Lisula’s Light Bulbs

November 14, 2008

Reminders

November 20^th- West Parents Visitation (Classroom Visit- 1:15-1:45 & Assembly 1:45-2:30)

November 24^th- Math Night (Palos South)

November 26-28- No School (Thanksgiving Break)

General Information

I would like to thank all of the parents for attending your child’s conference. I truly enjoyed meeting and getting to know all of you better. The parent-teacher relationship is such an important factor in a student’s success in school.

Language Arts

Story: “Summer of Fire”

Genre: Nonfiction

Summary: In 1988, Yellowstone National Park was overrun by devastating forest fires. Heroic firefighting efforts ended the “summer of fire.”

Focus Skill: Graphic Aids

Focus Strategy: Use Text Structure and Format

Vocabulary: dwindled, tinder, policy, canopy, embers, geyser, and veered

Grammar: Pronouns and Antecedents

Spelling: Compound Words

Writing: Expository Essays

For the next 5 weeks, your child will write 4 expository essays. The first three essays will be teacher directed. The fourth essay the student will write on his/her own, utilizing the skills taught in the three previous essays. Each week we will focus on one section of each essay. Week 1: Brainstorming, Week 2: Introductions, Week 3 – 4: Body Paragraphs (Emphasis on including quality and substantial supporting details), Week 5: Conclusions

Social Studies

We have finished our discussions about Jamestown, the first successful English colony this week and have begun learning about the Pilgrims. Next week the students will continue to learn about how and why the Pilgrims and Puritans began a new life by starting colonies in North America. The students will compare and contrast the lives of the Pilgrims and the Puritans.

Vocabulary: Puritan, Separatist, and Pilgrim

Science

Next week we will begin our new science unit on microscopes. It promises to be truly “magnifying.” We will discuss the essential, basic needs that all living things have in common. The students will investigate different transparent shapes to determine which shapes were magnifiers. They will also identify the three properties of magnifiers: solid, transparent, and convex.