We had a busy week that was filled with hands-on learning. We had a visitor from the John Ball Zoo who brought along a Mexican Porcupine, King Snake, and scorpion. We learned about the habitats required for these animals and how the zoo only takes in animals that have been injured, or that they have acquired from another zoo. For our science unit, we will be working with Mrs. Kipling and Mrs. Andrews in STEM and ART to create a zoo habitat for an animal that we are studying within our research groups in Reading Workshop. We will also be writing an All About information book on our specific animals.

Sheepshank Sam day was a huge hit! We learned a great deal about lumbering in Michigan during the 1800s. To see more photos of our zoo presentation and lumberjack day, have your child show you their Seesaw newsfeed.

In reading we are working on learning strategies to research animals in our research clubs. In writing, we are learning strategies to organize and elaborate an All About book. This first draft is an “all about” on any topic students feel like an expert on. The second “all about” will be on the animal being researched in our reading workshop groups.

We are about to end our mini-topic on Two-Dimensional Shapes. Our next mini-topic will be solving problems involving perimeter.

Reminder, we will have our first of 2 swimming lessons tomorrow, Tuesday, April 18th. We walk over to the Aquatic Center right after lunch recess. Please help your child remember to pack a suit and towel. Again, if there are any dads that can meet us there to help with the boys locker room, please let Mrs. Bulthuis know you are available.  Thank you!