Week 3: Monday

This week, we will be focusing on Earth Day, which is on Wednesday, April 22nd. To celebrate Earth Day, we will be reading Todd Parr's book, "The Earth Book." This book shares how we can take care of the earth and why we need to take care of it.

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Read Aloud

If you have the book at home - great! Please read this with your child. If not, you can watch this YouTube video where Todd Parr reads the story to you.

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Discussion Questions

Please take the time to ask your child questions about the story. Below are some sample questions (in black text) and answers (in red text) that you can ask your child. This will help you gauge their understanding and comprehension of the story. Students are welcomed and encouraged to re-visit the book at anytime.

1. What is this story about? This story is about the different ways that we can take care of the earth and why we should take care of the earth.

2. What can we do to save energy? We can turn off the lights and shut the refrigerator door.

3. What are some things that were recycled in the story? Glass, aluminum, paper, and plastic were recycled in the story.

4. Why should we save water? We should save water because it is good for the fish and the oceans will stay blue.

5. Why do you think the author wrote this book? (Answers may vary.) I think the author wrote this book to teach people how to take care of the earth and why we should do it.

6. How have you taken care of the earth before? (Answers will vary.)

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Daily Edit

Mini Lesson

Question: When is "Earth" capitalized?

Answer: Earth is capitalized when we use it as a proper noun (i.e. a specific person, place, or thing). We don't capitalize it when we use it as a common noun (i.e. a general person, place, or thing).

The easiest way to remember is if you use "the" in front of "Earth," then it does not need to be capitalized. But, if there is no "the" in front of "Earth," then it needs to be capitalized.

For example:

The spaceship is coming back to Earth.

Many spaceships have left the earth.

If you replace "Earth" with another proper noun (i.e. Richmond) and it makes sense, then it should be capitalized.

For example:

"The spaceship is coming back to Earth." still makes sense when it is changed to "The spaceship is coming back to Richmond."

Likewise, if you replace "earth" with another common noun (i.e. "ground") and it makes sense, then it should not be capitalized.

For example:

"Many spaceships have left the earth." still makes sense when it is changed to "Many spaceships have left the ground."

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Directions

1. Download these two documents: Week 3 Monday Passage A & B (Teacher-Parent Copy) and Week 3 Monday Passage B (Student Worksheet).

2. Give Passage B to your child.

3. Read Passage A aloud to your child (do not let them see it) while they follow along with Passage B.

4. Read Passage B aloud to your child (have them follow with their finger, if needed).

5. Read Passage A aloud to your child again while your child follows Passage B.

6. Give your child time to edit Passage B with a pencil or a marker. * Note: If you are unable to print this out, you child can orally edit the passage instead.

7. Review their edits and provide hints to help them finish it (e.g. What needs to be capitalized? What is at the end of a sentence? The vowel is saying its name, which means that there is a silent _?_ at the end of the word).

8. Show your child Passage A and have them compare to see how they did.

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Message from Ms. Zhu

This week is all about the earth! Try to think of some ways that you can take care of the earth. Don't forget to upload a picture of your child's work or of your child working on their e-Portfolios on Portal. Thank you.