Lesson 2 – How Do Forces Affect Motion?
We practiced identifying familiar forces that cause objects to move. We observed that the greater the force applied to an object the greater the change in motion. Next we observed that the greater the mass of an object the less effect a given force will have on the object’s motion. Then we were introduced to Newton’s 1st Law of Motion. Then we began working on a project to enable us to identify when this law is applied.

We began with "March of the Marionette," which Gwendolyn has almost mastered. We practiced "Russian Dance," and discussed the piece's timing, accents and dynamics. We played through "Bourree" and several major scales.

Today Gwedolyn warmed up walking two laps around park and sprinting corners.
She worked on throwing the football into targets. She also practiced soccer skills, using body parts, no hands, footwork around cones and throwing the soccer ball into field.

Multiplying Fractions and Whole Numbers
We learned how to find fractions of whole numbers. We learned that the product of a whole number and a fraction can be interpreted in different ways such as repeated addition. We know that the product of a fraction and a whole number is less than the whole number because we are finding a part of that whole number.

Gwendolyn began the segment on Poetry today. We covered the variety of poetry styles, read examples of poems from the books in the library bin, and then spent a good amount of time writing poems of her own. She composed a Haiku and a Cinquon which were fun and well-done.

Gwendolyn and I reviewed what we covered last week. I quizzed her on concepts, the sequence of historical events, cause and effect and vocabulary terms. We learned more about mass production and the perfection of the assembly line, credited to Henry Ford. We watched a short BrainPop video which demonstrated changes attributed to this new technology. We looked to History.com to learn more about why the U.S. entered the War 3 years later and the two incidents that caused Woodrow Wilson to join in the War - the Zimmerman telegram and the sinking of the Lusitania. We looked at the purposeful design of trench digging. We also discussed Woodrow Wilson's efforts at peace, the 14 points speech and the formation of the League of Nations. Finally, we looked to the use of propaganda in the War.

We started class with working on braiding. We then got Gwendolyn's bracelet set up. Next, she started adding the beads. Her 1st bracelet turned out beautifully.

Today Gwendolyn and I warmed up with a mile walk. When we got to the park, Gwendolyn and I worked on passing using both her left and right hand. We then went on to do some defensive and offensive drills that involved catching and dodging. Next we worked on transitions.

Today Gwendolyn and I had two sessions together. During the first session, we went to the library and she picked out poetry books for next week's poetry unit. She also read silently for the last ten minutes of class. During our second session, she finished up her biography book report project.

Lesson 1 – How did understanding forces send a rover to Mars? We learned that an unbalanced force of 900,000 N from a booster rocket accelerates the rocket carrying the rover upward. Then smaller rockets in the second stage fire to keep the rocket on course as it is traveling at constant velocity. Next as the spacecraft approaches Mars, gravitational attraction begins to accelerate it toward the surface. Then the rover detaches and parachutes slowly to its fall. Finally a big ball inflates over the rover to protect it for impact.