We started off our week with a fire safety assembly from the Selkirk Fire Department.  Thank you to all the volunteer fire fighters who help keep our community safe!  We discussed the importance of having a plan at home in case there is ever an emergency.  This was a good reminder for me to check my smoke alarms at home as well!

I started off my week with a lunch date with my September table winners!  The "Blue Kangaroos" earned the most points for their table and their reward was to eat lunch with me in the classroom.  It was great to get to know them a little more.  :)

In writing workshop we have finished writing our first drafts and have moved onto the revision stage of writing.  Revision is a way to make our best better and really begins with rereading our story.  As writers of revision we can ask ourselves..."What is this story really about?  Have I brought out that deeper story? Have I made my characters seem human?"  We learned how to select a certain lens for revision, based on whatever we value in our story, and to reread with that lens, studying those specific parts in our story.

In math we have been learning about patterns, how to find rules for patterns, and how to use those rules to complete tables and word problems.  We have practiced reasoning and learned a lot about the importance of thinking about the information that is given to us first before trying to solve the problem.  Drawing a picture helps too!

As scientists, we discussed how to test different types of minerals.  We learned that many different tests can be performed in order to identify different minerals. We read about the Mohs Hardness Scale, and how we can test for hardness using different objects.  The streak test is another way we can identify minerals.  Sometimes the streak has a different color than the mineral itself!

Yesterday we were so lucky to have two visitors from Five Rivers come into our classroom.  Mary and Lauren taught us a lot about invasive species. We learned about native and alien plants and animals, specifically the Emerald Ash Borer and Water Chestnut.  They brought in some Water Chestnut seeds, and a sample of what the Emerald Ash Borer does to the Ash Trees. We even got to do a simulation of what it is like for the Emerald Ash Borer to spread among a large group of Ash Trees!

I hope everyone has a great long weekend!

Mrs. Riegel