Monday, November 28, 2011

Monday, 11-28-11

Good morning!  Wednesday is a 3 hour early release.

Today students will have German, receive a new word study list, and continue reading Crispin. 

Science-6-flap booklet on the characteristics of living organisms is due on Wednesday.  Many students may have to complete this as homework if it is not finished in class.  Osmosis project is due on December 9.  It may be turned in early!

Math-weekly review, received today, is due on Friday.  Students will be analyzing benchmark scores.

Social studies tomorrow!

Writing- lesson on dialogue using other words in place of "said".

Reading-HRP assignment is due on Thursday.  Crispin chapters 25-35 due by Friday.  Section 3 illustrated vocab booklet due Friday too.

Have a wonderful Monday!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Thanksgiving break homework

Over the break I am encouraging all students to read for HRPs!  Remember only award winners and BOB selections, if your child is participating in BOB, are allowed.

Osmosis project should be started as soon as possible!

German class requires the coloring of a Schulute.  It is due on Monday, November 28. 

Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

Monday, November 21, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving!

We have school on Monday and Tuesday of this week!  Our Thanksgiving break begins on Wednesday.  I wish you all a blessed Thanksgiving!

Our study of German begins today!  Guten Tag!

Reading-HRPs are due on Thursday, December 1.  Our reading of Crispin continues.

Writing-Dialogue will be added to free writes.

Word Study- None this week.

Science- Cell quiz Monday.  Osmosis project due December 9.  Please refer to a separate blog page for Osmosis instructions.

SS-Medieval England!

Math-Benchmark on Tuesday.

November 30-3 hour early release

December 2- Wolfmart

December 7-Mrs. Oddo out half day (PM) due to a lead science meeting.

December 12, 13, and 14 -Family Life lessons lead by county nurses.  Boys will meet as a group as will girls.  Information will be coming home soon.

December 16-Winter party.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Osmosis project

On Thursday or Friday, students will be assigned an Osmosis "Egg"speriment.  This is an at-home project.  Your child should bring home a booklet we made in class to write observations and conclusions.  They also will have a 2-page stapled paper that offers the instructions and has questions that must be answered.

This is a seven day experiment that will count as a test grade!

Mrs. Oddo's and Mrs. Compton's classes are due on December 8.
Mrs. Scarpinato's and Mrs. Malcolm's classes are due on December 9.

Materials:
Jar with a lid (wide mouth)
raw egg (it can be white or brown)
white vinegar
clear corn syrup
string to use with metric measurement
booklet (made in class)

Day one: Measure the egg around the middle (metric only!).  Record on the white paper.  Place the egg in the jar and cover with vinegar.  Cover the jar and place in a cool location, not the refrigerator.  Observe and journal your observation for 3 days. (Day1, day2, day3).  Try to plan on writing observations about the same time each day.

Day three: After your observation, pour off the vinegar, carefully remove the egg and measure.  Note the measurement on the white paper.  Rinse out the jar and place the egg back inside.  Cover the egg with about 18cm of corn syrup.  Answer question 1-3 under "What happened?" on the white paper.  Write a conclusion about the effects of vinegar on an egg. Cover the jar and observe the egg for the next 3 days.  (day 4, day 5, day 6)

Day six: After your observation, carefully pour off the corn syrup.  The egg will be very slick!  Measure the egg and note data on the white paper.  Rinse out the jar and fill with tap water.  Answer question 3 under "What Now".  Carefully place the egg back inside. Answer question 4 under "What Happened?"  Write a conclusion about the effects of corn syrup on the egg.

Day seven: Write your last observation.  Pour off the water and measure one more time.  Answer the remaining questions from the white paper.  Write your conclusion about the effect of water on the egg.

After day seven has concluded students may turn in their completed white pages and the booklet that holds their observations and conclusions.

IF the egg falls and breaks, you have to start all over again!  Be careful and enjoy the process of OSMOSIS!

Tuesday, 11-15-11

Your children had a wonderful day at the Fractal Keys lesson down at Harrowgate Elementary!  Ask them to explain what a fractal is.  They probably will be able to provide you with an illustration!

