November 6 - 10
ELA- We will be completing Vocabulary Lessons 15 & 16. See ELA Vocabulary Unit for word lists by grade levels. We will also continue in our reading and discussion of the book Wonder. Finishing the story as told by Via, August's sister, and beginning the story told by Summer, August's new friend at Beecher Prep. We will also begin a grammar unit on Capitalization.
MATH- Continuing in our Multiplication Facts Unit, we will be learning facts for 6s, 7s, 8s and 9s, as well as reviewing all other facts. Next week, we will be starting timed challenges on all the multiplication facts, 0 - 12!
SCIENCE- Question of the Week: "How was the Grand Canyon formed?" This will begin our Earth Science unit. We will discuss weathering and erosion, and how the many features on Earth are constantly changing by natural and man-made forces.
SOCIAL STUDIES- We are starting our Unit on United States History. The class will be reading the book What Is the Declaration of Independence? by Michael C. Harris. This week, we will be discussing how early North American was being fought over between Great Britain, France, Spain and the Native Americans. Topics include the French and Indian War, Thomas Jefferson, the colonies and General George Washington.
ELA- We will be completing Vocabulary Lessons 15 & 16. See ELA Vocabulary Unit for word lists by grade levels. We will also continue in our reading and discussion of the book Wonder. Finishing the story as told by Via, August's sister, and beginning the story told by Summer, August's new friend at Beecher Prep. We will also begin a grammar unit on Capitalization.
MATH- Continuing in our Multiplication Facts Unit, we will be learning facts for 6s, 7s, 8s and 9s, as well as reviewing all other facts. Next week, we will be starting timed challenges on all the multiplication facts, 0 - 12!
SCIENCE- Question of the Week: "How was the Grand Canyon formed?" This will begin our Earth Science unit. We will discuss weathering and erosion, and how the many features on Earth are constantly changing by natural and man-made forces.
SOCIAL STUDIES- We are starting our Unit on United States History. The class will be reading the book What Is the Declaration of Independence? by Michael C. Harris. This week, we will be discussing how early North American was being fought over between Great Britain, France, Spain and the Native Americans. Topics include the French and Indian War, Thomas Jefferson, the colonies and General George Washington.
November 27 - December 1
ELA- We will be completing Vocabulary Lessons 17 & 18. See ELA Vocabulary Unit for word lists by grade levels. We will also continue in our reading and discussion of the book Wonder. We will finish the story told from August's friend Summer, and begin hearing August's friend Jack's point of view. We will continue with Capitalization activities and proofreading.
MATH- We will begin Fraction Concepts, while disucssing how fractions are a division problem. In doing so, we will be reviewing and strengthening our Multiplication Facts to 144.
SCIENCE- Question of the Week: "Do Glaciers Really Move?" We will discuss glaciers, meltwater, basins, moraines, retreat of land and how much of this midwest area we live in was shaped by the last ice age of glaciers.
SOCIAL STUDIES- We will be discussing the early years of North America, how settlers first came on the Mayflower, and then how the thirteen colonies decided to declare their independence from England. We will be making a K-W-L chart as a class as an introduction to this unit.
ELA- We will be completing Vocabulary Lessons 17 & 18. See ELA Vocabulary Unit for word lists by grade levels. We will also continue in our reading and discussion of the book Wonder. We will finish the story told from August's friend Summer, and begin hearing August's friend Jack's point of view. We will continue with Capitalization activities and proofreading.
MATH- We will begin Fraction Concepts, while disucssing how fractions are a division problem. In doing so, we will be reviewing and strengthening our Multiplication Facts to 144.
SCIENCE- Question of the Week: "Do Glaciers Really Move?" We will discuss glaciers, meltwater, basins, moraines, retreat of land and how much of this midwest area we live in was shaped by the last ice age of glaciers.
SOCIAL STUDIES- We will be discussing the early years of North America, how settlers first came on the Mayflower, and then how the thirteen colonies decided to declare their independence from England. We will be making a K-W-L chart as a class as an introduction to this unit.
December 4 - December 8
ELA- We will be completing Vocabulary Lessons 19 & 20. See ELA Vocabulary Unit for word lists by grade levels. We will also continue in our reading and discussion of the book Wonder. We will finish our unit on Capitalization.
MATH- We will be working with equivalent fractions as it relates to like and unlike denominators. Visual models of equivalent fractions will help students to understand the concepts behind the arithmetic. We will continue our repetition and review of multiplication facts to 144.
SCIENCE- Question of the Week: "What Makes a Volcano Erupt?" We will discuss the anatomy of our Earth, focusing on volcanoes. We will be studying the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980 and the ongoing eruptions of Mount Kilauea in Hawaii to better understand the different ways in which volcanoes shape the surface of the Earth.
