Happy Friday!
This week, the kids persevered through quite a bit of testing—but also enjoyed some fun learning experiences as well! We have now completed the Illinois Science Assessment, as well as our final literacy placement test. Today we completed our unit 6 math assessment, which will lead us into our final math unit of the year, starting on Monday.
As we progress through the final months of school, we will have many special events and dates that will be important to mark on calendars. Please pay special attention to the dates listed at the bottom of the blog updates so that you can stay informed!
Literacy: This week we focused on our cause/effect literacy target which asks students to think about the relationships between concepts and ideas in their reading. We read several sections of a science text called Our Mysterious Universe. We also read texts about sharks and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, where we were also exploring cause/effect relationships within the text. Next week we will start reading a fun book called Jess and Layla’s Astronomical Adventure. Here, we will be comparing fictional texts of similar content and/or topic. The two main characters of the story travel back in time and meet many of history’s famous philosophers and scientists! As we read, we will continue to practice literacy skills such as comparing and contrasting characters and settings, analyzing themes and using quoted evidence from a text to support responses. Eventually we will read another science fiction story of the same genre called Mayday on the Moon of Jupiter, so that we can compare and contrast how the two stories approach their respective themes.
Writing: Students will soon begin working on a research project and oral presentation. Piggybacking off the previous reading we did on real life superheroes such as Richard Martin and Raoul Wallenberg, each student has been asked to choose someone they feel embodies the qualities of a real life superhero. They will conduct research about this outstanding individual and give an oral presentation to the class. This project incorporates many reading and writing targets for students. Be sure to ask your student who he/she as chosen to research!
Math: We have now completed Unit 6, which emphasized skills in the area of geometry. During this unit, students practiced classifying figures in a hierarchy based on properties. They also located points on a coordinate plane based on ordered pairs. Students should now also be able to identify patterns between corresponding terms and show their ability to generate numerical patterns when given specific rules.
Science: We have continued to work on our unit on Changes in Matter, which encompasses the three states of matter (solid, liquid, and gas). During this unit we engaged in two fun investigations. During the first, students identified various powders such as baking powder, talc powder, salt, and sugar, by using their attributes and reactions to substances such as iodine, water, and vinegar. This week, students used combinations of two different liquids and powders to determine when new substances had been formed. They observed for changes such as color and temperature—or whether substances fizzed or bubbled when mixed together.
Social Studies: Yesterday we started our final inquiry-based social studies unit of the year. We will explore the topic of democracy, and generate ideas throughout the unit about how citizens can contribute to keeping a democracy healthy.
Important Upcoming Dates:
***Tues., April 25—Early Release @ 2:05
***Wed., April 26—6th Grade Math Placement test
***Thurs., May 4—5th grade travels to Twin Groves to watch their Musical Presentation
***Wed., May 10—5th grade Music Program at Ivy Hall @ 6:30
***Friday, May 12—5th Grade Party after school
***Monday, May 15—Visit to Twin Groves during the school day, Orchestra concert
***Thursday, May 18—Band Concert
***Friday, May 19—Field Day
