November 6, 2014
Dear Fifth Grade Parents,
We have been very busy this week! Next week there will be no school on Tuesday, November 11th for Veterans Day.
Curriculum updates for November 10 – 14, 2014:
Math
11/10 – Ch. 3, Lesson 4, Division Patterns
11/11 – Veterans Day
11/12 – Ch. 3 Check My Progress Quiz Lessons 1-4
11/13 –Ch. 3, Lesson 5 Estimate Quotients
11/14 – Ch. 3, Lesson 6, Hands On Division Models with Greater Numbers
Religion
The Fifth graders are working on Chapter 14, Reborn In Christ. Students are completing their study guide in class. On Monday 11/10, students will be assigned the “My Baptism” collage assignment. A rubric will go home as well. We will be working on the collage in class on Thursday. I will be asking students to bring in old magazines to use for the collage.The test for this Chapter is on November 17th. We are also continuing our study this week with Lessons 2 & 3 on the Steps to Respect Curriculum.
Social Studies
The fifth graders have been working on Chapter 5, Routes of Exploration to the New World. In 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 and 17th centuries. They will be able to identify areas in North America claimed by explorers sponsored by Spain, France, Holland and England. Students will be able to describe the impact of expeditions of 8 European explorers. We will be working in pairs to complete the Interactive Notebook in class. The test for this Chapter will be on November 14th.
Language Arts
This week in Language Arts students learned about using transitions in their writing. Students practiced using transitions in several different writing pieces. We then transitioned into writing for information, focusing specifically on how to format a compare and contrast essay. Students practiced using either the block method or the point-by-point method to write a compare and contrast essay with a partner. Students continued to study punctuation in grammar.
Reading
The 5th graders have enjoyed reading Hatchet. We will finish up this week and have a short quiz on Tuesday of next week. In addition to reading a great book and zeroing in on some Target Comprehension strategies, the students have had the opportunity to practice facilitating and working in small groups. Many have become Gary Paulsen fans and have already started reading some of his other books. Parents – Please assist your child in checking his/her PowerSchool for missing assignments. These should be completed and turned in for credit, which will positively affect the overall grade.
Science
Students will discover how water resources can be protected. They will build a model showing how pollution can spread into underground water. Students will also discuss how land resources are used and can be protected. Students will take a test on Chapter 2, The Earth’s Resources, Wednesday November 19th.