by Macky & Veronica | Mar 15, 2019 | Preschool
This week we continued working with our “The Media” unit, specifically with radio and television. The children learned that the radio helps us to inform ourselves, entertain us and we can use our sense of hearing to listen. We also learned that television is a means of communication that helps us to spend pleasant moments in family and to have fun. In addition we can know what happens in our community, our country
and in the whole world through the news. They also learned that the senses we use when watching
television are the sense of sight to observe and the sense of hearing to listen. We made activities such as radios and televisions of paper. The projects were quite fun since with the radio they danced and sang and with the television the kids played and talked about the actors of their favorite shows.
LAS LETRAS
We learned all about the letter Rr/ letra Rr. The letter R in Spanish is different from English. In Spanish, when the letter R is the first letter in a word it trills, like the ringing of a telephone.
Rana – frog,
Regalo – present,
Relog – clock,
Robot – robot,
Reina – queen,
Raton – mouse.
The children used different sensory materials to draw the letter R: materials such as rice, play dough, salt and sugar. We also drew the letter on the blackboard. I also showed them objects that start with the letter R like the frog, the mouse, the rose. We also observed names of the children to see which of their names had the letter R.
Los Números / Color / Figura
We continued working with the number thirteen/número trece. We reviewed the sequence of the numbers and did activities such as counting and random number identification of 1-13. We kept working with the star figure and the orange color, the children made a star by gluing balls of orange paper inside the figure.
by Sarah Segall | Mar 11, 2019 | In The Loop
We are offering 10 different summer camps this year!
Please check out our Summer Camps page for more information.
Summer Camps
SWS 2019 Summer Camp Application
by Ivary & Paola | Mar 8, 2019 | In The Loop
La Lectura
This week we not only celebrated the joy of reading with Dr. Seuss’ fun filled activities, but also the joy of writing. Students got to share with the class their argumentative writing pieces they worked so hard on. We also continued with our regular literacy routines leaning about idiomatic expressions and spelling words with letters not found in the English language! Ask your child about this. They also learned about the difference between demonstrative pronouns and adjectives. To end our week, we read the biography of a very influential woman in Latin America, Frida Kahlo, the challenges she had to face throughout her life and the significant contributions to art. All in all, we had a full week!
Ciencias
Some of the moments captured during our Presentaciones de Ciencias: Adaptaciones.
Mathematics
This week we learned about algebraic inequalities.
-
- We learned about how to correctly do real world problems.
- We got a little deeper in algebraic inequalities, and expressions.
- We also had our Chapter 8. math test.
(Written by: Juliette Murrow)
History & Geography
This week we learned about the Scarlet Pimpernel.
- We watched/talked about a clip from The Scarlet Pimpernel
- We learned that he saved nobles from the guillotine
- He was loathed by revolutionary leaders
(Written by:Rafa L. )
English Writing & Spelling
In writing this week we continued working on our argumentative writing piece.
- We also began exchanging words for better, more descriptive ones.
(Written by:Evan)
In Greek and Latin Roots this week we
- Learned about the roots uni, mono and sol.
- Mono, uni and sol all mean alone or one.
(Written by:Evan )
by Sarah Segall | Mar 8, 2019 | In The Loop
History & Geography
Our weekly objectives were to:
- Describe everyday life in the American colonies in the 1750´ś.
- Compare and contrast the life of a child of a slave with a child of a free person.
- Identify Parliament and explain its powers.
- List and describe the most important rights of British citizens.
- Explain the reasons for the conflict between the French and the British.
- Identify George Washington and describe his role in the conflict.
- Describe the course of the conflict in the Ohio River valley.
Mathematics w/Laura
Perpendicular and Parallel Lines and Line Segments
- Drawing Parallel Line Segments
- Horizontal and Vertical Lines
- Put On Your Thinking Caps
- Review
- Chapter 10 Assessment
Wear something with circles next Thursday, March 14th, for π Day (or Pi Day)
The homework assigned on Friday, March 8th will be due Thursday, March 14th, as there are no classes on Friday, March 15th (Parent-Teacher Conferences)
Puzzles available for extra credit and Friday (Math) Bingo
Remember: MATH …. It’s everywhere
La lectura
This week we did a lot of Dr. Seuss reading! (Monday PM was our celebration day.)
