October 29, 2009
Dear Fifth Grade Parents,
Happy Halloween as well as All SaintÂ’s Day on Sunday! It was great meeting with all of you at conferences. The following is a curriculum update for the week of 11/2-11/6.
Math
Monday: Lesson 26, Division Algorithm
Tuesday: Lesson 27, Reading Scales
Wednesday: Lesson 28, Measuring Time
Friday: Lesson 29, Multiplying by Multiples of 10 & 100.
Religion
Tuesday, (11/3) we will have the Chapters 2 & 3 test. Please reread the chapter and review the study guide. Next we will be learning about the Sacrament of Baptism in Chapter 14, Reborn In Christ. Students will be learning about the parts of the sacrament of Baptism as well as researching their own baptisms.
Social Studies
The fifth graders are very busy investigation the sunken ship from the European Explorers. They have been trying to identify the various artifacts that they are finding in the ship. As soon as they have completed their interactive notebooks for this lesson they will be categorizing each artifact into the three groups of, Motives for Exploration, New World Products and New Technology that encouraged exploration. The test for this lesson will be on Thursday 11/5.
I would like to invite all fifth grade students to bring in a photo or object in honor of a relative who is a Veteran. We will be sharing these objects on Friday 11/6, in class. We will also be learning about Veterans Day and writing letters to honor the Veterans at the VA Hospital in Seattle.
Language Arts
Students focus on the trait of “sentence fluency.” We learn about different types of sentences: interrogative, imperative, declarative and exclamatory. There is no spelling test or assignment this week. Students should bring the final drafts of their Pumpkin Patch Essays to class on Monday–either typed or written in cursive. I’ve included a copy of the grading rubric as well as extra lined paper for those who may need it on my web page. We’ll attach the rubric and their pumpkin paintings to construction paper in class on Monday as I collect the written essays.
Reading
5th Graders have begun reading The Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen. We have already read the first 4 chapters, and have discussed Gary Paulsen’s unique writing style at length! We will look at the various story elements of setting, character and plot, work with vocabulary, and practice many of the Target Skills needed for comprehension. Reading and assignments will be done in class and as homework, and there will be quizzes along the way. It is important that students keep up with the assigned reading, and have their copy of Hatchet with them in class each day.
A reminder that Book Reports are due on Nov. 17th.
Science
Students are learning how the sun compares with other stars and how scientists measure distances in space. Students will learn how scientists use spectroscopes to analyze light in space. They will learn how telescopes work and how images from telescopes are recorded. Students will wrap up their study of astronomy with a test on lessons 2 & 3 next Friday (11/6)
Happy Halloween-Be Safe!
Ms. Semandiris