Ok... so that was VERY CHEESY but I got your attention! And yes, it has been a fun week of activities and learning in 5E as we've spent several periods in the computer lab finishing up our final work on the Birchbark House!
So here's what we've been up to and what is coming up...
LANGUAGE ARTS:
The students have had a blast this week working on their webs that reflect the important events in Omakaya's life from our novel study of The Birchbark House. The Inspiration software is an excellent tool to allow the students some creativity and help them organize their thoughts. I am going to assess them and have them on display in the classroom. I've asked the students to take home their Birchbark House novel study booklets this weekend to "finish up" any incomplete pictures, questions or responses before submitting them to me on Monday for a final assessment.
Today, the student's received their Literature Circle novels. All the novels are realistic fiction with the theme of Friendship in the storyline. As the students are reading and responding in class (AND HOME), we will also be doing other activities in Language Arts class that deal with friendship and the story elements. For Literature Circle novels, the students are required to respond 4 times throughout the novel, at the 1/4 mark, 1/2 point, 3/4 mark and finally at the end. Their first deadline is MONDAY, DECEMBER 1ST, they will need to have completed TWO responses and finished reading to the halfway point in their book. On Monday, they will be meeting with their group and their parent volunteer (or teacher) to have a "lively" discussion about the book (share their responses, ask questions, give their opinions, etc.) up to the 1/2 way point. The students seemed very excited as they dove into their books!
MATHEMATICS:
For the past few weeks we've beens studying Number Sense by reading, writing and representing large numbers to 999 999 in several different ways. To assess their understanding of these concepts thus far, there will be a quiz on TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25TH! I have given the students a review today which we worked on (a bit) in class and they can finish over the weekend. On Monday we will correct the review to ensure everyone is prepared for the quiz on Tuesday. After the quiz we will finish off the unit looking at ordering, comparing, rounding and estimating with numbers to 999 999!
Just a reminder that their "At home Multiplication booklets" are due on THURSDAY, NOV.28TH as we will be having another quick assessment at the end of the month to check on their progress towards our ultimate target of multiplication mastery!
SOCIAL STUDIES:
Our review of the Six main physical regions of Canada was completed this week with a "Sort and Predict" activity of the features that make up each of the six regions. We also watched a short video that reinforced the characteristics of each of these regions.
Today, we began looking at where the First Nations people settled in Canada and how they correspond to the different physical regions. We identified the names of the different Native groups and where they are located in Canada on a map.
SCIENCE:
We've been "digesting" a lot of new information this week as we've begun to explore the Digestive System! (teehee) The students have been introduced to all the major organs involved in the digestive process through a maze activity and we enjoyed a funny Bill Nye video that helped reinforce what we've been learning. Yesterday, the students began a hands-on activity putting the parts of the digestive system together with a partner. Today they completed them! You'll notice pictures of the students working on them on the sidebar of the blog (Faces have been turned away to protect their identity)! We will continue to study the digestive system next week and wind it up shortly with a quiz near the beginning of December.
FRENCH:
Everyone did very well on their "A l'ecole" quizzes this week! Thank you for returning their quizzes signed so promptly. Next week we will be starting our unit "Bonne Nutrition, Bonne Collation"!
ART:
Our Self Portraits are complete! We are such a beautiful class (I'm biased though...I luv'em!) They scanned them into the computers today so we can use them in the future for Web based projects.
We've been asked as a class to create something for the front bulletin board to promote our Christmas Concert "Home for the Holidays", so that will be our next big project! (The classroom was a buzz today with the excitement and nerves for auditions that took place at lunchtime.)
OTHER:
- MTYP permission slips and money are due as soon as possible. Thank you!
- November 28th is S.A.G. In-service for the teachers ...NO SCHOOL!
I can tell from the students' journals on Mondays that weekends in Lindenwoods are busy with basketball, hockey, gymnastics, dancing and spending time with family! Have a fun weekend!
Mrs. Eby
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