Curriculum Update

In the interest of saving paper and being more "green," I've emailed this curriculum update, and am also going to post it below (I'm still figuring out formatting!!). If you'd like a hard copy, just let me know!

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 9
z News From Room 405 z

Dear Parents and Families,
I hope this letter finds you all well! There has been so much change in the air.
We had a great time watching the Inauguration in the auditorium with our book buddies. I have posted some pictures if you scroll down. You will find other posts, too. This is a project that a few students have been working on, so that you can be even moreup to date on things, as well as entertained by some of the jokes or pictures added! We sadly said goodbye to Judith last week. She will be greatly missed, but we know she
will be back to visit us soon!

I wanted to give you a little update on what’s been going on in Room 405...


Writing:

We just published literary essays and are moving into an independence study. During
this study, students will choose what they will make (topic) and how they will
make it (genre). Some students have been working on independent projects throughout the year, so this may be an extension of that work, or spark a new idea. Once students know the genre they want to work in, they will choose a mentor text. This will be an text they are most likely familiar with and is written in the genre they have chosen to study. We have chosen and worked with mentor texts before, but this time there will be more independence. Their mentor text will help guide them in the genre and writing.
Some questions to think about will be:

- what mentor texts really
inspire you? what authors
do you really want to try
writing like, and why? how?

- what topic or big idea do
you really want to write
about? why? where did your
idea come from, and are you
open to it changing?

- what genre really fits your
topic? what do you know
about this genre, and what
do you still need to find out?

- what kind of planning do
you need to do?


Social Studies:

We began our intro into the study of Mesopotamia by talking about what is ancient
and creating timelines of our ideas. Then, we talked about needs and wants. This led
us to hunters and gatherers. We spent some time looking at cave paintings and pictures
to give us a better sense of how this group lived. We studied the animals
in the paintings, as well as symbols and clues to their lives. We began thinking and imagining if we were hunters/gathers where we would settle, what we would look for based on the list of needs we had discussed earlier. We decided we need to be near water (streams, rivers), a place we could have shelter such as caves, a place that would have animals to hunt for food, clothing, weapons, etc. We will be talking
about irrigation next and making the connection with Mesopotamia as a settled civilization.


Read Aloud:

We’ve been reading Coraline and are just finishing up in time for the movie! Clio and I are trying to coordinate a trip to see the movie, but have been unable to get a good
group rate. We are going to keep looking!


Projects:

Some students are working on projects which you may have seen come home lately.
There are a few student magazines and zines that have been published and will be on-going. There is also a group collecting dark fairy evidence. They have a box
filled with evidence bags! It’s really great to see all of their creativity and talent. As I mentioned earlier, our class Blog is one of these projects, so please continue checking it out. We will be updating regularly so we can document all of the cool things happening. If you want to submit anything for the blog, just email me:
lauren.room405@gmail.com or you can make comments directly on the blog. You can
also become a follower :)


Green Building Project:

We are still under construction! The buildings are really starting to come along. The
kids looked over the plans and made revisions last week and got to work this week. They are incorporating all the elements of green design and have started writing
about it in Espanol class. I have posted pictures of the designs on the blog, if you scroll down.
I would love to have the students be able to do a mini simulation of their building,
highlighting the amenities and elements of green design. I’m still trying to figure
out a good program to use. Once we finish up, we will be having a museum for everyone
to come see our hard work and design.

I hope to see you at Community Day! Thanks for everyone’s
generosity.

Love,
Lauren


Updates:

*Reports went home Wed.

*Community Day: Sat. Feb. 7

*Ice- Skating: Mon. Feb. 9
**IF YOU HAVE NOT YET
SENT IN MONEY FOR
MONDAY’S TRIP, PLEASE
DO SO! THANK YOU!!

*Book Orders: due Wed. Feb. 11

***We are in great need of glue
gun sticks and paper towels!