This is the last school week of 2019!  We have lots of fun things planned!  Here’s to the best week ever!  🙂

Thank you for donating to our SCA Toy Drive for kids at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond.

Congratulations to our spelling bee winner. We were so proud of how you represented our class during the school spelling bee! Alex Nguyen did a great job for Team Dawe!

The 5th Grade Room Parents are planning a wonderful Winter Party for the students. If you would like your child to have a pizza lunch on this day, please be sure to  send in your $1.00 donation. Students who do not want to purchase pizza are welcome to buy lunch from the cafeteria or bring in a lunch from home.

The students did a great job at the Tree Lighting last Saturday and they are already gearing up for the 5th Grade Chorus performance, “Gotta Be Jazz.” Mr. Mills has supplied the music for students to practice at home: Gotta Be Jazz. Enjoy!

MATH

The Fraction Computation Test will be given on Wednesday, December 18th.  Your student has notes in their math notebooks to help prepare for this test.  Please remind them to use their notes while completing homework.  The resources on the portaportal also has great resources for review.  (https://guest.portaportal.com/gaes5thgrade)  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 (blue logic problem) is due on Wednesday, December 18th.

LANGUAGE ARTS

We will not have Word Trek this week!  We will return to Word Trek in 2020!  This week the students will work on comparing and contrasting using holiday traditions, solve holiday themed word puzzles, and continue using comprehension skills with holiday traditions around the world.  We will continue reading Esperanza Rising.  The students will also continue writing about gifts that can be given that don’t cost anything.

SCIENCE

The Cells and Kingdoms Test is Tuesday, December 17th.  Your student has lots of notes in their notebook and a study guide in the back of their purple folder.  They will continue working on their Kingdom projects this week.

Information regarding the Glen Allen Science Fair went home last week.  Participation is required for our class, so please sign your student up on the PTA website by Friday, December 20th.  In an effort to allow more creativity, I will not be requiring students to conduct a traditional experiment.  If your student would like to build a volcano or invent something that solves a problem please have them share their plan with me.  Innovation is a great way to approach this assignment.  Because of this, I will not be giving students guidelines regarding specific  steps of the scientific method.  I am excited to see their creativity!  Please let me know if you have questions about this assignment.

SOCIAL STUDIES
The students are working hard on researching their holidays for our Holidays Around the World presentations.  Last week they began creating a postcard that highlights an important object for their assigned holiday.  They will also be writing about this object as well as other traditions observed for their holiday on their postcard.  The students will also create a digital presentation to present to the class on Friday, December 20th.  This is always such a great learning experience!

IMPORTANT DATES

12/17 – Cells and Five Kingdoms Test

12/18 – Fraction Computation Test

12/19 – Book Reports due

12/20 – Winter Party

12/23 – 1/3 – Winter Break

1/16 – Glen Allen Science Fair

We had a great time on our field trip to the Virginia Science Museum! We learned so much while having a blast exploring and taking part in some awesome hands on learning. A special thank you to all the chaperones who assisted on the trip. We couldn’t have done it without you!

The Glen Allen Book Fair is here!

Come shop from 2:30-3:30 pm on December 6, 10, 11, 12

Extended hours: 11:30 am-3:30 pm on December 9th.

Can’t shop in person?  Just fill in the book form and we will try to complete your request-but remember to add tax!

Books make a great holiday idea for students and teachers.

SCA Toy Drive

The Glen Allen SCA is collecting toys for The Children’s Hospital of Richmond once again this year!  We will collect from Monday, December 9^th until Friday, December 13^th.   Please see the attached flyer for suggestions for donations SCA Toy Drive.  Thanks so much for your generosity!

MATH

This week we will continue working with ratios and start multiplying fractions.  There will be a test on fraction computation on Wednesday, December 18th.  This test will include adding, subtracting, and multiplying fractions.  Working with fractions always include simplifying, converting improper fractions and mixed numbers, as well as lowest common denominator and least common multiple.  Please encourage your student to use their notes while completing homework as well as the resources on the Math page of the blog as well as the portaportal (https://guest.portaportal.com/gaes5thgrade).  Weekly Math (green logic puzzle) is due on Wednesday, December 11th.

LANGUAGE ARTS

Word Trek is a review unit this week.  Your student already has all of the words and definitions needed to complete the homework.  Biography/autobiography book reports are due on Thursday, December 19th.  Please encourage your student to bring their book report information to school with them.  They may be 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.  We will continue working with Esperanza Rising as well as the history of holidays around the world using a variety of comprehension skills.  The students will begin their next essay.  This one will be about gifts that they can give that don’t require money.

