This week is going to be amazing!  Here is what we have planned:

Tuesday: Dinosaur Fossils Stations!  Since we have been studying rocks and their transformation from boulder to sand through erosion, we will become paleontologists for the day. We will look at what fossils are and create our own fossil.  We will also collect some amazing dinosaur facts through information texts and work on solving some extra tricky words with dinosaur names.  In the afternoon, we will have the chance to visit the 7th grade PBL with Dr. Nash and learn about landforms.  This ties into our science unit perfectly.

Thursday: Lunar New Year Stations! Some amazing parents have volunteered their time and expertise to come into the classroom on Thursday and teach us about Lunar New Year.  We will have fun learning about different cultures and customs through hands-on activities.

Friday: Valentine Exchange (see below)

Throughout the week, we will be studying -le/-el spelling patterns in words.  We will also learn about adverbs and finish our learning about adjectives.  In reading, we will use our strategies to tackly tricky words as we read biographies and learn about changemakers.  In math, we will begin a new unit on multiplication as equal groups and repeated addition.  This is a basic introductory unit that provides some foundational skills needed for all the work they will be doing in third grade.

Today the students brought home a challenge assignment.  All students should plan to complete this by the time we return from the break.  Students will learn about three people for Black History Month.  They need to gather and record five facts for each person.  Students will share their learning with the class when we return from break.  Nothing elaborate is needed.  A list of facts on paper will do just fine.  If your child would like to make a Google Slides presentation or a poster, that is fine as well.  If your student needs help getting started, here is a list to choose from (students may choose other people as well):

• Rosa Parks — helped change laws by saying "no" to unfair rules on buses.

• Harriet Tubman — helped people escape slavery using the Underground Railroad.

• George Washington Carver — a scientist who taught farmers new ways to grow crops.

• Mae Jemison — the first Black woman astronaut to travel to space.

• Wilma Rudolph — an Olympic runner who won gold medals and inspired others.

• Barack Obama — the first Black president of the United States.

• Jackie Robinson — broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball and showed courage.

• Bessie Coleman — the first Black woman pilot who loved flying and inspired others.