End-of-Week Update, 10/3

Room 20 had a blast learning about the Franklin Public Library on Friday!

What we've been up to:
What an amazing, busy, and remarkable week!  This week was full of fun projects, special events, and even a field trip.  Read on about what made this week so special!

On Tuesday, we were finally able to put our puff mobiles to the test!  The Puff Mobile Race was held on Tuesday afternoon and it was a thrilling time.  Our four puff mobiles (see team photos below!) performed well and our teams showed great sportsmanship, cooperation, and engineering enthusiasm!  We had fun, learned about engineering, and even learned about ourselves.  A great time was had by all!

This week was a special week in reading!  Destiny shared a book talk about Cam Jansen, we worked on visualizing plot and characters, and we had a special visitor from the Franklin Public Library come to speak to us on Wednesday.  Ms. Andrews, the assistant director of the FPL, taught us all about the awesome resources we can find online using our library cards.  We were so excited to use our cards at home (with our parents' supervision and permission) and, of course, to use them on our field trip to the library on Friday!

Our trip to the library was awsesome!  We took the bus with Mrs. Merten's class and arrived at the library around 9 AM.  First, Mrs. Rappa from the library taught us about the history of the library.  We learned all about the Ray sisters and how they built the library as a gift for their parents.  We also learned about the Greek architecture and designs that are found all over the library!  We had fun finding the three different types of columns (Ionic, Doric, and Corinthian) as well as the "egg and dart" design around doors, walls, and windows.  After we took a tour of the library, we created a door hanger craft with Miss Farrell's class and then it was time to use our library cards!  We had time to check out books, movies, magazines, and CDs.  Some of us used the "self check-out" counter!  We left with piles of treasures from the library.  Once we got back to our classroom, we had a chance to add to our "Someday" lists by looking at what our classmates checked out.  It was a great way to get psyched about reading!  Check out the photos below.

In science, we built our terrariums!  It was a rainy day, so we had to build them inside, but it was still lots of fun.  Our class and Miss Farrell's class built terrariums together.  We started with a scoop of gravel at the bottom for drainage.  Then we added just enough potting soil, planted plant clippings, and watered our terrariums for the one and only time before sealing the top with a lid or plastic wrap.  Mrs. Adams showed us this super old terrarium that hasn't been opened for 53 years!  Ask us how it's possible (due to the water cycle) for plants to survive in a sealed jar and never get watered.  Fascinating!  Check out the photos below!

This week in math, we worked on patterns - repeating number and shape patterns, tables, and finding the "rule" of different patterns using our math skills.  Our Topic 2 math test is next Thursday (10/9).  In writing, we've been working on finishing up our first personal narratives and we'll be starting new ones next week.  At chorus this week, Audria was named celebriary singer - we were so excited and proud of her!

Way to go, Audria, this week's celebrity singer!

If you weren't at Open House (or didn't see the sign), please subscribe to our blog!  You'll get emails when a new post is up and you'll be able to keep up with the latest Room 20 news.  See you next week!

What's coming up:

• Our Topic 2 math test is Thursday, 10/4.  Use the pink study guide to help your child in preparing for this test at home.
• We have no school on Monday, 10/13 for Columbus Day!
• If you have not yet scheduled a conference for October, please use the Sign-Up Genius link to do so.  Contact Mrs. Adams if you need help!