SCIENCE
We will continue exploring the animal kingdom this week.  Invertebrates will be our focus.  The students will also begin a five kingdoms project that will include all five kingdoms and subcategories with characteristics and examples as well as binomial nomenclature.  The final test for this unit will be given on Tuesday, December 17th.  Please encourage your student to use their notes while completing their homework.  They can also use the games and resources on our fifth grade portaportal (https://guest.portaportal.com/gaes5thgrade) to review.  The students also have lots of notes in their notebooks and a study guide in their purple folder.

The students have been working on designing and building a package that will allow the successful mailing of a Pringle’s chip.  In order to be totally successful the chip must arrive completely intact without chips or cracks.  We will mail them to Holman Middle School for judging and scoring this week.  This has been one of the students’ favorite activities!

SOCIAL STUDIES

We are going to put the Southeast Region on hold until January as we delve into a research project for the next two weeks.  The students will work in partner groups to research and create a project about a holiday celebrated around the world.  The partner groups will randomly draw from a hat.  The celebrations include Kwaanza, Hanukkah, Chinese New Year, Diwali, Eid al-Fitr, and Christmas.  The students will  create a postcard and a digital presentation to present to the class.  In reading, the students will be learning about holidays and cultures through reading comprehension passages and activities.  It’s going to be an exciting two weeks as we explore the world with geography skills, reading, and art!

IMPORTANT DATES

12/6 – 12/12  –  Glen Allen Book Fair

12/6 – 12/13  –  SCA Toy Drive for Children’s Hospital of Richmond

12/9 – Picture Retakes

12/17 – Cells and Five Kingdoms Test

12/18 – Fraction Computation Test

12/19 – Book Reports due

12/20 – Winter Party

12/23 – 1/3 – Winter Break

It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is this Thursday!  I am beyond thankful to be in such a loving and supportive community!  Glen Allen is an amazing place to be! I hope you all have a fabulous Thanksgiving holiday filled with relaxation and fun!

The academic information in this entry covers the week we come back from Thanksgiving Break as well as our short week this week.  🙂

School Pictures

If you ordered pictures, your child took them home last week.  Retakes can be taken on Monday, December 9th.  You will need to send the original pictures back with your child to give to the photographer on the 9th.  If your child was absent, your child’s picture can be taken on December 9th as well.  Please send in your payment and order on that day. Please let me know if you need another Strawbridge form and envelope.

Our Science Museum field trip is around the corner!  We will leave Glen Allen at 9:30 and return around 1:15 on Friday, December 6th.  Please be sure students have packed a bagged lunch labeled with their name along with drinks in non-glass containers.  They also need to wear comfortable shoes for a day of exploring the museum.  Chaperones will receive more information the week of the field trip.

MATH

The test on converting and ordering fractions, decimals, and percents will be given on Monday, November 25th.  Thanksgiving math activities are on the menu Tuesday.  We will review many skills with a Thanksgiving theme.  Weekly Math (yellow logic puzzle) is due on Tuesday, November 26th.  When we come back we will dive into adding, subtracting, and multiplying fractions.  We have been reviewing adding and subtracting with unlike denominators and doing a great job with it!

LANGUAGE ARTS

We will not have Word Trek this week!  🙂  The students will work on writing an essay about three things they are thankful for.  Introductions with strong hooks are our focus.  We will also focus on reading skills such as character conflicts, theme, symbolism, and foreshadowing with  Esperanza Rising.  The biography or autobiography book reports are due on Thursday, December 19th.

SCIENCE

There will be a quiz on cells on Wednesday, December 4th.  This quiz will cover identifying cell types, organelles, and the jobs of the organelles.  This week we will create cells, animal or plant, using craft supplies like pipe cleaners, beads, buttons, sequins, etc.  The students will label each part and describe the job of each organelle.  These are so fun and creative!  The week we get back will entail exploration of the five kingdoms.  The students will first learn binomial nomenclature, the method of naming organisms.  Then we will learn about each of the five kingdoms in detail.  This is a great unit as the kiddos have so much prior knowledge to bring in to our class discussions!  I learn new stuff from them all the time.  I love it!

