11-6-13

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 * 1. SOCIAL STUDIES: NATIVE AMERICAN UNIT Nov. 4-Jan. 24 **
 * Introduction to Native Americans Claudia and Mike walked Sarah through last year's PBL for the Eastern Woodland Indians. We discussed a timeline for modeling Native American culture in this particular region. We discussed MAIN TOPICS to cover. We discussed transforming our rooms into the area. Our goal is to be done covering this region by Friday, Dec 6.
 * PBL all of December and January Dec 9 through Winter Break will be time for the kids to dive into their region as well as the first three weeks after winter break
 * Display what we've done for show and share night. Discuss possible technology connections at future meetings!


 * 2. SCIENCE: LIVING VS NONLIVING UNIT **

Brine Shrimp experiment gets going this week...results should be ready for discussion next week! :) We'll use the new DIGISCOPES that Pat delivered to us today!! :) Make use of the living/nonliving cards that Pat gave us to spark discussion about why/how we determine if something is living or nonliving.


 * 3. SCIENCE: SOUND UNIT **

We started to book our six labs with Pat to ensure we complete this unit before Winter Break. HOWEVER....the lab is FULL because first, third, and fourth grade have it booked for one hour chunks all year long. Between that, specials, and lunch/recess duties, and the fact that Pat is only here three afternoons, our three week unit will take nearly six weeks. Claudia will speak to Pat or Carolyn about this issue.

4. **MATH: Discuss pros/cons of what's going on in math right now....with Patti Ptak.** We discussed use of everydaymathonline.com site as well as the Mary Freitag site where we pull our tests and IPPs from. We discussed the need for more challenging work for our sharp math students at this point in the year. Patti will share a SHEET that her team came up with for those parents who ask for "extra work." They share it at conference time. Sarah may tweek it and make it our own...to possibly share at conferences with our parents as well.