October 23, 2014
Dear Fifth Grade Parents,
We have been working very hard taking the ITBS tests this week. We will have a few more tests to take next week.
Reminders:
Friday 10/31 – Orange/Black Day, Mass 8:45am for All Saint’s Day, and Halloween Party from 2:00pm – 2:45pm.
Week of October 27 – 31, 2014
Religion
Next week we will continue to work on Chapter 2 & 3. Students will be completing the study guide for these chapters in class. The test for Chapters 2 & 3 is on 10/29.
Math
10/27 Ch. 2, L. 9: Multiply by One-Digit Numbers
10/28 Ch. 2 L. 10:Multiply by Two-Digit Numbers
10/29 Ch. 3 L. 11: Chapter Review/Fluency Practice
10/30 – Review for Test (Reteaching)
10/31 No Math – Mass
11/3 – Pre-test
11/4 – Ch. 2 Test
Social Studies
Next week the fifth graders will begin 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 explores. We will be working in pairs to complete the Interactive Notebook in class. The test for this Chapter will be on November 15th.
Science
Students will review in class to prepare for a test on Chapter 1, The Changing Earth, next Wednesday, Oct. 29th.
Reading
5th graders have been meeting in small Literature Circles to discuss elements of Hatchet. Each student will have the opportunity to be the leader of their group. In addition to reading and discussing Hatchet, we are learning about group dynamics and practicing how to participate respectfully in a small learning group. This will lay the groundwork for our Book Clubs later in the year.
Language Arts
This week in Language Arts students completed and turned in their narrative story rough drafts. Students then focused on how to introduce strong characters in a story. Students brainstormed their own characters and focused on writing strong paragraphs to introduce them. Students are currently beginning to write a scary Halloween story. The students’ goal is to have strong introduction and conclusion paragraphs with sensory details throughout the story.