SOCIAL STUDIES

We will continue our tour of the Southeast Region this week.  There will be a quick check quiz on just the states and capitals of this region on Tuesday, December 3rd.  The students will simply match the state with the capital.  They have study cards with this information on it.  We will also discover the significant features and landmarks of this region.  When we get back from Thanksgiving break 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.  We will also look at the climate, economic opportunities, and natural resources of the region.

IMPORTANT DATES

11/25 – Converting and Ordering Fractions, Decimals, and Percents Test

11/27 -11/29 – Thanksgiving Holiday

12/3 – Southeast Region Quick Check Quiz

12/4 – Cells Quiz

12/6 – Science Museum Field Trip

12/7 – Tree Lighting Ceremony

12/9 – Picture Retakes

12/19 – Biography book report due

Don’t forget that Monday, November 18th is a half-day for students.

Heart Rate Activity: Mrs. Lucas has asked we share this document RHR and THR Sheet  regarding having children take their heart rate. She taught them this during PE this week, but is asking for you to help your child complete this worksheet and turn it in to me on Monday, 11/18. These numbers will be something she uses with students in PE all year long.

Canned Food Drive: We are still collecting non-perishable can and boxed food items until November 21st! We will also be collecting hats and gloves for students in Henrico to help them stay warm as they board buses to school each morning this winter. In addition to providing a brighter holiday season to less fortunate families, we will continue our friendly competition between classes throughout the school. The winner of the “Can Queen” will be announced at the 2nd grade winter performance in December. Thank you for helping us show the Glen Allen Cub Way and spreading love to area families!

Pictures: If you ordered pictures, your child took them home today! If you would like retakes, the photographer will be back on Monday, December 9th. You will need to send the original pictures back with your child to hand to the photographer on the 9th.

If your child was absent and you would like to order pictures, this can also be done on December 9th. Your child will need to hand the photographer your order/payment. Please let me know if you need another Strawbridge form and envelope.

Field Trip Info: Thank you to those who have sent in permission slips already and who have paid online!  Permission slips and all online payments are due November 20th!  If you need financial assistance, please contact me directly and we can discuss alternate funding options.

If you are interested in chaperoning, you must have already completed the GAES volunteer form and training and be on the approved volunteer list. Email me directly if you would like to chaperone this trip. Depending on the number of interested family members, I will do a drawing of names to determine who gets to accompany the class. I will select chaperones on Monday so that they will have time to submit payments by 11/20.  Thank you!

Tree Lighting Performance: The 5th Grade Chorus will be performing at the Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center’s Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 7th. Students only need to be there from 4:15 to around 5:00 pm to perform 3 songs. Mr. Mills and the students have been working hard in anticipation of this event! Please read this Tree Lighting Letter from Mr. Mills for more details. Wear red and green!

Cotillion: Please read this Cotillion Letter and email the required information to Hanna Turner by November 20th.

MATH

We will continue practicing ordering and comparing  a set of numbers that includes decimals, fractions, and percents.  the test for this unit will be given on Monday, November 25th.  Your student has lots of notes in their notebooks to help with homework and preparation for this test.  We will also begin adding, subtracting and multiplying fractions.  Weekly Math is due on Wednesday, November 20th.

LANGUAGE ARTS

We have started our new novel study, Esperanza Rising.  This is an awesome novel that takes place in the 1930’s that has lots of historical as well as present day connections.   This novel uses lots of symbolism and great character development.  It is a wonderful book!  So far the students are loving it!  We will work with figurative language, theme and mood, comprehension skills, and writing this week.  The Turkey Disguises are due on Wednesday, November 20th.  I can’t wait to see these!

SCIENCE

We will finish up our Oceans Unit this week.  The test is on Tuesday, November 19th.  Your student has notes and a study guide to help them prepare for this test.  Next, we will delve into cells!  We will start with plant and animal cells by learning some of the significant parts and what they do.  This is such a fun unit!

SOCIAL STUDIES

We are ready to travel into the Southeast Region this week!  The student will learn the Southeast Region’s states and capitals.  They will also discover some of the significant landmarks this regions has to offer.  The Geography Unit Test will be given on Thursday, November 21st.  Your student has lots of notes and two study guides to help prepare for this test.  They will also be assigned some very helpful homework this week.

