5th Grade English/Social Studies (Murr)

This blog entry will be short and to the point! 

Monday, June 7:

After the kids turn in their First Light projects, we will spend the hour reviewing for the social studies test on Wednesday.

Homework:
Study for the social studies test on Wednesday.

Tuesday, June 8:

FIELD TRIP1!!

Homework:
Study for the social studies test that is tomorrow.

Wednesday, June 9:

The hour will be devoted to taking and possibly correcting the social studies test.

Homework:
NONE.  You are all done!

Thursday, June 10:

Due to drama performances, we will spend the hour watching a movie.

Homework:
NONE.  You are all done!


Friday, June 11:

After the yearbook assembly and signing party, school is out!

Have a wonderful, relaxing summer.  See you next year.

Tuesday, May 31:

Monday, May 23:

After we discuss the end of the book, I will introduce the First Light final project.  This project will require the students to use the quotes that they have gathered to create two different products: a poem and another "creative piece."  Students will have some time to work on this project in class, but they should also be working on it at home.

Homework:
-Work on the First Light project.  It is due on June 6.

Tuesday, May 24:

We will spend the entire day reviewing the Constitution information from last week.  This information is complicated and important, so we will be doing a couple of different things to make sure that it makes sense.

Homework:
-Work on the First Light project.  It is due on June 6.
-Wordly Wise Lesson 15 A, B, C due Thursday.

Wednesday, May 25:

Today will be a workday for the First Light projects.  We are trying to give students time to work in class so that they don't have large amounts of homework.  Please encourage your son or daughter to take full advantage of this time.

Homework:
-Work on the First Light project.  It is due on June 6.
-Wordly Wise Lesson 15 A, B, C due Thursday.

Thursday, May 26:

We will begin our study of the Bill of Rights today.  This topic will give us many opportunities of debate and discussion.  I think it will be a great way to end the year.

Homework:
-Work on the First Light project.  It is due on June 6.
-Wordly Wise Lesson 15 D and E are due on Tuesday.  The test will be on Thursday.

Friday, May 27:

We will continue the Bill of Rights activities today.  Be sure to ask your son or daughter about our conversations.

Homework:
-Work on the First Light project.  It is due on June 6.
-Wordly Wise Lesson 15 D and E are due on Tuesday.  The test will be on Thursday.

Monday, May 16:

We will spend today discussing First Light.  As we near the end of the book, we will start thinking about some of the larger themes/points that appear in the book.  We will also correct D and E in Wordly Wise to prepare for the Lesson 14 test on Wednesday.

Homework:
-The final draft of your persuasive paper is due on Friday.  Use the checklist that you received last week and your notes to prepare your essay.
-Wordly Wise Lesson 14 test is on Wednesday.
-Review the Declaration of Independence worksheet.  We will have a small partner quiz on this material.

Tuesday, May 17:

Today we will wrap up our discussion of the Declaration of Independence.  After we complete our small-group quiz, we will debate some of the key questions raised in the Declaration.  The kids should have a lot to talk about at the dinner table.

Homework:
-The final draft of your persuasive paper is due on Friday.  Use the checklist that you received last week and your notes to prepare your essay.
-Wordly Wise Lesson 14 test is tomorrow.
-Finish First Light by Monday, May 23.  Find 5-10 quotes for each of the two characters that you chose.  The quotes should help us understand the characteristics of each of the characters.

Wednesday, May 18:

After the Wordly Wise test, students will have the remainder of the hour to work on their persuasive essay.  They can get help with revisions, ask me questions, etc.

Homework:
-The final draft of the persuasive paper is due on Friday.  Use the checklist that you received last week and your notes to prepare this essay.
-Finish First Light by Monday, May 23.  Find 5-10 quotes for each of the two characters that you chose.  The quotes should help us understand the characteristics of each of the characters.

Thursday, May 19:

We will move on to the Constitution today.  In order to understand the Constitution, we will actually take a look at the fledgling country's first attempt at a centralized government (the Articles of Confederation) and compare it with the second attempt, the Constitution.  The students should leave this activity with a better understanding of the "Founding Fathers'" intent and the three branches of government.

