Monday, December 17th

Since we are learning about "Holiday Traditions Around the World" this week, our schedule looked a lot different today.  We started off our day by doing math.  We started a new chapter by taking an "Are You Ready?" quiz, practicing vocabulary and making a foldable.  Then, in Science we learned about things that are made of plants and things that are not made of plants.  Tonight for homework, you need to go on a hunt of things that ARE made from plants in your household.  I told the children to start in their kitchens.  So many spices and foods are made from plants.  We also started a lesson outline in class that needs to be completed for homework.  There will be a Science test on Wednesday.  A small sheet is going home with your student that lists the pages that need to be reviewed.  Then in Social Studies, we read about how we trade goods with other countries.  Since we do not grow everything we need in the United States, we trade our goods to get ones that we cannot grow. We completed a worksheet in class and made two more vocabulary cards.  There will be a Social Studies test on Thursday.  I know that is a lot to focus on during this busy week, but there will not be a Spelling or Reading test this week.  Also, in this way, we will have our units wrapped up before the long break.  We will be able to start fresh when we come back.  Then, this afternoon, we "traveled" to another country!  We visited Poland (in Mrs. Walter's class).  Ask your child what he/she learned about holiday traditions in Poland!  Tomorrow we will be visiting another country.  It is very exciting!  The children have suitcases, passports and boarding passes, too.  Altogether, the students will be visiting six different countries this week.