IMPORTANT DATES

11/18 – Half day for students

11/19 – Ocean Unit test

11/20 – Turkey Disguise due

11/21 – Geography Unit Test

11/22 – Moody IB Writing Prompt

11/27 -11/29 – Thanksgiving Holiday

12/6 – Science Museum Field Trip

12/7 – Tree Lighting Ceremony

12/19 – Biography book report due

Monday is Veteran’s Day!  Students with a guest veteran will be attending the assembly and all others will be able to watch the GAES Veterans Day program from our classroom. The 1st grade choir will be performing.  This is a fantastic Glen Allen tradition and it will be amazing!  A HUGE thank you to all veterans and active service members in our Cub family!

Field Trip Info: Our first field trip will be to the Science Museum of Virginia on December 6th. Permission slips will be sent home on Monday, 11/11. Please note that payments can now be made online. We will need all permission slips and money by November 20th. If you need financial assistance, please contact me directly, and we can discuss alternate funding options.

We are excited about this trip as museum staff will be doing a demonstration in anticipation of our upcoming sound unit, and students will get to see a wonderful STEAM video in the big dome theater! In between, students will get to explore the dynamic and engaging exhibits throughout the museum.

Interested in chaperoning? Each class is allotted a certain number of chaperones. To be considered for a chaperone position on field trips you must have completed the GAES volunteer form and training (https://glenallenes.henricoschools.us/parent-resources/volunteer-information). Please do not submit  chaperone payments until I have contacted you regarding this. Thank you!

Tree Lighting Performance: The 5th Grade Chorus will be performing at the Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center’s Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 7th. Students only need to be there from 4:15 to around 5:00 pm to perform 3 songs. Mr. Mills and the students have been working hard in anticipation of this event! Please read this Tree Lighting Letter from Mr. Mills for more details.

Please encourage your students to use this link for more interesting and valuable ways to interact with the content.  https://guest.portaportal.com/gaes5thgrade

MATH

We will continue working with converting decimals, fractions, and percents this week.  We will also begin ordering and comparing once all numbers in the set are converted to decimals.  As always, please encourage your student to use their notes when completing homework.  Weekly Math (blue logic puzzle) is due on Wednesday, November 13th.

LANGUAGE ARTS

This coming week, we will be making connections to the text we are reading.  We will discuss text-to-self, text-to-text, text-to-media, and text-to-world connections.  We will also continue to work with inferencing, summarizing, and theme.  In language, the students will finish up their Adjective Menus and participate in a museum walk to see the fantastic menus created by classmates.  They will also work on using homophones correctly, write November journal entries, and identify and include figurative language in writing.

Our November Cubs Read calendar will be sent home. Students who turned in the October calendar earned a No Laps pass for recess! This marking period, we will send home a calendar each month. We will have a special day at the end of the 9 weeks to celebrate those who read above and beyond throughout the marking period.

Students have received their Turkey Disguise information.  These are always such fun!  Please let me know if you questions.  I can’t wait to see what they come up with!  This project is due on Wednesday, November 20th.

SCIENCE

We will continue exploring the ocean this week.  Last week we talked about ocean zones, effects of salinity and temperature on density, and food chains.  The students will also begin working on projects from an oceans choice board.  They are choosing three projects to complete that will show mastery of a particular component of our studies.  There will be a quiz on tides, currents, and waves including the effects of salinity and temperature on density on Thursday, November 14th.  The final test for this unit will be given on Tuesday, November 19th.  Please encourage your student to review nightly using their notebooks, study guide, study cards, and the resources on this blog.

SOCIAL STUDIES

We will finish up the five themes of geography and the five regions of the US this week.  The quiz originally scheduled for this Tuesday has been cancelled.  Instead of a quiz on just the five themes and five regions, there will be a test on all of this information on Thursday, November 21st.  Your student has  a study guide and notes in their notebook to help prepare for this test.  The Southeast Region is the first US region we will explore.

IMPORTANT DATES

11/11 – Veteran’s Day program

11/14 – Waves, Currents, and Tides quiz

11/18 – Half day for students

11/19 – Ocean Unit test

11/20 – Turkey Disguise due

11/21 – Geography Unit Test

11/22 – Moody IB Writing Prompt

11/27 -11/29 – Thanksgiving Holiday

12/6 – Science Museum Field Trip

12/7 – Tree Lighting Ceremony

12/19 – Biography book report due

Monday, November 4th is the end of the first nine weeks.  Parent Teacher Conferences are Monday, November 4th by appointment.  Tuesday, November 5th is a student holiday.

Monday, November 11th is our annual Veteran’s Day Program!  🙂 Thanks so much to all veterans for all that they do and have done for us!