Homework:
-The final draft of the persuasive paper is due on Friday.  Use the checklist that you received last week and your notes to prepare this essay.
-Finish First Light by Monday, May 23.  Find 5-10 quotes for each of the two characters that you chose.  The quotes should help us understand the characteristics of each of the characters.

Friday, May 20:

We will finish the Constitution activity today.

Homework:
-Finish First Light by Monday, May 23.  Find 5-10 quotes for each of the two characters that you chose.  The quotes should help us understand the characteristics of each of the characters

Monday, May 9:

We will spend the bulk of today analyzing First Light characters and the role of light as a symbol.  Students will work in pairs and in a large group during this portion of the class.  When we are finished with out discussions, we will use the remainder of the time to take notes for the persuasive paper assignment.

Homework:

-Read chapters 31 through 34 in First Light.  Answer your literature circle questions by Monday, May 16.

-The notes for the persuasive paper are due on Wednesday.

Tuesday, May 10:

Today will be a work day for the persuasive paper notes.  Students should be close to completing this assignment by the end of the class.  We will also introduce the next lesson in Wordly Wise.

Homework:

- Read chapters 31 through 34 in First Light.  Answer your literature circle questions by Monday, May 16.

-The notes for the persuasive paper are due tomorrow.

-ABC in Lesson 14 in Wordly Wise are due on Thursday.

 

Wednesday, May 11:

We will begin an analysis of the Declaration of Independence today.  Students will be translating the document into language they can understand and analyzing it to determine its relationship to previous events and its significance.  I will also be meeting with each student to review his or her notes.

Homework:

- Read chapters 31 through 34 in First Light.  Answer your literature circle questions by Monday.

-ABC in Lesson 14 in Wordly Wise are due tomorrow.

 

Thursday, May 12:

After students finish their written analysis of the Declaration of Independence, we will discuss the document as a class.

Homework:

-Read chapters 31 through 34 in First Light.  Answer your literature circle questions by Monday.

-DE in Wordly Wise are due on Monday.  Your test will be next Wednesday.

 

Friday, May 13:

 Today is our field trip to the Minnesota History Center.  Check back next week for a link to our field trip website.

Homework:

-Read chapters 31 through 34 in First Light.  Answer your literature circle questions by Monday.

-DE in Wordly Wise are due on Monday.

Monday, May 2:

We will spend the hour working on the first shot assignment.  Students should be able to complete this assignment in class.  If they do not, the remainder of their work is homework.

Homework:
-Complete chapters 19 - 23 in First Light by tomorrow.  Also, students to make sure that they write and answer 4 - 6 literature circle questions for these chapters. 
-Wordly Wise Lesson 13 D and E are due tomorrow.
-First shot assignment is due tomorrow.

Tuesday, May 3:

We will begin the class with a debate about who fired the first shot at Lexington and Concord.  Once this is complete, we will spend the time discussing the assigned First Light chapters and questions.  There will be no reading quiz this week.

Homework:
-Study for the Wordly Wise Lesson 13 test.  It is on Thursday.

Wednesday, May 4:

Today, I will introduce the persuasive paper assignment.  This assignment stems from the global warming/climate change issues that are raised in First Light.  Students will have the opportunity to take a stand on whether or not climate change is a major concern and then support that position.  They can find resources for their research at this pathfinder.

Homework:
-Study for the Wordly Wise Lesson 13 test.  It is on Thursday.

Monday, April 25:

We will spend today discussing the literature circle questions for chapters 11 - 18.  Instead of beginning in a large group, however, we will work in pairs.  I will move from group to group and give the students a grade based on their participation and the quality of their discussions.  Aside from discussing the already-written questions, each pair will come up with one open-ended question for the class on chapters 11 - 18.  We will discuss these new questions as a class.  We will also quickly review for the reading quiz.  After taking the quiz, we will spend a little time reviewing for Wednesday's test on the events leading up to the Revolutionary War.

Homework:
-Read chapters 19-23 in First Light by Monday, May 2
-Come up with 4-6 literature circle questions of your own for these chapters following the format we use in class. Bring the questions with your own responses to class next Tuesday, May 3.
-Study for the Prelude to Revolution test this Wednesday. Use your study guide!

