An Exciting (but short) Week!

Hi Families,
This week we have:

• Photos from Mira's birthday celebration
• We start our science based expedition (Life Through the Eyes of a Scientist)
• No school for students on Friday (Teacher Workday)
• Reminder that children should be making their valentines for all members of our crew at home (we make  our cards instead of buying valentines)

Mira celebrated her sixth birthday this week!

Mira made her journey around the sun six times and then shared yummy cheese sticks with our crew. Mira is so proud to be a whole six years old!!!

We have started our second semester expedition which is a science-based expedition. This week we read about and discussed what scientists do and what types of tools they use in their work. Tomorrow the children receive "mystery containers." These containers will house the first living thing each child will have and care for at school. The children will examine the containers and make predictions about what might live in them. Be sure to ask your child about his/her mystery container and what he thinks will live in it.

Guiding Questions (questions we explore) for this Expedition are:

How do scientists think and learn?

What tools do scientists use to measure and observe living things?

What do living things need in order to grow?

How are living things different and the same?

How can living things be sorted?

Learning Targets (what children will be learning) for the children include:

I can observe, document, and explain the changes a living thing goes through

I can describe and explain how a scientist thinks and learns about living things

I can investigate what a living thing needs to grow and perform the care needed

I can look at how living things can be sorted and analyze the attributes for sorting

I can invent my own way to sort living things and describe it to someone else

Just a reminder that homework is for your child to make a valentine for each member of his crew. We always make our own valentines (instead of purchasing them at the store). The children are so excited on Valentine's Day when they receive these special cards!

Kathy