Monday PE | Tuesday ELC | Wednesday ART | Thursday -O&A to Oregon Symphony | Friday -Geo Bee 10:00 at the Library |
Important Upcoming Dates February 1st -- O&A to Oregon Symphony February 2nd -- School-wide Geography Bee February 9th -- All School Meeting February 19th-- No School, Presidents' Day | Volunteer with Level 3 Click here to sign up:
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Reading: Read the newsletter as a family on Monday. Read a book of your choice the other nights.
Math: Daily math homework - check your child's agenda or contact teacher
Writing: Spelling assignment each night
Due dates: Spelling due Friday
Project
The Merlins are really enjoying figuring out how to survive in the New World! Last week they chose where they wanted to land in the New World. Each plot was worth a different point value based on latitude, land features, access to water, etc. Upon arriving, groups go through different rounds to learn their fate in terms of weather, farming, hunting, fishing, Native American interactions and general welfare. And, they want to expand their colony too!
Ask what types of fates has your colony encountered so far?
Talk about why land has different values.
Extend the learning to think about what would be valuable about creating a settlement here, in Forest Grove.
Literacy
This week I started a book called Chains, which is about a slave around the time of the Revolutionary War trying to get her freedom. We've enjoyed the great vocabulary and how the author transports us to that time in history. Each chapter starts with a primary source from the time period to let us see what's happening. But, it's a heavy book realizing how many people were not granted the freedoms colonists came to America to gain. We are also hard at work writing our historical fiction. Last week we focused on the lead to introduce the character, setting and problem of our story. We'll get to some more scenes this week!
Ask how did you start off the lead to your story?
Talk about ways the beginning can connect back to the end of a story.
Extend the learning by finding a piece of historical fiction to read as a family.
6th Grade Math
The short week had us hopping to finish up loose ends before report cards. One skills worth mentioning is different ways to think about multiplication of fractions. 1/2 x 3/4 can be thought of 1/2 of 3/4. I like kids to think about what that statement means. Do you have more than 3/4 more than 1/2? How can you represent what it is saying? We look at two models, a number line and an area model. Be sure to ask your kiddo if they can do both. If they can't, it's something for them to re-learn. Finally, 6th graders were given forms to be signed by families for our student teacher, please contact me if you have questions. We'd like them to be turned in by this Friday.
Ask what is 7/8 time 1/3?
Talk about how your kiddo is doing with notebook expectations.
Extend the learning by looking for ways multiplying fractions happens in the read world.
5th Grade Math
After a tough week of testing, we had fun exploring line plots as a way to make sense of information. Students practiced gathering data about our class's pinky finger length before moving on to more interesting questions of their choice. On Wednesday, students used a spreadsheet to transform their data into colorful charts. We'll be moving to new topics this week, but if you still didn't get a chance to show me your best fraction skills, please come ask for a test retake - it's not too late!
Ask - what data did you gather about your classmates? What was the variable? (mystery word)
Talk about how to choose the range on a line plot. (For example, if you are plotting the heights of members of your household, what range would you need? What unit would you use?)
Extend the learning at home by analyzing graphs in the newspaper or online.