The GAES SCA is holding their annual canned food drive November 11 – November 21. Please consider donating non-perishable can or boxed food items. We will also be collecting hats and gloves for students in Henrico to help them stay warm as they board buses to school each morning this winter. In addition to providing a brighter holiday season to less fortunate families, we will continue our friendly competition between classes throughout the school. The winner of the “Can Queen” will be announced at the 2nd grade winter performance in December. Thank you for helping us show the Glen Allen Cub Way and spreading love to area families!

MATH

This week we will begin exploring the relationship between decimals, fractions, and percents  (5.2 & 6.2).  We will start with simplifying fractions and finding equivalent fractions.  Then we will convert decimals to fractions.   Your student will have notes in their notebooks to help with homework.  Please encourage your student to call me if they need help with homework.  Homework is meant to be practice and not a stressful event.  It usually takes just a minute to get things straight on the phone.  Thanks so much for your help with this.  Weekly Math is due on Wednesday, November 6th.

LANGUAGE ARTS

Word Trek is back!  Your student received this week’s list and homework on Friday.  We will continue working with types of characters, theme, and inferential and literal questions.  The students will receive information for the next book report this week.  The genre is biography or autobiography.  It is due on Thursday, December 19th.

The students will receive paperwork regarding one of the fifth grade’s favorite projects…Turkey Disguises!  Each student will receive a turkey outline that they are tasked to disguise to save them from landing on a Thanksgiving table.  The students will also write a short essay, at least 10-15 sentences,  explaining either the disguise, the process of making the disguise, or a creative piece about the turkey disguise.  We will look at several examples from years past.  The students will complete the project at home and turn it in on Wednesday, November 20th just in time to decorate our hallways with their creativity!

SCIENCE

We will continue exploring the ocean floor, the causes of waves, tides, and currents, and the effects of salinity and temperature on water this week.  There will be a quiz on the ocean floor on Thursday, November 7th.  Your student has notes in the notebooks to help prepare for this quiz.

SOCIAL STUDIES

We will  discussing the five themes of geography and the five regions of the United States.  There will be a quiz on the five themes and five regions on Tuesday, November 12th.  This is a change!  The students will create a map incorporating important components in class this week.  

IMPORTANT DATES

11/4 – End of the first nine weeks

11/4 – Henricopolis Conservation Make-up Lesson

11/4 – Parent/Teacher Conference

11/5 – Student Holiday

11/7 – Ocean Floor Quiz

11/11 – Veteran’s Day program

11/12 – Five Themes and Five Regions quiz

11/20 – Turkey Disguise dye

12/19 – Biography book report due

The end of the first nine weeks is Monday, November 4th.  Conferences will be held on Monday, November 4th from 2:30-6:10.

Monday, October 28th is a half-day for a student

GAES News

From Mrs. Sitter, our school counselor:

Red Ribbon Spirit Week is October 28th– November 1st

Respect Yourself. Respect Others. We will be celebrating Red Ribbon Spirit Week by having the following spirit days next week:

Monday ~ Wear RED to show that, at Glen Allen Elementary, we respect ourselves and others.

Tuesday ~ Wear a bandana to show that Glen Allen Cubs “band together” against bullying!

Wednesday ~ MIX-IT-UP DAY!!!!  Wear “mix”-matched socks for Mix-It-Up Day when we mix it up at lunch to get to know new friends.

Thursday ~ Wear your sunglasses to show that when we make healthy choices our futures will be so bright, we’ll have to wear shades!

From Mrs. Pruden:

Please join us to recognize and honor Glen Allen Community Veterans on Monday, November 11th at 8:30AM. All families and school patrons are invited. Veterans are encouraged to wear their uniforms to the Program. Each veteran will be introduced along with the student(s) or member(s) of the staff who invited him/her. The Veterans Day Program and 1st grade musical performance will take place in our auditorium and will be video-streamed in to all of our classrooms.

Please complete the google doc below ON/BEFORE November 4th to be included in the program.

https://forms.gle/R5W3mVaEgpiqsb8G8

We have some fun fall themed activities planned for this coming week. Please note that school policy does not allow costumes, candy, or other goodies to be brought to school. We hope you and your child will enjoy whatever holiday festivities you choose to partake in as a family at home.

