The 5th Grade Chorus performance, “Gotta Be Jazz,” is Tuesday, February 25th. Mr. Mills has supplied the music for students to practice at home: Gotta Be Jazz. Here are all the details for performance night: Gotta Be Jazz Info Letter.  This evening will also include the PTA fundraiser as noted on the flyer that went home earlier this week.

Wednesday, February 26th is Picture Day.  Students received order forms last week. Class photos will also be taken.

MATH
We will continue working with coordinate plane skills in stations this week.  We will begin our exploration of geometry with measuring angles and identifying types of triangles.   Weekly Math (blue logic puzzle) is due on Wednesday, February 25th.

LANGUAGE ARTS

The Phantom Tollbooth is a big hit!  The students are enjoying the humor, the word play, and the characters!  So much fun!  Book reports are due on Tuesday, February 25th.  Students should be prepared to present their projects for their classmates on Tuesday.  We are focusing on author’s purpose, cause and effect, and point of view this week.  The students will write another essay to practice revising skills.

SCIENCE

The students will review what they have learned thus far in the matter unit through stations, hands-on compounds, and partner work.  The test for this unit is Thursday, February 27th.  Your student has lots of notes in their notebook and a study guide in their purple folder to help prepare for this test.  The science page of this blog and the portaportal are also great resources.

SOCIAL STUDIES
The test for the Northeast Region will be given on Tuesday, February 25th.  Your student should be working on a study guide using the many notes they have in their notebooks.  There will be several Southeast Regions questions in a section we call, “Flash from the Past!”  The students are working on their license plates this week.

IMPORTANT DATES

2/25 – Northeast Region Test

2/25 – Fantasy Book Report due

2/25 – Fifth Grade Performance (Students arrive by 6:15 and meet in the music room.)

2/25 – Jump Rope for Heart

2/26 – Spring Pictures (Payment and order form for the CLASS picture only are due today.)

2/27 – Matter Unit Test

3/3 – Student Holiday

Please be on the lookout for the middle school schedules that went home last week.  Mrs. Sitter wrote a note on the back requesting these to be signed and returned by next Thursday.  If changes are needed, please write the change on this form.  After 2/21, Mrs. Sitter will not have access to make changes for our students.

The 5th Grade Chorus performance, “Gotta Be Jazz,” is right around the corner on February 25.  Mr. Mills has supplied the music for students to practice at home, Gotta Be Jazz.  Here is all the details for performance night.   Gotta Be Jazz Info Letter

The annual field day design contest is on!  Mrs. Lucas is requesting all entries be returned by next Friday.  Here is a copy of the form! Field Day Contest

MATH

The test on variables will be given on Tuesday, February 18th.  Your student has lots of notes in their notebook for this unit.  We will begin coordinate plane skills this week.  The students will learn how to use four quadrants incorporating their knowledge of negative numbers.  Weekly Math is due on Wednesday, February 19th.  Just as a reminder this assignment is to be done in class.  The students are given ample time in class to complete this.  Please remind your child that if they are using their time in class wisely they should not need to bring it home.  Thank you for your support!  🙂

LANGUAGE ARTS

The focus skills this week are author’s purpose, cause and effect, and compare and contrast.  The students have been reading leveled books about famous African Americans.  They will create either a news broadcast or a newspaper article summarizing an event in their person’s life.  These are going to be great!  We will also continue our novel study, The Phantom Tollbooth.  We will apply cause and effect strategies as we read the first chapters.  Book reports are due on February 25th.  Please let me know if you have questions regarding this assignment.

SCIENCE

We learned about molecules and compounds last week.  This week we will apply what we have learned in a couple of hands-on ways.  First, the students will model what they have learned using fruit loops.  Then they will use clay to make specific molecules and compounds.  We will also discuss mixtures and solutions.  There will be a quiz on elements, molecules, and compounds on Thursday, February 20th.  Your student has lots of notes in their notebooks and a study guide in their purple folder to help prepare for this quiz.  The test for this unit is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, February 27th.

SOCIAL STUDIES

We will be working on our state license plates this week.  The test for this unit will be given on Tuesday, February 25th.  Your student has lots of notes in their notebooks and will have a study guide in their purple folder to help prepare for this test.

IMPORTANT DATES

2/17 –  Student half-day

2/18 – Variables Test

2/20 – Elements, Molecules, and Compounds Quiz

2/20 – Signed middle school forms due

2/25 – Northeast Region Test

2/25 – Fantasy Book Report due

2/25 – Fifth Grade Performance

2/25 – Jump Rope for Heart

2/26 – Spring Pictures

2/27 – Matter Unit Test

3/3 – Student Holiday

Our first week of February flew by!

Thanks so much to Mr. Marshall for chaperoning our YMCA field trip.  Although we had to return a bit early due to the weather, great fun was had by all!  Thanks so much Mrs. Lucas for planning such an amazing field trip for us!

This Friday is Valentine’s Day. Although we are not having a party or special snacks that day, we would love to provide time for the students to exchange Valentines.  If anyone needs a list of the class, please email me!  We ask that if Valentines are brought in that they include one for every student in the class.   Thank you for helping ensure all our students feel safe and included!

