January+and+February+Units

These are, in general terms, the units we will be dealing with the next few months.

**__Math __** Students learn and practice new math concepts at school through problem solving and games. They are then required to do extra work at home to solidify what has been taught at school.
 * __Measurement __**

Learning Outcomes The student… **__International Primary Curriculum __**
 * Estimates and measures length from millimeters to meters
 * Selects and uses the correct unit and device to measure lengths, distances, perimeters
 * Relates units of measure
 * Calculates and compares perimeters of squares, rectangles and triangles
 * Finds the area of squares and rectangles
 * Estimates and measures volume, capacity and mass
 * Uses 24-hour time and am and pm notation correctly and constructs timelines
 * __Weather and Climate __**

Over the next 10 weeks we will be following a unit of work on a theme which focuses on weather and climate. In Science, we’ll be: <span style="font-family: Calibri,serif; font-size: 11pt;">In Geography, we’ll be: <span style="font-family: Calibri,serif; font-size: 11pt;">In Technology, we’ll be: <span style="font-family: Calibri,serif; font-size: 11pt;">In International, we’ll be:
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Learning about the Water Cycle
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Finding out how clouds are formed
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Finding out how different weather phenomena are formed
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Finding out about weather and climate in different parts of the world
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Finding out about weather processes and patterns
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Finding out how human activities in different regions are affected by weather and climate
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Using maps, globes, aerial photographs and satellite images
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Setting up a weather station and keeping records
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Finding out about the Earth in space
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Carrying out investigations
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Designing instruments to measure wind speed and direction
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Designing and making a hat
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Investigating global climate concerns, issues and solutions
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Finding out about laws to protect our atmosphere and environments
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Finding out about agreements between countries to solve environmental problems

<span style="font-family: Calibri,serif; font-size: 11pt;">It would be useful to listen to or watch the news and weather forecasts with your child. They will be given a weather chart to keep track of the weather forecast and the actual weather on a daily basis.

<span style="font-family: Calibri,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Children may also be asked, on occasion, to bring in small items from home.

**__<span style="font-family: Calibri,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Language Arts __**


 * __<span style="font-family: Calibri,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Readers’ Workshop __**<span style="font-family: Calibri,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> (RWS)

The guided reading groups continue working on a novel by themselves, with the class teacher or with a parent. Students in this group (3-5 people) will have a more structured reading time focusing on reading strategies, vocabulary development and story analysis. They have a whole set of questions meant to make them think about the story and discuss it in ways they wouldn't usually think of. The groups will hand in their answers in the form of a report by **<span style="font-family: Calibri,serif;">February 15, 2012 **. The project consists of more than the report though, as the groups are also working on a ** creative presentation **they will present between the 15th and the 17th of February.

<span style="font-family: Calibri,serif; font-size: 11pt;">We have started a class novel: **Hoot** by **Carl Hiaasen**. It is a book-turned-movie that carries an environmental message. We will advance in the book in many different ways: reading together as a whole class, reading in groups, individually, as homework, etc.


 * __<span style="font-family: Calibri,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Writers’ Workshop __**<span style="font-family: Calibri,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> (WWS)

<span style="font-family: Calibri,serif; font-size: 11pt;">The students will continue revising, editing, and publishing their Action/Adventure stories. They will also finish their Christmas Horror stories.

<span style="font-family: Calibri,serif; font-size: 11pt;">The new writing unit is called Writing in Response to Literature. We will be writing in response to both the class novel **Hoot** and the read-aloud **Dragon Rider**. We will be writing letters to characters, letters from characters, opinions, summaries, and prequels and sequels to chapters.