Bear, Bear, So Many Kinds of Bears

Subtraction with doubles

Here we are making cube trains of even numbers, breaking them in half, and recording a subtraction sentence in our math notebooks. We are learning about the relationship between addition and subtraction, our first step in working with 'fact families'. 

We are also doing a mini unit on bears- bear poems, bear non-fiction and fiction texts, and bear writing which will compare and contrast types of bears. We will continue to learn about using commas in a list when writing features that all bears share or that some bears share. The bear shaped writing booklets will be our focus next week. 

Our bear library display

Learning about bears lends itself to learning about changes that take place with animals in winter. Our new vocabulary words are hibernate, migrate, and adapt. We are choosing an animal to write a fact about and to state if it hibernates, migrates, or adapts. These will go out for a hall display (snow days meant they couldn't be written and displayed in time for conferences!).

As we learn how we use sound and light to communicate in science, the kids had a chance to sort photos under light communication, sound communication or both. 

Items that communicate with light and sound

Working with teen numbers

Sorting vowel sounds

'Glued' sounds - /all/, /an/, /am/ word sort

 Here we are in language arts centers above. And below are some snaps from our 2 1/2 days of school this week.

A snowy recess

Snow fun!

 A note about playing in the snow at recess- snow pants and boots required for going off the hard top into snow. It is a lot to carry back and forth to school so checking temps is important - we don't go out if wind chill makes the temp lower than 29 or 30 degrees.

Also, everyone should wear mittens or gloves! Little fingers are cold out there! Believe me, I am bundled up in mittens, scarf, and a hat when I am on duty!

Has Elsa arrived?!

Nice reading of the Ninjabread Man

She loves the book you gave her!

We sang the tooth song to James R. and Gwen this week, and we wished a Happy Birthday to Scarlett, a cheerful little birthday girl!

It was wonderful meeting or talking with so many of you at conferences - so much to celebrate with our little learners!

A note went home about making gingerbread houses on Monday, December 16. I will need the permission slip for food returned indicating if they can eat the candies, graham crackers, and frosting that come in, or if they will bring a baggie of candies that are just right for their dietary needs. I will be picking up supplies as well and can get special supplies if you contact me. Any family member is welcome to attend and help out. 

 Have a winter wonderland weekend!
Mrs. Dagley