Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Link

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/kidspage/

Explorer's Test

Explorers Study Guide

To prepare for the Explorers test and project on Thursday, April 24th, here are the major ideas or materials that you should review and know:

1. Names of the four explorers we have studied. (Columbus, Ponce de Leon, Cartier and Newport).

2. For each of these explorers know:

Where they sailed from and who supported their exploration

When they sailed and how long they explored

Where they sailed to and what they were in search of

What they actually discovered and its impact on our world

3. Review all the study guides and assignments that we completed in class or at home about each of the explorers.

4. Review all portfolio pieces and pages 36 - 47 in the Social Studies text. 

5. Locate Spain, France, England and Canada on a world map. 

6. Locate where each of the explorers landed on a map.

7.  Explain the significant contributions made by each of these explorers.  How is our world changed because of their exploration?  Complete the assigned study guide as practice.  We will also be doing a review in class on Wednesday.  This too is a helpful tool in preparing for the test. 

Explorer's Test - Later this week!

The date has not been announced but students have been informed that we will be closing our Explorer's unit on either Thursday or Friday with a test.  Portfolios will be sent home in the next day or two.  This item, along with student texts, are appropriate tools to prepare for the test.

Thank you - welcome back!

Success in the Savanna, 4/11/14

Dear Parents:

         What a lovely week it has been! The children have really enjoyed being able to get outside and enjoy the spring weather after such a long winter.  Wednesday was an added bonus of playing Capture the Flag on the field during PE.  Let’s hope the good weather is here to stay! 

         We managed to wrap up our Fractions unit this week and even sneak in a little probability and math baseball.  In science, we have unofficially concluded our water/weather unit (may do a small project or quiz in the future) and I will start a new unit just after break.  In social studies, we were not able to finish our study of the explorers so students can expect a few days of review upon return followed by a unit test on either Wednesday or Thursday.  Portfolios will be sent home on Monday for this purpose.  Response journals have been reviewed and returned.  Although there is not assigned letter writing over break, I do encourage students to do an extra letter to get ahead.  This really becomes helpful as the spring sporting season takes off and other spring responsibilities mount. 

         Several students and families have requested an optional work pack for the holidays.  Instead of sending a pack, I have sent home the unfinished math workbook, Volume 1, for added practice.  I’ve offered a point a page for work completed and will offer small prizes for 15, 20, and 25+ pages.  Also, I am sending home a social studies “refrigerator card” pack that includes all of the major concepts from grades K – 3 that will be covered on the upcoming social studies SOL test in May.  This pack is ideal for creating games or contests to be played on long trips or on weekends as review for the test.  I have asked students to put it in the social studies pocket of their binders instead of sending home in the Friday Folder.  This way they will see it as their responsibility and not yours about looking over and reviewing the important information.  I’m hopeful that every student will spend at least a little time in the next few weeks reviewing this pack.  Just after break, I will be sending home a similar pack that covers K-3 content for science.  Look for that in your child’s binder soon after our return from break. 

        

         I hope everyone enjoys Spring Break and the more relaxed schedule.  Here is to safe travels and enjoyable time together.  I look forward to hearing about all the various activities upon our return on April 21^st. 

         Theresa Coffman

         Tuckahoe ES

UPCOMING EVENTS

                        Fri. April 11- Third Quarter Report Cards Issued

                          Mon. April 14-Fri. April 18- Spring Break

                           Wed. April 23- Silver Diner Night- 5-8pm

                           Wed. April 30- Career Day

                           Sat. May 10- Family Fitness Day

                           Fri. May 16- Imagination Stage Field Trip

                           Sat. May 17- Home and Garden Tour

                           Mon. May 19- Science SOL

                         Thurs. May 22- Social Studies SOL

                         Mon. May 26- Memorial Day- No School

                         Wed. May 28- Math SOL

                         Thurs./Fri. May 29-30- Reading SOL

                           Mon. May 26- Memorial Day- No School

                                                                       

Puppet Workshop Tomorrow

Recycled Materials into Puppets

Workshop April 9 by Wit’s End Puppets

Please bring any of the following items to school next week. We will use them to create fantastic puppet characters!

Socks missing a match
Old Gloves
Scraps of Fabric
Cardboard tubes
Empty plastic soda bottles (washed) Bottle caps
Empty spools
Pipe cleaners & Feathers Bits of string or yarn Old buttons 

Success in Savanna, 4/4

Dear Parents:

         We enjoyed a full week of fairly uninterrupted learning this week.  One highlight was spending Tuesday afternoon outdoors learning about how forests contain “seed banks.” Dr. Dudley Raynal ( Dashiell May’s grandfather) a retired professor of Botany lent his expertise and explained to the entire third grade about dormant plants in the ground.  After learning about seed banks, we were able to go out into the park and collect samples of soil to see what might germinate.  We also took the opportunity to plant out our arugula and chard seeds in our AFAC garden.  It will be exciting to watch both our vegetable garden and seed bank as they come to life.  We did a mini unit and project bulletin board on Diversity, dug deeper into Water and Weather, and kicked off our Explorers unit.  Students may expect tests next week in Math and Science.   Look to your child’s assignment notebook for dates and further information. 

         The journal writing process has been an exciting one and students are working hard to respond to questions that demonstrate their use of various reading strategies.  However, it seems that many are rushing the process in an effort to write two letters per week and I’m not pleased with the overall quality of some of the letters.  That being said, we are going to “slow down” and spend next week revisiting the expectations and doing another sample in the classroom.  I have postponed the due date for the most current letter (#6) until next week and I will be sharing more with them (and you) in the coming week.  Each year this writing/reading activity has been one of the best ways that I’ve found for my students to demonstrate a wide variety of skills that have been learned throughout the year.  As I fully expect my parents to be HANDS OFF in this process, please know that I am not looking for you (parents) to be doing more.  I simply think my students need a refresher about the expectations so that the effort is a worthy one for all.

         If your child is going to be missing any days next week, please let me know.  I cannot always provide work ahead of time but will certainly collect missed work and have it available for catch up upon return.

         Thank you for all that you do and have a great weekend.  Look to the back of this note for a list of upcoming events.

Ms. Coffman

UPCOMING EVENTS

                        Fri. April 11- Third Quarter Report Cards Issued

                        Mon. April 14-Fri. April 18- Spring Break

                      Wed. April 23- Silver Diner Night- 5-8pm

                      Wed. April 30- Career Day

                      Sat. May 10- Family Fitness Day

                      Fri. May 16- Imagination Stage Field Trip

                      Sat. May 17- Home and Garden Tour

                      May 19-31- SOL Testing (exact dates coming soon)

                      Mon. May 26- Memorial Day- No School

                                                                       

Kid Friendly Dictionary Link

http://www.wordcentral.com/