Whooo is that in the night?!

Oh no! bats are on our heads!

We read about nocturnal animals too!

As the days get shorter and the dark encroaches, we find it's a great time to learn about nocturnal animals. We told some exciting adventures of nocturnal animals some of us have seen, and wrote about it in writer's workshop this week. Tyngsboro has plenty of raccoons, skunks, bats, opossums, and even a coyote or two. Everyone immediately had an opinion on which animal they would like to spot - for me it's a flying squirrel. Maybe someday! We made bats as part of the nocturnal fun.

More bats ready to fly!

Despite the short week due to power outages (it lasted past the point of mere inconvenience for me!) we had plenty to do. We welcomed an author, David Hyde Costello, who helped us write a collaborative story. He illustrated the pictures the kids decided on using a projector so everyone could see the process. We also enjoyed his website where he has a video of a paper mouse, car, and marble run that he made all the parts for. 

David Hyde Costello

Illustrating the kids' story!

We participated in a couple of investigative science activities this week by determining how much light passes through various objects around the school. We set off on a school hunt and came up with this:

Lockers are opaque!

This window is transparent!

This window screen is translucent!

Fire extinguisher case is transparent!

This glass case is transparent!

This fabric sheet is translucent!

The lego wall is opaque!

Bubble wrap is translucent!

A fish tank is transparent!

Whiteboards are opaque!

Water fountains are opaque!

Bulletin board displays are opaque!

This wooden pumpkin is opaque!

Laminate around this cut-out is transparent!

 I have been so impressed with the vocabulary that the kids are comfortable using when they label items as transparent, translucent, or opaque. See what you can find at home that fits these descriptions. Back in the classroom, we worked in groups to attach various materials (lace, felt, satin, cellophane, gauze, etc.) to paper towel tubes and then used a flashlight to shine through the tube and observed how light passed through them.

Let's try the satin

Let's sort the materials!

This is fun!

 We had our first Library Day and will continue to visit the library every other week. To make sure the books are returned on time, your child can return them any time before the next date once they've been read. We have a box to hold them in until the next visit.
We also went to the Book Fair where there is a great display of Scholastic books. If you are still interested in purchasing, your child can go down with a friend to pick something up or you can shop before or after school with them. The fair goes until Nov. 9th.

Reading about a giant pumpkin at computer center.

Making words with word families at ABC center

Who's in That Tree Poem

Math fact family Houses

bat shaped information books

Our own Statue of Liberty!

Due to the short week, we did not send home homework. Homework will go out again on Monday and should be returned by Friday. Our words of the week will also stay the same. 

It's sunny and bright, if a bit chilly, but a perfect fall weekend- enjoy! 
Mrs. Dagley