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 9th until Friday, December 13th. 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