Second Full Week of School

  

It has been another successful week in fifth grade!

Below are some of the highlights from this week.

• Students met their buddies and were able to enjoy some fresh air and outdoor fun. 

• In language arts, students have been hard at work creating catchy introductions, the bodies of their personal narratives, and conclusions.  We will proofread, edit, and type these stories next week.  Students look forward to sharing these with you at next week's Curriculum Night.

• In science, students have practiced measuring using balance scales, hanging scales, graduated cylinders, beakers, rulers, meter sticks, and thermometers.  They've also learned to identify the independent, dependent, and controlled variables for an experiment.  Students will receive a study guide early next week for the first science test which will be Monday, September 17th.  The test will be over the scientific method and the science process skills.  The study guide and students' science journals will be great aids as students prepare for the test.

• This week fifth graders have practiced analyzing their thinking as they're reading fiction.  Students were taught to use post it notes to monitor their thinking as they are reading and they practiced this strategy with their class novels.  Mrs. Jones's class is now reading chapter four of Shiloh and Mrs. Nash's class is now reading chapter of  eight  Holes.  Fifth graders will receive their first book report assignment early next week.

• In social studies, students began their first unit.  They studied the first civilizations in the Americas and started learning the vocabulary for this section.

Our first field trip is quickly approaching!!!  On Friday, September 14th we will be visiting Heartland Presbyterian Center for a low ropes element course.  Students received a letter to share with you on Friday, August 31st.  We ask that you complete the liability form that is attached, and, if the student needs a sack lunch from the school cafeteria, that you also return the first page that notifies us of this need.  More info is provided in the letter regarding clothing and the possibility of rescheduling in the case of inclement weather.

We look forward to seeing you at Lower School Curriculum Night on Thursday, September 6th!

Fifth grade will begin in the second floor commons at 6 P.M.  We will be sharing general information about fifth grade as well as information about the curriculum and exciting interdisciplinary units.  In an effort to be more accessible and user friendly, Parent Teacher Conference sign-ups will be on sign-up genius this year.  We'll discuss this in more detail at Curriculum Night.  The sign-up will be published Friday morning, and we'll post the link to the sign-up on the blog at that time.  We hope to see you Thursday evening!