March 9-13

The kids did a great job last week working through the PARCC assessments! They focused and tried their best. 

No special events this week to remind you about; there is a service club meeting this Wednesday after school, though. 

5H Math

This week we continue converting within the metric system. Kids need to be able to convert from a larger unit to smaller and vice versa. We are working on kids understanding why it makes sense to move the decimal in a number when converting within the metric system. Kids need to understand that the metric system is based on the base ten system. Each larger unit is ten times greater than the last unit, and when you move the decimal in a number you are also making it ten times greater or smaller depending on the direction you move it. The more practice we get with measuring, the better their understanding will be. 

Later this week, kids will begin converting not only length, but also with metric weight (grams) and metric capacity (liters). Conversions are the same with these types of measure as when converting between metric lengths/distances. This Friday kids will have a quiz on converting- all three measurement types will be on their quiz. All this week, I will be working with kids on having them make sure their answer makes sense. For example, if converting meters to centimeters, does it make sense for your number to get smaller? No...because it takes more centimeters than meters to measure the same distance. 

Language Arts

We continue Red Kayak, our anchor text. Today we worked on narrative writing by writing from a different character's perspective. Kids had to think about the events from the chapter and put themselves in someone else's shoes while considering how the events may have effected this other character (Mrs. DiAngelo). 

Kids were supposed to print or send me an article about a current event they are interested in. We will be using this current event to practice informational writing again. Kids will practice what we learned last week, to gather information about their topic and write a short information piece this week. Tuesday night they will need to find an additional source that provides further information about their topic. Then kids will work on determining what information is important to best communicate the current event.  

Word Study

Kids are learning about the Greek and Latin roots "tract" (to pull) and "mini" (less). We will do several assignments this week to learn about the meanings of the words and how to use them appropriately. Kids will take a quiz this Friday. 

Social Studies

We are building up to the American Revolution. Today we reviewed and learned more about how Spain, England and France claimed land in North America. We learned how each group is starting to try and claim more land and how this will create conflict. 

For the next couple days, kids will read and learn about the French and Indian War. This is important because England will spend a lot of money in the war to protect the colonists, and will then need to tax the colonists to regain some wealth. As we know, "taxation without representation" was one of the causes of the American Revolution. 

Later this week we'll start watching "America the Story of Us" from the History Channel. There are a couple great episodes that will help the kids visualize the events leading up to the war as well as the war.

The essential questions for the unit are listed below, in case you're curious! 

-How did the colonists learn to govern themselves?

-Which events made the colonists decide to break away from Great Britain?

-How did the patriots' point of view differ from the loyalists' point of view?

-What are the basic principles of the Declaration of Independence?

-Which important leaders helped to establish our new nation?

-What were the important events during the Revolutionary War?

Citizenship

This week we are working on following directions the first time given.