Compare and Contrast, Holidays and computers

We began the day with hand writing practice.  As incentive, those students who master handwriting can begin to write in pen.  The students were give a two sided worksheet and we discussed the proper movement and holding of the pencil.  Some students are already familiar and just need some refresher, others are just beginning, having never handwritten before.

After handwriting the students had to compare Christmas to Halloween.  The idea is that they like both but had to decide which they liked best and why.  Last week our debate topic was cats or dogs and people had a more definite choice.  The students had to divide their paper in two to form what we call a T chart.  On one side they listed those things that they connected with Christmas and on the other they listed those things they connected to Halloween.  For example we discussed how dressing up at Christmas in best clothing was different from dressing up for Halloween. Then the students were given a vocabulary list for both holidays and asked to highlight those words which had positive or negative meanings to help them make their choices.  We did not have time to debate the question but it will appear on tomorrow's test.

After recess the students began a one page written report on which one they liked best.  This question will also be on the test tomorrow.  Note: there will also be a science question on weather on the test.  Those students who do not celebrate Christmas or Halloween were given a separate topic.

After writing we continued with our models of the Caravel ships used by the early explorers.  The ships are looking amazing tomorrow we will papermache them and rough paint them then they will be coming home for the final touches.  And yes it is OK for parents to help.

After lunch we continued our model building project until music with Mrs. Awalt.  Today they played a song with rhythmic instruments using following sheet notation used by real percussion groups.  Amazing. Mrs. Awalt is so happy with them.  They also played singing movement games with students having different times to shine.

Last period we went to the computer lab where I am introducing them to Microsoft Word which they will need in school to do reports.  I am having them re-write, on the computer, their writing project from today on which Holiday they preferred.  They will have to write, add a border and graphics from the internet.  All those things they will have to have mastered by high school.

Study hard... spelling, math, socials and science on the test tomorrow.

Science: Weather
Math: Addition
Spelling: see word lists on side and lists that came home
Socials: There will be three multiple choice questions on the following three questions
The Caravel, two things that made it great, were: 
Caravels were used by Portuguese and Spanish to explore the coast of Africa
The two of Columbus's ships that were caravels were the:     Pinta and the Nina