Important Dates & Reminders

• Thursday, October 3:  No School (Rosh Hashanah)
• Friday, October 4:  No School (teacher workday)
• Thursday, October 10:  Bucknell Science Night at 6PM
• Monday, October 21: 3 Hour Early Release

What are we learning?

Language Arts

We are in Unit 1: Plants and Animals in Their Habitats. In this unit, students will read informational science text and fictional stories about plants, animals, and habitats.We will explore these ideas:

• The world has many types of habitats, with different weather, seasons, animals, and plants.
• Living things have different features that help them meet their needs in their habitat.
• Reading about animal characters in literature can help us understand animals and their habitats.

Math

We are in Unit 2: Addition and Subtraction to 20 Part I. 

• Students are developing their addition and subtraction fluency (knowing basic facts with automaticity). Here are some examples:
  • Combinations of 5, 10, and 20 (0+5=5, 1+4=5, 2+3=5, etc.)
  • 5 plus (5+1, 5+2, 5+3, etc.)
  • Double facts (4+4, 5+5, 6+6, etc.)
  • Fact families (for example, 3+4=7, 4+3=7, 7-4=3, and 7-3=4)
  • Determining the missing number (for example, 3+ ⃞ = 5 and 10 - ⃞ = 4)
• Students are also developing their addition and subtraction strategies with larger numbers and their problem-solving skills with story problems. 
• Later in the unit, we will work with equal sign (=) and not equal sign (≠). For example, 2+5 = 6+1 and 4+5 ≠ 1+2.

Science

• We are in Unit 1: Monarchs, Milkweed, and Mexico. In this unit, we are exploring animals and their habitats, focusing on the monarch butterfly. We are studying their life cycle and the ways they adapt to changes in the weather. We have had a live caterpillar growing and changing in our classroom; it is currently in the pupa (chrysalis) stage!

Social Studies

• In Unit 1: Being an Ethical and Global Citizen, we explored what it means to be a member of a community and created class norms. We also brainstormed ways we are Brave, Accountable, Respectful, Kind, and Safe (Bulldog BARKS). 
• In our upcoming units, we will study United States geography as well as symbols and traditions. 

Questions to ask your child at home.

• Language Arts and Science: What animals have you been studying and reading about in school? What can you tell me about their habitat? (We have been studying monarch butterflies, emperor penguins, armadillos, and more!)
• Math: Review basic addition and subtraction facts. For example, what goes with 3 to make 5? What goes with 6 to make 10? What is 2+2, 6+6? What is 5+3? 5+4?
• Social Studies: How were you brave today? How were you kind? How were you safe?

Other Ways to Work with Your Child

• We ask that you teach your child to tie their shoes if they do not already know. 
• We talk a lot about our emotions and which “zone” we are in. We name how we are feeling and brainstorm strategies for helping us move into the green zone or stay in the green zone. We encourage you to do the same with your child.