This week was amazing at AHB! The Gammas loved their trip to Barton Springs on Tuesday and learned so much about Barton Springs and the Edwards Aquifer. They enjoyed seeing wildlife, having lunch in the park, and had a blast playing on the playground! Thanks so much to our parents who were able to drive and chaperone. We appreciate you so much!
YAY! We earned 100 TWIGGY tickets so Tuesday will be Crazy Hair Day
Math
Gamma twos wrapped up their study of data charts this week. They were given 100 students’ birthdays and had to organize and display the data. They constructed a dot plot showing how many birthdays occur each month and a stem and leaf plot showing the frequency of birthdays on each day of the month. Next week will be about measurement. They will use real-life applications of area and perimeter to complete a project in class. Gamma ones learned how to read and create dot plots and pictographs! They discovered the importance of titles, labels, and keys when analyzing graphs. Next, they will learn how to read bar graphs and will end the year learning about personal financial literacy.
ELA
This week, each group was assigned a fractured fairy tale. They began by assigning parts and reading through their scripts. They focused on voice projection, pacing, and the importance of stage directions. Next week, they will make or bring in simple props and perform their play for the class. Their persuasive essays are going to be amazing. Some students are finishing up their drafts and starting the editing process. We have really focused on using transitions in their writing, and they will learn how to write a solid conclusion paragraph. We are on track to publish our final essays next week.
Theme
The Gamma field trip to Barton Springs went along perfectly with our environmentalism theme. We learned that Barton Springs is home to several fish including bass, sunfish and cichlids. It’s also home to the endangered Barton Springs salamander which is not found anywhere else on Earth! Unlike a standard swimming pool, Barton Springs Pool is naturally replenished by an underground system of limestone caves and fissures known as a karst aquifer (Edwards Aquifer). This branch of the aquifer is the sole water source for over 60,000 people in the Austin and Hays County area!
The Gammas completed a lab to illustrate what happens during an oil spill. They tested how different materials (cotton ball, paper towel, spoon, Dawn dish soap) and techniques (skimming) interact with oil on the water’s surface. Be sure to ask your Gamma about it!!
