Peabody Press

News From Ms. Foxs Den

Issue #15 Monday, January 5, 2015
Week-at-a-Glance
MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

Math- Introduction to

Math- Multiplication

Math- Introduction to

Math Fact Practice

Centers

Division

Content Rotations-

Readers Workshop-

Readers Workshop-

Social Studies:
Introduction to Ancient
Egypt

Reading groups

Reading groups

Science:
Oceanography-Animal
Habitats

Word Studyintroduce weekly sorts &

spelling patterns

Handwriting-

(introducing chapter books)

Writers Workshop-

Fiction Writing based on Chris

Van Allsburgs text, The
Mysteries of Harris Burdick

*Word Study
Homework: choice
activity
** Math Homework:
fact practice

Introduction to Cursive

**Word Study
Homework: sentence
writing

Content Rotations-

**Reading Homework:
15 minutes of reading

Social Studies: Ancient

Civilizations Timeline
Science:
Oceanography

**Reading
Homework: 15 minutes
of reading

School-Wide Morning
Meeting @ 8:40 am

Math- Division Centers

Readers WorkshopReading groups

FRIDAY
Math- Literature
Connection: 365
Penguins

Content RotationsScience and Social

Studies Stations

Shakespeare-

Introducing Monologue
Assignment

Writers WorkshopWriters Workshop-

Fiction Writing

Fiction Writing

Library Day
**Word Study
Homework: review

words for spelling check

** Math Homework:
fact practice

THURSDAY

Spelling Check
**Math homework
assigned for Friday
**Homework: 15

minutes of reading

** Math Homework:
fact practice

**Reading Homework:
Reading Reflection

Dear Second Grade Families,

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a relaxing break, and enjoyed their time off. Im glad to be back in some
warmer temperaturesafter experiencing wind chills in the single digits in Maine, 45 sure feels nice! I have missed
the students tremendously over the past two weeks, and cannot wait for the exciting learning in the days ahead. This
week, we will delve into a number of new topics, including an investigation of ancient Egypt, an
exploration of ocean animals, and the start of our division study in math.
But first, please join me in welcoming back Alex Blank to our Peabody

Welcome Back,
Alex!

community! We are all so thrilled for you to be a member of the Fox Den!

Walk Like an Egyptian

This week, we will time travel back nearly 5,000 years in history to the

start of pharaonic rule in Egypt. But first, students will establish a timeline reflecting the thousands of years
separating ancient Egypt from today. Later in the week, we will don our archaeologist caps as we examine artifacts
featured in exhibits at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. I was lucky
enough to visit both museums over the break, and am very excited to share these incredible photographs with this group
of young historians. Students will keep a field journal in order to document their observations. Our analysis will help
students gain a better understanding of what these artifacts reveal about the culture from which they came.

I dont think ordinary

things are very interesting,
so I try to imagine a world
that is less ordinary.

Fictional Tales
This week, students will continue their fictional tales, drawing inspiration
from Chris Van Allsburgs illustrations. Van Allsburgs

The idea of the

extraordinary happening in
the context of the ordinary
is whats fascinating to me.

wordless text, The Mysteries of Harris Burdick,

offers countless stories hidden within its
enigmatic drawings. In the upcoming weeks,
students will develop a piece of fictional writing
based on one of these pictures. I look forward
to being hooked by the students compelling

E.B. White
Chris Van Allsburg

stories, and falling into an extraordinary world of the imagination.

All the W orlds a Stage

This week, students will begin interpreting their soliloquies from A Midsummer Nights
Dream. In preparation for our big spring performance, students will first sharpen their
oration skills. This Thursday, students will receive the passage of the character they wish to
portray in their mini scene. We will begin to analyze and rehearse our lines in order to
understand a characters emotions and voice. The goal for this project is for each student to
become his or her character in both dialogue and movement, as well as provide a modernday translation.

Heres to another week full of inquiry and new discoveries!

With Love,
Ms. Fox

If you have any questions, please do not

hesitate to contact me via email:
rfox@peabodyschool.org.