12-13-12-17

Reading- Selection- The Polar Express Skills: Compare and Contrast, Personification ,Main Idea and Details Strategy: Context Clues


 * Great Pocket Chart Activites

Monday:Whole Group Q of Week: Have you ever taken a train ride? What do you think of when you hear the world magical? Set Purpose for Reading: Read the first page of the book aloud to students. Have them make predictions about the selection. Write their predictions on chart paper and keep posted throughout the week. Read Aloud: The Polar Express Small Group with teacher: Use Bloom's Tax questions: Knowledge, Comprehension, Application, Analysis, Synthesis, Evaluation (See Handouts)

Tuesday: Whole Group Q of Day: The boy can ask Santa Claus for anything in the world. Why do you think he chooses a simple bell? Review students predicitons from chart on yesterday Introduce: Simile Stars: A simile is figure language of speech likening one thing to another by the use of "like" or "as". Small Group with teacher: Work on figure language: See Handout for simile use in book. Continue Bloom's Questions Small Group without teacher: Partner Read: Christmas Traditons Continue Small Groups Games such as sight word bingo etc. Homework: Ask students to bring an object to school that holds as much meaning for them as the boy's bell holds for him. Green Group: Retell the polar express using a timeline

Wednesday: Q of Day: Why can the boy and his sister hear the bell while their parents cannot? Review Homework: Allow students to briefy share their objects. The Spirit of Christmas Small Group: Green Group: Listen to book on VHS ( I have a copy if you would like to use it) Continue Small Group activites from previous day/ Partner Read: Christmas Stockings

Thursday: Whole Group Q of Day: Why can the boy still hear the bell as an adult, while his sister and friends cannot? Widescreen Edition of: The Polar Express (100 min.)

Friday: Whole Group: Q of Day: What do you think Chris Van Allsburg wants the bell to represent? Voc. Practice Polar Express Word Search& Crossword Make your own popcorn tree garland/you can use paper instead

**SCIENCE-COS # 7** Identify commom parts of plant and animal cells, including the nucleus, cytoplasm, and cell membrane. **Monday-**Introduce plant cells. Complete directional drawing and WB page 2. **Tuesday**-Complete directional drawing for animal cells and complete a venn diagram comparing and contrasting animal and plant cells. **Wednesday**-Complete and discuss Item specs for cells. Add vocabulary to glossary of journal (plant cell, animal cell, nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, vacuoles, mitochondria, chlorophyll). Use the analagies that the nuclues="brain", mitochondria="motor", cytoplasm="plasma/jelly", cell membrane="doorway/ bouncer", vacuoles="vacuum, holds water and waste", chlorophyll=color green/absorbs sunlight) **Thursday-** Christmas Party and/or cont. cell activities. **Friday**-3D cells activity. Have students construct cells using candy materials to illustrate each part of the cell. Writing-

Monday-Tuesday Directions: You will write about an event in your life that happened on Christmas Day. It can be something that is humorous or serious. It must be a true experience in your life.

Turkey, Christmas Day, Giving, Dressing, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Cranberry Sauce, Table and Tablecloth, Chairs, Decorations, House - Kitchen, Dining Room, Living Room - Guests, Desserts, Dishes, Silverware, Glasses, Presents, and Activities. Some of the words are suggestions. You need to describe the house such as kitchen, dining room, and living room. You also need to describe these rooms using the senses, touch, hear, sight, smell, and taste.

Wednesday-Friday

Prompt- The boy's bell is magic from THE POLAR EXPRESS. Only he can hear it. Imagine that you find or are given a magic that only you can _. (The students fill in the blanks for themselves.) Describe this object and how it cahnges you life.

Math - Monday - Cartesian plane - explain quadrants, Number line - negative number s, review fractions/mixed numbers/improper fractions, regular and congruent polygons. Tuesday - Same as monday...if more material is needed please cover types of triangles. You can use the coach book or come see me for info. Wednesday - Test fractions, mixed numbers, cartesian planes, number lines let me know if you want me to add congruent /regular polygons. Thurs - Christmas math pack Friday - Christmas math pack