Enjoy the Long Weekend!

I hope that everyone is enjoying this long weekend.

When we get back to school on Wednesday, we'll have lots to do. 

• We will be finishing up our topographical map project started last week in CLIC.  I'm excited to see the painted finishes to these salt dough maps of imaginary islands.  
• We'll begin to delve deeper into the science of light and color. 
• Math will continue with simplifying numeric expressions after which our class will move on to real world problems (i.e. word problems).  If anyone asks why learning all this multiplication and division is important, you can tell them about a recent study that shows that it pays to know math.  The study concludes that in "an Amazonian tribe that has limited contact with civilization and limited use of numbers in their culture", knowing how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide is associated with acquiring goods, wealth, and health in their foraging and farming community (from "Quants rule, even in the jungle" in the Uncommon Knowledge feature by Kevin Lewis -- Boston Globe, 10/13/13). 
• Groups are continuing to read mysteries, as well.  We've begun to discuss the books, looking for the elements of mystery and considering various types of comprehension questions in our conversations.  Please keep the reading up at home, too.  I've seen some thoughtful responses to at-home reading come in on Fridays.
• Having completed our first chapter in social studies on the geography of the United States, we'll continue with a brief overview of the Native American tribes present on the continent at the time of the New World settlements.

So take advantage of this weekend to refresh yourselves, appreciate the beautiful New England fall days, and come back to school ready to learn.