Welcome back from February break students! I missed you all very much.

I'm excited to hear all about the reading that you did over the break. I hope you all spent some time curled up or stretched out with a good book. To get back into the swing of school, let's use this week's blog to Power Think!

Choose 2-3 power verbs from the list above and use them to write about a book you've been reading or have read recently.

For example, if you choose to "describe" and "trace," you will need to choose something from your book to describe and something from your book to trace. "Describe" means to "tell about, paint a picture with words." "Trace" means to "list the steps, follow the path." 

I can't wait to read your powerful thoughts about your books!

Image credit: Girl reading in a basket. http://www.fun-learning-activities-for-children.com

The entire fifth grade gathered to celebrate students' first research report. Each student from Ms. Murphy's, Ms. Kimball's, and Ms. Tolman/Bracy's classes shared their Colonial America research topic and a highlight from their reports. We all learned a lot about Colonial America just from listening to excerpts of other students' work!

Business owner Michael McGee of "McGee Weather Company" asked for students' help in finding out who stole his weather data. Was is Bob Blizzard? Juan Sum Light? Joe Breezy? Ima Vapor? or Debbie Drizzle? Students used their knowledge of the weather and analyzed the evidence to determine the identity of the criminal. 

Here are students piecing together the evidence.

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. day, we examined Dr. King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech, which he delivered on August 28, 1963 at the March on Washington. February is Black History Month, so let us continue our discussion of this remarkable event. I've copied some of the lines from Dr. King's speech below. Read them.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

If you would like to read the full speech, visit American Rhetoric.

Choose at least one of the sentences from MLK's speech above. Analyze (break apart, tell about the parts) what the sentence is about. Explain the meaning of Dr. King's message.

Then, tell why you think Dr. King chose those words and phrases to get his message across.

To get background information on the Civil Rights Movement so that your response is the best it could be, check out Britannica for Kids --The Civil Rights Movement.

To read more about Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech, check out Time For Kids --Honoring King's Dream.

Image from American Rhetoric: http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

After Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we listened to part of his speech and analyzed the writing. We discovered some techniques he Dr. King used, such as repetition, elaboration, figurative language, powerful vocabulary, and evocative language that brings our memories or feelings. Students loved working on their own speeches. A couple of students even went on to publish them. Enjoy!

* image from the National Archives and Records Administration, posted on Wikipedia. Martin Luther King March on Washington, 1963.