Tuesday, April 26:

We will spend the whole day reviewing for tomorrow's social studies test.

Homework:
-Read chapters 19-23 in First Light by Monday, May 2
-Come up with 4-6 literature circle questions of your own for these chapters following the format we use in class. Bring the questions with your own responses to class next Tuesday, May 3.

Tuesday, April 19:

Welcome back.  I hope you had a restful weekend after ERB's.  Today will be busy.  After going over Lesson 12 in Wordly Wise, we will spend the rest of the hour discussing and processing First Light.  After our discussions, students will take the First Light quiz. 

Homework:

-Begin reading chapters 11 - 18 in First Light.  You must have those chapters read by April 26.
-Continue your preparations for your Revolution presentation.  Those presentations will begin on Friday.
-Your Wordly Wise Lesson 12 test is on Thursday.

Wednesday, April 20:

Today will be a work day.  Students should be about three quarters of the way completed with their presentations.  They should also check the requirements sheet to make sure that they have all of the required elements in their presentations.

Homework:

-Read chapters 11 - 18 in First Light.  You must have those chapters read by April 26.
-Continue your preparations for your Revolution presentation.  Those presentations will begin on Friday.
-Your Wordly Wise Lesson 12 test is tomorrow.

Thursday, April 21:

After the Wordly Wise test, students will have the remainder of the hour to work on their Revolution presentations.  Those presentations will begin tomorrow.

Homework:

-Read chapters 11 - 18 in First Light, and answer the lit questions for these chapters.  You must have those chapters read and questions completed by April 26.
-Continue your preparations for your Revolution presentation.  Those presentations will begin tomorrow.

Friday, April 22:

Today we will focus on our Prelude to Revolution presentations.  These presentations will help the students to understand the key events that led to the Revolution.  There will be a test on all of this information next Wednesday.

Homework:

-Read chapters 11 - 18 in First Light, and answer the lit questions for these chapters.  You must have those chapters read and questions completed by April 26.
-Begin studying for the Prelude to Revolution test that will be next Wednesday.

Here are some items of note for the quiz on Tuesday:

• The second Volkswagon Road
• What Peter found in the ice wall
  
• The importance of a Chikchu's signalling to Thea
• The first-line supper (Rowan, Mattias, Thea, a toast to Thea, etc.)
• Dexna - interesting facts about her
  
• The geebee geebee - what is it?
  
• The process Thea and Dolan used to check if the Chickchu's leg was healing properly
• The map Thea found and the questions she had about it
• Lucian's explanation of the tree-sign
• Peter and Jonas' conversation in the igloo
• Thea's proposal to Mattias regarding looking for a way out of Gracehope

You will be allowed to use your book for the quiz, so if you mark these passages beforehand, it will be easier for you to formulate your responses for the quiz.

Due to ERB testing, much of this week will be time for the kids to work.  If they use their class time wisely, they should be able to get much of their work done.  They should have very little homework beyond reading First Light.

Monday, April 11:

After introducing the next lesson in Wordly Wise, we will spend most of the rest of the hour discussing First Light.  Students will work in literature circle groups to discuss the questions on chapters 1 - 4.  We will also leave time for some large group discussion.  Lastly, I will give students a chance to meet with their prelude to the revolution groups so that they can make a plan for this week. 

Homework:

-Begin reading chapters 5 - 10 in First Light.  The questions for these chapters are due on Tuesday, April 19.
-Wordly Wise Lesson 12 A - E are due on Tuesday, April 19.

Tuesday, April 12 and Wednesday, April 13:

Tuesday and Wednesday will be work days.  By the end of Tuesday, students must have their notes for the prelude project completed.  By the end of Wednesday, students should know what they need to do over the long break to prepare for the presentations on April 21 and 22.

Homework:

-Begin reading chapters 5 - 10 in First Light.  The questions for these chapters are due on Tuesday, April 19.  There will be a quiz on this material on Tuesday.
-Wordly Wise Lesson 12 A - E are due on Tuesday, April 19.
-Continue working on the Prelude to Revolution project.  Each student should have a clear role in the group and should be working to complete her part of the presentation over break if she did not finish her work in class.