It is that time of year when we have to start fighting the battle against cold and flu season. If you are able to donate clorox or lysol wipes, as well as hand sanitizer, it would be greatly appreciated!
Reading
In Lesson 12, students read a short story, The Long Bike Ride. While reading, students worked on filling out a story map where they had to identify the characters, setting, conflict, plot events, and resolution of the story. We also spent time identifying and interpreting examples of figurative language found in the text. In our paired selection, students read and interpreted the meaning of two poems, and we discussed the various poetic devices found in each.
Math
In both classes, we started chapter 8, which focuses on multiplication and division of fractions. Students learned how solve for a fraction of a number, as well as how to multiply fractions. Students also learned to estimate the product of fractions.
Science
We continued the physics unit on gravity and motion. Students learned about the three categories of motion: linear, circular, and vibrational. We also discussed the terms used to describe the movement of objects (speed, velocity, acceleration, and displacement). Lots of vocabulary terms to learn, many of then new to the students. Students now have all the background information needed to understand Newton’s three laws of motion. We will begin learning about these next week!
Social Studies
We shared our immigration projects and found out some interesting things about each other. It was evident from the students’ presentations that they learned a lot of new information about their families or famous immigrant. Students also learned about the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. which was an excellent introduction to our Civil Rights unit.
Writing/English
In Mrs. Mitchell’s class, students are working on the rough draft for their informational writing. Students have complete the paragraphs containing their main ideas and will then move on to writing the introduction and conclusion for their piece. In English, we are done learning about nouns and are now reviewing the information we have learned. The end of the unit test will take place on Tuesday.
In Mrs. Johnson’s class, students finished their persuasive essays and submitted them for a grade. In English, we started the unit on verbs. We learned about action verbs and auxiliary/helping verbs. We also continue to work on Daily Language Review each day to practice grammar skills.
Paw Prints are now available via the internet only on our blog. If you do not have access to the internet, you are more than welcome to contact us and we will be happy to send a paper copy home. January’s Paw Prints is on the blog and available for your viewing.
Reading
Students completed the midyear benchmark assessments this week. We also started theme 3 in the Storytown series. Throughout this theme, students will be read about how living things adapt to our ever-changing planet. The first story is Life Under Ice, and the focus skill is identifying and interpreting figurative language.
Students presented their Book Club Movie Posters this week. They enjoyed looking at each others’ creative designs and learning about the different books that were read and discussed by other classmates. New book club groups will begin soon.
Math
In both classes, students learned how to add fractions and mixed numbers as well as how to subtract with regrouping. We reviewed how to find equivalent fractions and then used this idea to compare and order fractions. We also did problem solving using the strategy of looking for a pattern. Mrs. Johnson’s students took the mid-chapter quiz this week. Next week, both classes will be ready for the chapter 7 test.
Science
We started the physics unit on gravity and motion. During this unit, students will learn about Newton’s three laws of motion and how these laws explain the movement of all objects. This week we learned about gravity and how it impacts our movement on Earth. Students also learned the difference between weight and mass.
Social Studies
Students should be working on their Immigration project. Projects are due Thursday, January 14th. We completed our unit by discussing immigration today and the process that immigrants go through to become citizens of the United States. In our next unit, students will learn about civil rights.
Writing/English
In Mrs. Mitchell’s class, students are in the beginning stages of an informational writing. Students are brainstorming and will then move onto completing their prewriting hand. In English, we are continuing to learn about nouns. We discussed how to make singular nouns plural and possessive nouns.
In Mrs. Johnson’s class, students wrote the first rough draft of their persuasive essays and spent time working on revisions. We also continue to work on Daily Language Review each day to practice grammar skills.