MATH

We will celebrate the season with fun holiday math review on Thursday.  The students will continue practicing decimal computation.  There will be a test on the decimal computation on Wednesday, October 30th.  Your student has notes in their math notebook to help prepare for this test.  Next, we will start to review equivalent fractions, simplifying fractions, finding common multiples and lowest common denominators to get ready for our next unit.  Weekly Math (goldenrod logic puzzle) is due on Wednesday, October 30th.  As a reminder, this is an in-class assignment.  If your student is completing it at home on Tuesday evening, they have not used their time well in class.  The students also need to be asking me questions on how to complete the puzzle.  If your student is not getting an A on this assignment regularly they need to be talking to me.  We talked about this as a group on Friday.  This assignment is supposed to be challenging but at the same time one that they are successful with.  Thanks so much for your support!

LANGUAGE ARTS

The students will choose one of their county scored 4-squares and write a 5 paragraph essay from it this week.  We will be working on elaborating details as well as writing interest grabbing hooks.  The students will have 15 word each week on their Word Trek spelling test.  I will randomly pick five review words each week.  We will not have Word Trek this week due to Halloween and the book report.  In reading, the students will explore the different types of characters developed in fictional writing such as dynamic, static, round, and flat.  We will also begin to work with inferential and literal questions and continue working with character traits and elements of plot.  In language, homophones, Halloween puns, and journal writing is the focus.  Mystery book reports are due on Wednesday, October 31st.

SCIENCE

Last week the students started their first Inquiry Based Lesson (IBL).  In groups of three they were given the parameters of a cause and effect relationship  regarding our upcoming ocean unit and were tasked with coming up with a question and then researching in order to find an answer with evidence that supports it.  The students jumped in immediately with their small groups and are absolutely loving it!  Later in the week they will present their question and answer using whatever means they choose to exhibit their understanding.  We will also explore the ocean floor, waves, tides, and currents.  There will be a quiz on this information on Thursday, November 7th. The students will have notes in their notebooks to prepare for this quiz.

SOCIAL STUDIES

The students learned the mechanics of using lines of latitude and longitude last week.  This week will practice finding using them to pinpoint locations on Earth.  We will also start discussing the five themes of geography and the five regions of the United States.  There will be a quiz on the five themes and five regions on Wednesday, November 5th.  The students will have notes in their Social Studies notebook to help them prepare for this quiz.  There will be a quiz on the geography vocabulary on Tuesday, October 29th.  The students have terms and definitions in their social studies notebooks.

IMPORTANT DATES

10/28 –  Student half day

10/29 – Geography Terms Quiz

10/29 – Henricopolis Conservation Visits 5th Grade!

10/30 – Decimal Computation Test

10/31 – Mystery Book Report due

11/1 – Family Life class

11/4 – Family/Teacher Conference

11/5 – Student Holiday

I hope you all are enjoying this weekend!  Saturday was just beautiful!

Monday, October 21st is picture day!  Your student was given an order form last week and should bring it with them on Monday.

Parent Teacher Conferences will be held November 4th by appointment.  I will be sending a Signup Genius this week for you to pick a time to meet.

MATH

We will continue working with decimal computation (5.5 and 6.5) this week.  There will be a test on decimal computation on Wednesday, October 30th.  This skill will be primarily assessed using word problems.  We will be practicing with word problems this week during stations and with homework.  Weekly Math (Sunshine Math #1) is due on Wednesday, October 23rd.  Sunshine Math is a problem solving activity that requires students to use age-appropriate problem solving skills.  Students need to show all of their work as they will be given credit for their process more so than their answer.  In other words, they will receive credit for their methods even if they have the wrong answer.  This assignment is meant to help them grow their problem solving muscles in a way that builds on the skills they have now.  Using a formula will not develop these skills in the same way that drawing pictures will.  We discussed this at length in class to be sure that they understand the expectations.  I will be helping students individually and as a whole group with questions throughout the week.  Your student has lots of time to work on this assignment in class.  Please encourage them to do so.  Thanks so much for your support with this.

LANGUAGE ARTS

This week the students will be identifying main idea and themes, making predictions, and recognizing internal and external character conflicts.  The students will be writing a prediction of events following the end of Chapter 16 for Running Out of Time.  We will also be identifying specific conflicts happening in the novel.  We had our first meeting with our second grade book buddies and the students helped mentor the second graders with predicting in the books they are reading.  Book buddies is such a fantastic opportunity for the fifth graders to be leaders and teachers of a skill while practicing the skill as well.  Such a great thing to see!  The mystery book report is due on October 31st.  The next book report will be biography/autobiography if your student is ready to get started on it.