SOCIAL STUDIES- Continuing in our studies of the beginning of the United States, we will begin reading What is the Declaration of Independence? and reviewing the causes that lead to the Revolutionary War. We will talk about our founding fathers as they met at the First Continental Congress and worked as a team to form the ideologies of what a new nation should represent: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and how all men are created equal.
ELA- We will be completing Vocabulary Lessons 19 & 20. See ELA Vocabulary Unit for word lists by grade levels. We will also continue in our reading and discussion of the book Wonder. We will finish our unit on Capitalization.
MATH- We will be working with equivalent fractions as it relates to like and unlike denominators. Visual models of equivalent fractions will help students to understand the concepts behind the arithmetic. We will continue our repetition and review of multiplication facts to 144.
SCIENCE- Question of the Week: "What Makes a Volcano Erupt?" We will discuss the anatomy of our Earth, focusing on volcanoes. We will be studying the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980 and the ongoing eruptions of Mount Kilauea in Hawaii to better understand the different ways in which volcanoes shape the surface of the Earth.
SOCIAL STUDIES- Continuing in our studies of the beginning of the United States, we will begin reading What is the Declaration of Independence? and reviewing the causes that lead to the Revolutionary War. We will talk about our founding fathers as they met at the First Continental Congress and worked as a team to form the ideologies of what a new nation should represent: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and how all men are created equal.
December 11 - December 15
ELA- We will be completing Vocabulary Lessons 21 & 22. See ELA Vocabulary Unit for word lists by grade levels. We will also continue in our reading and discussion of the book Wonder. The story this week is now being told by Justin, Olivia's high school boyfriend.
MATH- We will be continuing our work with equivalent fractions and fraction values by locating fractions on a numberline and ordering fractions with like denominators. We will continue our review and practice of multiplication facts to 144 by exploring number families. This will link these two ideas together in that division is reverse multiplication, and fractions are a way to write a division problem.
SCIENCE- Question of the Week: "What Causes Earthquakes?" We will explore plate tectonics and how fault lines result in the movement of Earth's crust, resulting in volcanoes and earthquakes. We will be viewing DIscovery Kids Science Series "Earth's Catastrophic Past" and "The Shape of Our Land," which explores and correlates all the factors of our Earth science unit.
SOCIAL STUDIES- Continuing in our reading of What Is the Declaration of Independence?, we will complete some activities that go more in depth as to the causes of the Revolutionary War, such as the Stamp Act, The Sugar Act and the Boston Tea Party. We will also complete an in-depth look at George Washington, who started as a General with the British army, then joined in the fight for a new nation, embracing the thoughts of our early forefathers.
ELA- We will be completing Vocabulary Lessons 21 & 22. See ELA Vocabulary Unit for word lists by grade levels. We will also continue in our reading and discussion of the book Wonder. The story this week is now being told by Justin, Olivia's high school boyfriend.
MATH- We will be continuing our work with equivalent fractions and fraction values by locating fractions on a numberline and ordering fractions with like denominators. We will continue our review and practice of multiplication facts to 144 by exploring number families. This will link these two ideas together in that division is reverse multiplication, and fractions are a way to write a division problem.
SCIENCE- Question of the Week: "What Causes Earthquakes?" We will explore plate tectonics and how fault lines result in the movement of Earth's crust, resulting in volcanoes and earthquakes. We will be viewing DIscovery Kids Science Series "Earth's Catastrophic Past" and "The Shape of Our Land," which explores and correlates all the factors of our Earth science unit.
SOCIAL STUDIES- Continuing in our reading of What Is the Declaration of Independence?, we will complete some activities that go more in depth as to the causes of the Revolutionary War, such as the Stamp Act, The Sugar Act and the Boston Tea Party. We will also complete an in-depth look at George Washington, who started as a General with the British army, then joined in the fight for a new nation, embracing the thoughts of our early forefathers.
December 18 - December 22
ELA- We will be completing Vocabulary Lessons 23 & 24. See ELA Vocabulary Unit for word lists by grade levels. Upon successfully completing Lesson 24, students will move to the next Grade Level Book when we return from Winter Break! We will continue our reading and discussion of the book Wonder.
MATH- We will be continuing our Fractions Unit with special activities for the Holidays, including Fraction Gift Guessing and Coloring Sets of holiday items to represent fraction values!
SCIENCE- Completing our Earth Science Unit, we will be taking a look at the overall composition of the Earth and the history of its formation. We will talk about elements that continue to shape and alter our Earth.
SOCIAL STUDIES- Taking a pause from our Early American History Unit (which we will resume after Winter Break) we will be doing a short unit about Winter Holidays and exploring how different people, places and cultures celebrate this time of year. This will include Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and of course, Christmas! What are the histories and stories behind all the traditions? Crafts and projects will be a part of the unit.
January 8 - January 12
ELA- All students will be starting a new book for the new year, as we finished the 24th (last) lesson the week before winter break. Therefore, we will be completing Vocabulary Lessons 1 & 2. See ELA Vocabulary Unit for word lists by grade levels. We will also be completing a calendar unit for January, as well as reading Wonder.