The students also received their Cereal Box book report information sheet. This is due on Friday, March 29th. BEFORE spring break!
Students were given last chances this week to change their book. They all held firm and said they were happy with their picks. Happy reading! I can’t wait to see their boxes!
Ciencias
We began our new Science unit: Environments! Students planned and planted 5 seeds in terrariums. They will decide, in their science groups, how to care for these. They are checking them every couple days, recording any changes observed as well as any changes they make (water).
On Friday we also started learning about the insects: isopods and beetles. We are doing an experiment to see which of these would be suited to add to our terrariums.
by Jill & Sarah | Mar 8, 2019 | In The Loop
History & Geography
On Monday we had this week we went over our Constitution test and played jeopardy in order to do test corrections. Each student got a copy of the our own Constitution and signed the class copy which is now on display outside of our room door. In our new unit, the War of 1812 We read more about why the war happened and what groups of people and individuals were involved.
Our weekly objectives were to:
• understand the causes of the War of 1812
• identify James Madison, Dolley Madison, and the War Hawks
• Identified Tecumseh and explain how British involvement with the Indians inflamed war sentiment in the West
• Explain the burning of Washington and Dolly Madison’s role in saving government documents
• Understand the story of Francis Scott Key and the “Star Spangled Banner”
Science
This week we finished our last lesson, Friend and Foe. We worked in our insect journals, seeing if we could answer some of the questions that we had at the beginning of this unit. On Thursday and Friday we did some fun activities to go along with our Insect Unit. Next week students will be working on their speeches and will be presenting them to the class on Thursday March 14. Everyone should plan on bringing their models to school on this day.
Our objectives were to:
• identify ways in which insects can be helpful to people
• identify ways in which insects can be harmful to people
• explain what an entomologist does
•review what we have learned in this unit so far
English Spelling and Writing
In our journals we used the idiom of the week ” she has egg on her face ” . They wrote about something embarrassing they have experienced or witnessed. The class got their new sort on Monday and took a practice test Friday. Our Word Wall words were: said, saw, sister, small.
La lectura
This week we read three Dr.Seuss books!
by Sarah Segall | Mar 8, 2019 | In The Loop
La lectura
We were so lucky to have the older kiddos come read with us and share their writing. This is such an important experience for our kinders, so they can see where all their reading and writing practice will take them.
This week we also practiced identifying verbs/ action words. The kiddos are getting SO good at using the word of the day in sentences, making sure to notice the importance of including a verb. We have now passed 1100 tallies for their use of Spanish in the classroom.
Las matemáticas
We began our measurement unit this week. This is such a fun unit for exploring and expanding on our knowledge. We will be using non-standard units to measure and compare classroom objects.
History & Geography
This week in Colonial trades people, we learned about tailors, dressmakers, cobblers, and hatters. On Thursday the class heard the story “The Elves And The Shoe Maker”. We also read several Dr. Seuss books for fun to celebrate Read Across America week.
Our weekly objectives were to:
• describe dressmakers, tailors, hatters, and cobblers in a colonial town
• identify, and associate with the appropriate trade, the tools used by the trades people we have learned about
• understand that ready made clothing was not available for sale in colonial shops; clothing was made to order according to the exact measurements of each person.
• explain how trades people in colonial towns saved farming families time and effort
Science
This week in our Taking Care of the Earth domain we learned about the process of recycling and read about composting. The class has been taking left over snack out to our composting bin each day.
Our weekly objectives were to:
• retell important facts and information from our lesson
• identify common recyclable materials, including glass, plastic, aluminum, cardboard, and paper
• understand the process of recycling materials from home to recycling factory
• understand that composting is a type of recycling in which discarded food scraps decay in an outdoor pile or bin and eventually become garden soil.
