Dear Fifth Grade Parents,
We have had a very productive week back to school. The students have come back to school rested and ready to learn and to have fun! Happy New Year!
***A big THANK YOU to Nicole Lutomski for volunteering to be in charge of the 5th Grade Auction project! Today, Nicole and Emily Godwin came to school and the students wore “Chef Hats & Aprons” in a fun group picture. Then each student began to draw a picture of the recipe that their family is submitting for the recipe book! We are so grateful for their leadership as well as all your help with submitting recipes for the book.
Ms. Semandiris
Reminders:
- Jan 15th – Parents Club Meeting
- Jan 20th – No School, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Jan 24th – PrimRose Planting
- Jan 24th – Gator Bowl
- Jan 26th – Catholic Schools Week Begins
- Feb 7th – No School, Teacher-In-Service
This is a curriculum update for the week of January 13 – 17, 2025:
Religion
We are currently working on Chapter 15, Forgiveness and Healing. Next week we’ll be learning about the Bible story of the Prodigal Son as we learn about the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We will also be learning about Saint Damien, a Belgian missionary priest who devoted his life to work with a Leper colony on the island of Molokai. Through this story we will learn about an example of compassion for the sick as we learn about the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. Students are working on the Chapter 15 study Guide in class. The study guide will be completed by Thursday 1/16. The test for this Chapter will be on Tuesday 1/21. We will also take time during a religion class this week to learn about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.as we will be remembering and honoring him on January 20th. We will be exploring his legacy as well as how his actions were in alignment with the Catholic Social Teachings. Students will be making WordArt collages using technology.
Second Step: Lesson 8 Planning for Change
Overview:
Students will be able to identify at least one change a person can make to manage a strong emotion in a recurring situation.
Math – Ms. Semandiris
Chapter 5 Add and Subtract Decimals
Monday (1/13)- Ch. 5, L. 6 Add Decimals
Tuesday (1/14)- Ch. 5, L. 7 Addition Patterns
Wednesday (1/15) – Ch. 5, Check My Progress p. 347
Thursday (1/16)- Ch. 5, Quiz on Lessons 4 – 7
Friday (1/17) – Aleks Practice
Math- McGuigan
Monday (1/13)- 6.8 Multiplication Properties
Tuesday (1/14)- 6.10 Use Models to Divide
Wednesday (1/15)- Check My Progress
Thursday (1/16)- 6.11 Divide Decimals by Whole numbers
Friday (1/17)- Divide Decimals by Decimals
Math – Mrs. Heuer
Monday (1/13) *1.5 Graph Ratio Tables
Tuesday (1/14) *1.6 Equivalent Ratios
Wednesday (1/15) *1.7 Rate and Ratio Problems
Thursday (1/16) *1.7 (Day 2)
Friday (1/17) *Review (Day 1) – Test will be Wednesday or Thursday of next week.
Science
Next week students will be discussing the work of aerospace engineers, while learning about how general features of planets in our solar system influence spacecraft designs. Using this information they will be planning and making parachutes. Students will be testing which different variables have the most impact on parachute fall time, students will observe and analyze a model that demonstrates how the thickness of an atmosphere affects falling objects. Students will revisit the Engineering Design Process while working through this unit. *Students will continue working on Invention Convention at home next week, by the end of the week students should have started building their invention or have the first version finished. Students may experience frustration with their first version of the design, encourage your students to problem solve and improve on their ideas, the goal is to build confidence and grit through this process!
Social Studies
Next week students will continue to learn about the three early English Settlements of Roanoke, Jamestown and Plymouth by completing the Lesson Reading Notes on Google Classroom. We have already analyzed a piece of Art from each of these Settlements and students used their observation skills to draw a conclusion about what was going on in the picture. The study guide will be on Google Classroom on (1/13). The test for this Lesson will be on (1/21) for 5A and (1/22) for 5B.
ELA
This week, we officially began our Wonder Unit with some pre-reading activities. Students will receive a book and a bag/pouch to carry it in. I’d like them to transport their books in said bags to protect our books from damage. Students can expect to have reading and double-entry journals for homework throughout this unit (Example on Google Classroom if needed). I will also cover skills such as citing evidence and writing effective commentary using the RACE strategy. We will also have a spelling and vocab test on Friday, January 17th.
**Concerning short stories: I’m in the process of passing back students’ short stories, which have comments and notes directly on the paper, as well as a rubric that outlines grading specifics. This was such a fun assignment, and I really enjoyed the imagination and creativity expressed in your children’s writing. This past week, we spoke about growth mindset, and how, with writing, authors can always improve upon their craft. I’d like students to learn from this assessment by correcting errors, and revising as needed. Students can show me their improvements for a chance to increase their grade by 10-15 points. I ask that students arrange a time to show me their corrections. Have a wonderful weekend!