November 13, 2008

November 13, 2008

Dear Fifth Grade Parents,

As we enter the 3rd week of November it is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just around the corner. We have a busy week ahead next week. Here is a brief curriculum update.

Math
Friday: Lesson 32, Angles & Polygons
Monday: Lesson 33, Rounding Numbers Using a #- Line
Tuesday: Lesson 34, Division with Zeros in the Quotient
Wednesday: Lesson 35, Problems About Comparing
Friday: Test 6

Religion
I moved the religion test to Tuesday 11/18. My original idea was to give it (during the scheduled SS time) on 11/14 but after talking with the students I felt they needed more time to review the material. We are a bit behind 5B because of the prayer service planning time but it will be fine in the end. The double-sided worksheet assignment on Stewardship and Hidden Codes as well as the study guide is due on test day.

Next Wednesday we will be moving on to Chapter 14, Reborn In Christ. This covers the Sacraments of Initiation. We will be doing a Baptism collage! More details to come..

Social Studies
Tomorrow the fifth graders are starting Lesson 5, Routes of Exploration to the New World. By the end of this lesson students will be able to:
• Explain how the voyages of Christopher Columbus encouraged the major powers of Europe to explore the Americas between the 15th &17th Centuries.
• Identify areas in North America claimed by explorers sponsored by Spain, France, Holland, and England.
• Describe the impact of the expeditions of Christopher Columbus, John Cabot, Henry Hudson, and Robert De La Salle upon Native Americans.
The vocabulary for this lesson was due today.

We will have the United States Map test (review from 4th grade) on 12/3. Students have been studying for this for a couple of weeks now.

Science
Students are learning that all living things carry out basic life processes such as getting and using energy. Students are learning differences and similarities between plant and animal cells. Students will learn what tissues, organs and systems are in living things. Next students will learn how scientists classify all living things into kingdoms.
Next Wednesday at 8:30 students will attend an assembly conducted by Seattle City Light. Students will learn about global warming and how our everyday actions can help keep our planet cool.

Language Arts
Students practice identifying and writing four different types of sentences: imperative, interrogative, exclamatory and declarative. There is no spelling assignment due or test on Monday this week.

Reading
The first trimester book reports are due this coming Friday, Nov. 14th. No late passes will be accepted. Part of Friday’s class time will be spent enjoying each other’s book reports.

Students should be keeping up with their reading in Hatchet. Chapter 7 was assigned on Monday. Thursday’s in-class assignment will focus on this chapter. Chapter 8 will be assigned as Thursday night’s homework.

Have a great week!

Ms. Semandiris