Speaking of Valentine’s Day, the Glen Allen Elementary PTA would like to invite you to RSVP at https://forms.gle/YvVYbRVq74H79ATWA for the Valentine’s Day Breakfast that will be held February 10-13, 2020. The event will be held at school daily from 7:20 a.m. to 7:40 a.m. Donuts and water will be served for all attendees. Coffee will be provided for adults. This event is free of charge and sponsored by the Glen Allen Elementary School PTA. However, donations will be accepted.

The 5th Grade Chorus performance, “Gotta Be Jazz,” is right around the corner on February 25. Mr. Mills has supplied the music for students to practice at home: Gotta Be Jazz. Here also is all the details for performance night: Gotta Be Jazz Info Letter

Report cards come home on Monday, February 10th.

MATH

We will continue with variables this week.  The students are translating word problems into number sentences and vice versa.  They are also solving linear equations, balancing equations, and simplifying expressions with given values.  The test for this content will be given on Thursday, February 13th.  Your student has a study guide and lots of notes in their notebooks to help prepare for this assessment.  Weekly Math is due on Wednesday, February 12th.  We will begin buying stocks this week!  Such an exciting time!

LANGUAGE ARTS

Later this week we will begin our new novel study, The Phantom Tollbooth.  This classic is a humorous fantasy that has an abundance of figurative language throughout.  It is always a big hit with the kiddos.  In stations, we will continue working on reading and summarizing nonfiction books highlighting famous African Americans.  We will also work with point of view and perspective as well as cause and effect.  The students have been researching their mythology topic and are ready to put their research into a final project.  There are a wide variety of projects going on, from comic strips to posters to Facebook pages to dioramas.  I am super excited to see the completed products!  In Language, we will  also work on using a color coding method to revise our writing.  Book reports are due on February 25th.

SCIENCE

Lessons in science this week will focus on molecules and using the periodic table.  The students will do several activities with these concepts in small groups.  The quiz on matter and atoms has been scheduled for Wednesday, February 12th.  This quiz will cover states of matter, traits of each state, and parts of an atom.  Your student has lots of notes, a study guide, and study cards to help them prepare for this quiz.

SOCIAL STUDIES

There is a quiz on Chapter 4 and 5 vocabulary on Tuesday, February 11th.  You student was reminded to take their Social Studies notebook home with them each day this week to prepare for this quiz.  We will explore the natural and economic resources of the Northeast Region this week.  The students will use the information they have learned about the Northeast Region to create a personalized license plate for their chosen state this week.  These are super cute!

IMPORTANT DATES

2/10 – Report Cards go home

2/11 – Chapters 4 and 5 Vocabulary Quiz

2/12 – Matter and Atoms Quiz

2/13 – Variables Test

2/25 – Fantasy Book Report due

2/25 – Fifth Grade Performance

2/25 – Jump Rope for Heart

2/26 – Spring Pictures

Parent Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday, February 6th.  If I have not contacted you, then all is well!  Of course, I’d be happy to meet if you would like to discuss concerns or have questions.  Please let me know if you would like one, and I will send you the Sign-up Genius link.

We are gearing up for the 5th Grade Chorus performance, “Gotta Be Jazz,” in February. Mr. Mills has supplied the music for students to practice at home: Gotta Be Jazz. Enjoy!

This week, students will take their aquatic safety test in PE class using the booklets Mrs. Lucas provided to each of them.  For the field trip on Friday, each child will need their bathing suit, a towel, and a change of clothes.  The pictures taken by Mrs. Lucas at the YMCA will be used for a slide show at the end of the school year.  Only students at school will be seeing them. If you don’t want your child in any of the pictures, please send a note on the day of the field trip.

MATH

We will be working with variables in expressions and equations this week.  The students will learn to solve linear equations with one variable, balance equations, and solve for particular values.  The test for this is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, February 13th.  Your student will have lots of notes in their notebook by then.  Weekly Math is due on Wednesday, February 5th.  We will be officially starting the Stock Market Game this week!  Thanks so much to Mr. Sheils for teaching us so much about stocks!

LANGUAGE ARTS

The skill focus for this week is research!  The students will begin a research project about Greek mythology.  They will research their project this week.  They will learn how to cite the information they discover.  The final projects will be due next week.  We will also be working with prepositions and interjections in language.  Our spiral skill review in stations will cover comparing and contrasting, author’s purpose, comprehension strategies, and context clues.  The fantasy book report is due February 25th.  Please let me know if you have questions about this project.

SCIENCE

We will begin our Matter Unit this week.  The unit starts with phases and properties of matter.  Then we will look at how temperature changes matter.  We will also begin to discover the characteristics of atoms and elements.  Your student will have a study guide in their purple folder for this unit.  There will be a quiz on matter and atoms on Wednesday, February 12th.  There will lots of notes in the science notebook for your student to use in preparation for this quiz.

SOCIAL STUDIES

This week we will learn about the climate of the Northeast Region.  The students will also explore the significant features of this region.  There is a Quick Check quiz on Thursday, February 6th.  The students will need to match the state with the correct capital.  There will be a vocabulary quiz on chapters 4 and 5 on Tuesday, February 11th.

IMPORTANT DATES

2/6 – Northeasts Quick Check Quiz

2/7 – YMCA Field Trip

2/10 – Report Cards go home

2/11 – Chapters 4 and 5 Vocabulary Quiz

2/12 – Matter and Atoms Quiz

2/13 – Variables Test

2/25 – Fantasy Book Report due

2/25 – Fifth Grade Performance

2/25 – Jump Rope for Heart

2/26 – Spring Pictures