January 15, 2009
Dear Fifth Grade Parents,
On Monday we will be celebrating the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Junior. There are many events in our area that are wonderful community experiences for this day of remembrance. Check out this Web-site for more details Link to information about National Day of Service on MLK Day:
http://usaservice.org/content/home/
Also on Tuesday (1/20) we will be trying to watch the Inaugural ceremony here at school. It is a very important week next week so we are all very excited!
Math
Tuesday: Lesson 49, Two-Step Word Problems
Wednesday: Lesson 50, Finding An Average
Friday: Test #9
Religion
We have begun Chapter 15 Forgiveness and Healing. Students will receive a study guide for this chapter on Tuesday. We will be learning the story of the Prodigal Son as well as the story of Father Damien and the Lepers. Lastly, we will learn how to examine our conscience to prepare for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Social Studies
Today the fifth graders took the Chapter 7 test. Next week we will move on to Chapter 8, Facing Slavery. On Friday, the fifth graders will receive an assignment for Social Studies to have a Day On on Monday. It can be as simple as reading an article about MLK and then discussing it with you or more hands on like going to an organized community event. All they need to bring in on Tuesday, is the assignment sheet that I gave them with your signature (verifying they did it) and a 1 paragraph explanation of the activity they did.
Reading 5th graders have really enjoyed learning about hurricanes while practicing the Target Skill of using Graphic Sources. A graphic source is any picture, graph, chart, illustration or map that presents information visually. On Friday, there will be a Selection Test over the story, The Fury of a Hurricane. This will be open book.
Important: Next week we will be reading a story about a young girl who decides to make a difference through a service project. As a follow-up to the story, instead of having a Selection Test next Friday, 5th graders will be putting together some brown bag lunches to send over to the Rectory for people in need. I will send a slip of paper home with your child tomorrow letting you know what s/he should bring. Hopefully knowing over the weekend will allow all families time to purchase the food item for next Fridays Reading class. Thank you very much.
Science
Students are experimenting with magnification. The will investigate transparent cubes spheres and cylinders to see which ones magnify newsprint. Next students will learn the functions of parts of a microscope. They will learn how to adjust light and how to focus the microscope.
Language Art
Students continue to work on their Martin Luther King Jr. poems, quotes and illustrations. We have been reviewing singular, plural and possessive nouns. Students will receive a study guide for the test on Tuesday, January 20th. Please notice the practice sheets attached to the study guide at my webpage. Because of the scheduled Noun Test, there is not a spelling assignment due or spelling test this Monday.
Have a great weekend!
Ms. Semandiris