IB Unit – Let’s Celebrate! –
This is a transdisciplinary unit built around a social studies concept. We are
learning about customs and traditions. We are discovering that
people have many different customs and traditions when it comes to how our
households run, how we dress, and even what we eat. These can be special to just
one family or to an entire country or region. One of the best ways to compare
and contrast these customs and traditions is to look at how and why people
celebrate special holidays.
As a part of this unit, I ask that families work on the cut-out that was
sent home in mid-November and return it to school. If you need another cut-out
or another copy of the directions, please let me know.
I would also love to have more families share their holiday traditions
with the class. I sent home some information about this a couple of weeks ago,
too. If you do not remember the sheet or have lost the original, once again,
please let me know. I will send another one home.
Math Update: Tens in Teens – We spent
most of the first part of the year learning about numbers from 0 – 10 and how
we can break larger numbers into smaller numbers and vice-versa. We are now
looking at the numbers between 10 and 20, sometimes referred to as the “teens”
because most of the number words use the suffix “-teen” to show that there is more
than a set of ten. We are doing many
activities finding the “hiding set of ten” inside the teen numbers. We are also
learning how to use dimes and pennies as manipulatives to make teen numbers.
Literacy Update: Daily 5 – We are
continuing to learn and master the components of a literacy structure known as
the Daily 5. During this time children work on reading, writing, speaking, and
listening skills. While we have learned many of the basic elements of the Daily
5, we are still learning how each child can manage his/her own time and
materials. Each day, every child has an opportunity to work on reading and
writing skills that are most appropriate for his/her literacy level.
In
January, we will focus on a different IB transdisciplinary unit that will
center on reading comprehension skills. We will explore folktales from around
the world, and we will compare and contrast the elements of these stories. This
will help us lay the groundwork for better comprehension and retelling of
stories that we can read independently later in the year.
