January Has Come and Gone

Math

Coming home in this week's Friday Folder you will see your child's chapter four math assessment. Like always, students were given the chance to make corrections. You will see two scores, one before corrections and one after. They worked so hard and deserve a round of applause, this is NOT easy stuff. Next week we will began a brief area of triangles unit and then will move on to study ratios. Needless to say we will be busy mathematicians in the coming weeks.

Science

This week we moved on to the nervous system. YOUR BRAIN = commend center, YOUR SENSES = provider of information, YOUR NERVES = message sender, YOUR SPINAL CORD = message "super" highway.

Students enjoyed a variety of hands on activities, highlighting how their bodies react to move and to protect them. 

Have you ever tried to catch an object using only one of your senses? Your students have, ask them about it!

Book Clubs

This week we concluded our identity book clubs. Students participated in their final book club discussion and began their end book club writing assessment, these will be finished early next week.  Students are being asked to examine how the main character in their book changed in how they saw themselves, the world, their relationships and their future. In addition students were asked to share a moment in their lives in which they felt they grew or changed, learned something important about their world or themselves. You will see an overview of your student's book club participation and preparedness in their Friday Folder.

Have a lovely weekend

Maia

Jan 30th- "Play Times"- Turn the World Around

Reading to Buddies

Cozy with a Book

Reading

Buddy Reading

Meet Mr. Bones Jr.- Student Created

Reaction Time- Ruler Drop

Science in Action

Senses- Brain-Nerves- Muscles/Bone

Week in Review...A little Late

Happy Sunday! I meant to get this post out on Friday, but went home mid-morning with a stomach bug. I am feeling better and even got to enjoy a bit of this weekend's glorious weather. Thank you for your patience and understanding with my late weekly review!

SCIENCE.....Limb Models and Chicken Wing Dissection
Students created working models of joints: first a simple model from straws and rubber bands, and then significantly more complex models out of our "science junk box." The students then launched the idea of using the various limb and joint models they created and joining then together to make a class skeleton. This was completely their idea and have taken charge of the planning. We have roped off a special area of our classroom to build. I am eager to see the finish product and impressed with their collaboration, brainstorming and creativity.

Chicken Wing dissection day was a hit. We found some truly excellent examples of ligaments, marrow, joint movement, muscle, blood vessels, and connective tissue.  

MATH
Chapter Four will conclude with a final test this Wednesday. The growth students have made in understanding in solving complex word problems is impressive. Sure, it's not easy and there is plenty of room for continued growth but their hard work is notable. We played Fraction Bingo this week, and students were able to move between adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing fractions. 

BOOK CLUBS
This week students will have their final book club meetings. Over the last few weeks students have been deeply involved in their books, preparing for their meetings by not only reading the assigned pages, but preparing discussion questions or pondering to share with their group members. They are also working to write clear and concise summaries of the most recent reading assignment. In addition to sharing their thoughts and insights during discussions, they have been given the opportunity to share their understandings through writing reflections, in which they answer specific questions about the plot, conflict and characters.

THIS AND THAT
Our one-day-only choir tour extravaganza will occur next Friday! (See the link in last week's blog post for your invitation and details). 

Here is the first of what is sure to be many special communications from Cynthia Hechter regarding our fifth grade play. You'll be getting emails and hard copies of "The Play Times," and you will also find links in our weekly blogs. 

Jan 15- "Play Times"- Turn the World Around

On Thursday, February 5th, the Lower School Joint Parent Association Meeting/Curriculum Night at Highcroft, offers a “Fifth Grade Play Information Meeting.”  Theatre faculty, Cynthia Hechter and Lori Opsal, will address all aspects of the production process: auditions and casting, rehearsing, costumes and makeup, and performances.