5th Grade Weekly Update for Week of November 11th
Thank you so much for helping us with our Veterans Day letters! Students worked very hard throughout the week to create a heartfelt letter! We mailed the letters on Friday, but I made copies that will come home in Friday Folders for you to see!
ELA: Each week, students are improving in our oral discussions of Turn Homeward, Hannalee. They are coming in prepared to answer the questions and supporting answers with details from the reading! I’m looking forward to our discussion on Monday! This week, each student became a quiz maker. His or her job was to create a 12 question comprehension quiz. I told students I would select some of these questions to use in the comprehension quiz I will give next week! Please remember that the quiz should include 2 questions from each chapter we have read so far. It should include an answer key with page numbers where the answer can be found. Also, the quiz and answer key should be typed.
This week, we will introduce new vocabulary words for our next chapters of Shades of Gray. On Wednesday, students will take the vocabulary test for the Shades of Gray chapters 6-8 terms that were given out last Monday. As we dive deeper into our novel study of Shades of Gray, it really helps students understand what they are currently learning in History as Mrs. Armstrong teaches how the American Civil War affected families.
Math: Last week, students learned how to model mixed numbers and improper fractions. They also learned the “MAD” method for turning mixed numbers into improper fractions. Now, we will learn the procedures for turning improper fractions into mixed numbers. Students will play a fun partner game to practice these new skills before we move on to comparing and ordering fractions and mixed numbers.
Science: Our young scientists had fun in the lab as we experimented with the fixed pulley! Students ran several trials where they calculated the work done with and without a fixed pulley. They found that using a fixed pulley does not affect the force needed to lift a load or the distance a load is moved; therefore, the work done is the same with or without fixed pulley. Then, we asked the question, “Well, how does a fixed pulley help?” We learned that it helps make work FEEL easier by changing the direction the force is applied to a downward direction. Therefore, we are pulling with gravity instead of against it, and this helps it feel easier without actually changing the amount of work done. This week, we will experiment with levers. Students will learn the difference between a first, second, and third class lever. Then, we will go into lab to discover the advantages of a first class lever.
History: Last week, we reviewed Civil War vocabulary and practiced using them in context. On Friday, students will take a vocabulary test that uses the terms in context, as well as matching. These terms are essential for gaining an understanding throughout our lessons. On Monday, students are going to listen to a Veterans Day presentation by my father, Steve Shasteen, a retired Navy man! He’s going to give us a little history about Veterans Day and tell us why Veterans Day is an important day to celebrate. Throughout the week, we will also gain an understanding of the human dimension of the Civil War by discovering some family members on opposite sides of the conflict. We’ll learn about Winfield Scott’s “anaconda strategy” for winning the war and about the battles of the Monitor and the Virginia and understand their significance to naval warfare. Finally, we’ll learn about how McClellan’s excessive caution undermined Union strategy and discover the outcome of the Peninsular Campaign and the Battle of Antietam.
Other: On Wednesday, we will meet with our book buddies to read and complete a Thanksgiving themed craft! Speaking of Thanksgiving, please join us on Friday, Novemeber 22nd at 11:00 a.m. to enjoy a family feast together! With all of the other activities going on with our younger ones on campus, we like to keep our feast more casual. It will begin at 11:00 a.m. and end around noon. Families are welcome to join when they can and stay as long as they like. Other family members are welcome to join too! Just please RSVP with our room parents, so we know how many to expect. A Sign-Up Genius list was created where you can sign up to contribute. We are looking forward to this time together!
Week at a Glance:
Monday: THH Chapter 5 and 6 Assignment Due (Please make sure page numbers are included on the answer key!)
Wednesday: Book Buddies; SOG Ch 6-8 Vocab Test
Other: Please RSVP for our Thanksgiving Family Feast if you have not already! Here is a link to the Sign-Up Genius list where you can volunteer to bring a dish if you are able to contribute!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E094FAFA72CA02-5thgrade