Friday, December 11, 2015

Friday, December 11th, 2015

Happy Friday Families!

It’s hard to believe that we only have a week left until Winter break!  We will be busy right up until the last minute with the many learning targets and activities that we are wrapping up!


Literacy
* Over the last several weeks, our students have focused on several books based on a migration theme.  In The Great Migration, we read about the great exodus of African Americans, around the time of World War I, who left their homes in the south in search of a better life in the north.  In the story Angel Island, we’ve been reading about the main immigration station in California in the early 1900’s, which was set up to receive immigrants primarily from Asia.  The focus of our readings have been to find the main ideas and their supporting details.  


Writing
* Our students finished writing their informative essays on a real-life superhero and are now researching a second superhero to present in a Google Slide presentation.  Students are being encouraged to add creative visuals and use notecards with additional information during their presentation.  They will present the information next week.  We are also learning to evaluate the reliability and document the internet and book sources used.


Spelling
* We completed our second full week of our new Words Their Way spelling program. Most weeks, your child will bring home a new set of words to sort and use for homework tasks.  Each boggle choice sheet is due on Friday with three completed activities.


Math
* Our students finished up two targets relating to adding and subtracting fractions in isolation and within word problems.  We started instruction of the next target which deals with the order of operations.


Social Studies
* We are continuing to learn about the colonization of America.  We will soon focus our instruction on the Southern colonies and learn about how our country transitioned to indentured servitude and slavery.

***Please remember that this will be the last weekend for students to prepare for the Fifth Grade trade show, which takes place NEXT THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17th.  Students must have their item(s) and displays ready the morning of.  We are very excited to see everyone's creativity and negotiating skills!


Science
* This week we started our new unit on the systems of the body.  We started with an introduction to the major components of animal and plant cells and compared and contrasted their parts.



Reminders/Upcoming Events:

** Reading Logs - Completed December reading logs will be due when students return from Winter Break.  Although there is no homework assigned, students are expected to read consistently over the break.

** Trade Fair takes place next Thursday afternoon!

** Winter Parties - We will spend the last hour of school on the 18th in our winter parties. Many thanks to all of the parents who have helped in the planning, will be attending the parties, or who are donating items.  It will be a great way to kick off our vacation!

** Please remember to send your child with a healthy snack.  Nothing feeds the brain like a healthy snack!  

** Please continue to have your child practice their multiplication facts up to 12.


Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.  Thank you and have a fantastic weekend!

Enzie Pangilinan