Pioneer Farming

In our math unit on fractions and decimals we did Friday's lesson on hundredths which was skipped due to a long house game. We continued using Base Ten Blocks to represent fractions and mixed numbers. Instead of the flat representing a hundred, it represented 1 whole. It took 10 rods to make a whole, meaning that each rod was 1/10 of a whole. A whole could also be divided into a hundred cubes, meaning that each cube was 1/100 of a whole. It took 10 1/100 to make 1/10. We also wrote hundredths as decimals 1/100 = 0.01 Students worked to represent fractions and mixed numbers as Base Ten Block pictures and decimals. Students are asked to correct their MMS pages for homework.

In language, students began working on work on list 25 spelling words - Spell regular plural nouns:  axes, chains, bosses, shoes, kisses, waxes, foxes, splashes, ashes, crashes, matches, sandwiches, toothbrushes, eyelashes, sashes, ditches, flashes, churches, paces, clashes

In our speech time, I checked that students had completed the revised copy of their conclusions. Students then practiced reading their speech in order (introduction, idea paragraphs 1,2,3, conclusion). They then read their speech to me while I timed them. Speeches must be between 2 and 3 minutes long. Some students have to add more content to extend the duration of the speech, while others have to remove something to shorten their speech. Students are assigned with the writing of their entire speech in order as a rough draft. This is due on Wednesday.

In our Little House in the Big Woods novel study, we enjoyed discussing what unfolded in chapter 7 and wished we had some maple syrup to sample. We discussed what Laura thought "sugar snow" meant and what it really means.

 

We continued with our inquiry unit on Pioneers. Students worked on independently or in a group to discover how early pioneers prepared the land and planted crops. We came across many new words, like hoe, plow, yoke, harrow, mattock. We looked at pictures of these tools to help us understand how pioneers used them. Students  added their learning to add to their KWL charts. Students contributed pioneer-related words to add to our class chart of A-Z of pioneer words. When they were done, they were challenged to complete a fifth page of their own A-Z booklet.

A Harrow

A Hoe

A Mattock

Yoked Oxen

A Plow

 

Students attended French and gym class today.

Homework & Reminders

·         Spelling

·         MMS p. 130 & 131 & Corrections

·         Complete first draft of entire speech in order for Wednesday

·         Read chapter 8 of Little House in the Big Woods and complete reader response page for Thursday

·         Mark Saturday, February 22, on your calendars as the SJA Annual Gala - Gala tickets are for sale now ($75/adult & $10/child)

·         Support the grade 2 fundraiser by purchasing their crafts on sale from $0.50 to $2 next week - proceeds will be donated to World Vision

·         Candy grams are on sale for $0.25. These will be delivered on Feb.13