making kids think that this is truth. Now, I am not putting my beliefs onto kids, but I want them to believe whatever they believe. NOT what is presented to them in a reading book. I, over and over again, reminded them that they may not agree with the text and that is ok. Needless to say, I am glad that the chapter is over and we can move on. Please discuss any confusions your child might have about any of their beliefs that may have been compromised today in class. As a mom, I would recommend just sharing your family's beliefs when it comes to why is the sun and moon in the sky and water on the ground, how the stars were created, and why there are tides each day in our oceans with your child. The chapter is in your child's theme reader if you would like to read it. They are welcome to bring it home. Thanks.
Lastly, we have PE tomorrow and keep studying those spelling words and states and capitals.
Have a great night!
