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