• sequence what happens to a piece of discarded food from table to compost pile to garden
• identify foods that can be composted
by Macky & Veronica | Mar 8, 2019 | Preschool
March arrived and Spring is almost here!! And our new theme too. So, this month the children will have fun with the themes: “The Media” and “Spring.” We will learn that the media are tools that help us to communicate and know what happens in our city, the country and the whole world. In addition, they will learn that the media also serve to educate, inform and entertain. The children will learn basic vocabulary of the different means of communication and recognize the means of communication according to the medium used in class as oral, written, gestural and iconographic. Also, we will continue working with motor development by strokes, coloring, cutting and chopping. In this unit children will be able to identify the numbers in different communication media such as the telephone, mobile and radio. Also, they will be able to identify the letters of the alphabet in the media such as newspapers, magazines and computers. In addition to this, the children will learn poetry, songs and riddles related to the media.
This week we learned about media such as mail and telephone. We learned that mail is an instrument that we use to communicate with people that are in another place. We learned that we also use our sense of sight to see the letter and the sense of touch to write the letter.
Telephone; helps us to communicate with people, family, friends, etc. Also, we learned that to communicate through this way people use the sense of sound to listen and the sense of touch to hold the phone.
We practiced writing letters to family members. We drew and colored the letters, then placed the letters in a special mail box that they built and colored. Also the children made a paper telephone and used the sequence of number 1-9, zero, number button and star button. They had to glue the numbers on their telephone and then played with the telephone and pretended to call family members.
Letras
This week we learned all about the letter Kk/letra Kk. The English letter K can be pronounced and the Spanish K have the same pronunciation. This letter only occurs in foreign words in Spanish.
Kayac – kayac,
Karate- karate,
Koala – koala.
Números
This week we worked with the number 13/número trece, The children did different classroom activities to recognize the number thirteen and matching number with groups. We also played a dice game where the children had to
count and identify the numbers one to thirteen.
La Figura y Color
This week we started working with star shape (estrella), and a new color added in our color range: Anaranjado/ naranja (orange). The kids played a game to find orange manipulatives in the classroom”. They were so exited!
We LOVED having the older kids come read to us for the school’s celebration of Dr. Seuss week!
by Sarah Segall | Mar 1, 2019 | In The Loop
Due to inclement weather (icy roads) we will begin 2 hours late today.
There will be no AM preschool. All other classes will begin at 10:45.
by Ivary & Paola | Mar 1, 2019 | In The Loop
La Lectura
Thank you 3/4 grade class for inviting us to the puppet show! We very much enjoyed it!
• End of Unit 3 – Expository Writing Assessment. Drafting/Editing/Revising/Publishing
• Unit 4 overview “Retos”. Students get familiar with the theme of the unit and the main activities.
• Cite relevant evidence from the text
• Determine the author’s point of view
• Review the characteristics of informative texts
• Read a text and paraphrase sections to check for comprehension, explain thinking and negotiate meaning.
• Spelling: words with ll /
Working on our special project!
Working on our special project!
Ciencias
This week students continued to work on their science research projects. The objectives for this project are:
• Select an organism.
• Identify the features of the organism, structural and behavioral characteristics such as eye color, fur pattern, timing of migration, etc.
• Identify the different variations, the range of expression of a feature within a population, such as all different eyes colors, all the different fur patterns, etc.
• Describe the impact of the surroundings, including biotic and abiotic factors, and the adaptations that affect the survival of organisms in a sensitive ecosystem.
• Explain how adaptations helped this particular organism survive, or not, in its environment.
Dear families! Students will be doing their science presentations next week. You all are invited to attend and see the great work your child is doing in class! Presentations will be at 2:30 in the following order:
Thursday 7th: Lily, Maddie, Tamra, Evan, Rafa
Friday 8th: Christian, Jack, Juliette, Sophia, Sophie
Mathematics
This week we learned about linear equations.
- We learned how to write linear equations
- How to solve simple inequalities
- How to plot with coordinate plane.
(Written by: Lily Hubbard)
History & Geography
This week we learned about the French Revolution.
- The Oath of the Horatii was a painting by Jacques-Louis David.
