Dear Family,

This week we are going to read a realistic fiction story and an informational text that will help us answer the question "What can you learn from planting a garden?" In The Ugly Vegetables, a girl learns about her neighbors when she plants a garden. We'll also see some HUGE plants from real gardens when we read They Really Are Giant!

Your partner in education,
Mrs. D'Elia

Domain: Life Science

Lesson Topic: Agriculture

Genre: Anchor Text- The Ugly Vegetables (Fiction: Realistic Fiction)

Supplemental Text- They Really Are GIANT! (Nonfiction: Informational Text) 

Essential Question: What can you learn from planting a garden?

Target Vocabulary: blooming, muscles, nodded, plain, scent, shovels, tough, wrinkled

Phonics and Spelling Skills: Double Consonants and ck; Double Consonants (CVC)

Vocabulary Strategy: Homophones

Comprehension Skill: Conclusions--use details to figure out more about the text

Comprehension Strategy: Analyze/Evaluate--tell how you feel about the text and why

Writing Focus: Informative/Explanatory Writing--informational paragraph (summary)

Grammar Skill: Proper Nouns

Fluency: Accuracy: Connected Text

Activities to Do Together with Your Child at Home:

Vocabulary

Display the vegetables you have in your home. Take turns making up sentences about the vegetables. Use as many Target Vocabulary words you can.

Senses Guessing Game

Select a food or another "mystery item." Blindfold your child and challenge him or her to use every sense but sight to guess what you selected. Then it's your turn to guess! Talk about the clues that helped each of you make your guesses.

A Trip to the Market

Take your child on a trip to the supermarket or fruit stand. When you get home, have your child write a paragraph that tells about the most important events of your trip.

Math - Chapter 2- Place Value to One Hundred

Science - Busy, Busy Bat

Social Studies - Maps, cardinal directions, and map keys