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Dear Crew,

Our Sierra Scientists have been working hard and learning a great deal about matter, molecules, atoms and water! After a series of science labs experimenting with water and it’s properties,
learning about periodic tables and creating water molecule models, we are getting ready to transition into our second case study with our learning targets:

I can explain how water and ice can change the Earth’s surface.

I can use maps to describe patterns of Earth’s major features.

We have many experts and field work set up to help with this Spring  such as: The League to Save Lake Tahoe, TERC, Snow Scientists, UNR Scientists, Geologists, Sierra Nevada Journeys, and Trout in The Classroom. It is going to be a busy, fun-filled, engaging learning period!

We kicked off with expert Don Triplat, Executive Director of the Sierra Avalanche Center come in and talk snow science and avalanche awareness with us.  We also had the League to Save Lake Tahoe come in for the afternoon to discuss the quality of Lake Tahoe’s water and impacts pollutants have on our watershed.

Math:

The 4th graders have successfully completed our unit on fractions. The rocked this unit and have a great grasp on fractions and decimals. Currently, we are working on standard algorithms for multiple digit addition/subtraction as well as rounding and place value to the millions.This is a true number sense unit and finding the best strategy to fluently add and subtract numbers.

The 5th graders are sharing strategies for multiplying whole numbers by fractions, fractions by fractions and solve related story problems. They will represent the product of two fractions as an array whose dimensions are the two fractions being multiplied. They will solve story problems involving division unit fractions by whole numbers and whole numbers by unit fractions. This unit will also include making sense of problems and perseverance in solving them.

We also celebrated Pi Day on March 14, with a great big cheer at 1:59pm (3.14159) and had a Pi memorizing contest. The kids all took a try at correctly reciting the most digits from memory and then we all enjoyed some berry pie! Congratulations to all the participants. Our winner recited 66 digits- Wow!

ELA:

We have been plugging away with our grammar work and currently can mark parts of speech in sentences, including subjects, verbs, nouns, adjectives, adverbs, and articles. The kids love Writer’s Workshop and cheer when that time comes along during the week. The stories are flowing and getting longer with more complex structures/plots.

We are also doing a mini expedition on Walt Disney. We are reading some biographies to gather information and  the students will write their own informative biography about Walt Disney. The creativity, hard work and positive outlook Walt had on life is inspiring!

Spring Goal Conferences:

Thank you for attending our student lead goal setting conferences. It was great to see the growth of our students and watch as they led their parents through a reflection of their fall goals and where their new goals may take them. Students were confident and thoughtful. The parents were wonderful with their support. Thanks again!

Mrs. Akers