January Learning Events

This week in Mrs.Whitley's classroom we have been working on a new project. We are setting up the Water Step project at our school. The Water Step project is a non profit organization that collects donated shoes and sells them to an exporter and the money they get from that goes to giving water to people in 3rd world countries. We did this because every 60 seconds a child dies from unclean water. Our project will start on February 1st and end on February 28th. We hope to fill 4 WaterStep boxes with shoes.  

 

 

Our class made posters to put up around the school telling people to donate old shoes, we had people tell about it over the announcements, and we had people write a script to tell about it on newscast.  

 

This week we also did an activity where we had either a nonfiction text feature or text feature definition taped on our back. We had to give each other hints about our text feature and you had to find the person that had the  matching feature or definition. 

Our class made posters for the third annual Fifth Grade vs. Teachers basketball game. The teachers have won for the past two years but this year the students hope to change that. We have a great team this year and they want to win badly. Us, fifth graders are determined to win. Last year the fifth graders lost by 1 point so we think we can beat the teachers. 

Week of January 23-27

Dates to Know

Social Studies Study Guide Due: Thursday, 1/26

Social Studies Test over Colonization: Friday, 1/27

5^th Grade Basketball Game: Friday 1/27 @ 6:30pm @ South Oldham Middle

 

Wish List

Highlighters! We have suddenly gotten VERY low on highlighters and we use them almost daily. If anyone would like to make a donation to our classroom, we really need highlighters and your donation would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

 

5^th Grade Basketball Game

Students vs. Teachers Basketball game begins at 6:30pm. If your child is playing or participating in some way, please have he/she arrive no later than 6pm. For anyone who wishes to play, but was not drawn, you may still have a chance. If a child from our team is unable to make it at the last minute, I will draw from the remaining forms at the game that night, but your child must be wearing the 5^th grade t-shirt. Keep in mind that this is unlikely. However, I would encourage everyone to attend because regardless of whether you’re playing or not, it will be a fun night for all!

 

Social Studies Study Guide

While I’ve taught most concepts, not everything on the study guide has been covered in class just yet. Therefore, the kids may begin the study guide this weekend, but it’s not due until Thursday, 1/26.

 

Last call for STOMP registration!

If you forgot to send in your child’s registration for STOMP, please do so no later than tonight. She will accept take a picture via e-mail by tonight or you can electronically send it in.  I've attached the registration form again.  Thanks!

 

Here’s what we’re learning next week!

Reading: How does a reader expand his/her knowledge of a topic? Next week will consist of a variety of research lessons in preparation for the kids’ writing assignment on positive human activity. What are nonfiction text features? We will explore the different features of nonfiction and how to incorporate them into our own articles.

Writing: How do I effectively organize information from multiple sources? How do I write an effective lead? This week our class will begin writing articles about a human activity of their choice that has a positive impact on the environment. This will tie in with our study of Earth systems.

Science: How do humans positively impact the environment? This week we will explore ways in which humans positively impact Earth systems.

Math: How do we estimate sums and differences? How do we add and subtract mixed numbers?

Social Studies: What was the Triangular Trade? What types of governments existed during colonial times? We will study these topics and review for Friday’s test.

 

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact me. Thank you and have a great weekend! J

Lesson Links for January 18th

Reading
Jane Goodall Article Modelhttp://betterlesson.com/lesson/resource/2995138/completing-think-aloud-of-jane-goodall.

Jane Goodall Article with Summary Frame http://betterlesson.com/lesson/resource/2996456/completing-the-jane-goodall-summary-frame


Science
Water Conservation Video
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=water+conservation+videos+for+kids&adlt=strict%2cstrict%2cstrict%2cstrict%2cstrict&view=detail&mid=DB88E0B8A950FA47E61FDB88E0B8A950FA47E61F&FORM=VRDGAR

How do I turn an improper fraction into a mixed number?

 Click on the Show Me link below to see my mini lesson on how to turn an improper fraction into a mixed number!  Show Me Video

Finding the Least Common Denominator

Click on the link below to learn how to find the Least Common Denominator!
http://www.showme.com/sh/?h=mDB11CC

Week of January 9-13

Important Dates to Know:

Monday, 1/9: Basketball forms due

Tuesday, 1/10: MAP Testing (Math)

Wednesday, 1/11: Early Release @ 12:20

 

Thursday, 1/12: 5th Grade Committee Meeting @ 6:30 @ Gustavo's in Crestwood

Friday, 1/13: Special 5^th grade pictures with message for yearbook due

 

Basketball Form

Today I am sending home a permission form for students to participate in the 5^th Grade Basketball Game on January 27^th. There are 7 slots available for each: 5 player slots, 1 announcer slot, and 1 slot for being Stripes, our mascot. I asked students to write on the form the way in which they would like to participate (Stripes, Announcer, Player) and return in by Monday, 1/9. Then I will draw names from each category to determine who will be participating. It is important to note that by signing and returning this form, you are committing to bringing your 5^th grader to SOMS from 6-8:30 on Friday, January 27^th so he/she can participate. Signing the form does not guarantee that he/she will be chosen, but it helps us to make sure we are only drawing from a pool of kids who can definitely participate on that night. I will inform students next week on who was drawn for each slot.

 

Yearbooks

Have you ordered your yearbook? Order forms for a message and picture of your 5^th grader to go in the yearbook are due by January 13^th. I’ve attached the form for this from the recent Tiger Tales to this message. However, online yearbook orders end on March 31^st. The cost is $19 and you can order at www.inter-state.com/yearbook.

 

Homework

Please make your child is completing XtraMath each night Monday-Thursdays. Weekends are optional. The night I sent home the letter introducing Xtramath, 23 out of 24 completed it! Let’s go for 24/24 each day next week. Thank you for your support in this endeavor to help kids have better mastery of their math facts! It will make a tremendous difference in their success over the next couple of math units. Also, please remember to sign the agenda each night and make sure your child records his/her book title.

 

Here’s what we’re learning this week!

Reading: How does text structure impact the meaning of the text? How do I effectively summarize an informational text?

Science: How do Earth systems interact? How does human activity impact Earth’s systems?

Word Study: What are the comma rules?

Math: How do I find the least common denominator of 2 or more fractions? How do I convert between improper fractions and mixed numbers?

Social Studies: How do I answer text-dependent questions about colonization? Students will read articles about colonization and then answer questions about the text by locating the information within the reading.