Math & Science Week of January 13th

Dear Parents,

Our first week back last week went off without a hitch!  The kids were ready to get back into a routine and so was I!!!

In math this week we will be counting money.  In the beginning of the week, the students will be expected to identify coins and their value and make change up to a dollar in a variety of ways.  This should be a review of second grade.  Students also need to use the correct symbols to label amounts. Counting coins is a concept that was introduced in 1st grade, reviewed in 2nd grade, and hopefully mastered in 3rd grade! It can be a difficult concept for students to master so please practice counting at home. Just take out a coin purse, grab a handful of coins and have the kids count!  The best way to master the concept is to practice, practice, practice!  In the later part of the week, we will be counting coins as well as dollars and putting the amounts together.  Students will again be expected to add up the amounts correctly, and place the decimal and dollar symbol in the correct place.

This week's Fast Facts test will be for a grade.  Students are expected to know facts up to 12 but we've broken up the facts so they'll only be learning a little each week. Students will move up to the next level of facts if they score a 90 or better on the Friday fact quiz. If they score below a 90, they'll stay on their current fact level. If your child stays at a level for more than about 3 weeks, I'll probably move them up a level because all students are expected to learn multiplication facts through 12 by the end of the year. Facts are cumulative so they're expected to retain the facts they've learned as they move through the levels. This week we'll have a practice week to give kids a feel for the quiz and will begin with 0, 1 and 10 facts next week. So next week will be Week 1.

Here's the order in which they'll be tested. The new facts for the week are bold and italicized.

Week 1: x 0, 1, 10
Week 2: x 0, 1, 2, 10
Week 3: x 0, 1, 2, 5, 10
Week 4: x 0, 1, 2, 5, 10, Squares (doubles)
Week 5: x 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, Squares
Week 6: x 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, Squares
Week 7: x 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, Squares
Week 8: x 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, Squares
Week 9: x 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, Squares
Week 10: x 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Squares
Week 11: x 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, Squares
Week 12: x 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, Squares

In Science last week we briefly touched on our earths renewable and non-renewable resources.  We discovered that most, if not all, non-renewable resources are found under the earth.  We talked about ways to protect our natural resources, like turning off the water when you are brushing your teeth, or using a cloth rag instead of a paper towel every time because this creates more trash.  Lastly, we talked about the meaning of the arrows in the recycling sign and discussed the three R's....REDUCE, REUSE, AND RECYCLE!  We will have a short quiz at the end of the week on renewable vs. non-renewable resources..

Here is a song for your enjoyment titled, REDUCE, REUSE, RECYLE!!!

Love,

Ms. S