Parents Notes

October 19-23, 2009

MATH

This week we are focusing on 3 digit numbers. 

Students will need to be able to:

·        build numbers into the hundreds with base ten blocks

·        write the number word and the expanded form

347     three hundred forty-seven     300 + 40 + 7

·        identify the place value of each digit in a number

347     Hundreds         Tens      Ones

                  3              4          7

·        when given 3 digits ( 8   2   6), make 3 different numbers

826       268         628

·        when given 3 digits( 8   2   6), make the greatest and the least 3 digit numbers

     possible:   862 greatest              268  least

·        write the numerals 101-200 on a blank chart

·        put 3 digit numbers in correct order from least to greatest or from greatest to least

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS / READING

Phonics / Spelling:  The Long a sound can be spelled different ways:  a with a silent e (cake),

                                      ay   (play),        ai   (rain)

Vocabulary Skills:  1.  Dictionary: using definitions   2.  Words that sound the same can be written differently and have different meanings.  One of our vocabulary words this week is heal.  This also sounds like the word heel and the word he’ll; but each of these has a different meaning that students need to understand.

Comprehension:  1.  Summarizing          2.  Sequence of Events

Writing:  Non-fiction

Grammar –1. Identifying proper nouns (Special name of a person or place:  city is a noun; Baton Rouge is the proper noun naming our city)

Abbreviations used with proper nouns:   Mrs. Hale (Mrs. stands for the word missus),

Mr. Richterman (Mr. stands for the word mister),

Dr. Franz (Dr. stands for the word doctor)

Study Skills:  Using photographs and captions in nonfiction

SCIENCE: WEATHER

   This week we will be working on the water cycle: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, collection.  Students will devise an experiment to measure evaporation that will be ongoing.  Students will get to demonstrate precipitation using a cotton ball and water.  Condensation will be demonstrated by teacher. 

   We will identify and explain the uses of several instruments:  thermometer, rain gauge, wind vane and wind sock for wind direction, and anemometer for wind speed). 

   We will also work on identifying 3 main categories of clouds:  stratus (low lying blanket of clouds), cumulus (the “puffy” clouds that can be white or dark and stormy), and cirrus (very high wispy clouds).