Good morning Boys and Girls,

I hope you had a good week and enjoyed all of the nice weather we have been having.  I know Evan and Susie have been out biking because I saw them while I was out walking.  I hope each of you are getting outside on nice days.  It won't be long now and the snow will be all gone and we can begin to pick up broken twigs on our lawns and rake flower gardens. I can't wait! 

Thank you to those of you who responded to the Technology Survey.  I have submitted the data to District Office. 

This week I will be e-mailing a list of You Tube Videos which deal with Math concepts.  Take your time and go through them for some of the concepts we have covered and some we have not.  They are cute and easy to follow.

Math Concepts:

Mass- is measured in grams (g) and kilograms (kg).  When you weigh something light you measure in grams and when you weigh something heavy you measure in kilograms.  Look in our cupboard for a box of noodles or rice.  These will likely be measured in grams.  Weigh yourself on a scale and it will be in kilograms.

You can choose two items and put one in each hand.  You will be able to feel the difference in their masses.  You will know which mass is greater.  A balance scale is used to do the same thing (check out the video in your e-mail).

Distance is measured in centimetres (cm) and Metres (m).  A centimetre is about the width of your pinkie finger.  A metre is equal to 100 centimetres (you remember the metre stick at school).  Which unit would you use to measure your bedroom, your book, your house, your car, etc.  Watch the video about measuring distance on you Math Video page on the e-mail.

Polygons- are figures which have straight lines and are joined.  

Triangles- three sides

Quadrilaterals- four sides

Pentagons - five sides

Hexagon - six sides

Heptagon- seven sides

octagon- eight sides

nonagon- nine sides

decagon - ten sides

*** A "standard polygon" is one where all sides are the same length and have the same angles.  ie. A "square" is a standard quadrilateral.  A "rectangle" is not a standard polygon because all sides are not equal even though all angles are the same.

Check out the Math video on polygons.  Practice drawing some.  Make the standard polygon then practice others.  Have fun with it.

Continue to work on time and money.

Literacy Concepts:

Reading Comprehension- This week we will focus on being able to summarize in your own words the beginning, middle and ending of the story. 

Beginning - Where does the story take place and who are the characters?  What is it about? (ie. baseball, babysitting, shopping trip)

Middle- What happens in the story?  What is the problem that arises or series of events?

Ending- What happens in the end?  How is the problem solved or how does it end up? 

Grade 2 reads 15 mins. / day

Grade 3 reads 20 mins. / day

Writing:

This week I would like you to focus on your beginnings and endings.  We have spent quite a bit of time working on these this year so think about it while writing a story of your choice.

Beginnings for a story:

Begin with a Question- Do you like to go shopping with your mom?

Begin with the setting of the story- It was crowded at the Wal-Mart on Saturday morning when mom and I arrived.

Begin with a character description - My mother is a power shopper.  She likes to get in and get out with her list of items.  She doesn't mess around in a store.

Begin with a "sound"- "BANG" the automatic door slammed shut behind us as my mother and I entered the Wal-Mart.

Begin with dialogue (conversation):  "How long is this shopping trip going to take Mom?"  I asked.  "Not long dear, just stick close and we'll be out of here in no time," mom promised.

Endings for a story:

Sum it up- Well, I learned my lesson this time.  I will never wander away from my mother in a store again.

Show your Emotions- I was so relieved to be reunited with my mother.  I cried happy tears.

Ask a question- I wonder if mom will ever take me shopping with her again?

The middle tells the details of what actually happens in the story.  Details answer the questions:  who, what, where, when, why and how.

I hope you have a good week ahead and I will be calling on Wednesday to see how you are doing.  I miss you all!

Mrs. Bonnie Vickers