This Week in First! (Week of March 5th)

Agenda and reminders for the week of March 5, 2012

**I apologize for the lack of post last week.  My mind was apparently still on winter break  :/

In ELA/Reading we are reading Mr Bones: Dinosaur Hunter.  This story is about real person name Barnum Brown who was an archaeologist(good word to look up in a dictionary!).  This story's phonics lesson focuses on long o words (oa, ow).  The secondary phonics concept deals with three letter blends (ie spl, scr, str). Grammar for this unit deals with adjectives. 

Site about dinosaurs for kids:  http://www.grayfossilmuseum.org/

*Review these concepts with your child by:

-having your child identify nouns, then add a word to describe the noun.

-having your child make a long o (two vowels go walking and ow) flip book with various words.

*repeat the phrase "when to vowel go walking the first one does the talking and the second one is silent to reinforce the sound*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QmDRUPrxWs&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NKs3klP2ak&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1

-having your child practice the sounds 3 letter blends make.
-finding words with 3 letter blends
-making flashcards to read and repeat(spelling words, sight words, amazing words).
-use the spelling/phonics games from: 

http://www.quia.com/jg/1099215.html

http://www.spellingcity.com/view-spelling-list.html?listId=860016

http://www.starfall.com/n/two-vowels/tv/play.htm?f

-use  http://clo.douglas.k12.ga.us/childu/index.html (Odyssey)

-use starfall.com (Starfall)
*Can your child read the story outside of the book? Try it! http://www.soundcityreading.com/rsstories4-3.pdf

**Repetition is key!!

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In Math, we will begin our unit on Bigger Numbers.  This unit is basically a review of previous concepts but using bigger numbers (to 100).  Our next stop in this unit will be money(counting and making fair trades).

*You can review these concepts with your child by:
-having your child count change in you pockets, purse, the couch, the car etc.
http://clo.douglas.k12.ga.us/childu/index.html which has teacher created assignments/games

-utilizing xtramath.org  (for continued addition and subtraction help)

-utilizing http://more.starfall.com/ (which now has a math component) 
-utilizing   http://www.ixl.com/math/grade-1
-http://www.apples4theteacher.com/java/counting/money.html (money counting practice)
-http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/games/mad_money_flash.html (for more advance practice
- http://math-play.com/money-games.html
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In Science, we are focusing on weather and water(weather patterns, water cycle). 

*Science Vocabulary: 
seasons, weather, water cycle, condensation, precipitation, evaporation

In Social Studies, we will continue to talk about famous Americans.

*Social Studies Vocabulary:

-Harriet Tubman, Benjamain Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington Carver, and Lewis and Clark and Sacagewea, Declaration of Independence, Underground Railroad, inventor, scientist, national parks
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Important Dates 

3/6 - Half Day
3/11- Daylight Savings (Spring Forward!)
3/17 - St. Patricks Day
3/30-4/6 - Spring Break