March 15

We the People

A note went home in Friday, March 14, Friday Folder explaining the We the People program and the culminating mock congressional hearing.  The final date (I promise this won't change) is Wednesday, April 23. 

Newsela.com

I sent a bright pink paper home on Monday, Mach 10, explaining 5th grade's latest reading program, Newsela.com.  Newsela.com is a web-based reading program featuring informational text taken from magazines and newspapers.  Every student was given his/her log-on information.  Each week students will be assigned a Newsela article to read with an accompanying 4 question quiz. This reading assignment will take the place of the weekly fluency assignment.

Fanstasy Genre

We will begin reading Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland as a class novel.  Students have been given a new Independent Reading Assignment and AR goals due  April 18.  At least one of the books they read between now and April 18 will be in the fantasy genre.  Students need to complete a Fantasy Genre Independent Reading Assignment by April 18.

 

March 2

Class Meeting Notes

On Friday, Feb. 28, students participated in a class meeting. Students discussed lunchroom behaviors, cell phone use at school, playground and line-up behavior, respect issues, and excessive noise in the classroom.  Students will be bringing home a paper with detailed notes of this discussion.  Please review these notes with your child and reinforce the importance of respectful and polite behavior. Please sign it and have your child return it to school.  Thank you.

Social Studies/Language Arts & We the People

Students have transitioned from the American Revolution to the writing of the Constitution.  To engage students in civics education we are using the program We the People.  We the People was created by the Center for Civics Education and is sponsored by Congress.  The culminating activity in  this project based learning design is a mock Congressional hearing at which students will read prepared written statements and answer questions regarding the Constitution before a panel of judges.  The date of the mock Congressional hearing is Wednesday, April 16, 6-8 PM.  This is a change from the original date set at the beginning of the year. Please make every possible effort to have your child attend this powerful learning experience.

Math

We are ending up our fractions unit of study, but will continue to work with fractions as we analyze data, solve problems, and in measurement.  We will examine fraction/decimal relationships and begin a data analysis unit.

Science

We are ending our FOSS Mixtures and Solutions unit by investigating chemical changes.  Students will begin a life science unit examining food webs and food chains. Students will learn of the importance of plants in food chains and plant structures.  A focus on trees  will combine science and art. Students will be designing wood tables for the up-coming Art Auction.