(Colorful Beetle Assortment)
Hello Families,
A few of you have emailed or talked to me with questions regarding the extra assignment I gave the class on Monday this week about Beetles. Our Kindergarten class is focusing on Amazing Creatures this week in Language Arts, and our book focus was on Beetles. Our First Grade Class is working on writing and answering questions this week for Writing. I thought it would be a fun and creative project to blend the two skills and offer it to the entire class. After reading the story on Beetles and watching a short video about them, we discussed what we learned, and brainstormed questions about things we wanted to know about beetles. We looked at where they live around the world, what the largest and smallest types of beetles are, etc. At the end of the lesson I gave each student a piece of paper and asked them to write their own question about something they would still like to know about these creatures. Their task was to take the question home and research to find the answer with their family. I was hoping to have everyone bring it back so we could put them together into a "Beetles: Questions and Answers Book". That way the students could check it out and see what they were able to come up with on their own. I got about 7 back today, so obviously the students didn't quite get it. Hopefully you can help them out tonight or tomorrow, so that we can still make a book on Friday!
If your child lost their paper and need to start over, just have them write their name and question at the top of a piece of plain white paper. Then draw a picture of their beetle under the question. When they finish with their picture, help them research the answer to their question. You can use books, magazines, internet, whatever you have available to search for the answer. (Ask.com is great for research because you can simply type in the question and see what pops up!!) When you find the answer, help your child write it down in their own words on the paper at the bottom. If they return it to class this week we can include it with the others to make a book.
Researching an interesting topic and finding answers to questions you make yourself is much more fun than just doing the normal school work, not to mention it really motivates student learning and creates an authentic connection to the topic. I've already seen the excitement on my student's faces today when they discovered a beetle walking around outside at P.E. Thanks for your help and happy researching!!
(The Goliath Beetle)
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