With Remembrance Day on a Tuesday, it's been another short week, so I'm going to do my best in this blog post to keep it short too. I tend to ramble on a bit sometimes!
So here's what we've been up to and what is coming up...
LANGUAGE ARTS:
WE DID IT!!! We finally finished "The Birchbark House". The students seemed to really enjoy the novel and are looking forward to hearing the sequel. I've had a request to read it aloud instead of Phantom Tollbooth (my old classic favorite doesn't seem to be going over as well as I'd hoped for everybody!). Next week I have booked out several class periods in the Computer Lab for our final project of "The Birchbark House". In the past the students have created timeline's of Omakaya's life on big graph paper...with my new passion in technology, I've revamped the project to have the students creating a web of her life using Inspiration software. They had a chance to practice using this tool in their Computer Applications class with Mrs. Meen this week. If you are interested in playing with this type of software at home this weekend, there is almost an identical program on the web called WEBSPIRATION. I have included it in the links list in the sidebar of the blog. (Don't be deterred by the need for a username or password, this is common practice for all web applications...perfectly harmless.)
Once our webs are completed, we will begin our Literature Circle study. I have recruited 3 volunteer parents so far! If you are also interested in joining a group of students to discuss and read a novel that would be terrific. Your only requirement is to read the novel and come to two -40 minute discussions (with your selected group members who have all read the same book); once at the halfway point in the novel and one more time at the end of the novel. It's a lot of fun and the students love having parents to share in their learning! Our first meeting would probably be Dec. 1st and the second one on Dec.8th...check your calendars and send me an e-mail if you are available (or if you would like to join us next time!).
MATHEMATICS:
Our main focus this week was mastering our first problem solving strategy of "Making a Table". The students really seem to have a good handle on this strategy as their quizzes are coming home this weekend to show you their latest accomplishment! We returned to our studies of place value with a fun game today. The students were challenged to "beat the teacher" and create a number higher than mine. (I'll let them tell you all the details!)
Just a reminder that the "At home Multiplication" booklets are due at the end of the month (November 28th). I heard a great tip from a student today. She mentioned that her mom had taped her flashcards to the wall and every time she walked by she had to read out her facts! What a unique strategy!
SOCIAL STUDIES:
Our first S.S. quiz last week demonstrated a strong and determined class of learners!
We have begun to look at the question: "How did the location of the aboriginal people of Canada affect how they were able to survive off the land?" In order to really understand and interpret this question, we are doing a brief review of the 6 physical regions of Canada and identifying the different resources and climates that make up these regions.
SCIENCE:
The students appeared very prepared for their Nutrition test this Thursday, as you'll see by their assessment results coming home this weekend. It was also a great opportunity to talk about test writing skills and how to ensure you are completing the test to the best of your ability.
The students seem pretty excited to be learning about their Digestive System. After the test on Thursday, the students were asked to create their title page for this unit by drawing an "x-ray" picture of their digestive systems (how they think it looks BEFORE the unit begins). The title pages are due for Monday, Nov. 17th.
FRENCH:
Our "Back to School" unit is also finally complete. The students have received a review for their first French quiz on Wednesday, Nov. 19th. Most of the students have completed the review but they have been asked to take home their duotangs to study this weekend. We will be going over the answers to the review on Monday and reinforcing some of the key points for the quiz.
To tie into our new knowledge about healthy eating, our next unit in French is called "Bonne Nutrition, Bonne Collation" (Good Nutrition, Good Snacking!). It's a fun unit learning new food vocabulary and other relevant French phrases!
ART:
Our self-portraits are almost complete! The students finished their final sketches and have begun coloring their "good copies". I hope to create another slideshow of our artists' self-portraits to see if you can identify your bundle of joy!
OTHER:
- The final Scholastic book orders (before X-mas) are due Thursday, Nov. 20th!
- Library is Wednesday, Nov.19th
- Running Club has started for all students every Tuesday and Thursday mornings beginning promptly at 8:00am
- Physical Activity Lunches have also begun...grade 5 students have the gym to play organized games at 12:25 every Tuesday!
- Holiday Concert auditions for gr.5 speaking parts begin this Friday at 12:25 in the music room
We have a full week of school next week...rest up this weekend and enjoy the snow!
(Ok...not such a short post after all...sorry!)
Mrs. Eby
No comments:
Post a Comment