MATH- Students will be completing the placement checkup for January. See Math Unit for complete details. 5th grade will also be completing NWEA testing this week, as well as any 4th graders who missed NWEA days before break. After completing the testing, students will be working on a quick fraction review, multiplication facts review and competing on Friday with a Fidget Spinner Challenge.
SCIENCE- Question of the Week: "What's the Difference Between a Rock and a Mineral?" Students will be observing and testing various aspects of rocks and minerals to answer the question.
SOCIAL STUDIES- We return to our American History Unit and will be reading Chapters 1 & 2 of What is the Declaration of Independence? We will be discussing General George Washington, and how he and Thomas Jefferson were patriotic Englishmen... unit King George III started enforcing the colonies with rules that were unfair. It made them and other Colonial leaders question what powers a government should have over its people.
January 15 - January 19
Monday, January 15th, 2017 there is no school to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday.
ELA- All students will be completing only one vocabulary lesson this week, Lesson 3, due to the shortened schedule. We are in the last few weeks of reading Wonder.
MATH- Students will be completing a three-part visual lesson about Equivalent Fractions. We will also continue NWEA testing and reviewing Multiplication Facts.
SCIENCE- Question of the Week: "Where Do Rocks Come From?" Students will be learning about the three main formations of rocks: Igneous, Sedimentary and Metamorphic. We will be observing and testing rock samples, along with completing diagrams of the Rock Cycle.
SOCIAL STUDIES- Finishing Chapter 2 of What Is the Declaration of Independence?, we will be using graphic organizers and group activities to explore the causes for the colonies to rebel against King George III. These include the Currency Act, the Sugar Act and the Writs of Assistance.
ELA- All students will be starting a new book for the new year, as we finished the 24th (last) lesson the week before winter break. Therefore, we will be completing Vocabulary Lessons 1 & 2. See ELA Vocabulary Unit for word lists by grade levels. We will also be completing a calendar unit for January, as well as reading Wonder.
MATH- Students will be completing the placement checkup for January. See Math Unit for complete details. 5th grade will also be completing NWEA testing this week, as well as any 4th graders who missed NWEA days before break. After completing the testing, students will be working on a quick fraction review, multiplication facts review and competing on Friday with a Fidget Spinner Challenge.
SCIENCE- Question of the Week: "What's the Difference Between a Rock and a Mineral?" Students will be observing and testing various aspects of rocks and minerals to answer the question.
SOCIAL STUDIES- We return to our American History Unit and will be reading Chapters 1 & 2 of What is the Declaration of Independence? We will be discussing General George Washington, and how he and Thomas Jefferson were patriotic Englishmen... unit King George III started enforcing the colonies with rules that were unfair. It made them and other Colonial leaders question what powers a government should have over its people.
January 15 - January 19
Monday, January 15th, 2017 there is no school to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday.
ELA- All students will be completing only one vocabulary lesson this week, Lesson 3, due to the shortened schedule. We are in the last few weeks of reading Wonder.
MATH- Students will be completing a three-part visual lesson about Equivalent Fractions. We will also continue NWEA testing and reviewing Multiplication Facts.
SCIENCE- Question of the Week: "Where Do Rocks Come From?" Students will be learning about the three main formations of rocks: Igneous, Sedimentary and Metamorphic. We will be observing and testing rock samples, along with completing diagrams of the Rock Cycle.
SOCIAL STUDIES- Finishing Chapter 2 of What Is the Declaration of Independence?, we will be using graphic organizers and group activities to explore the causes for the colonies to rebel against King George III. These include the Currency Act, the Sugar Act and the Writs of Assistance.
January 22 - January 26
ELA- All students will be completing vocabulary Lessons 4 & 5 this week. We will continue reading and discussing Wonder.
MATH- Students will be working on ordering and comparing fractions with unlike denominators, as well as addition and subtraction of fractions with like denominators.
SCIENCE- Question of the Week: "Are Some Rocks Valuable?" Students will be learning about fossil fuels, renewable resources, and minerals that provide energy sources.
SOCIAL STUDIES- We will be working in Chapters 3 and 4 of What Is the Declaration of Independence? which discuss the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party. We will work with timelines as to the events that led to the American Revolution.
ELA- All students will be completing vocabulary Lessons 4 & 5 this week. We will continue reading and discussing Wonder.
MATH- Students will be working on ordering and comparing fractions with unlike denominators, as well as addition and subtraction of fractions with like denominators.
SCIENCE- Question of the Week: "Are Some Rocks Valuable?" Students will be learning about fossil fuels, renewable resources, and minerals that provide energy sources.
SOCIAL STUDIES- We will be working in Chapters 3 and 4 of What Is the Declaration of Independence? which discuss the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party. We will work with timelines as to the events that led to the American Revolution.