December 17-19, 2018

This is the last school week of 2018!  We have lots of fun things planned!  Here’s to the best week ever!  🙂

MATH

This week we will do ratio activities during whole group instruction.  Due to the snow the students will not take a quiz on ratios until we come back from Winter Break.  The quiz will be given on Friday, January 4th. They have notes in their math notebooks to help prepare for this quiz.   The students will also participate in a mathematical Holiday Open House.  This activity allows students to choose from several problem solving activities that review skills and practice critical thinking strategies.  This is always fun!  Weekly Math (holiday logic problem) is due on Monday, December 17th.

LANGUAGE ARTS

Word Trek homework is due on Monday, December 17th and the test will be given on Tuesday, December 18th.  We will continue be catching up on what was missed during the snow days last week in both reading and language which includes identifying text structures, reading Esperanza Rising, recognizing cause and effect, and practicing comprehension strategies with Junior Great Books.  Book reports are due on Friday, January 4th.

SCIENCE

The students will continue exploring the five kingdoms this week.  We will start focus on the specific characteristics that make up each kingdom.  This week we will begin looking at invertebrates and vertebrates.  Paperwork for science fair projects went home last week.  These are due on Monday, January 7th.  Please be sure that your student completes this paperwork neatly and completely as it is included in their final science fair grade. Please let me know if you have questions.

SOCIAL STUDIES

The students are working on projects this week.  They will be finishing up their Holidays Around the World and presenting.  We will come back to the Southeast Region when we come back from Winter Break!

IMPORTANT DATES

12/18 – Word Trek Test

12/19 – Winter Party

12/20-1/2 – Winter Break

1/4 – Ratio Quiz

1/4 – Book Report due

1/7 – Science Fair Planning Paperwork due (This is a change!)

1/16 – Yearbook Ads due

1/24/19 –  Science Fair 6:30

December 10-14, 2018

P. E. logs are due to Mrs. Lucas on Monday, December 10th.  Please email Mrs. Lucas with any questions.

We have lots of exciting activities and events coming up in the next week and a half!

MATH

We will begin exploring ratios (6.1) this week.  The students will learn how to express them, what they mean, and how to use them when analyzing data.  The students will have notes on all of the concepts in their interactive notebooks to help with homework.  Please encourage your student to use the resources on the math page on this blog to help practice and review.   There will be a quiz on ratios on Monday, December 17th. Weekly Math (green logic puzzle) is due on Thursday, December 13th.

LANGUAGE ARTS

The students will work on a new writing this week.  The topic is a gift that does not cost money.  We will also identify text structures, read Esperanza Rising, recognize cause and effect, and practice comprehension strategies with Junior Great Books.  This week is our last Word Trek list of 2018!  Your student should have their book report book at this point.  Please remind them to bring their book to school every day even if they have finished reading it.  They are able to work on their response questions in class when they have finished all ongoing assignments.  This is a great opportunity for them to get ahead of the game.  Please let me know if you have questions about this assignment.

SCIENCE

The students will be exploring the five kingdoms this week.  We will start with binomial nomenclature and then focus on the specific characteristics that make up each kingdom.  The students will create a technology project describing and illustrating each of the kingdoms.  December 14th is the deadline for Science Fair sign-up.   All of the students in our class are required to participate in this event.  Paperwork for science fair projects will come home on Tuesday.  These are due on Tuesday, December 18th.  Please be sure that your student completes this paperwork neatly and completely as it is included in their final science fair grade. Please let me know if you have questions.

SOCIAL STUDIES

We will start one of the highlights of the fifth grade this week, Holidays Around the World!  The students will work with a partner to research a holiday and then create a digital presentation.  A detailed explanation of the project and a rubric will be handed out on Tuesday.  The projects will be presented next Tuesday to the class.  This is such a fun experience!

IMPORTANT DATES

12/10 – PE LOGS DUE to Mrs. Lucas!!

12/14 – Registration for Science Fair deadline

12/18 – Science Fair Planning Paperwork due (This is a change!)

12/18 – Ratio Quiz

12/20-1/2 – Winter Break

1/16 – Yearbook Ads due

1/24/19 –  Science Fair 6:30

 

December 3 – 7, 2019

Thanks to everyone who sent in cans and hats, mittens, and scarves for the Henrico Christmas Mother.  Thanks to everyone who also sent in gently used coats for our coat drive with Nikki-Dee Ray last week!  The SCA is now sponsoring a toy drive for the Children’s Hospital.  We would love for every child to receive a toy or puzzle to help brighten their holidays spent in the hospital.  Thank you so much for your generosity!  This community is amazing!!

MATH

This week we finish up our converting and ordering decimals, fractions, and percents unit.  The test for this unit will be given on Thursday, December 6th.  We have started working with Mentoring Mathematical Minds.  This is a hands-on math program that offers opportunities to really experience math in a real world way.  Our first unit introduces ratios which goes beautifully with our 6th grade content so we will begin working with ratios in math class as well.  Weekly Math (green logic puzzle) is due on Thursday, December 6th.

LANGUAGE ARTS
We have started our new novel study, Esperanza Rising.  The students are loving it so far!  We have been talking about symbolism, types of characters, and character conflicts.  There is so much to talk about with this novel!  We will also explore different text structures and how they work to enhance the purpose of the text.  In Language, the students will correct double negatives along with general editing skills.  We will also begin writing our next essay.  This one will be included in the students’ County Writing Portfolio for composing.  This week’s Word Trek list is a review unit.  They should have definitions in their Word Trek binders for the last five lists to help with homework.

SCIENCE

There will be a quiz on cells on Friday, December 7th.  This is a change from the original date. This quiz will cover identifying cell types, organelles, and the jobs of the organelles.  There are notes for this quiz in the students’ Science notebooks.  Please encourage your student to also use the resources on the science page of this blog to help prepare for this quiz.  Science Fair information went home last week.  All of the students in our class are required to participate in this event.  Planning paperwork for science fair projects will come home this week.  These are due on Monday, December 17th.  We will discuss the experiments and the important components as a group to help each other if needed.  Please be sure that your student completes this paperwork neatly and completely as it is included in their final science fair grade. Please let me know if you have questions.

SOCIAL STUDIES

We will continue our tour of the Southeast Region this week.  There will be a quick check quiz on the states and capitals of this region on Tuesday, December 4th.  The students will simply match the state with the capital.  We will also discover the significant features and landmarks of this region.  We will start a partner project called “Pack Your Bags” where the students will choose a Southeast state and then use a manila folder to exhibit their state’s symbols, maps, motto, and landmarks.  Your student has loads of notes in their notebooks to help with homework as well as help prepare for this quick check quiz for this region.

IMPORTANT DATES

12/3 – Make-up Picture Day

12/3 –  Author Visit

12/4 – Spelling Bee 8:45

12/4 – States and Capitals Quick Check Quiz

12/6 – Converting and Ordering Fractions, Decimals, and Percents Test

12/7 – Cell Parts Quiz (This is a change!)

12/10 – PE LOGS DUE to Mrs. Lucas!!

12/14 – Registration for Science Fair deadline

12/17 – Science Fair Planning Paperwork due

12/20-1/2 – Winter Break

1/24/19 –  Science Fair 6:30