Our Great State

This week in our Vermont history/geography  theme unit we moved ahead in time  from the Abenaki to the late 1700's when Vermont was settled as a state. The two fourth grade classes participated in a simulation where one class represented the New Hampshire Grants and the other class played the role of the (New) Yorkers. These two groups of people were sold the same plot of land and it was up to the unpopular King George to settle the dispute. He sided with the Yorkers and that launched the rebellion by the well known Green Mountain Boys. The students loved debating their opinions and came up with ideas for their own Vermont Constitution that sounded very similar to the one that was written so many years ago.

Now students will use what they know about Vermont history in a special literacy project that will combine their new understandings with poetry.

We also explored equivalent fractions by using tools to build what these fractions represent. Using tools and models can help to make more abstract concepts like fractions seem more concrete and accessible to mathematicians at this stage of learning.


Next week we will lead up to the break with some exciting events. The holiday concert will be on Wednesday, followed by R.A.D. (Reading All Day) on Thursday and our Craft Morning and Cinema Day on Friday. Thank you to all that are going to be volunteering your time or snacks. We know it is a busy time of year and we greatly appreciate the help.

We hope thatyour families have a peaceful holiday and we look forward to seeing you all in the new year.

Fondly,
Jess and Liz

Ready Researchers

This week we read about the Abenaki people and then Mosaic students identified questions they were interested in researching to learn more about their amazing culture. Students were introduced to a concept web as a tool to take notes as well as guidance on how to search appropriate, accurate sites using key words and phrases.

After finding the answers to their questions they came back together in subtopic groups to participated in a discussion about what they learned. Former Mosaic students (now on Swift) volunteered their time to help us have a productive discussion and guided students to pull out key details and terminology to create a word cloud.
Next students will use these word clouds to help them sketch ideas for how they will tell about what they learned in a mural they will be making in art class with Mrs. Beeken. Stay tuned for how their new understandings take shape in a collaborative painting for all to enjoy.

A sign-up sheet for our Mosaic Holiday Craft Morning went home in the Friday folder. If you are able to volunteer please send the form back in with your child as soon as you can. We thank you for helping us make this festive day a success.

Don't forget to look through your (2-6th grade) books for our Mosaic book exchange on Thursday, December 21st. The more books that come in, the more books students will go home with to read in the new year.

Happy Holiday,
Liz and Jess

Googling Geographers

To complete our Vermont geography mini-unit the young geographers worked in teams to create an interactive Google map full of information about different Vermont Attractions. Using online resources and a new micro-progression for writing with strong word choice they created an informative map for anyone looking to visit the Green Mountain State. Visit it here.

Putting notes and key details
 into our own writing

Pinning our locations
 on our Google Maps

We also ended our math unit this week and showed what we now understand about strategies for solving more complex multiplication problems and division problems that involve remainders. To do this challenging work students use visual models. Seeing, touching, and sketching ideas create pictures in the mind's eye, helping learners construct, understand, and apply mathematical ideas.  Next week we will reflect on our goals and move into Unit 3, where we will explore fractions and decimals. See here for more information on this unit's big ideas.

Using tile to model the solution to a
division story problem. 

Homemade feeders for our
 feathered friends to enjoy this winter

Our Four Winds Volunteers came in on Thursday and we all learned so much about the migratory behaviors of our feathered friends. This inspired one student to bring in his homemade birdhouse and bird feeder to hang up outside the classroom windows. Hopefully we will see some of the species we learned about this winter.

Please remember that as we head into the winter months your students will be going outside each day. They should have boots, snow pants, gloves, and hats daily. Please feel free to leave a pair in school.

We have a few fun events to look forward to this month. Stay tuned for more information about our R.A.D. Celebration and our Craft Morning in your child's Friday folder.

Think Snow,

Jess and Liz