- The Reign of Terror was when the Jacobins (extreme radicals) took control of the government and executed everyone who was remotely against the Revolution.
- Maximilien Robespierre completely supported the Revolution and was a Jacobin.
(Written by: Sophie Jacobs )
English Writing & Spelling
In writing this week we continued working on our argumentative writing piece.
-
- We practiced on using transition words.
- We made corrections to our argumentative writing pieces.
- We worked on making our reasons more clear.
(Written by:Christian )
Specialists
Art with Ms. Kelly
Our art projects this month were:
Clay Masks with Miss Karen
LOVE Designs
Learn about Robert Indiana’s LOVE designs and sculptures.
Use letters and patterns to create artwork.
Portraits in the style of Picasso
Learn about the different styles of portraits created by Picasso, Matisse, Modigliani, and American artist Lois Jones.
Create an abstract portrait by using various diagonal lines from folded paper.
Add colors and patterns to the portrait.
The students designed some very colorful, creative portraits!
by Sarah Segall | Mar 1, 2019 | In The Loop
History & Geography
Our weekly objectives were to:
- Understand how the Ming dynasty began.
- Describe the Forbidden City.
- Recognize the achievements of Zheng He, the Admiral of the Western Seas.
- Explain the reasons for the decline of the Ming dynasty and the Manchu takeover.
- Understand Qianlong´s unusual views on one way trade with other countries.
- Recognize how opium caused China to go to war with Great Britain and France, as well as how the use of opium affected Chinese society.
- Identify factors that contributed to the decline of the Chinese empire.
- Explain why immigrants came to the American colonies.
- List the factors that began to unify the diverse population of American colonies.
We finished up our unit on Ancient China. We had a fun end of unit celebration with a tea party, writing caligraphy Chinese characters, and reading our horoscopes. We also began the next unit which is on the American Revolution.
Mathematics w/Laura
Angles Assessment (Chapter 9) on Tuesday, February 26th
Perpendicular and Parallel Lines and Line Segments
- Learning How To Use a Drawing Triangle
- Drawing Perpendicular Line Segments
- Drawing Parallel Line Segments
Puzzles available for extra credit and Friday (Math) Bingo
Remember: MATH …. It’s everywhere
La lectura
This week the students completed their Sal project. Thank you to everyone who was able to come share that with us. If anyone has a video Id love to have a copy so I can share it with other parents and with the kiddos.
This week we began doing little daily comprehension stories. These stories are only about one paragraph long but have advanced vocabulary and grammar (to their level). They have been very quick to read these and then answer the 5 comprehension questions. They are required to use the strategy of underlining their answers in the paragraph. These are good strategies and vocabulary/grammar building activities that we are using each day. They like them too!
Ciencias
This week the students were assessed on their final investigation: Natural resources. They were given a menu of tasks to choose from in order to show their knowledge of their knowledge of the investigation. This was a fun way to be assessed!
We also began our newest investigation: Environments.
All living things depend on the conditions in their environment. The study of the relationships between one organism and its environment builds knowledge of all organisms. With this knowledge comes an awareness of limits. Changes in an environment can be hard on organisms. Such knowledge is important because humans can change environments. To do so without awareness of possible consequences can lead to disasters. The Environments Module consists of six investigations that introduce students to these basic concepts in environmental biology.
Specialists
Art with Ms. Kelly
Our art projects this month were
Clay Masks with Miss Karen
LOVE Designs
Learn about Robert Indiana’s LOVE designs and sculptures.
Use letters and patterns to create artwork.
Portraits in the style of Picasso
Learn about the different styles of portraits created by Picasso.
Create an abstract portrait by using various diagonal lines from folded paper.
Add colors and patterns to the portrait.
The students designed some very colorful, creative portraits!
Rana – frog, 
The children used different sensory materials to draw the letter R: materials such as rice, play dough, salt and sugar. We also drew the letter on the blackboard. I also showed them objects that start with the letter R like the frog, the mouse, the rose. We also observed names of the children to see which of their names had the letter R.