SCIENCE

Virginia’s Resources (4.9) is our review topic this week.  The students started working on a resources pamphlet last week and will complete it this week.  There will be a quiz on this material on Thursday, October 24th. This is a change! The students have notes in their notebooks to help prepare for this quiz.  Next, we will begin exploring the oceans!

SOCIAL STUDIES

We will finish up our study of Henrico County this week.  The students will begin creating an illustrated geography terms dictionary.  Then they will use lines of latitude and longitude to locate specific places.  There will be a quiz on geography terms on Tuesday, October 29th.  Next week we will make maps using map skills.

IMPORTANT DATES

10/21 – Picture Day

10/24 – Resources Quiz –This is a change!

10/28 –  Student half day

10/29 – Geography Terms Quiz

10/29 – Henricopolis Conservation Visits 5th Grade!

10/30 – Henricopolis Conservation Visits 5th Grade!

10/30 – Decimal Computation Test

10/31 – Mystery Book Report due

11/4 – Family/Teacher Conference

11/5 – Student Holiday

Don’t forget that Monday, October 14th is a student holiday!  Enjoy the day off!

PE Success Week: This year Success week is October 14th-18th. This program is aimed at motivating students, families, and communities to participate in a physically active lifestyle. This event is to help individuals become aware of heart health related fitness components, to promote self-esteem by acknowledging each student’s achievement, and to establish a plan for participation in physical activities at home, school and the community. Remember being active is a lifestyle. This year while in Physical Education class, students will run as many laps as they can in 6 minutes. All students will strive to do their best. Each class will want to run as many laps as they can, because each class will be competing against other classes and grade levels to see who ran the most laps and yards. I encourage all parents to come and run with their child (parent scores are included in the total class score). Don’t forget to get a visitor’s pass from the office before joining your child’s PE class. The schedule for success week is below and will consist of the following events:

Mouthful Monday-14th:  Students enjoy your day off. Write down everything you eat on a piece of paper and bring it with you to PE class. Ask yourself, “Am I eating a variety of color at each meal?” If you aren’t, then you may want to change your eating habits. It’s important to eat healthy to develop strong bones, muscles and teeth. Wear a different color on each part of your body to remind yourself to eat a colorful meal.

Team Jersey Tuesday-15th: Wear your favorite team jersey. Participate in a family plank challenge and see who can hold the plank the longest, then take a relaxing walk in the evening with your family.

Workout Wednesday-16th: Wear your fitness clothing and sneakers. Do 25 jumping jacks, 8 push-ups, 10 burpees, 20 mountain climbers and jog a mile with your family.

Thirsty Thursday-17th: Drink lots of water. It does the body good! Did you know that about 70% of your body is made of water? Check the label on your liquids. Does it have any sugar? If it does, reduce the amount of sugar you are drinking. Wear light blue to remind yourself to drink lots of water. Go on a bike ride with a friend or family member.

Flexible Friday-18th: School Spirit Day. Wear school spirit colors and be part of a winning team. Practice a few stretching exercises with your family. Being flexible prevents injuries when participating in sports. Relax and enjoy the weekend.

MATH

We will continue to review properties and practice using and identifying the distributive property this week.  There will be a test on this skill on Thursday, October 17th.  Your student has notes and examples in their math notebook.  We will also be computing decimals this week.  Please encourage your student to use their notes while completing homework.  Weekly Math (orange logic puzzle and mystery numbers) is due Wednesday, October 16.  Your student should be completing this assignment in class.  They have plenty of time to complete it as well as ask me questions about it.

LANGUAGE ARTS

In language, we will begin working with adjectives.  The students will work with a design team to create a menu for a fictional restaurant using each type of adjective.  This project is always such a hit with the kids!  Our Word Trek list is a review list this week.  The students will be required to spell 30 random words from the 50 words we have worked with so far this year for the spelling portion.  They will need to define all of the 50 words on the vocabulary portion.  Please encourage your student to use Spelling City to review for spelling and vocabulary.  They can click on the red vocabulary button and use the Word Trek words in vocabulary games!  🙂   We will also continue working with conflicts this week in reading.  The mystery book report is due on October 31st.  Please encourage to bring their books to school so that they can work on response questions in class when they have time.  Please let me know if you have questions about this assignment.

