December 3, 2009
Dear Fifth Grade Parents,
Fifth graders will be adopting a needy family this Christmas season. This family consists of a mom, dad, and five children.
The father was recently laid off from his work. The mom works at a local grocery store. We’d like each student to bring in $5 to purchase some clothing for the children and a grocery store gift card. Let me know if you’re available to purchase some of the items on the wish list. We’d like to have all the donations turned in by next Friday.
Thank you!
Next Friday report cards will be handed out. I am working on report cards this week and next. Please make sure to have your child turn in any missing work by Friday 12/4.
Here is a brief overview of the upcoming week.
Religion
This week we have been working on our Advent Prayer Service. Please join us tomorrow at 8:30am in the school hall. (12/4) Next week we will be moving on to Chapter 15, Forgiveness and Healing. Each student has received a “prayer partner” for the Advent season. They have brought home a piece of paper with the name of their prayer partner on it as well as the explanation of the Christmas Card assignment. Paper for this assignment was handed out today. These cards are due on December 16 for a religion grade.
Math
Friday: Lesson 40, Pictures of Mixed Numbers
Monday: Test #7
Tuesday: Mass- No Math
Wednesday: Investigation 4, Measuring Angles
Friday: Lesson 41, Adding and Subtracting Fractions with Common Denominators
Social Studies
We have completed lesson 5 about the European Explorers. Next we are moving on the Lesson 6, which focuses on the Early English Settlements. We will be learning about three of the first, Roanoke, Jamestown and Plymouth.
Reading
5th graders finished reading Hatchet last week. In lieu of a final test, students participated in an ‘ABC’ review in class on Monday, and have been working on a poster which is due tomorrow. We will be getting back into the Scott Foresman Reading text beginning next week, with the story, Diver and the Dolphins. We will do some vocabulary study and work on identifying steps in a process. There will be a Selections test on Friday, Dec. 11th covering vocabulary and comprehension from the story.
Language Arts
Students will spend the next two weeks working on a “Creative Christmas” writing project. Fifth graders choose a writing form (descriptive, expository, persuasive or narrative) and a topic to create a descriptive product of their choice (newspaper, picture book, letter, story, etc.) We will mainly be writing these in class. Students have a spelling assignment due on Monday; our test will also be on Monday.
Science
Students are learning how scientists classify plants and animals. Students will take a test on Chapter 1, Comparing Living Things, next Tuesday (12/8). Students begin a research-based science unit called Microworlds. In this unit, students will learn to use their powers of observation with the help of magnifying lenses and microscopes to see familiar things in a new way. They are also introduced to a fascinating new world-the cellular structure of living organisms.
Spanish- Make a poster due on Monday 12/7.
* Colorful
* Unique
* At least one page big
* No stick figures
* At least 25 body parts
* All body parts must be pointed out in Spanish and English
* Must have a title
* Will be considered as a test grade.
Ms. Semandiris