Edible Moon Phases - Questions to Ask Your Child

We are continuing our study of the Sun, Moon and Stars unit as we learn about the phases of the moon. Today we did a read aloud of a non fiction book about the moon.

We then made our own edible moon phases using Oreo cookies! This was a special treat that helped the kids create the phases themselves in a tactile manner. It important for them to have hands on experiences and to create things themselves in order to have the full brain-based learning experience.

The "Tornado Table" is very excited about creating the phases of the moon.

Here is a completed plate with the main phases of the moon. The students know there is a last and full quarter moon, but for sake of supply amounts, we made just one "moon" for each big phase.

Catherine showing us a "New Moon".



Questions to Ask Your Child

1. What are the phases of the moon?

2. What causes the phases of the moon?

3. How long does it take for the moon to orbit around the Earth?

4. What is the surface of the moon like?

5. Does the moon create its own light?

6. Ask them to get up and SHOW you what "rotate" looks like. Ask them to get up and SHOW you what "orbit" looks like!

Field Trip

Today I am sending home a field trip permission slip to cover permission for 2012-2013 field trips. Please sign and return the bottom half by Wednesday, October 17.

Our first field trip is on October 26. We will be seeing The Headless Horseman at the Center for Puppetry Arts.

Change in Weekly Plans/Infinite Campus

I have a change to the Room 206 updates for this week.

We, as a second grade team, have decided to postpone starting math unit three until next week. We are going to do math centers to continue skill building in this short week. The homework planner will say Home Links 3.1 on one of the nights, but I will be sending home an alternative assignment. Unit 3 will start on Monday, October 15 instead.

We also will not be giving a spelling test this week.


I am working to get grades inputed in Infinite Campus. Report cards will go home on October 17.

I hope you had a great long weekend!

Fundations Pictures

I am already seeing positive results from our Fundations spelling program with our class. Below are photos of our letterboards. We use these to manipulate letters to spell words within our spelling patterns. These are derived from the Orton-Gillingham method of teaching spelling.

Here is Sage using one of our letterboards during small group work. You can see Archer in the background taking an AR test.

Caleb is working during small group with a letterboard. You can see other students in the background working in their reading centers.

Fun Visualization Activity

Into The Book is a great site for reading skills. For visualization, just drag the visualization paintbrush to the middle for a fun activity!

http://reading.ecb.org/student/entry.html?login=mrs.nel00006

Room 206 Updates

It is finally October! We had a great first week of October in Room 206.

Here are some updates on what is to come next week.

1. ELA -

Next week we will not have a new spelling list or spelling pattern due to the short week. We will review sounds we have learned (qu, ch, th, sh, ck). I will give a spelling test using words with these patterns. Some will be words we have not had on our list. The reason for this is because if they understand the spelling pattern we have learned, they will be able to spell the word using the sounds they hear.

We will continue to work a little bit with sentence types. We will also continue to work on "visualization". I encourage you to ask your child about what pictures they make in their head while you read with them.

2. Math -

We will start a new math unit. We will start by reviewing the base-10 system to increase our number sense of place value in 2 and 3 digit numbers. We will use manipulatives and place value mats to build numbers.

The purpose of place value and the base-10 system is to help them understand the MEANING of a number. They will understand that a ten is made of 10 ones, a one hundred is made up of 10 tens, etc. We are working toward them understanding concepts such as the "2" in 426 equals "20" and not "2".

3. Science-

We have been learning about the Sun, Moon, and Stars in science. Your child should be able to tell you what stars are made of (hot gas), that the sun is a the closest star to the earth, and the way stars are different from one another. They should be able to explain to you how we have day and night on Earth. They should understand that the Earth rotates (spins) completely every 24 hours (1 day). They should be able to tell you that we have daytime when the Earth faces the sun, and when the Earth rotates and faces away from the sun, we have night time.

Next week we will be learning about the moon and its phases. We will do some fun activities to increase our understanding.

4. AR -

Accelerated Reader....With the new 9 weeks approaching I am changing the way I do AR. I am going to do a better job of monitoring it. I will be individualizing the homework planner by putting point goals on the planner to remind them of how many points they need to earn. We are at 131 points as of this morning as a class. If we reach 1,000 we will have a class pizza party.

Do not forget you can track your child's progress. I sent this information in August I believe.

5. Snack -

Please remember every day to pack a snack for your child. Please put it outside of their lunch so they know what is snack and what is not. I have emergency snacks but do not rely on them. They are for emergencies, not daily use.

6. Basic Facts - Please continue to practice basic facts at home :) Flash cards are GREAT.

Mystery Reader

Thank you to Amy Hartman (and Sam Hartman) for coming today to be Mystery Reader! We loved hearing Skippy Jon Jones Lost in Spice.