February Break 2010

Hello Families,

We have been working hard this week in an effort to make up some of the work that we missed on our snow day.  The children took an 8 unit cumulative math test, and a five unit spelling review test.  We have also started a new math topic on subtraction with borrowing.

Sledding and playing in the snow have added drama to our unit on the Arctic.  The recess duty teachers have told me that some of my students have been seen crawling around in the snow pretending to be Arctic foxes and polar bears.  We have begun to talk about the Iditarod, the great sled dog race of Alaska.  If you have access to the internet, go to The Official Site of the Iditarod with your child.  Click on the 2010 Iditarod.  There are lots of short video clips to watch, and go to the musher listing.  Click on a musher's name and you can read a short biography.  Many of the mushers also have a link to their own website.  It's fun to read about their lives and their dogs.  When we return from break, each child will have a partner from our class.  They will be asked to choose a musher to follow during the race.  We will put up a huge map on the bulletin board, and track each musher's progress on a daily basis.  This year's race starts Saturday, March 6th.  The dogs travel about 8 miles an hour.  Thus, the race can last from 8 to 16 days.  Get ready!  Set Go!

Have a wonderful break.  See you back at school in March.