Week of March 17-20, 201

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Week of March 17-20, 2014

Theme: Animals Change

Letter of the Week: H

Dear Family,

Last week the children enjoyed learning more about the solar system and it's planets. We did a size comparison activity that allowed the children to see in practical terms the difference in the size of the planets. The sun was a giant exercise ball, Mercury was a peppercorn, the Earth and Venus were cherry tomatoes, Mars was a blueberry, Jupiter was a watermelon, Saturn was a grapefruit, Uranus was an apple and Neptune was a lime. We followed that up by watching an episode of The Magic School Bus that discussed stars.

During this week, children will learn about how animals grow and change. They will compare baby and adult animals, such as chicks and chickens, and identify ways in which the  animals are alike and different. They will identify things that baby animals can and cannot do, and describe ways that adult animals care for their babies. In addition, they will explore the life cycles of animals such as frogs and insects such as butterflies. We will also be practicing counting and building number patterns up to 30. We will practice identifying and making rhyming words. 

Learning Together

• If you have a pet, talk with your child about what your pet was like as a baby and how your pet has grown and changed.
• Together, visit a zoo or animal shelter to observe baby and adult animals. Talk about how they are alike and different.
• Take your child to the library and get a book about how caterpillars grow into butterflies. Look at the illustrations with your child and help him or her describe the stages of growth.

Visiting the Library

Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French

The Mixed-up Chameleon by Eric Carle

Fabulous Fishes by Susan Stockdale

Baby Flamingo by Patricia A. Pingry

Count-a-Saurus by Nancy Blumenthal

We would like to welcome a new friend in the morning, Savannah. We are so happy to have her join our class.

This week your child will be receiving information about completing Blizzard Bag assignments. Hilton Elementary has missed an additional day of school due to a power outage so to avoid adding a day at the end of the school year or taking away the April 21st day off children are being asked to complete Blizzard Bag assignments. More information will be included in the bag which will be coming home this week. 

Some p.m. class snow day fun pictures:

Reminders:

No School-March 24-March 28 Spring Break, return to school March 31.

No School-April 21-Easter Break