March 27th Newsletter

In math class we have started working on fractions.  Ellen Dorsey, WCSU math consultant, has joined our class for three days this week.  Students have learned new vocabulary (numerator, denominator, and vinculum) as they have explored fractions using colored paper strips.   After creating a variety of fraction strips (from halves to thirds, quarters, etc.) we compared fractions, writing both true and false statements.  The children were asked to then use their strips to prove the statements created.  Another area studied this week includes divisibility rules.  Be sure to ask your child about these. We will continue our work with fractions and division next week.

            Children have now finished their pre assessments on opinion writing.  Topics for these pieces varied from why all children should have a set bedtime to why you should not smoke.  The class has also been hard at work writing about their accomplishments this year and creating goals for the remainder of fifth grade.  This has been in preparation for parent conferences that will take place in the next two weeks.  If you have not turned in the conference sheet, please send it in with times that work for you soon.

In Technology, students continue to learn about creating a slide presentation in Google.  I have been impressed with their work on this project.  Be sure to ask your child to share their slide show with you during conferences.    

Next week we will begin to learn about the SBAC assessments that we will complete in May.  The 5^th grade SBAC tests are scheduled for May 5, 6, 7, 12 and 13. It would be really helpful if you did not schedule appointments on these days.

Students will be dismissed at 12:30 on April 2^nd and 3^rd for conferences.  There will not be a newsletter next week.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Nature Journals - Sketching Owls

Last Friday, Karen joined us for our monthly Nature Journal session.  Although the weather did not permit us to go outside, we were able to borrow from Mrs. Gannon these stuffed owls - the Great Horned Owl and the Barred Owl.  Students spent the hour observing, sketching and taking notes on these beautiful creatures.  The session connected wonderfully with our recent study of owl pellets!

Guest Speaker, Susan Sawyer

Susan Sawyer, illustrator of the Hands on Nature book and Four Wind trainer visited our class. She shared slides of squirrels (including red, gray, flying and Eurasian) and helped us learn how to draw them. Below are some photos from that day.

More Owl Pellet Photos

Studying Owl Pellets

Our class has been learning about owl pellets and how to study their contents.  Students have learned what they are, who produces pellets, and how they are produced.  Many were surprised to learn that these small, sausage-shaped objects do not pass through the intestine of birds and are very different from droppings.  These pellets contain the undigested parts of the birds’ food and are coughed up, or regurgitated.  Owls can produce two or sometimes three of these pellets every 24 hours.  The students have extracted most of the solid remains (bones, teeth, insect head parts, wing cases, seed husks, etc) and we will begin to attempt

Take a look at this!

identification of these parts this week.

Checking out the Bone Chart

Look at what we found!

Working together to find some bones

March 13th Newsletter

Week of March 13, 2015

        In math our class has continued our work on angles.  Students have learned about the various types of angles (acute, obtuse, right, straight and reflex).  We have identified the various angles in two dimensional shapes, worked with protractors to measure and draw angles, and learned about lines including intersecting, parallel and perpendicular.  Additionally, we have continued to work on the concept of long division that we began with Ellen Dorsey, WCSU math consultant.  This work has used Cuisenaire rods and base ten blocks for the concrete level.  We have also practiced the area model (drawing rectangles to represent the blocks) and finally the US algorithm, which is the traditional way that most of us have learned how to divide.    

          During the writing block students have been busily working on the post assessment for our study of the informational piece (the research report).  We finished these on Friday morning.  Students were asked to select a topic that they have previously studied or feel that they know a lot about.  I have been amazed at the progress that everyone has made!  From effective leads and transitions to elaboration and craft, students have all shown wonderful growth in their work.  Our next unit of study will be the opinion piece.  We will complete our pre assessment of this genre next week.

          For the past few weeks our class has worked with Ms. Dunkling on Friday afternoons learning a variety of Colonial dances.  We will be working with Ms. Dunkling on most Fridays, integrating Music with our Social Studies themes for the remainder of the year. 

          In Technology, students have started learning how to create a presentation in Google. We are learning skills as we create a presentation about our research topic for our informational pieces.  Soon, we will be creating presentations about “kindness”, part of our recent focus that ties in with our read aloud, Wonder. We have also focused on how to select websites for research.
          On Friday afternoon we will be examining owl pellets.  Be sure to ask your child about this fascinating activity!

          Have a wonderful weekend!