Skip to main content

Grit, Stamina, and a Grand Opportunity

This week has flown! We began the week with our 4th grade writers working really hard on the writing STAAR. Kudos to them for their determination and for completing the challenge!

In ELA, we've had the opportunity to walk further with Malala on her journey. We've heard and discussed some wise words. One that particularly stood out was simple, but so profound. Her doctor said to her, "I believe solutions arrive first, and then problems show up." Wow. To think that things occur in that order is extremely comforting...knowing there is a solution already present to help us work through something hard. A true life lesson.  We've also been talking through the healing process and how miraculous her survival was. She shares her struggle and we can see through her experience how the values in life can change. Before, she banked happiness on being the "top of her class" but now sees her happiness grounded in her true purpose of reaching others with a message of equality and how to value each person's life. We are thinking DEEPLY and discussing BIG work.

In social studies, we have begun examining Texas in the time of the Civil War. Another big topic. We've met Sojourner Truth and drew parallels between her and Malala. We've learned some logistics with timing of Lincoln's election, the Confederate States seceding from the Union, and the start of the War. 

As mathematicians, we continue to explore measurement and its many connections. We're becoming flexible converting between units of capacity, weight/mass, time, and length. Each day we've shared examples of measurement's usefulness in many contexts of our daily lives. Third grade also enjoyed a review of how to tell time on an analog clock and then developed visual number line strategies for understanding elapsed time. Fourth grade has been working on multistep problem solving with embedded measurement conversions - huge brain work! 

SBLC scientists have developed a deeper understanding of food chains and have expanded their vocabularies with all kinds of food chain relationships. We need a few more 2-liter bottles and then we look forward to constructing ecosystems and observing first-hand all of these relationships! 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Patriotism, Good Citizenship, and Important American Symbols

This week we are studying in depth the intent, meaning, and importance of many American symbols, documents, songs, and speeches. In doing this, we are using some neat tech resources: Star-Spangled Banner Smithsonian Site Our Country's Flag Flag Manners The Pledge of Allegiance The Declaration of Independence The Constitution The Bill of Rights American Symbols

Properties of Matter

Hi, Scientists! Use the links below to learn more about properties of matter. When you are finished, leave a comment below stating something that you learned. Be sure to check for spelling, punctuation, and capitals! Third Grade http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/7_8/magnets_springs.shtml Fourth Grade http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/7_8/magnets_springs.shtml Second Grade http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/7_8/characteristics_materials.shtml

Scavenger Hunt: Communities & Heritage

*Parents, this is an in-class assignment. :) Hello, citizens of SBLC! Today, you are going on a scavenger hunt with your partner to explore some of the communities you belong to and the heritage of our state. Remember to treat each other the way we agreed in our SBLC Constitution and--this is VERY important-- read the directions under YOUR grade level!  And of course...have fun! :) *2nd Grade: Our Communities Directions : 1. Add Scavenger Hunt to the Table of Contents in your Social Studies Notebook. Turn to the the next clean page to record your answers. 2. Use the link below each question to find your answers. Record your answers in complete sentences! 3. If you finish early, post a comment with your favorite fact. Then, explore the websites to discover other interesting facts. :) Example : (click on the picture to make it bigger) 1. School The SBLC is a part of  _____________ Elementary. Our school was named after ___________ . http://www.ki...