Week of May 2, 2016

"Call on me!!" Students eager to share their theories on the foreshadowing within our class read aloud of, The Stranger, by Chris Van Allsburg.

Highlights from Last Week:
Students had an exciting week. We explored the new playgroup behind the school and played a class game of Zombie Tag. It was all a fun way to remember how magical being a kid is.

In one of the most passionate class discussions I’ve ever witnessed, students analyzed examples of foreshadowing in our new favorite book, The Stranger, by Chris Van Allsburg. Students fought to be called on to share their theories about who the stranger was based on the little hints in the text.

In Math, students had a blast analyzing line graphs of Granny’s hot air balloon ride and hypothesizing what happened to her based on the changes in the graph. Granny did everything from posing for a photo shoot, to falling down a sewer hole, to time traveling!

On Thursday, we reviewed for the Science MCAS through a fast-paced nature walk. The lady from the Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary refreshed our memories on everything from animal adaptations to types of rocks.

Friday was Get Up and Move Day. Students enjoyed an invigorating half hour of exercise as an entire school.

What we didn't get to:

• In Math, we spent some extra time with coordinates to work on line graphs. I also added in a line plot lesson that involved finding an average using fractions. It’s on the frameworks, so I squeezed it in before MCAS. Therefore, we didn’t start Volume this week.
• In Writing, we’ve been working intensely on commas. Therefore, we didn’t get to the Spelling Test (which will be on the commonly confused words that we’ve been practicing in class); nor did we get to conjunctions, prepositions, interjections, or verb tenses. With our study of commas, however, we’ve introduced some of these concepts.

This Week's Plan
 
Special:

• Early Release Wednesday
• ‘Ball in the House’ Vocal Workshop –during Chorus on Thursday
• ‘Ball in the House’ Evening Performance with 5th Graders! –Thursday from 6:30-8:00 PM. Wear your chorus t-shirt.
• Lexington & Concord Field Trip –Friday from 8:45 AM to 2:30 PM. Bring a snack, lunch, and drink; the trash comes back with you. We’ll learn about the historic confrontation between the British and Colonists that launched the Revolutionary War.

 

Math: 
Cram Time for Math MCAS.
In order to cover everything that students will be tested on in the MCAS, which is May 10th and 11th, we need to cram in 1 ½ months worth of material in 2 weeks. Here is what we still need to cover:

• Volume
• Measurement Conversions
• Polygon Properties
  
  

Writing:  
Grammar and Language Skills

• Spelling Words and a Spelling Test
• Conjunctions, Prepositions, and Interjections
• Verb Tenses
  
  

Reading:
Continue with Foreshadowing. Revisit point of view.

• Retell a story from a different character’s point of view.
• Identify examples of foreshadowing in poems and plays.

 
Social Studies:
We take a break from Social Studies to focus on Science. We will pick up with Social Studies again after the Science MCAS is over in mid May.
 
 
Science:
Plants, Animals, and Ecosystems

• Plants and Their Food –We will learn about what plants need to grow by conducting a fun experiment.
• Food Webs –We will learn how organisms are related to one another by what they eat in their ecosystems. We’ll learn about producers, primary and secondary consumers, decomposers, and more.

 
Homework:
Please visit the Homework Page for more details.

• Homework Project: Decision Making Project. Students are writing their DARE essay and creating a fun comic or graphic novel to go with it. Due Friday.
• Math: There will be a page or two of math practice each night.
• Reading: 25 minutes of daily independent reading is expected. Students should log it in their Planners. 
• Reading Response Blog: Students must write back to me on Blog #16 by Friday.
• Global Citizenship Project: Students are expected to begin their philanthropy for their chosen charities outside of school. They must log their activities in the Philanthropy Log, which is on their Google Drive.

Thanks for Reading!
So that's the plan for the week. Please feel free to email me with any questions, comments, or feedback.