This week we continued our study of simple machines by looking at wheels, gears, pulleys, and inclined planes. We are having fun with force, work, friction, and other simple machine related ideas. I'm impressed at how quickly students are figuring out these scientific concepts and applying them to the world at large.
In writing we are working on getting ideas onto paper (even though it's more challenging than speaking), keeping our handwriting neat, and using our spelling dictionaries (and asking me) to help us spell all words correctly. This week we wrote a short piece on which geologic event or occurrence you would most want to study, how you would study it, and why you selected that event. It was fun to see how students would study volcanoes by camping in the craters; floods in private helicopters; and extreme weather by traveling the globe to experience them all, among other ideas. If you are looking for a rainy day activity this weekend, have your student write for a few minutes.
Book groups met this week for the first time. Students were excited to share their thoughts on the books they selected with their groups. Many students are finishing up their first books and are excited to start their second by their book group author.
In all subjects we are aiming to not let our desire to be done quickly overtake the desire to do our best and try our hardest. It's a challenge at times but if we keep it up I'm sure it will become easier in time.
I hope everyone enjoys their "short" weekend. See you on Monday.
