Monday PE | Tuesday O&A to Fernhill Waste Water Treatment Plant | Wednesday ART | Thursday ELC Geek Out Tree House | Friday ART |
Important Dates
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*Students will have daily math, reading and spelling assignment this week. Also, students will bring home their Flush Reading packet to share with you. Please take a moment to sign this to show that you looked over it with them!
We have started a new Geek Out project. This round, students will have the chance to be scientists. They will get to use the inquiry process to create their own scientific experiment. But first is one of the most important and challenging steps - designing a solid scientific question (secret word).
Ask - what will your focus be for Geek Out? Do you have any question ideas?
Talk about your role in the All School Meeting skit.
Extend the learning - research programs that work to improve conditions in communities without water access.
Literacy
We launched into new books last week with a new level of independence. This time, students are in small groups reading their own books. Every day they'll either be reading, meeting with their literature circles to dive deeper into the book, or completing a reflection to show me their understanding. Their work and reflections from "Flush" along with an evaluation from me will be coming home this week. This will give students a chance to set goals for this reading unit.
I enjoyed reading persuasive paragraphs from those students that completed their writing homework before Thanksgiving. We're ready for the real deal now! Most kiddos have picked their topic and now will need to find sources and evidence to give their writing credibility.
Ask, what is interesting about your new literature circle book?
Talk about how you can determine whether a website has reliable information. (Why can't we cite "Wikipedia?)
Extend the learning by reading and talking about editorials as a family.
6th Grade Math
Sixth graders are hard at work on their Block 3 test, which focuses on the conceptual understanding of fractions. This is an important foundation before we start our work using operations with fractions. We'll review a bit before we wrap up the test.
Ask, how are fractions are used when measuring length in the US customary system?
Talk about if you prefer the lowest common denominator vs finding a common denominator.
Extend the learning to compare likes and dislikes of the metric and customary system to measure length.
5th Grade Math
Some families might have seen the metric system scavenger hunt that went home as homework last week. In class, we practiced making estimates and accurately measuring in metric units of mass, volume and distance. Then we applied our place value smarts to convert between units, like centimeters to meters or grams to kilograms.
Ask, how many centimeters in a meter? Meters in a kilometer? How do you remember?
Talk about how to determine what equation to use when converting between these units. Multiply or divide?
Extend the learning by baking a recipe using grams and liters, building something using centimeter measurements, or taking a hike in kilometers.