First Semester Topics of Study
"Me" and My Community
Citizenship and U.S. Symbols
5 Senses
Living-Non Living (Ch. 1)
Animals/Plants:
Characteristics that help adapt to
environment, obtain food and protect (Ch. 3)
Life Cycles (Ch. 4)
Food Chains (Ch. 5)
The Thanksgiving Story (transportation/history-past and present)
Observing Matter (Ch. 8)
Sifting Through Science (magnets, sifting, sink/float)
Second Semester Topics of Study
Earth: Land, Air, Water (rocks, natural resources) (Ch. 6)
Map and Globe Skills
Force and Motion (Ch. 9)
Energy (heat, light and shadow) (Ch. 10)
Day and Night Sky (sun and moon) (Ch. 11)
Involving Dissolving (solutions, evaporation, crystals)
Technology: Tools and Machines (Ch. 12)
Human Body and Nutrition
Economics
Note: Famous Americans/Scientists and Cultural Traditions/ Events are studied at the appropriate times throughout the school year.
Homework
Please check those Friday folders for occasional homework in Science, Social Studies and Math.
Math Super Stars comes home every Friday for my math students, and it is due the following Thursday. 'Book It Reading' is a monthly activity-- Turn in your book log and receive a certificate for a pizza from Pizza Hut. Reading homework can be found in the daily reading homework folder. If you are not sure about reading assignments please check with your child's reading teacher. Please read with your child every night!
Homework provides extra skills practice and a vehicle for involve families in the learning process.
Handwriting
Handwriting is difficult for some children. If your youngster is having difficulty writing neatly, please practice using this guide:
D'Nealian Chart with Arrows.
Please watch your child when s/he prints. The single or numbered arrows indicate the correct place to start printing the letters and numbers. Please pay attention if your child starts printing incorrectly from the bottom of the line, instead of the top or midline. Correct printing formation will help your child do better in school!
Why Teach D’Nealian?
From www.dnealian.com
1. It will eliminate the b-d reversal problem.
2. D'Nealian writing provides for normal sized print, not large letters which in reality may be drawing letters, not writing.
3. It aids reading by giving immediate letter to word associations in drill and practice work. This helps build basic vocabulary. Reading and writing are thus correlated, not separated subject skills.
4. Learning is accomplished on a continuum, without a serious break in the development process. 87% of D'Nealian lower case letters are the same as their cursive version. Children easily move into cursive writing when ready.
5. D'Nealian develops the rhythm necessary for the flow of cursive writing.
6. It offers a complete audio, visual, tactile, kinesthetic approach to teaching handwriting.
7. It provides for individuality connected with handwriting.
8. It will improve poor writing of upper grade students.
Remediation: You cannot remediate using cursive writing --it is too complicated. Since D'Nealian lower case letters slide easily into cursive, you learn D'Nealian printing techniques, then go back into cursive style.
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