Science-Cell quiz on Monday!  Students will need to identify several parts of an animal and plant cell and know the definitions of :
cell wall
cell membrane
cytoplasm
mitochondrian
ribosomes
endoplasmic reticulum
vaculoes
nucleus
chloroplasts

Monday, November 14, 2011

Week of November 14-18

**Report cards will be issued on Friday!

**Math/Science field trip on Tuesday.  There is no cost for this trip.  We will be traveling to Harrowgate Elementary School.

**Reading Benchmark administered on Monday.

**Symphony on Thursday morning!

Reading-Chapter 13-24 in Crispin has been assigned.  Students will create their 2nd illustrated vocabulary booklet using words from these chapters.  I will also be assigning a character analysis that will be due at the conclusion of the novel.  Crispin counts toward one HRP book fro this marking period.  The first HRP is due on Thursday.  Students have a choice in the activity.  Please remember to sign both the response page and the log sheet.

Writing-Dialogue will be our focus this week as students begin a free write.  They will be asked to write at home at least 2 times this week.  Students may personalize their writing notebooks.

Word study-List will be provided on Monday.  Students will be asked to produce a persuasive piece using all their spelling words.  This will be an at-home assignment.  Their piece may be an advertisement or a story.  Assessment will be on Friday.

Science-Our study of cells begins today, Monday!  Students will learn the difference between animal and plant cells and be able to identify the basic parts of each.  I will be posting a separate blog page about the Osmosis project that will be assigned on Thursday.

SS-look at the separate posting!

Math-http://mrscomptons5thgradeclass.blogspot.com/

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Social studies update!

SOCIAL STUDIES – European geography quiz and map project due on Wednesday, November 16. Study the notes in the SS notebook and the map project 10 minutes per night rather than waiting until the last minute. Map projects were distributed yesterday. Students will have an entire class period to work on it on early next week, so should NOT complete the map over the weekend. It was suggested to the students that for HW, they should focus on coloring (use light colors only) their map and labeling the 10 capitals and countries that they need to memorize for the quiz. They could also add their latitude and longitude lines, but will need to look at an atlas or map on the Internet to complete this part accurately.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

November 7-11, 2011

There is no school for students on Monday and Tuesday due to conferences and a teacher's work day.  Please sign and return the permission slip for the field trip to Harrowgate Elementary School for a Math/Science lesson on Fractal Keys.  This trip has no cost!  we will travel by school bus.

Reading-Chapter 1-12 in Crispin by Friday, 11/11. Illustrated vocabulary booklet completed by 11/11.  Both assignments can and should be completed in class.  Crispin will count toward the second marking period HRP!  Information about the new HRP will come home on Thursday.

Writing-Lesson on dialogue.  Students will be working on free writes of their choice that includes the use of dialogue.

Word study- Due to the short week we will continue word study next week.

Science-"Who has, I have" cards are due on Wednesday.  Students were given a word list and instructed to use the notes they have to write statements about each word.  We will play this game on Wednesday to prepare for Friday's unit test on Matter.  We will review all the information that will be found on this assessment.  Our study of cells begins on Monday!

Math-assessments are given most Thursdays.  I hope to have Mrs. Compton's math blog link posted by Tuesday.

Social Studies-Middle Ages!  We will be sending home information about our "Human Chess" game within the next few weeks!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

November1-4

Welcome to November!

For the week of November 1-4:

Reading-A new novel will be assigned.  Crispin is a story, written by Avi, about an orphan who finds his way in Medival England.  We will also spend time learning about question, answer relationships. The second marking period HRP will be assigned next Thursday.  Students may begin reading Newbury Award winners.

Writing-Students will be completing a poem and an activity from Walk Two Moons.  We will begin working on a new piece by Friday.

Word Study- we will take a break from word study this week and next.

Science-Chemical and physical reactions will be observed.  Students will begin preparing for an assessment on matter with an activity that involves creating a "Who has, I have" game.

Math-Mrs. Compton's blogspot will be added soon. 

Social Studies-Information from Mrs. Scarpinato will also be coming soon!