SCIENCE

There will be a quiz on Weather (4.6) topics Tuesday, October 15th.  Please encourage your student to use the many resources on the Science page of this blog for both review of 4th grade concepts and 5th grade curriculum. The students will present their Book Creator weather reviews in small groups this week.  We will also begin reviewing Resources (4.9).  Again, this is fourth grade material that will be assessed on the 5th grade SOL test this spring.  There will be a quiz on this material on Tuesday, October 22nd. Please encourage your student to use the Science page of this blog to review as well as the notes in their notebooks.  There is tons of stuff on this page!!!! 🙂

SOCIAL STUDIES

The students have been working hard on their Henrico Economy Commercials!  They are having so much fun with this project!  We will view the commercials this week as well as complete a graded assignment on this information.  Next, we will explore the government of Henrico County.

IMPORTANT DATES

10/14 – Student Holiday

10/14 – 17 – PE Success Week

10/15 – Weather Quiz (4.6)

10/16 – Henrico Explorers Passport due

10/17 – Distributive Property Test

10/21 – Picture Day

10/22 – Resources Quiz

10/28 –  Student half day

10/29 – Henricopolis Conservation Visits 5th Grade!

10/30 – Henricopolis Conservation Visits 5th Grade!

10/31 – Mystery Book Report due

11/5 – Student Holiday

Monday, October 14th is a student holiday!  Enjoy the day off!

Interims will be going home on Tuesday, October 8th for students who are struggling (Ds or Fs).  It is a great time to check out the progress of your student on PowerSchool.  I encourage the students to check regularly themselves so that there are no surprises.   Please let me know if you have questions.  🙂

Don’t forget that Reflections Contest entries are due 10/18! Use the arts to share your personal Reflections on this year’s theme: Look Within. More details here: http://www.gaespta.com/images/2019_Documents/Reflections_Flyer_-_Sept_2019.pdf

MATH

We will have an order of operations test this Thursday, October 10th.  We will continue practicing in class as we approach the day of the test.  We will also continue working with double digit divisor division, properties of numbers, and the distributive property.  Your student has notes in their notebook to help with all of these skills.  Please encourage them to use their notes while completing homework.  Weekly Math (logic puzzle) is due Wednesday, October 9th.

READING

In Reading, we will continue working with Running Out of Time.  The suspense of this novel is fantastic!  We will start exploring internal and external conflicts and then learn to identify man vs. self, man vs. man, man vs. world, and man vs. nature.  The students will write a summary in their Reading Response journals to practice the skill of summarizing.  We will also continue working through elements of plot, inferences, and character traits.  The mystery book report is due Thursday, October 31st.  We discussed last week that students who have caught up on classwork can work on their book reports in class.  This could be reading their book or typing response questions on their Google drive account.  All students should be bringing their book report book and another book to read if this one is finished every day to school.  Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this.

LANGUAGE

The students will start their admired person writing this week using the Bing, Bang, and Bongo method of writing five paragraphs.  We will complete one fully elaborated 4-square for our final two submissions for the Henrico County Writing Portfolio.  We will also continue working with verbs and review comma usage.  The students will receive a writing grade on their writing journals this week.  They were asked to pick three from the list of 15 this month.  The journal entries will be graded on completion, creativity and effort, and length.  The students are given 20 minutes in a language station for each writing.  If they do not complete them in the 20 minute station they are responsible for completing the journals during their free time or independent work time.

SCIENCE

We had a blast making fossils last week!  The fifth grade Science SOL will cover all material learned in fourth and fifth grade.  In order to be prepared, we will be reviewing fourth grade material throughout the year.  We will begin reviewing weather (4.6) this week.  The students will create pages that cover all things weather using Book Creator.  There will be review homework to help bring this material back to the front of their brains.   There will also be notes in their science notebooks to help with homework.  We will have a quiz on weather concepts on Tuesday, October 15th.

SOCIAL STUDIES

We are working on the economy of Henrico County this week.  The students will use information from their booklet to choose a product or service found in Henrico to make a commercial with a partner group.  They will use Flipgrid to film and present their commercials.    This is always a super cool assignment!  🙂

IMPORTANT DATES

10/10 – Order of Operations Test

10/14 – Student Holiday

10/14 – 17 – PE Success Week – more info to come!

10/15 – Weather Quiz (4.6)

10/28 –  Student half day

10/29 – Henricopolis Conservation Visits 5th Grade!

10/30 – Henricopolis Conservation Visits 5th Grade!

10/31 – Mystery Book Report due

11/5 – Student Holiday